There is still time to enroll in the special Lenten retreat based on the Gospel of John, with retreat leaders Wes Howard-Brook and Sue Ferguson Johnson. The retreat will begin with supper at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 21, through 9 p.m. that evening, and will continue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 22. Our retreat will interweave shared prayer, presentation from our retreat leaders, individual silence, and small group sharing, sewn together with stories from the Gospel of John that have been used by the church during Lent since the early centuries of Christianity. Seeking a deeper experience of God's presence in your daily life? Wondering where God is calling you to embody God's Light in the darkness? Whether your thirst this Lent is to find true peace in Christ or to move more deeply into "the world," come join us for a time apart in which we can listen together to God's Word: in prayer, in Scripture, in our lives. Wherever you may be on your journey with God, we invite you, as Jesus says, to "Come and see!" Together, Wes Howard-Brook and Sue Ferguson Johnson share the ministry "Abide in Me," grounded in the imagery from the Gospel of John that calls disciples to integrate the inner and outer, the mystical and prophetic, the private and public journeys.

$45 retreat fee includes materials and meals ($20 for Friday evening only, $30 for Saturday only). Scholarship assistance is available. Contact the Rev. Greg Foraker to register.


During Lent, J2A invites you to join them for Lenten suppers--tasty soups, salad, bread, and dessert--continuing every Wednesday evening through April 9, 6-7 p.m., Murphey Gallery, $7/person and $20/family. J2A is grateful for your Pilgrimage support!

At 7 p.m. in the West Gallery, join Richard Kuns for a discussion of "The Sacred Art of Loving-Kindness," using Rabbi Rami Shapiro's book by that title. This book helps you explore Judaism's Thirteen Attributes of Lovingkindness as the framework for cultivating a life of goodness. Shapiro translates these attributes into practices--drawn from the teachings of a variety of faith traditions--that allow you to actualize God's glory through personal deeds of lovingkindness. Attendees are encouraged to purchase a copy of the book, because discussions will be based on readings from it.

At 7 p.m. in La Paz, Eric Rau and the Rev. Brigid Waszczak lead "Abbas and Ammas." Discover the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, forerunners of the monastic movement.  These intriguing mystics left a treasure trove of wisdom for spiritual pilgrims of every generation.  Interactive sessions will reflect on and discuss the words, anecdotes, and teachings of several Abbas and Ammas. Join us for a modern mystical experience!

Finally, a discussion series targeted specifically for those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, entitled "Expressing Our Faith," meets at 7 p.m. in the Renouf/Nelson Library. The group will discuss how Evangelism, Outreach, Community and Fellowship, and Rituals at Home and Education affect who we become spiritually.

The evening ends with a Compline service at 8 p.m. in the Chapel of the Nativity.

St. Philip's Friends of Music presents noontime recitals during Lent on Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. through April 10. An array of talented local instrumentalists and vocalists will provide thirty minutes of music - an entertaining and relaxing way to spend your lunch hour. On Thursday, March 20, Mary Lonsdale Baker and Bernadette Harvey, piano duo, present "Three Bs for Four Hands," featuring music by Bizet, Barber, and Brahms. Mary, a respected local "pianist about town," will be joined by internationally known pianist Bernadette, who is in Tucson as a lecturer at the Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival. Check out the 20 dazzling fingers! Classical guitarist Mark Akin presents classical guitar music with flair on Thursday, March 27. Akin has a Master's Degree in guitar performance from UA and performs widely and eclectically in Nashville and Tucson and points between. On Thursday, April 3, St. Philip's Director of Music Woosug Kang, an acclaimed organist who performs across the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, will share "Organ Music through the Lenten Journey." This recital will take place in the Church. The series concludes on Thursday, April 10, with Arizona Opera Company soprano Amy Williams and pianist Bonnie Bird presenting "Royal Treatment." Their program of arias features operatic royalty. Hear your favorite princesses, queens and countesses brought to vibrant life. Admission is by donation ($10 suggested).

The Church School children invite you to experience a bustling market in Jesus' day on Sunday, March 23, from 10:15 to about 11:15 a.m., in the plaza at St. Philip's Church, as the children recreate a marketplace in ancient Jerusalem featuring interactive "storefronts" filled with near-authentic food and goods. Markets in ancient Jerusalem were exciting places filled with commotion. Merchants hawked everything from fresh produce to linen cloth to brass lamp stands. Exotic animals such as apes and peacocks were offered, along with sheep and goats for sacrifices. According to Middle Eastern custom, buyer and seller must haggle over the price of every item. Proverbs 20: 14 describes this type of exchange: "It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth." St. Philip's Jerusalem Marketplace will not include apes and peacocks, nor will sacrifices take place, but visitors may savor the aromas of the spice shop and fruit peddler, stop by the bakery for warm bread, taste olives and other fare. Watch the artisans demonstrating their crafts and perhaps participate yourself. Pause for a refreshing cup of water. Be sure to keep out of the way of the Roman Centurions as you linger! The sights, sounds, and smells of ancient Jerusalem will surround you as the colorfully costumed children of St. Philip's lead you back in time.