a publication of st. philip’s episcopal...

The Philippian A publication of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church * East Moore & Dry Streets * P.O. Box 10476 * Southport, NC 28461

http://www.stphilipschurch.org * E-Mail: [email protected]

Phone: (910) 457-5643 * Fax: (910) 457-6991 *

Vol. 12, No. 3 April 2015

From the Rector

Dear Ones,

So, I’ve been with you over a year now, and as you’ve listened to my sermons, or read

my monthly articles, you’ve probably already guessed that in the whole optimist/pessimist –

glass half-full/glass half-empty guidelines, I am WAY over on the optimist/glass ¾ full side.

I will admit to an almost knee-jerk response to negativity of most kinds…one of my core

beliefs is that we can find joy just about everywhere we have the intention to see it! Of

course, the key to that belief is in the word in bold … that’d be: intention. I firmly believe

that too often we see exactly what we expect to see – and that can be, either, the clouds in the

sky…or the sun shining above, through or behind them.

None of this is to say that we don’t all experience disappointments, or some level of

disasters that befall us --- none of this is to say that even in the midst of joy we don’t suffer

loss, or experience grief. But with a solid, mature, grounding in our faith…we have a way to

put into context the individual events of our lives, I think.

We will soon have come through the Season of Lent, Holy Week that included

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday – and finally will be amazed and grateful for the light of

an empty tomb…and the Resurrection! With the Resurrection, comes a beginning that is not

only ‘new’ but also sustained…and sustaining. A beginning that rests well in a firm

foundation of joy!

So what will you do with this newly renewed joy? It’s a gift that we’re reminded of

each Easter, isn’t it? A reminder that Jesus comes to us even through the darkest times…just

as reliably as in the times that are relatively easy. But, as faithful Christians…our

responsibility lies in our intention to live according to the tenets of our faith. Our

responsibility is to look carefully at the circumstances in which we find ourselves, and ensure

that as much as we are able, we seek not the easy way…put the prayerful solution. And, in

truth, I suppose that sometimes the easy way IS the right way…at other times we are called

upon to struggle with the tough questions that come from living in a world led more by whim

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church April 2015

than thoughtful discourse – led more by instinct than by intention to honor the One who

breathed us into being.

As we live into the Season of Easter, my prayer is that we not let it just ‘slide on by.’

My prayer is that we find a way to find joy in the things of our lives...both big and small.

My prayer is that You will gather with us at St. Philip’s in worship, and in fellowship. We

need YOU – to show us another way, in this new day!

Grace & Peace,

Mother Betty+

Episcopal Word of the Month

Canticle: From Holy Scripture - a passage used in daily offices that often

separates the Old Testament and New Testament readings. Sometimes they

are sung, while at other times they are prayed in unison.

Rockin’ with the Rector

Mother Betty continues to invite parishioners to stop by

on Tuesdays at 10:00 to ‘Rock and Talk’. This practice was

begun in the fall, and offers an informal opportunity to have a

conversation about, well…almost anything! There is no agenda

– and sometimes we just get to know each other a bit better.

The visits are on a drop-in basis, and the rocking chairs are

stilled at 11:00. Please think about stopping by one Tuesday

soon! We’ve had between 1 and 8 parishioners at a time….

please know you are very welcome.

JUDAISM TODAY - TOPIC OF ST. PHILIP'S INTERFAITH FORUM

St. Philip's Men's Club invites you to join them for their next interfaith forum Tuesday, April

28th at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. This month they welcome, Rabbi Robert Waxman, from the

B'nai Israel Congregation in Wilmington. Rabbi Waxman will present a discussion on

Judaism Today; It's realities, myths and misconceptions. The event is open to the public.


From the Choir Director

Since mid- January the weather in southeastern North Carolina has been on the gray and

dreary side. Easter comes early this year; in fact the Sunday of Resurrection may have

already passed by the time you read this edition of the Philippian. Nonetheless the weather

we are experiencing this early part of March made me think of how happy we will be to sing

the text of Welcome Happy Easter Morning. The text poetically describes the earth robed

in spring as a proof of its joy of our Lord’s resurrection.

Earth her joy confesses, clothing her for spring,

All fresh gifts returned with her returning king:

Bloom in every meadow, leaves on every bough,

Speak his sorrow ended, hail his triumph now.

Welcome Happy Morning Age to Age will say.

Months in due succession, days of lengthening light,

Hours and passing moments praise thee in their flight.

Brightness of the morning, sky and fields and sea,

Vanquisher of darkness, bring their praise to thee.

Welcome Happy Morning! Age to age shall say

This text married to Arthur Sullivan’s tune is a pure expression of ebullience, just what is

needed as we bring our observance of Lent to a close and enter the jubilant season of Easter.

Debbie Skillman

Mother Betty Wants to Know

If you or a loved one enters the hospital, or has another need for a visit, please let Mother

Betty know. She wants to visit members who are ill, but must rely on you to notify her of the

need. HIPAA laws no longer allow for medical facilities to contact a patient's place of

worship, without explicit request. Please let us know, also, if you would like to have your

name added to our prayer list. The office number is 910-457-5643

On a related note, Mother Betty would ask that if someone in your family dies, that you call

the church. We can send a note out to the parish to let folks know, and we can add your loved

one's name to our prayer list for Sunday.


Evangelism and Outreach

Our first Sunday Food Pantry collection, we call Our Daily Bread went pretty well on March

1. This campaign will take place on the first Sunday of each month. Of course we would

like to receive groceries every Sunday! But, by coordinating the Our Daily Bread collections

with the Men’s Breakfast, it can emphasize how much we have and therefore how much we

should give – we are sharing our privilege with those who are hungry and in need. Thank

you to everyone who contributed on March 1st. We collected two baskets and ten Wal-Mart

plastic bags full of food. The next Daily Bread collection will be on Easter Sunday, April 5.

The blood drive reached its goal of 26 donors. Because of the low number of donors last

time, Red Cross took an active role in soliciting donors from the community. Eight St.

Philip’s parishioners, 31% of the total, registered to donate on March 15. Thanks to James

Briggs, Jane Edwards, Jane Mitchell, Roy Mitchell, Pat Pittenger, Tina Powers, Bill Thorpe,

and Priscilla Wheeler. And thanks to all who would donate if they could.

We would like to thank Nancy Cordes for coordinating the sale of Irish Soda Bread on March

15th and Rose Dahill for coordinating the Comfort Socks drive on March 22nd , and March

29th.

April will be a busy and focused month. In addition to Our Daily Bread on Easter Sunday,

we will be collecting every Sunday for our Book Bag Project with Virginia Williamson

Elementary School; this means that collections of books, book bags, and money will take

place on 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, and 4/26. Please support St. Philip’s effort to help students who are

reading below grade level.

Looking ahead, we will be collecting diapers in May, and school supplies in July and

August. We will sponsor a Red Cross Blood Drive in September, and offer the Stop Hunger

Now program in October.

We have received a grant of $500.00 from Southport Rotary to help with Stop Hunger Now,

which will take place on October 18th

. We also will be receiving some much-needed help

from the Boy Scouts. It will be a welcome addition of some younger and energetic help.

Mo Beers


Pastoral Care Committee Plans for Year

The St Philip’s Pastoral Care Committee met in March and reported on activities and plans

from Daughters of the King, Odd Jobbers, a representative of the Prayer Shawl Ministry,

Stephen Ministers and the St Philips’ Care Teams. Mother Betty and Barbara Edwards, the

member of the Vestry overseeing the Pastoral Care Commission were both present.

Jane Mitchell explained that the DOK prayer list is confidential, and those on the list are

prayed for daily. Daughters will begin planning and taking lunches to the New Hope

Hospice Home in Bolivia on the second Friday of each month. Lunches are for the relatives

and friends visiting patients as there are no cooking facilities there, and restaurants close by

are scarce.

Maryann Darzano gave an informative report on the Diaper Ministry, which is part of the

Outreach and Evangelism Commission.

Ken Rebeck reported that Odd Jobbers meet at New Hope Clinic about four times a year and

complete maintenance jobs there. They also do small home projects for St Philips’

Parishioners who need a little extra help because of illness or inability to do the task.

Requests for Odd Jobbers should be given to Mother Betty or Ken Rebeck, coordinator.

Prayer Shawl Ministry was reported by Evelyn King. This ministry is a group of women

who meet on the 1st and 3

rd Tuesdays of the month to knit and share fellowship. All women

are welcome; some women knit at home and bring prayer shawls in to church. Completed

prayer shawls are tasseled and tagged and then blessed at the altar for distribution. Anyone

can request a prayer shawl from Mother Betty.

Martha and Gene Myers and Bill Wheeler, Stephen Minister leaders, represented Stephen

Ministers. This program began in 2011 at St Philips and has presented two classes and now

has 14 trained men and women who provide one-on-one confidential care for those in our

parish who are experiencing an “interruption” short or long, in their lives. Care has been

provided for 29 individuals to date and the Ministry is always open to referrals through

Mother Betty or the Stephen Leaders. The group meets twice a month for continuing

education, supervision and support of each other. All care receiver names are kept

confidential even to the Stephen Ministers.

Tommy and Marty Younts reported on the St Philips’ Care Teams that were formed last year.

A goal of the Pastoral Care Commission is to continue to reach out with a personal contact to

persons in our congregation through the Care Teams. The Stephen Ministers will be the

initial contact team (although this ministry will not be part of Stephen Ministry); they will

seek other volunteers for their teams. We will work from a geographic list drawn up by

Natasha, and will hopefully start contacting parishioners by May. We have established four

groups for help with Food, Transportation, Communication and Respite Care. Our goal is to

offer support and get to know each other better…both as neighbors and church members.


We want to know what you would like to see happen in the Pastoral Care area . Please

contact me ([email protected]) or 910-253-6933 if you would be willing to serve on

any of the care teams or on the calling team.

Barbara Edwards

Books for Kids

Reading is fundamental in getting an education, and this year

we would like to help some of those children who are not

reading at grade level. We have met with Virginia Williamson

Elementary School and they identified 147 students in grades

K – 5 who are in this category. Our hope is to fill tote bags

with two new books and exercises to improve reading. We will

give these to those students at the end of the school year for

summer reading. Each filled tote will cost $12.00. Please

consider helping one of these children. Share this with your book clubs and any other groups

that you are in who encourage education. In order to get the book order in we need donations

by the end of April. Checks to St. Philips with “Books” noted.

Pat Prather

Master Planning Committee

Our committee has redoubled its efforts to find someone who is willing to purchase

and move the Parkhill House. Earlier efforts were unsuccessful and we decided to make

another effort at sale instead of tearing the house down at our expense. There have been

expressions of interest, but nothing in terms of a contract. You will notice for sale signs

furnished by Frank Darzano. The April issue of Southport Magazine will contain a story

about the house with pictures.

We feel that we have reached a point where it is time to engage an architect to work

with us on a preliminary design. We have sent out a Request for Qualifications and asked for

responses by March 7, 2015.

Our Finance sub-committee is reviewing alternative fund raising options. Obviously a

successful capital campaign will be necessary before we are in a position to proceed.

If you hae any questions, please give any committee members, or me, a call. Contact

information can be found on our website. If you don’t have computer access, call the office

and they will let us know the best way to provide you with information.

Bill Bittenbender, 253-9846, [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



STEPHEN MINISTRY MINUTE

Journeying Through Grief

Journeying through Grief is a set of four short books to send to people at four

crucial times during the first year after the loss of a loved one. The books help

grieving people understand their thoughts and feelings and provide them with a

clear message of Christian hope. The author—pastor and clinical psychologist, and

Stephen Ministry founder, Dr. Kenneth Haugk—combines sound psychological

principles and biblical truths to provide the care that grieving people need at the

time when they need it most. Each book focuses on what the person is likely

experiencing at that point in grief—offering care, understanding, empathy,

compassion, encouragement, and hope.

The books are written in a warm, personal style, with short chapters and frequent

stories to illustrate key points. Encouraging Scripture passages, poems, and quotes

appear throughout, connecting with what the reader is likely to be feeling at that

point in grief. Issues of faith are presented in a caring, nonthreatening way,

allowing room for the spiritual struggles and questions that grieving people may

encounter.

Many different types of people use Journeying through Grief to care for a wide

range of grieving persons. The books can be a powerful way to offer sustained

comfort and compassion to a relative, friend, neighbor, or coworker who is

grieving. Although designed to help those in the first year of grief, people whose

loss was more than a year ago have also found them extremely helpful. Those who

received the books have appreciated the thoughtfulness of the sender and have

commented how these books helped them with aspects of their grief that they had

dealt with only superficially or not at all.

Whatever your situation or setting, Journeying through Grief provides a simple,

effective way to reach out to a grieving person again and again during that difficult

first year. Please let Mother Betty, a Stephen Minister, or one of the Stephen

Leaders know if you have a need for the Journeying Through Grief books.

*Adapted from www.stephenministries.org

https://www.stephenministries.org/aboutus/default.cfm/779

http://www.stephenministries.org/


The Parish Office will be closed April 6th-9th for Easter

vacation. We will return on Monday, April 13th.

Join us Sunday, APRIL 12TH for another great breakfast

from 8:30 - 10:00 AM in the Parish Hall. The delicious hot

country-style breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, bacon,

scrambled eggs, grits, biscuits, gravy, coffee and orange juice:

$4.00 per adult, $2.00 per child.

Bring your whole family!

ANNUAL BRUNSWICK TOWN CELEBRATION

MAY 3RD AT 10:30 AM

Mark your calendars! Sunday, May 3rd is our annual worship and picnic

celebration on the grounds of St. Philip’s in Brunswick Town.

We will have our regular 8AM worship in the Chapel of the Cross and then gather

for a 10:30 service on the grounds of Old St. Philip’s.

Remember. . .Wear casual clothes, bring a covered dish to share and a

comfortable chair!


1st Mike Young

2nd Jan Trivett

3rd Leanne Bell

4th Richard Sim

Debbie Skillman

6th Nan Bush

Karen Griffin

Katherine Mabe

7th Larry Oyler

10th Jenny Lee

11th Barbara Edwards

Heather Adams

12th Jane Mitchell

Dick Stone

Tom Izod

Bill Carney

13th Harriet Wheeler

14th Mark Levesque

Bud Birmelin

Jim MacCallum

15th Erinn Hughes

16th John Kelliher

Betty Rupp

18th Shay Watkins

Jan Fairley

19th Ennis Hardin

Lorraine Richardson

20th Teresa Conrad

Christy Bell

Heather Titrington

Chloe Esakov

23rd Cissy Kitchin

Maryann Darzano

Lori Thompson

25th Bill Crusey

Joyce Robinson

26th Carol Fraize

John Luey

28th Ed Thompson

Karen Sage

Cynthia Coriello

29th Lois Sprinthall

Barbara Carrico

30th Tina Powers


April Lectionaries

April 5th - Easter Sunday

Isaiah 25:6-9

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Acts 10:34-43

John 20:1-18

April 12th - 2 Easter

Acts 4:32-35

Psalm 133

1 John 1:1-2:2

John 20:19-31


Acts 3:12-19

Psalm 4

1 John 3:1-7

Luke 24:36b-48


Acts 4:5-12

Psalm 23

1 John 3:16-24

John 10:11-18

YOGA FOR SENIORS

Pat Pittenger will offer a gentle yoga-based class to St. Philip’s

parishioners beginning sometime in May, dependent upon

completion of the window renovation in the church. Classes will

consist of strength and stretch exercises and meditation.

Class sessions will take place in the narthex on Thursdays from

9:15 to 10:30 a.m. “Fee” for each class is an offering in the amount

that is individually determined. All money collected will help support St. Philip’s initiatives.

Class size is limited. Depending upon the response from the parish, the classes will consist

of repeating series of classes suited to the instructor’s availability. Number of participants in

each class is limited, but class sessions throughout the year will create opportunity for several

to join in. Those interested in participating, please contact Jane Edwards by phone (910-612-

1848) or by email ([email protected]), preferably by May 5.

After teaching classical ballet for 50 years, Pat retired and turned her interest toward yoga.

She has been a yoga student and teacher for 12 years, and she now offers her time and talent

to St. Philip’s. Thank you, Pat!


St. Philip's Episcopal Church

Finance Update - February 2015

*A Note from the Senior Warden. . .Overages in the budget for Property will be offset by

funds in the Maintenance Reserve account.

Holy Week & Easter Worship Schedule

MONDAY, MARCH 30TH - Compline, 7PM (Chapel)

TUESDAY, MARCH 31ST - Compline, 7PM (Chapel)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1ST - Tenebrae Service, 7PM (Sanctuary)

THURSDAY, APRIL 2ND - Maundy Thursday Service, 7PM (Sanctuary)

FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD - Good Friday Service, 7PM (Chapel)

SATURDAY, APRIL 4TH - Easter Vigil, 7:30 PM (Sanctuary)

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 5TH - Holy Eucharist Rite I, 8AM

Sunday School for Children (Chapel)

Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10:30 AM

Easter Egg Hunt, 11:45 AM (St. Philip's Lawn)

MTD Actual

MTD Budget

MTD Budget /Actual YTD Actual

YTD Budget

YTD Budget /Actual

Annual Budget

Revenues Total Revenues $38,494.96 $35,991.77 $2,503.19 $85,932.51 $79,916.47 $6,016.04 $457,052.00

Expenses Parish Staff $15,337.59 $16,947.60 $1,610.01 $34,095.63 $36,455.72 $2,360.09 $212,560.34

Christian Education and Youth $590.70 $723.00 $132.30 $1,623.13 $1,196.00 -$427.13 $13,139.00

Music $601.83 $1,240.00 $638.17 $1,639.67 $1,240.00 -$399.67 $4,855.00

Outreach $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,325.00

Property $18,503.30 $7,250.95 -

$11,252.35 $27,990.93 $13,786.90 -$14,204.03 $102,078.06

Administration $5,880.21 $10,938.57 $5,058.36 $15,319.91 $22,342.11 $7,022.20 $111,622.60

Worship $177.40 $1,303.50 $1,126.10 $177.40 $2,307.00 $2,129.60 $11,472.00

Total Expenses $41,091.03 $38,403.62 -$2,687.41 $80,846.67 $77,327.73 -$3,518.94 $457,052.00

Net Total -$2,596.07 -$2,411.85 -$184.22 $5,085.84 $2,588.74 $2,497.10 $0.00

The outstanding mortgage is $300,186.

Respectfully submitted, Bob Fuchs, Treasurer

Church Organization

Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina: The Rt. Rev. Robert Skirving

Interim Rector: The Rev. Betty Glover Episcopal Relief & Development

Parish Administrator: Natasha Tatum Representative - Jacob Pfohl

Organist/Choirmaster: Debbie Skillman

Stephen Leaders: Martha & Gene Myers, Bill Wheeler

Vestry

Senior Warden: Rick Pearce Clerk: Don Hill

Junior Warden: Bill Tomz Treasurer: Bob Fuchs

2013-2015: Jane Edwards, Blakley Huntley, Rick Pearce, Bill Tomz

2014-2016: Ricky Evans, Lorraine Beamer, Mo Beers, Sharon Sands

2015-2017: Lorraine Armstrong, Barbara Edwards, Ed Thompson, Bill Thorpe

Philippian

Mary Christine Kostainschek

Email: [email protected]

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

East Moore & Dry Streets

PO Box 10476

Southport, NC 28461

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Southport NC 28461

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