St. Philip's will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension on Thursday, May 29, at 7 p.m. in the Church. Ascension Day is one of the earliest Christian festivals. During the 40 days after his resurrection, Jesus met several times with his disciples to instruct them on how to carry out his teachings. It is believed that on the 40th day he took them to the Mount of Olives, where they watched as he ascended to heaven. Incense will be used at the Ascension Day service. Afterwards, Parish Life Ministry will host a festive reception in the Perry Garden.


The next meeting for St. Philip's Prison Ministry will be Wednesday, May 28, at 4:30 p.m. in La Paz. We are very excited that Bishop Smith has appealed to the people of our diocese to join together in this mission. We will be talking more about this joint venture and reviewing our options and obligations set forth at our last meeting.  We hope you can join us. Matthew 25:36: "I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."

On Thursday, May 29, at 11:15 a.m., Fuentes Rojas/Bordado por la Paz is again going public! Our  "taller," or workshop, will be at Beyond Bread (Campbell just north of Glenn). We'll find a perfect place to sit, take time for lunch and/or a cup of coffee, and take out our panuelos and embroider together. Our aim is to announce our solidarity with victims of the US-Mexico Drug War and to gain the interest and participation of people in the broader Tucson community. We hope this is the first of many monthly "tallers" at public venues. There are a variety of places where we can meet in the coming months, indoors for the summer and outdoors when fall arrives. We'll talk about plans for being public witnesses to the victims of drug violence. Contact BorderImmigrationMin@stphilipstucson.org for a list of inexpensive supplies or if you have questions.

Seasoned Singles will gather for potluck at Joyce Schumann's home at 5:30 p.m., on Saturday, May 31. Bring a salad, vegetable dish, or dessert and the beverage of your choice. RSVP to Joyce, 529-7421, or JoAnn, 303-3379. RSVPs will get further directions to Joyce's house.

Are you a "sage-ing" senior looking for opportunities to share your wisdom, cultivate your value as an Elder, deepen self-awareness, and develop a satisfying spirituality? Connect with like-minded people about the gifts and challenges of aging and of living a full, vibrant and vital life. St. Philip's Elder Circle meets the last Wednesday of each month, 10:30-11:30 a.m., in Room 10 at St. Philip's. Everyone is welcome to this gathering of savvy seniors. Join us to tell the stories, tales, and insights acquired with age. Presented in partnership with the Center for Community Dialogue. Free; no RSVP needed. Info: Brigid.

St. Philip's offers a week-long Art Camp from 9 a.m. till noon June 2-6. Entitled "THREE-D," the camp will include visual arts with an emphasis on sculpture, as well as musical components, for children attending first through sixth grades in the fall. Campers will be divided into two age groups for lessons and materials appropriate for their learning level. The camp fee is $80 per child and includes all materials. Partial scholarships are available. For information and registration, contact Bruce Phillips or call 971-6779.

Special envelopes will be placed in the pews on June 1 for contributions toward the Bishop's discretionary fund. This fund is used to help clergy and their families in need.

At 10:15 a.m., Bishop Smith will lead a compelling time of spiritual exploration. He has recently found inspiration in Barbara Brown Taylor's book, "Learning to Walk in the Dark," and through her work will invite us to reflect on "shadow spirituality." Through darkness we find courage, we understand the world in new ways, and we feel God's presence around us, guiding us through things seen and unseen. The Bishop will also draw on the inspiring work of St. John of the Cross and Carl Jung in his presentation.