|
St. Philip’s is an active congregation, with many members involved in a variety of activities. We hold work days where members join together to keep our grounds and building neat and attractive. There are members who volunteer in the office as needed. The Bishop’s Committee meets monthly and delegates are sent to Diocesan Convention, always with good participation. |
|
We reach out to the community, making our facilities available to a wide variety of groups, such as Girl and Boy Scouts, AA, quilting groups, Moms groups, etc. On Thursday nights, a group of homeless women, with their sleeping bags, are bused to St. Philip’s for a hot meal and a place to sleep. This is part of the Interfaith Satellite Shelter Program in Santa Cruz County. St. Philip’s and another church alternate Thursday nights for meal preparation and serving. |
|
St. Philip’s loves to have fun, and we have a number of popular fellowship activities, such as: |
|
Big Basin to the Sea |
|
they hike to the Pacific Ocean, 12 miles in all, through towering redwoods at first, past Berry Falls, and down the changing terrain to the lower part of the trail, which is more level. At Waddell State Beach the hikers are met by members of the congregation who have driven there from Santa Cruz, bringing food and drinks for a picnic by the sea. |
|
Potlucks and Such -- Gathering together around food is always popular at St. Philip’s! Various members of the congregation provide refreshments after worship services. Pancake breakfasts are held a couple of times a year, and we have potluck dinners through the year. These events are always well attended and enjoyed by all. |
|
Dinner Groups -- In the fall the dinner groups begin again. Usually six to eight people will form a group for dinner at the hosts’ home. This occurs three or four times a year. The makeup of the groups is different each time, which gives the opportunity to spend social time with more people. This has been a very popular activity. Newsletter -- As way to connect our church community, St. Philip’s puts out a |
|
monthly newsletter which is posted on the website and also mailed to friends of the congregation. The editor is a volunteer, and all of the articles and photos are contributed by members of the congregation. http://www.stphilip-sv.org/news/index.htm Fundraising activities have also been important in the life of St. Philip’s Church, both in terms of finances and fellowship. There has been a high level of member participation in all of these activities. While they require a great deal of work, they also provide a lot of fellowship and camaraderie for those participating. The three primary fundraising events are: |
|
Garden Tour and English Tea Luncheon -- Held the day before Mother’s Day, this event draws many people from the community. Several local gardens are made available to visit on a self-guided tour with the English tea luncheon held at the church. In addition, there are garden items for sale, and a handmade quilt is raffled. There is a high level of participation by the congregation in this event. |
|
Arts and Crafts Harvest Fair -- In October once again many people from the community come to St. Philip’s for the annual Arts and Crafts Harvest Fair. The foyer and the parish hall are transformed with fall decorations, vendors’ booths and special lunch items and baked goods for sale. A quilt show is displayed in the sanctuary and along the outside corridor. High quality arts and crafts items are sold, and the community looks forward to this opportunity for holiday shopping. |
|
Trivia Night -- Members of the congregation and invited friends make up tables of eight, each table with a different theme. Participants decorate their table and dress in tune with their chosen theme. The evening begins with a potluck supper, with each table staying faithful to the theme of their group. After dinner the fun of the (often difficult) trivia quiz begins! Although it’s an event that’s hard to explain it’s great fun to participate. There are prizes galore during the evening and lots of laughs. |