Exceptional performers join Friends of Music on Saturday, March 5, for the 25th annual Bach Marathon. The morning session (10 a.m.) features "UA Musicians on Tour," showcasing international touring performers from UA Fred Fox School of Music performing Bach in some unusual combos, such as a bassoon quartet and a saxophone quartet, in addition to the more usual voice, strings, harpsichord, piano, organ, and oboe. Their programs will highlight not only music by J.S. Bach but also music by his contemporaries and others influenced by Bach. After the morning session enjoy a "Bach's Lunch" ($10; place your order when you arrive for the morning session). The afternoon recital features world-renowned organist Jonathan Biggers, bringing incomparable flair, style, and energy to the organ music of Bach. Tickets (available at the door) are $25 for the morning or afternoon session, $40 all day, and $10 for students.

For your spiritual journey during this Lenten season of prayer and reflection, St. Philip's offers a noontime Eucharist at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays during Lent.

At 6 p.m., the J2A youth and their parents host Lenten Soup Suppers in the Murphey Gallery. Hearty, homemade soups (including a vegetarian option each week), bread, salad and dessert ($7 person/$20 family). Why cook when you can support the J2A pilgrimage, share a Lenten tradition, and enjoy fellowship over a delicious bowl of homemade soup at the same time?

At 6:45 p.m. in Room 10, the Rev. Canon Ted Holt invites you to explore sin, evil, and guilt as realities that have affected us all ever since the mythical days of Adam and Eve and that Slippery Serpent. Weaving Biblical, theological, and psychological ways of viewing the themes of sin, evil, and guilt, he will do so in a way that will likely be quite new to you, and along the way expand your understanding of how each functions (as well as malfunctions) in your life and the lives of those around you.

The evening will conclude with a brief Devotion for the Close of Day.

St. Philip's Friends of Music presents noontime recitals during Lent on Thursdays at 12:15 p.m., in the Bloom Music Center. Entitled "Rising Stars in the Next Musical Generation," the series showcases young high achievers in the Tucson area who will dazzle with their professional polish, maturity and technical prowess. Listen to the newest generation of musicians as they ascend to the professional stage -- an entertaining and relaxing way to spend your lunch hour. On Thursday, March 3, violinist Carissa Powe presents "The Voice of the Violin." The series continues through March 17.  

Please join us for our First Sunday Music offering for March, on Sunday, March 6, at the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services, when the Canterbury Choir and Canterbury Apprentices will sing Francis Poulenc's stirring Mass in G major. This setting of the Mass for unaccompanied chorus dates from 1937, and is marked by extended use of antiphonal dialogue between groups of upper and lower voices, or contrasts between staccato and legato, soft and loud dynamics, solo and tutti passages. The tremendous emotional power of this Mass setting is very appropriate for this Lenten First Sunday offering. The choir will also perform motets by other French composers, including Duruflé. So that you don't miss any of the prelude music, please plan to arrive a few minutes before service time.

Bishop Smith has designated March 6 as Chapel Rock Sunday throughout the Diocese. On that day, the Bishop is asking each church and congregation members to support the Chapel Rock Campership Fund for the benefit of our children and youth. The experiences that our campers have at Chapel Rock are life changing and extraordinary. Please join with us in changing lives and help send children and youth to camp this summer! You may contribute to support the campership fund on Sunday, March 6.  You can also go to Chapel Rock's web site to contribute securely online.

St. Philip's new Parish Nurse, Carol Jones, will be available in the Perry Garden between services on Sunday, March 6, to meet you and answer any questions you might have about her role. Carol is an Arizona licensed registered nurse. She is a commissioned Faith Community Nurse (FCN), Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C), and has extensive experience and education in adult and pediatric nursing. Carol will be volunteering as the Parish Nurse at St. Philip's and beginning on March 8, will have office hours in the church office to meet your health ministry needs every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as the first Sunday of the month between services. Carol looks forward to speaking with you and getting to know you!

Waterborne, a show of Original Watercolors by Martha Lee McKiernan, will be in the Murphey Gallery beginning on Sunday, March 6. The show will kick off with a reception that day from 12:15 till 3 p.m. There will be the gamut of what Martha Lee paints: horses and cowboys, pottery, and scenes from travel, children in their loveliest moments of discovery, and people experiencing life as it comes. As you wander among these paintings, know that creating them brought her happiness and she hopes that viewing them does the same for you.