St. Philippians in your 20s, 30s, and 40s ... Join us on Wednesday, September 25, at 7 p.m. for drinks, dinner, and an open discussion about faith, Christianity, and their roles in our lives. Contact Serena Zelezny Hall for more information, serenarz@yahoo.com.

Please invite your friends and neighbors to come to our Open House on Sunday, September 29, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. This is a great way to introduce them to our faith community and our many ministries. There will be guided and self-guided tours of the campus, with ministry informational displays in various ministry areas. Snacks and sandwiches will be served! Think about the people you know -- at work, school, children's play groups, or other activities, neighbors, or even family members -- who might find meaning and joy in Christ's beloved community, specifically St. Philip's. Invite them to come with you. Send them to the web site (click on the "Open House" link for basic St. Philip's information) or to our "Good News" publication to begin learning about who we are and the ways we serve each other and the community around us.

Ministry leaders -- there is a drop-in orientation meeting on Wednesday, September 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. Please stop by during that time to learn about your involvement in Open House and pick up materials.

The first Friends of Music concert of the 2013-2014 season will feature the Kingfisher String Quartet, on Sunday, September 29, at 2 p.m. in the Church. Tucson's leading chamber group, composed of Benjamin Nisbet and Ellen Chamberlain, violin, Emma Votapek, viola, and Anne Gratz, cello, will perform quartets by Beethoven and Brahms. The Kingfisher String Quartet was founded in 2008, and have since established themselves as one of Southern Arizona's finest chamber ensembles. During their time together, the KSQ has combined a mastery of the standard quartet repertoire with an ambitious collaborative schedule to critical and public acclaim. As members of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the individual players in this exciting group have established themselves firmly in the Tucson performing community, while also diligently working to educate young musicians. Admission is by donation ($15 suggested).

There are fun and different events in the offing this season for Friends of Music. Read all about it on the new Friends of Music web site.

On Sunday, October 6, at the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services, the St. Philip's Singers, Canterbury Choir, and Canterbury Apprentices join forces with chamber orchestra to present Josef Haydn's majestic Mass in the Time of War as part of the liturgy. This mass is most appropriate in times when we are surrounded by difficult news, to enrich our sense of hope and joy while going through trials; it is truly a masterpiece that illustrates the timeless genius of Haydn.

Newcomer Orientation Sessions provide the perfect opportunity to ask questions and gain information about the life of the Parish. Four sessions meet at 10:15 a.m. in the Renouf/Nelson Library. October 6: Singing and Praying (Woosug Kang, Director of Music, will give an overview of the music program, and a representative from the Friends of Music will speak of the special music events the group sponsors and how they support the music program at St. Philip's). October 13: Caring and Sharing (Bill Kruse, Worship Commissioner, will give a brief overview of the many ministries serving the congregation, the surrounding community, and the world). October 20: Preaching and Teaching (the Rev. Greg Foraker, Assistant to the Rector, will profile the clergy of St. Philip's, describe the various worship services offered, and present information about the varied, interesting, and inspiring Adult Formation offerings). October 27: Giving and Receiving (Beth Brouillette, a member of the Vestry, will address St. Philip's approach to stewardship as it relates to our use of time and talent).

Yoga Unlimited is in its fourteenth year at St. Philip's. In a nurturing, safe setting you will learn to move your body mindfully, in gentle as well as challenging ways. You will tap into the body-mind connection through self-awareness exercises, conscious breathing techniques, visualization, deep relaxation, and beginning meditation practices - all designed to bring strength, flexibility, balance, and profound well-being to body, mind, and spirit. Yoga for Beginners classes are offered on Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. The fee for 8 weeks is $75. Discounts are available for couples or for those taking more than one class per week. The next courses start October 1 and 3. Instructor Hanna Soule is a certified Integrative Yoga Therapist with over 30 years of teaching experience, in both Europe and the USA. She has studied with many internationally known teachers of Yoga, meditation, and movement and has developed her own eclectic style of Yoga. For more information and to register, please contact Hanna Soule at 623-6163.

Currently, American Sign Language (ASL) is the third largest language being used in USA and Canada. More schools and colleges are offering ASL as part of their second language requirement. Come and learn from someone whose first language is sign language. Parishioner Clifford R. Rowley was a research chemist until he retired in 2001 after 35 years with a chemical manufacturer in NJ. After retirement, he taught at TUSD for a few years as a substitute teacher at Tucson Magnet High School (THS). He currently serves on the board of the New York School for the Deaf. Before coming to St. Philip's, he served on the vestry at St Peter's Episcopal Church in Mountain Lakes, NJ. Sign up to participate in the exciting learning experience with communicating in silence. The course will meet weekly from October 13 until mid-December on Sundays at 10:15 a.m. If there is demand, an evening class may be also scheduled. Preregistration is requested. Please contact Cliff Rowley at crrowley22@gmail.com.

Tucson was recently identified as the 6th poorest city in the country. Interested in how our city and county leaders will address this? Then come to the Pima County Interfaith Council (PCIC) Community Issues Accountability Session on October 6, at 2 p.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, First and Ft Lowell. All four candidates for City Council have confirmed their attendance. They will be asked individually about their positions on jobs, bus fares, and other issues relating to poverty. In addition, County Supervisor Richard Elias will address immigration and workforce issues. What happens in the city affects all of us, wherever we live. For more information, contact Rev. Leah Sandwell-Weiss or call 661-8696.