After-School Music and Homework Program: Volunteer Opportunities
As the After-School Music and Homework Program prepares to begin again in September, we appeal for help in the following areas:
o    volunteer walkers and/or homework supervisors
o    donations for snacks and instrument rental fees
o    donations to help transport the kids to church on days when it is too hot to walk ($25 a day).

Please sign up during coffee hour. Returning volunteers are asked to sign up as well. Thank you!
Save the Date: Welcome Sunday
St. Philip's annual celebration of the beginning of the program year will take place on Sunday, September 13, with special "welcome" liturgies and a gala informational gathering in the Murphey Gallery at 10:15 a.m. Invite a friend to attend with you!

The "Welcome" sign, which hangs in the north breezeway, was created by participants at Summer Journey in July. A link to the Summer Journey photo gallery, which appeared in the Foothills section of the AZ Star, is found on St. Philip's Latest News page.


A Handbell Opportunity

When one hears the word "Stewardship," the immediate thought is pledging money to the Church. Although pledging money to support the ministries of St. Philip's is important, stewardship is not just about making a monetary pledge. Stewardship can be summarized as observing, caring for and protecting the gifts that God has entrusted to us, including:
o    Our treasure
o    Our talents and skills
o    Our health
o    Our environment
o    Our relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and those in need
o    Our community
o    Our laws
Stewardship begins and ends with the understanding of God's ownership of all. During the next few weeks the Sunday bulletin will include brief "word bites" on the various aspects of Stewardship. "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (Psalm 24:1).


Elder Care and You
Bumper sticker seen in St. Philip's parking lot: "Aging ... if it's not your issue, it will be"

St. Philippians may not be aware of who in our parish community and our community at large is struggling with the plethora of issues and concerns related to aging, in part because very often people feel isolated by trying to cope alone. Various ministries at St. Philip's have been discussed, including developing ways to connect those in need with the services offered by agencies such as Pima Council on Aging, finding a means of providing ongoing support to seniors and to caregivers, and even exploring whether offering a senior activity center might be a feasible and successful ministry at St. Philip's. The ongoing forum series "Elder Care and You" provides St. Philippians a chance to share their stories about caring for aging parents or other loved ones. The next session is Sunday, August 23, at 10:15 a.m. in the East Gallery. Efforts toward better serving senior citizens and those who love them are a response to several of the "dreams" expressed during the Mission Discernment process. You are encouraged to read more, and you may also want to check out John Kitagawa's impressions from a preliminary visit to PCOA. Then join in dialogue with the St. Philip's community by posting your comments on St. Philip's Facebook page.