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September 2004 |
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Issue 178 |
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Dear Friends, Welcome back for the fall season of ministry at St. Philip’s! We have a double ‘kick-off’ planned: Sunday, September 5, we ‘kick-off’ our re-organized Sunday School with a new curriculum, redrawn classes, and continuing strong Middle School and Senior High programs. That Sunday we will also pray for the start of the school year for all children, teachers, parents and our whole community. And we will bless backpacks and donate school supplies for families in need – reminders of our dependence on God and our care for one another. The following Sunday, September 12, we have a special welcome planned for our community, with preaching, liturgy and brunch all focused on welcoming visitors and returning members. We are mailing out some 5,300 invitations to everyone in the 95066 zip code to attend our September 5 and 12 events – please join in this effort by inviting your friends and neighbors, and being present to greet everyone. Adult classes also start the week of the 12th. These include Sunday 9 am Bible Study, Monday 11 am Bible Study at Oak Tree Villa, Tuesday morning Men’s Bible Breakfast, and Wednesday 7 pm Compline and Centering Prayer. We do still need some Sunday School teachers for this wonderful and very important ministry. Teachers have well-organized lesson plans provided and teach only one Sunday per month. Please call Julie O’Brien for more information. Please pray about this invitation. Other September highlights include Bill Kelly’s ordination to the priesthood on Saturday, September 18 at Trinity Cathedral in San Jose, and the diocesan program on healing and forgiveness: September 11. I urge you to consider both events as ways to kindle your own ministries, both through St. Philip’s and in your personal context. Last, an update on our Johnston Way property: we (St. Philip’s and the Diocese) have accepted a full price offer and are in escrow. Once the lot line adjustment goes through and the property sells, we will be paying off some 2/3 of our debt – a great improvement. (One loan will still remain and our reserves are low, so planned giving and remembering St. Philip’s in your will and estate planning is still very important – remember Nancy Bliss’s generosity.) We do not have a tenant for the second floor offices – see Junior Warden Bill DeRouchey for more information. I am thankful to serve with all of you, and very thankful to share in leadership with Bishop’s Warden Lucy Gowan and our fine Bishop’s Committee. Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. (Ephesians 3:20,21; and BCP p.102) Yours in Christ, |
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Jesus sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." (Mark 9:30-37) |
