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St. Philip's In The Hills Episcopal Church
Parish News:
Connecting Electronically   North Campbell Avenue at River Road, Tucson
August 15, 2011
hands of St. Philip's
In This Issue
Special Announcement from the Rector
What's Going On
On the Horizon
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St. Philip's Green Team has published Green Tips, suggestions for things you can do to help save our planet!


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Greetings!

For 6 months of the liturgical year we retrace the story of Jesus--from anticipating his arrival to celebrating his birth and ministry to making sense of his death, resurrection, and ascension. During the season after Pentecost, we ponder the question: If Jesus is the Christ, then who are we? We invite you to seek answers through the many spiritual, educational, musical, and ministry opportunities at St. Philip's.    

If you know of someone who might like to receive these e-updates, whether they're a parishioner or someone interested in St. Philip's, feel free to use the "forward to a friend" link to share the newsletter with them! That doesn't add them to any lists but gives them the opportunity to choose to subscribe.

We hope this e-letter is a useful tool in connecting and staying connected with our St. Philip's community!

Special Announcement from the Rector   
 

I am very pleased and deeply grateful to announce that St. Philip's has received a donor restricted gift of $500,000. Our benefactor is a member of the parish who wishes to remain anonymous. The sole purpose of this gift is to fund solar panels that will enable St. Philip's to become more responsible stewards of God's creation. Solar panels are in keeping with Green Team projects such as replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights, an energy audit of our facilities, and the potential replacement of old fluorescent light fixtures with more energy efficient fixtures. Several options have been investigated, and the most attractive is to install the solar panels on covered parking to be built in the East Parking Lot. To be clear, failure to use these funds for this specific purpose would mean the return of the funds to the donor.

This generous gift comes at a time when the parish struggles to fund its expenditures in support of our meaningful ministries. Research indicates that this project will cut the parish's annual expenditure for electric power by as much as 40%. Moreover, this gift is an expression of the donor's commitment to the stewardship of God's creation, and to the ongoing vision, life, and ministry of this parish. The donor hopes this gift will not only accomplish its singular purpose, but also inspire other parishioners' generosity in support of God's "fragile earth, our island home."

Faithfully yours, 

 

John 


The Reverend John E. Kitagawa, D. Min.
Rector

 

 solar power

What's Going On

 

COMFY SPACE PLANNING MEETING
dream bigLast Sunday was our August Comfy Space service, aimed at families and friends of God who are prone to "wiggle" a bit during worship. Our theme was "Dream Big," and everyone there got enthusiastically involved in the dreaming/planning of Comfy Space. Folks shared lots of good prayers and dream ideas -- showing that Comfy Space worship belongs to everyone at St. Philips, that is, "the work of the people!" We will have a planning meeting on Saturday, August 20, from 10 a.m. until noon in La Paz. We'll be discussing our upcoming service on the second Sunday of September, September 11. If you are interested in participating, contact the Rev. Allen Breckenridge at ComfySpace@stphilipstucson.org.

 

 


FRIENDS OF MUSIC SUMMER CONCERTS

 Marie Sierra, Elena Todd, John Snavely 

  

  

Friends of Music's popular summer concert series continues on Sunday, August 21 at 2 p.m. in the Church, with "Reeds and Roulades." Three Tucson favorites -- Elena Todd, soprano, John Snavely, clarinet and Marie Sierra, piano, present an afternoon of music new to your ears and tunes familiar, but perhaps with a twist. The concert ends with a set of pops of the great Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Read more.

 

Cassandra Bendickson, Cindy Behmer, Kevin Justus

  

  

 

  

  

On August 28, at 2 p.m. in the Church, "Reeds, Keys, and Cords" will feature chamber music for oboe, English horn, clarinet, bassoon, horn, piano, and guitar, with Cindy Behmer, Kevin Justus, Cassandra Bendickson, Gregory Helseth, Michael Dauphinais, and Philip Hemmo. The melodic winds of oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn; the delicate stroking of keys on piano; and the ring of plucked cords on guitar are the elements brought together by skilled musicians for this potpourri concert. Add collaboration and passionate performance, and you've a recipe for an afternoon of chamber music that is not to be missed. Read more.


Admission to both concerts is by donation ($15 suggested). 

 


SUNDAY MORNING FORUMS

Late Medieval Summer Lecture Series Concludes August 21
Sunday, August 21, will be the final lecture in this summer's series, presented by the UA Division for Late Medieval and Reformation Studies. The series has focused on prominent examples of expulsion or voluntary emigration out of religious motives--the desire to retain the faith of a group's ancestors or to find an environment within which to practice "true religion." Ute Lotz-Heumann, Oberman Professor of Late Medieval and Reformation History, presents "A New Life? Huguenot Communities in Europe and North America after 1685." At 10:15 a.m. in the Music Center. 

 

Summer Series flier  

  

Stories Alive! Concludes August 28
Living stories are accounts of the soul. A varied group of storytellers this summer shared a treasure of personal experience that, directed to others, has changed their own lives in deeply spiritual ways. On Sunday, August 28, parishioner Yvonne Creanga will lead a surprising conversation about her journey in the late 1970s as a young adolescent from a sheltered musical education in Romania to a continuing search for meaning and satisfaction in the western world. Yvonne is a violist with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and directs both the local Chamber Music Academy for Adults and Young Artists in Chamber Music. At 10:15 a.m. in the East Gallery.

  

Yvonne Creanga  

 

 

  Phixers Workshops  

PHIXERS "PHORUM"  

St. Philip's Phixers present workshops on home maintenance topics the 4th Sunday of each month at 12:30 p.m. On Sunday, August 28, in the East Gallery: Power! In time for holiday gift-shopping, Charles de Paul, of ACE Hardware at Campbell Plaza, will discuss hand-held power tools and how to know which ones to use for which task. Some hands-on opportunities.

  

 

 


 

ice cream 

 

"SEASONED" SINGLES ICE CREAM SOCIAL

"Seasoned" senior men and women, widowed, divorced and never married: we will have an ice cream social on Sunday evening, August 28, at 6:30 p.m. at Joyce Schumann's. We will be entertained by one of our own, stand-up comedian Aram Chorebanian, and make fall plans. We would love to welcome new members to our group! RSVP to Joyce Schumann or Jo Ann Alldredge at SeasonedSingles@stphilipstucson.org.

   

  

 

    

 

On the Horizon

 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH FOUNDATION WORKSHOP
Episcopal Church Foundation presents "A Planned Giving and Endowments Workshop for Your Parish" on Wednesday, September 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., here at St. Philip's. This workshop takes the mystery out of planned giving and endowments. This excellent, informative workshop is provided at no charge as part of your 17 cent Mission Share. Read more.

ECF logo 

 

WELCOME SUNDAY

welcome matWith school starting and fall rapidly approaching, Welcome Sunday is not far off! Welcome Sunday will be Sunday, September 11, and will feature the return of the adult choirs, special liturgical emphases, and a ministry fair all morning in the Murphey Gallery. You may notice that the name of the event is "Welcome" (not "Welcome Back") -- in addition to welcoming each other, we want to take this opportunity to reach out beyond St. Philip's walls. Studies have shown that Episcopalians invite someone to go to Church only once every 20-something years. As our Rector said in the spring wrap-up issue of Loaves & Fishes, "I challenge you to think of and invite an unchurched individual or family to St. Philip's. Think about telling them how you have liked, enjoyed, or benefited from participating in our life and ministries. Think about telling them how St. Philip's makes a difference in the lives of parishioners and Tucsonans. Then, do it!"

EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY

Have you considered a deeper study of your faith?
Education for Ministry (EfM) is a four-year program recommended for anyone who is seeking a deeper understanding of the Christian faith through directed Bible study, theological reflection and stimulating discussion. The program is worldwide and sponsored by the University of the South. During the first year, readings center on the Old Testament and historical commentary on how the books came to be written and chosen for inclusion in the Bible. The second year is devoted to reading the New Testament and discussing the lives of Jesus and Paul. Years three and four cover Christian history, with focus on the schisms in the church as well as the ideas of modern philosophers and theologians. Students at all levels meet together to share their ideas on their readings as well as participating in theological reflection. Our next EfM Class will begin on September 13. Contact The Rev. Ralph Taylor at educationforministry@stphilipstucson.org or 229-9170 to learn more about EfM.  
 

EfM logo  

 

Habitat volunteer 

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILDING FREEDOM DAY

Every year on the anniversary of the tragic 9/11 attacks, Habitat for Humanity Tucson begins construction on several homes, building them from the ground up, to not only memorialize the victims, but to celebrate hope, community and the American dream, at its annual Building Freedom Day. This year, on Sunday, September 11, will be Habitat's 10th annual Building Freedom Day, during which ten new homes will be started. If you are interested in taking part, please contact Dani Hitchcock at 573-7740. Shifts are from 6:30 to 9:00 a.m. and from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. There are also some non-construction openings available. 

 

 

 

 

BooksLIBRARY NEWS
The following new titles have arrived at the Renouf/Nelson Library. Look for the "New Books" display as you enter the Library. 

 

The Way of the Mystics - "an offering of earthy men and women whose feet and hearts were drawn like a magnet to the Divine" by John M. Talbot
   
Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization by Akbar Ahmed
 
The Call to Discernment in Troubled Times: New Perspectives on the Transformative Wisdom of Ignatius of Loyola by Dean Brackley, S.J.
 
Rowan's Rule: The Biography of the Archbishop of Canterbury by Rupert Shortt
   

 

 

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