You have probably heard: St. Philip’s Mission Sunday is this Sunday, February 20! And it will be a day for everyone to enjoy! Everyone––even if you have never thought about going on a short-or long-term mission trip. Everyone––even if you don’t feel called to serve at a local mission. Everyone––young, old, and in between. Why?

Reason one: The Rt. Rev. Dr. Grant LeMarquand will be our guest speaker for the Rector’s Forum and our guest preacher at both services. Bishop Grant is a passionate and eloquent speaker with many interesting experiences from his life of mission both domestic and global. You will not want to miss hearing him and meeting him in person.

Click here to read Bishop LeMarquand's bio

Reason two: We are messengers of the living word. “As the Apostle Paul reminds us, the word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). We are messengers of the living word, and God is actively moving in and through us to advance his kingdom.” Archbishop Foley Beach explained that in his letter to all the ACNA churches for World Mission Sunday. Mission Sunday is for everyone because we are all called to bring light to the dark and to advance his kingdom. But how?

Click here to read Archbishop Beach's letter

Mission Sunday reminds us of the many opportunities available here at St. Philip’s to enjoy sharing the light of Christ as an everyday missionary side by side with our fellow parishioners both at home and abroad. We are so fortunate because people from all over the world come to St. Philip’s as visitors all the time. Some stay here in Charleston permanently, some are here while they are in college, some are just weekend visitors, but the world does come to see. Mission Sunday reminds us that we once were a lighthouse to guide ships coming to the harbor of Charleston, and today we are still a lighthouse to guide souls searching for safe harbor in Christ.

We are so excited to experience Mission Sunday! Be encouraged: all of us can find new ways to experience the joy that comes from being an everyday missionary. Here a couple of prayers from our Book of Common Prayer that we can remember this week as we prepare our hearts and minds for Mission Sunday.

Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of that Holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the cities of the earth. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP 2019, p. 825)

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world; Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen. (BCP 2019, p. 236)