| March 18 , 2010 - Issue 7 |
Holy Week and Children
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Dear Friends,
The events that are to unfold in the next few weeks comprise the heart of our Christian faith. They are the testament to the unconquerable love of God that holds each of us tightly in God's hands, and they offer us the opportunity to take a deeper walk with God.
To help our children more fully engage in the meaning of Holy Week and Jesus' passion, I have developed, with the help of Molly Riengruber and Elizabeth Newman, a Holy Week prayer activity for the children of our parish. It is an adaptation of the Prayer Walk that Gretchen Wolff Pritchard outlines in her book, Offering the Gospel to Children. It will be offered on Wednesday, March 31st at 6:00 p.m. It will start in the Parish Garden and end in the 2nd floor Gathering Room. And it should be about a half hour long.
This prayer service will walk the children through the events of Holy Week, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending with Jesus' death on the cross. It will include a foot washing, some pantomime and the singing of "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?"
I encourage you to come out, even if you don't have children, and join us in this contemplative event. It will be an experience worth having, and, more importantly, worth sharing.
God Bless,
Jonah+
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CROP Walk, Sunday, March 21st
CROP Walks take place in different US communities throughout the year to raise money and awareness about poverty. "CROP" stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. The walks are run by the Church World Service, a cooperative ministry of 36 Christian denominations and communions, providing sustainable self-help and development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance in some 80 countries.
Each year parishioners from St. Philip's participate in the Durham CROP Walk by asking friends, family, and neighbors to make a donation to CROP. Then, on a Sunday, we walk just under five miles as a group with others from Durham.
This year's Durham CROP Walk is on Sunday, March 21st, at 1:30pm at Duke Chapel. Walker pledge forms are available at a table that will be set up in the parish hall. If prefer to raise donations online, you can do this at the following Web site:
http://www.churchworldservice.org/goto/stphilips
T-shirts are available for $2. To order one, call or email me your size, on or before Wed, February 24th. I will distribute the T-shirts on Sundays beginning on February 28th.
One quarter of all the funds raised stays in the local community and supports local organizations such as Urban Ministries of Durham. Last year, UMD was one of several organizations that shared nearly $45,000.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call Greg Rakauskas, 402-8061, belaraka@verizon.net.
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Food, Folks & Fun 
Everyone is invited to Food, Folks, and Fun for lunch on Sunday, March 21 after the 11:00 a.m. service at Nosh located on 2812 Erwin Rd. For more information contact Dory VanDuzer at 416-9689.
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Happening This Week
Monday, 3/22
6:30 p.m. Bible Workbench in the Parlor
Tuesday, 3/23
7:00 p.m. Stephen Ministry in the Parlor
Wednesday, 3/24
5:00 p.m. Centering Prayer 5:30 p.m. Said Eucharist 6:00 p.m. Dinner 6:30 p.m. Cross in our Midst - God and the Cross facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Marilyn Adams 7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, 3/25
11:00 a.m. Rector's Bible Study on the Book of Exodus in the Library. Chapters 16 - 20:21.
Saturday, 3/27
8:50 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. Jail Ministry 10:00 a.m. Altar Guild Brass Polishing in the sanctuary |
Bishop Curry with us on Easter Sunday 
Mark your calendars! We are blessed to have the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina with us for our Easter services Sunday, April 4th. He will be preaching and celebrating at both our 8:30 a.m. and 11:00a.m. Eucharists. There will be an opportunity to visit with Bishop Curry during our traditional Easter brunch held between our two services. We hope you will be with us for this special and joyous celebration of new life made known in Christ's resurrection.
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Altar Guild Brass Polishing
All members of the Altar Guild are urged to attend the pre-Easter brass polishing on Saturday, March 27, at 10:00 a.m. in the church. Contact Lauren Goslin with regrets at laurenckgoslin@hotmail.com.
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Community Garden
We have beautiful new cedar gates and a fabulous cedar raised bed thanks to Bob Kellogg. Go out to the garden and admire his work! You should be seeing seedlings coming up. We planted spring veggies on Saturday March 13.
Volunteer Opportunities:
1) Chefs, gardeners, group leaders for our evening summer camp programs for the children living at Genesis Home and Urban Ministries.
2) Hosts for a potluck supper in the garden with our neighbors. Sign up with a friend to host one of the summer dinners.
3) Compost team member. Collect compost from the parish hall and take it out to the compost pile in the garden once a month.
Sign up sheets in the parish house. Contact Elizabeth Newman enewman@nc.rr.com, 949-7258
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Episcopal Church Women
The ECW will meet on Monday, April 5, at 10:00 a.m. in the church parlor. Dr. Norman E. Pendergraft, Professor of Art and Director of the NCCU Art Museum, Emeritus, will present a program titled "The Resurrection and Iconography." We will look at several visual images of paintings and sculpture depicting the Resurrection.
Dr. Pendergraph will assist us in studying and discussing the artists' interpretations of the theme and related symbols. All St. Philip's women are members of ECW and are encouraged to attend meetings and participate in the group's fellowship and activities.
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ESL Youth Ministry
We are looking for folks age 13 and up to tutor Hispanic youth from El Buen Pastor, the Durham Latino mission for our diocese. You do  not have to be Spanish speaking to volunteer. We will begin meeting Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. starting in a few weeks. If you are able to contribute at least one night every other week and are interested in this ministry, please contact Kess Ballentine at kess.ballentine@gmail.com. |
| Barrels for Bromley
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As part of our ongoing relationship with the Bromley School in Liberia, during Lent, St. Philips is filling shipping barrels with much needed clothing, reading, and other supplies to send to the girls, teachers, and staff. You can help!
Donate new or gently used items that have been requested:
- Casual warm weather clothing items (t-shirts, shorts, underwear) for girls aged 4-18
- Shoes, flip flops & crocs in various sizes
- Solar calculators
- Paperback leisure reading (like Magic Tree House)
- Prayer books & hymnals
- Tape recorders (2) and cassettes
- Deflated playground balls (soccer, volleyball, etc.) & hand air pumps
- Laptops for staff use (see Donna Rewalt for specifications)
- Work clothes for maintenance staff (see Donna Rewalt for specifications)
- Spiral notebooks, pencils, erasers, crayons, pencil sharpener, ruler (30cm), blunt-end scissors
Contribute toward shipping costs: Make checks payable to St. Philip's and note "Bromley Shipment" memo line.
Write a letter to a Bromley student. Print clearly, include your full name and St. Philip's Durham on the letter, and include a picture or other flat enclosure if you like. (No money please.)
Donations and letters can be left in the Bromley Donation Box in the Parish Hall.
Questions? Ask Lowell Dargbeh (lowelldargbeh@msn.com), Donna Rewalt (drewalt@earthlink.net, 475-3344 ), or Carolyn Kreuger (ckreug@earthlink.net, 683-1707).
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Planning Ahead: Adult Formation in Lent
Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
3/21 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me."In this series we have looked at suffering locally and beyond - and seen signs of hope through the work of various people and initiatives. And yet, the "cross" in all its manifestations still exists. How are we to understand our relationship with God in the midst of the cross? How are we to experience joy in the Resurrection when the crosses are still there? The Rev. Dr. Marilyn Adams will facilitate this discussion of the cross and theodicy. Our discussion will continue on Wednesday, 3/24.
Rector's Bible Study
The Bible Study on Exodus will meet in the Library Thursday, March 25 studying Chapters 16 - 20:21.
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| Children's News
Visiting the Atrium
Visitors are welcome to observe any of our four atriums at any time. Quiet observation allows the catechists to maintain the atmosphere of the atrium without disruption. One or two adults may sit in the atrium, and there are windows in every door for those who wish to remain outside. Observation will help you understand what the children are doing on Sunday mornings, and are very beneficial to anyone who would like to volunteer in an atrium.
Also, "Introduction to the Catechesis of Good Shepherd" booklets are now available upstairs and near the nursery. Please take one or share with a newcomer!
VBS Registration
It's time to register for Under Construction: A Habitat for Humanity Vacation Bible School. Under Construction welcomes preschoolers (3-4 year olds) through rising 6th graders to share Christian faith through service to the church and to the community beyond the church. Vacation Bible School will be June 21-25, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Attendance at Under Construction is expected to be heavy. We strongly encourage pre-registration to ensure your child's place in this terrific VBS. Registration forms are available at www.stphilipsdurham.org and at church on the credenza. Please return them to the church office as soon as possible. For questions or to find out how you can help with this exciting VBS, contact Molly Reingruber, Director of Children's Ministries at mollyr@stphilipsdurham.org or 919-682-5708.
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Women's Book Group
The Women's Book Group is back on schedule to meet the 2nd Monday, April 12 at 7 p.m. We will meet at Elizabeth Vigdor's house, 3102 Chelmsford Drive in Lochnora to discuss The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Please join us! Questions? Contact Sarah Johnson at 403-6355 or semjohnson@bigfoot.com.
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Haiti
St. Philip's Response - The children of St. Philip's are collecting funds to send to Episcopal Relief & Development to provide relief and assistance to the people of Haiti. Donations can be made through Lent. The collection jar will be present at each worship service. Please join them in this effort of love and compassion. To date they have collected over $2,000.
Craft Sale for Haiti
The Level III Atrium children have made some beautiful art magnets with the help of Debbie Wuliger. We'll be selling these and baked goods Sunday, March 21 after the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services to raise money for the Hands Helping Haiti project. Please come shop in the parish hall.
Water Walk Pour Haiti
The United Nations General Assembly designated March 22nd of each year as World Water Day. This year, residents in the Triangle will gather and recognize World Water Day with a "water walk pour Haiti" event on Saturday, March 20, at 10:00 a.m. at the corner of Corcoran Street and Parrish Street. Triangle residents will gather in downtown Durham and walk almost 2 miles to raise money and awareness for the on-going work that must continue as the people of Haiti rebuild their country. This year we have chosen a dynamic and unique organization, The Lambi Fund of Haiti. This grassroots organization operates on the premise that Haitian people understand how best to achieve sustainable development in their country. We, members of the Triangle, want to make our contributions to that reality. For more information contact waterwalkforhaiti@gmail.com or call 919-641-8533. If you are intersted in joining the St. Philip's team contact Jill Staton Bullard at jillstatonbullard@gmail.com
Blog by The Rev. Lauren Stanley,
Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40
(The above photo is the tent camp at St. Vincent's Orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.) |
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2nd Annual Parish Art Show
St. Philip's Art Guild presents "Divine Landscapes" April 18 - May 22nd. The places and spaces we live in reflect, challenge and shape our understanding of God, the world, and in turn our call to prayer and action. Therefore, not only the natural world, but also environments formed by society over time can be "divine landscapes."
We invite parishioners, clergy, staff, alumni and their immediate families to submit artistic representations of how some aspect of the physical world in which we live functions as a "divine landscape." This theme can be interpreted broadly to reflect the guild's objective of offering a forum for the artistic self-expression of parishioners and affiliates of all skill levels. For More information contact Kathryn Olive 919-490-6944 or kathrynolive@gmail.com.
(photo submitted by Annette Montgomery) |
Urban Ministries
Casseroles
A new recipe for Zucchini-Sausage Casserole is available in the foyer  of the Parish House. Please consider joining the team of casserole cooks. If you would like Clark Grundler to cook for you, he can be contacted at clarkg56@msn.com. For all questions please contact Sarah Nevill at 491- 2364 or sarah.nevill@gmail.com. Thanks for your support. |
NAMI Course
NAMI Durham will offer NAMI Basics, a free 6-week course for parents and primary caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illness, starting Thursday, March 25 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3639 Old Chapel Hill Road. The course will cover information about ADHD, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse Disorders; coping skills, such as handling crisis and relapse; basic information about medication use in the treatment of mental illness in children; listening and communication techniques; problem solving skills; and an overview of the mental health and school systems' roles in treating children with mental illness.
The course will be taught by David Smith and Donna Foreman, parents of individuals who developed mental illness as children. For more information or to register for this class, please call David Smith at 919-489-5515 or e-mail at das@math.duke.edu. | |
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Highlighted Program
Holy Week and Easter Services
The final week before Easter is Holy Week which begins with Palm Sunday. Ancient manuscripts of these liturgies remind us that, in practice, they were experienced as one single event. In this way we walk with Jesus into Jerusalem, into Gethsemane, and to the cross. Below is our schedule of services. Please note that childcare in the nursery will be available for Sunday and evevning services of Holy Week.
3/28 Palm Sunday: 8:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist; 11:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist At St. Philip's we will process into the church as a symbolic reminder of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. We will enact Jesus' passion in remembrance that victory over death came through Christ's sacrificial life. After we sing the final hymn, all will process out of the church in silence. Again, this calls to mind that the service has not concluded but we are at the beginning of the holiest week of our church year.
3/29 Holy Monday: 12:00 p.m. Said Eucharist, Side Chapel
3/30 Holy Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. Said Eucharist, Side Chapel
3/31 Tenebrae: 12:00 p.m. Said Eucharist, Side Chapel
7:00 p.m. This service consists of psalms, scripture and prayers, sung and recited by the choir and congregation. At its conclusion a great noise is heard signifying the closing of Christ's tomb and all depart in silence in the shadows cast by a solitary candle.
6:00 p.m. Children's Prayer Walk, Garden This event designed for children of our congregation will allow people to walk with Jesus through his last days.
4/1 Maundy Thursday: 7:00 p.m. Foot-washing and Choral Eucharist
With this service we enter into the Triduum, meaning three days. These services have been observed since the 4th century to mark Christ's death and resurrection. In John's gospel Jesus showed this love to his disciples through the humble act of washing their feet. It is for this reason that we re-enact this example of Jesus. This beautiful and powerful action engages us with the bodily reality of Jesus and his life of servanthood (John 13:34).
4/2 Good Friday: 12:00 p.m. Way of the Cross with Durham downtown congregations
7:00 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy
At St. Philip's we mark Good Friday with two distinct services. At noon we will gather at St. Philip's, along with members of other congregations, to walk the Way of the Cross through our downtown neighborhood. The evening service is the Good Friday liturgy from our Book of Common Prayer. In this solemn liturgy we gather as a community to be with Christ on the cross.
4/3 Holy Saturday and Sacrament of Reconciliation: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
On this day, figuratively, Jesus is absent from the church. The church becomes the empty tomb where we wait. There is a brief prayer service in the church. Parishioners are invited to meet with a priest for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, more commonly known as confession. If confession is new for parishioners they might consider meeting with a priest for some instruction on how to prepare for the sacrament and why it is an aspect of our church life.
4/3 The Great Vigil of Easter: 8:00 p.m. This is the holiest night of our year. We will gather outside the church to remember that this is the night when our Lord passed over from death into life. This is marked with the lighting of the paschal flame in our garden. We will process into the church in darkness, and each of us will connect to that light with our own candle. And then the Vigil begins and we sit and listen to the stories of God's relationship with us.
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