St. Philip's annual Outdoor Art Show is Sunday, October 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year, in addition to quality art ranging from paintings to jewelry to furniture, the show features artists' demonstrations of their work, as well as a booth staffed by Imago Dei students to help visiting children make "found art" masks. Please help us advertise our show by going to St. Philip's Web site, downloading the show brochure, and distributing it to your friends.

Your help on the 25th is also needed. If you can volunteer as little as 2 hours to help our visiting artists, contact Sharon Mann or call 301-6143. And don't forget, this is an excellent opportunity to find classy and unique gifts for your family and friends.

A couple of notes: The parking lot east of the office and Gallery will be closed to traffic on the 25th, as will the driveway between the Church and the Plaza. There will be shuttles to assist worshippers and fair-goers to and from the north parking lot. Also, note that there will be no parish breakfast that morning.



Early Education Halloween Party
St. Philip's Young Couples group is hosting a Halloween party for all young St. Philippians on Sunday, October 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Children's Chapel, with games and activities to celebrate Halloween, including making our own trick-or-treat bags. Activities will be geared for children in grade 3 and younger. Please bring goodies to share for trick-or-treat bags (healthy options encouraged). Feel free to come in costume! You do not need to belong to the Young Couples group to attend. To RSVP or with questions, contact Tamzin Sugiyama.



 
Mark Your Calendar:
Two Special Services in Early November
November 2 is All Souls' Day, which is the traditional time to remember loved ones enjoying eternal life in the nearer presence of God. At St. Philip's, our Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving with Sung Eucharist Rite II will be at 7 p.m. on November 2 in the Church. This celebration of life that is transformed beyond death includes music, prayers, and communion. Families are invited to remember their loved ones by lighting one of the candles outside the church door and placing it on the altar prior to the service. The service is followed by a reception in the Perry Garden.

You are invited to bring your pets to Tucson's longest-running Blessing of the Animals Service on Sunday, November 8, at 9 a.m. in the Plaza. All types of animals are welcome at this service, which celebrates the loving relationship shared by humans and their pets. This service does not include communion. The usual 9 a.m. Rite II Eucharist service will take place in the church.
New Wednesday Evening Series
Welcoming the Stranger: Christians and Immigration, a four-week series on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. beginning October 28, is designed to spark discussion and thought about how to live out God's call for justice in our world. Contact facilitators Suzanne Hesh (325-4469) or Bill Kruse (548-7426) to register for this timely and relevant series. Suggested donation of $10 for workbook and course materials.

For more information about Adult Formation at St. Philip's, see the Adult Formation page on St. Philip's Web site, or subscribe to the weekly adult formation e-letter.

Help Wanted: Mission Support
The Mission Support Commission is one of St. Philip's seven Commissions, or ministry groupings. Mission Support provides the infrastructure that supports doing God's work in the world, both here at St. Philip's and outside our walls. Mission Support includes such ministries as communications, buildings and grounds, and office volunteers.

Artwork for the cover of upcoming issues of Loaves & Fishes, St. Philip's monthly newsletter, is needed! If you are a visual artist and would like your art to be featured on a Loaves & Fishes cover, please contact Wayne Fulton and Gloria Dalder at loavesandfishes@stphilipstucson.org.

If you like to write, to ask questions, and to get to know facets of your St. Philip's community that you may not yet have explored, you might be interested in being a writer for Loaves & Fishes. Budding journalists from St. Philip's three youth groups are especially encouraged to serve as youth reporters. Your ministry would be greatly appreciated. Contact Wayne and Gloria at loavesandfishes@stphilipstucson.org.


The Garden Guild is looking for help in keeping St. Philip's gardens and plantings looking beautiful. Time commitments can be based on your availability. For more information, contact Steve Brong, Parish Administrator.



Are you handy with a wrench, a hammer, a paintbrush, or other tools? St. Philip's Phixers, the men and women who take care of the details to keep our facilities shipshape, always welcome new members. The Phixers meet each Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. until noon. If you are interested, but not available on Monday mornings, there are opportunities to participate in special projects on a weekend day. For more information, contact Steve Brong, Parish Administrator.




What Is the Diocesan Assessment?
In the Covenant! 2010 pledge campaign brochure, you will read that one of the budgeted items is the money St. Philip's pays toward the work of the Diocese. Sometimes the benefits that congregations reap from their Diocesan Mission Share are not obvious. In Bishop Smith's second e-pistle addressing the Diocesan Assessment, he highlights how this money is used to fund the mission activities of the Church in the United States and around the world.


Good Sense during Flu Season
As we enter flu season, it is a challenge to display due prudence while continuing to engage in the activities of daily living. Two good tips to remember are to use common sense (wash your hands frequently and take other sensible precautions) and show consideration for others (stay home if you are sick).

There has been concern expressed in the media about the possibility of transmitting the influenza virus via the Eucharist. St. Philip's responses include ...
...Before the Eucharist begins, while the table is being set, the clergy apply antibacterial hand sanitizer.
...During communion, you may choose whether to partake of the wine directly from the chalice or intinct by dipping the host into the chalice. Studies have shown that the practices are equally safe. Of course if you believe you are coming down with the flu, it would be wise to refrain from taking communion.
...Similarly, you may prefer to greet fellow parishioners at the Peace with a verbal "the Lord be with you" rather than a handshake or hug.

A flu shot clinic is offered at St. Philip's on Sunday, November 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Palo Verde. The cost for the seasonal flu vaccine is $25 and for the pneumonia vaccine is $45. Some insurance plans cover the cost. Note that this is the vaccine against the seasonal influenza virus, not the H1N1 "swine flu" virus. That vaccine is not yet generally available. As soon as it is released, the Pastoral Care Commission will make arrangements for an H1N1 vaccine clinic at St. Philip's.

More information, from the Diocesan Emergency Preparedness Committee, is found on the Diocese of Arizona Web site.