As of December 16, 521 parishioners have pledged $971,887, with 65 new pledges this year. That is significant progress toward our targets of $1,250,000 and 650 pledges. Thank you all for your support of St. Philip's ministries!

Although we have celebrated Covenant Sunday, with the ingathering of Covenant! 2010 pledges, there is still time to make your pledge! Each person's pledge is very important to St. Philip's mission and ministries. Making pledges by the end of 2009 will help the Vestry make informed decisions about the 2010 ministry and program funding.

Pledge materials are available on St. Philip's Web site.




Recording Secretary Needed
The Preservation and Endowment Foundation is looking for a recording secretary to replace Colleen Coyle Mathis, who has served with distinction for the past two years. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month in La Paz (summer recess June through August). Contact Bill Brinkley, President, at 888-1462.

Casa Maria Seeks Coordinators
The Casa Maria sandwich making ministry is still seeking volunteers to form a coordinators team. Information about the ministry is found in the September/October issue of Loaves & Fishes.

Annual Meeting Notice
The 2010 Annual Meeting of St. Philip's In The Hills Parish will be held on two Sundays in January, 17 and 24 January 2010. On both Sundays we will observe the usual service schedule, with the Rector's Report given as the sermon. On January 17, the Annual Meeting Part I, at 10:15 a.m. in the Murphey Gallery, will focus on the "dreams" that came out of the Mission Discernment process -- some that have already been realized and ongoing progress on others -- with opportunities for Q&A. On January 24, the Annual Meeting Part II, at 10:15 a.m., will include 75th Anniversary Committee, Treasurer's, Buildings & Grounds, and Preservation & Endowment Foundation reports, with opportunities for Q&A. Elections of five Vestry members for 3-year terms and one for a 2-year term, the Junior Warden for a 1-year term, and five lay delegates to the Annual Diocesan Convention will take place at Part II of the Annual Meeting (January 24) only. The Vestry Nominating Committee has selected a slate of candidates. Nominations from the floor will be accepted at Part I of the Annual Meeting (January 17). In order to be nominated, the nominee must be a member, pledging in 2010; must have previously agreed to serve, if elected; and must bring 150 copies of a one-sheet biography with picture. There will be no nominations from the floor during Part II of the Annual Meeting (January 24).

The following are the slate of candidates for Vestry: Sue Cross, James Humphreys, Bill Kruse, Alison Lee, and Cassandra Ridlinghafer for three-year terms and Richard Powell for a two-year term. Bios of these candidates were mailed this week in Fragments and are available on St. Philip's Web site under "latest news." Delegates to Diocesan Convention include Bob Brouillette, John Driskill, Debbie Walker, Tom Cross, and a youth delegate to be named. There will be two opportunities to meet and speak to these candidates at Sunday morning forums on January 3 and 10.

In spring of 2008, as we began the process of discerning what God is calling St. Philip's to be and do, more than 900 "dreams" were expressed by more than 400 parishioners. Many of these dreams have been realized. Many more have been incorporated in the parish's ongoing goals, and progress is continuing. The Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 17, will provide an exciting update on your dreams in action. More information about Mission Discernment is available on St. Philip's Web site.







Advent Meditations
Daily meditations to provide inspiration during this Advent season, written by diverse members of your Parish family, are available on St. Philip's Web site.












Fun at the Greening!
St. Philip's LBGT "Phamily" supervised the work, while the Parish Life Ministry provided a festive supper. Members of St. Philip's youth groups filled paper bags for luminarias, and the Tucson Flute Club provided music to help volunteers whistle while they worked.