Copies of St. Philip's Advent Meditation Booklet are still available for you to pick up around campus. This year the meditations were provided by St. Philip's youth groups. You can also find a link to the meditations online on St. Philip's homepage (in the slideshow), or click here.

Spend a few hours on Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Teresa of Avila: Mentor for the Ages. Teresa of Jesus, OCD, known by many as Teresa of Avila, was a prominent 16th century Spanish mystic, saint, Carmelite nun, theologian and church reformer. This spacious and renewing day will include talks, prayer, music and time for reflection and contemplation. Our leader will be the Rev. Dr. Ivan Cormac Marsh, O. Carm, a Carmelite priest of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary since 1978 and now residing in Tucson. $25.00 retreat fee includes materials and lunch. You may register on Saturday morning at the Music Center.

Spaces are still available in the pilgrimage to Santiago, Spain (May 4-18, 2015). This journey to follow the Way of St. James has been a path taken by pilgrims for centuries across the northern region of Spain. After beginning our pilgrimage in Avila at the 500th anniversary of St. Teresa's birth, our group will travel north to make the journey from Roncesvalles to Santiago. Along the way villages, towns, and cities including Burgos will inspire our journey. Sacred places will stir our spirits including the Santo Domingo de Silos Monastery. This active walking pilgrimage involves vigorous physical activity including the ability to walk 5-7 miles, climb steep hills, and be "on one's feet" for several hours on many days. Attend any information meeting to learn about this inspiring journey. Fore more information, contact the Rev. Greg Foraker. You can read about some parishioners' experiences on the Camino here.

Join the 20s/30s/40s Fellowship for a potluck Advent party on Saturday, December 6, from noon to 2 p.m. in La Parroquia (Palo Verde and Mesquite). Bring a dish to share, and please feel free to bring your family and/or a friend! For more information contact 20s30s40s@stphilipstucson.org.

On Saturday, December 6, you are invited to walk St. Philip's meditation labyrinth when the moon is full. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a brief introduction to labyrinths and a presentation on how to get the most out of your walk. Gather in the church plaza. Fellowship and refreshments follow. In case of rain, the labyrinth walks are cancelled.

As is our custom the first Sunday in December, First Sunday Music on December 7 will be the Advent Procession with St. Philip's adult choirs and the St. Nicholas children's choir. This type of Lessons and Carols service became well known from the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols which began in 1918, King's College Chapel, Cambridge, UK. As the title suggests, we process into the season of Advent--a time of reflection and preparation for the celebration to come.

As is usual on First Sundays, donations of nonperishable food to replenish St. Philip's Food Pantry are gratefully accepted. Also, the Prison Ministry collects new or used paperback books to donate to Reading Between the Bars.

Feeling a little blue, lonely, or depressed? The Mental Illness Ministry cordially invites you to the Bride's Room (west of the Perry Garden) on every Sunday during Advent between 10:15 and 11:00. All are welcome - those who have a brain disorder, families, friends, and anyone who could use some good coffee, conversation, and companionship.  For more information, please contact the Rev. Anne Strong (275-7582), Cheryl Mason (318-1511), or Dr. Sharon Nielsen (579-8229).

J2A Poinsettia Sales -- As you may have noticed, poinsettia sales are back! This year we have many sizes and colors to choose from! Available selections include 6" and 8" red and white poinsettias and NEW this year - 30" combo poinsettias that include three different colors in one pot! Please see a J2A representative in the Fishpond Garden for ordering details. And as always, thank you for your ongoing support of our J2A youth group!

"Just Coffee" is offered for sale on the first Sunday of each month ($10/lb, beans or ground). This fair-trade coffee supports a cooperative of coffee growers in Mexico. For your gift-giving convenience, Just Coffee will also be offered on December 21.

Labyrinth Bricks -- As we approach Christmas, ordering a commemorative brick in the labyrinth may be a special way of remembering a loved one or a special event in your lives. Members of the Labyrinth Committee will be available to help you Sunday, December 7.

Children's Christmas Project -- In these days of reduced education funding, we have an opportunity to help three local schools make life better for their students. The Children's Christmas Project kicks off today and will continue through the middle of December. Donations to this ministry will go to help children in three schools with whom we have a close association: Imago Dei, Holaway, and Rio Vista. Donations allocated to Imago Dei will go toward tuition and general expenses for at risk children who might otherwise drop out of school altogether. Amounts allocated to Holaway and Rio Vista, the schools in our After School Music Program, will go to a principal's discretionary fund to help children with items they might not otherwise be able to afford, such as eyeglasses, clean socks and underwear, and food for the weekend for a child and his/her family.These schools are so grateful for any help we can give them, so please give generously, particularly in this season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, himself a child. Please look for our table during Coffee Hour. Thanks for your compassion for these children!