Flowers on the altar perk up the sanctuary -- you might not notice how much unless they're not there.  The flowers are also a way to remember family and friends on special occasions.  When bulletin announces that the flowers were given in celebration or in memory of someone, it's easy for me to stop and think about the special people in my own life.
Another celebration outside the service is coffee hour.  While the coffee is easy enough to have on hand, it's much easier to take time to chat and visit if there's a little something to munch on as well.
As more people host coffee hour and give flowers, so the sense of community grows at St. Philip's.  If you want to participate in either, sign up on the sheet in the foyer.  If you have questions, feel free to call Nancy Jackson (for coffee hour) or Mary Rhodes (for flowers).

As we consider pledging for 2002...

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it "was too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason, and taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her, thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.
Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kind hearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from a trash dump. Inside was found 57¢ and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School. For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he know instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red, pocketbook to the pulpit, he told

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