PHILIP-EYE. THE NEWSLETTER of Saint Philip Presbyterian Church Volume 58, Number January Music at St. Philip

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1 PHILIP-EYE THE NEWSLETTER of Saint Philip Presbyterian Church Houston, Texas Volume 58, Number January 2014 Rev. Dr. John W. Wurster Pastor, Head of Staff Rev. Keatan King Associate Pastor Rev. Judith Northrop Ministry Associate Rev. Dr. Samuel Lanham III Pastor Emeritus Dr. Thomas Goetz Director of Music Dr. Matthew Dirst Organist Laurie Fortenbery Office Manager Denise Ferrell Bookkeeper Micah Meyers Communications Assistant Wilbert Parada Facilities Supervisor Dimas Parada Custodian Peter Ramadan Custodian Susan Estill Newsletter Editor Visit our Annual Congregational Meeting February 9th after Worship Music at St. Philip Music at St. Philip is excited to present a program as part of the second annual Houston Early Music Festival, "Portraits of Love," featuring Matthew Dirst, harpsichord; Daniel Mutlu, tenor; Colin St. Martin, Baroque flute (flauto traverso); and Mary Springfels, viola da gamba. The program includes music by François Couperin, Jean-Marie Leclair, C. P. E. Bach, and J. S. Bach. Admission is $10 cash at the door. Saturday, February 15, 7:30 pm. Don't miss this opportunity to hear Ars Lyrica musicians performing in our sanctuary. You can visit Music at St. Philip Concert Series on FaceBook, and also learn more about the Houston Early Music Festival events at Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday, February 2, 2014 The Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from one youth group: Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat. Since then, youth around the country have supported their local helping organizations by fundraising more than $98 million in 20 years. Join St. Philip Youth in this movement to share God s love with those in need! All food and money we collect goes to the ministry of Christian Community Service Center. Please bring monetary donations and food for the CCSC Gethsemane Food Pantry on Super Bowl Sunday. The Session has set the annual meeting of the congregation for February 9 in Fellowship Hall, immediately following the 11:00 service of worship. Lunch will be available. The meeting will include a review of the 2013 annual report, presentation of the 2014 budget, consideration of the pastors terms of calls, and election of representatives to the Congregational Nominating Committee. The nominees are Jane Larkin and Florence McKelvey (Class of 2014); Elizabeth Duerr, Ruth Ewing, and Judith Hiott (Class of 2015). Also serving on the committee are Ruling Elders John Lindsay and Fil Nenna (Moderator). Additional nominations for congregational representatives to the committee may be made from the floor, with prior consent from those nominated. Lectionary Readings February 2, th Sunday after Epiphany 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12 February 9, th Sunday after Epiphany 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12); Psalm 112:1-9 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) Matthew 5:13-20 February 16, th Sunday after Epiphany 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 February 23, th Sunday after Epiphany 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; Psalm 119: Corinthians 3:10-11, Matthew 5:38-48

2 Philip-Eye, Page 2 27 January 2014 Congregational Concerns: Hospitalized: Toto McGehee at Methodist, Alice Pennington at St. Luke s Recuperating: Dick Weber At home: Barbara Eudey The love and sympathy of the congregation is extended to Travis Calhoun and family on the death of sister, Eleanor Lockert on January 15 in Arkansas, and to Jane Cooper and family on the death of her sister in Ft. Worth. Check These Announcements Presbyterian Men's Weekly Fellowship encourages all men of the church to meet on Fridays at Noon in the office conference room. Enjoy your own BYO lunch along with lively conversation and book study. We are studying What s the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?, by Martin Thielen. Get your copy of the book by calling the church office. Grab a sandwich and join us!! Many, many thanks to 14 members of St. Philip who served breakfast to the homeless on January 26as part of the Lord of the Streets (LOTS) program at Trinity Episcopal Church. They were Skip Britton, Ginny and Bill Camfield, Tom Cavanaugh, Janet and Don Davis, Susan and Robert Estill, Linda Ewing, Governor Frazier, Tom Lewis, Lorraine Lyter-Reed, Dustin Rosen, and Michelle Vasquez. If you would like to make a short term commitment, please call Janet Davis at to take part in this gratifying project. Our next date to serve is March 16. The Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) Southwest Regional Gathering Strengthening Your Congregation s Song will be held here at St. Philip on Saturday, March 1. Join us as we demonstrate and share methods, strategies, insights, motivations, inspirations, and blessings to bring about growth and strength in congregational singing. Watch these pages for more information. Communion Offering on February 2 will benefit the hunger ministries of Christian Community Service Center. Please be generous and assist this organization in their mission to serve those needy among us. The Philip-Eye will be published on February 10 and 24. Please submit information and articles in a timely manner. 10:00 am on the day of publication is the deadline. to philip-eye@saintphilip.net or leave in the PE box in the mail room. From Your Pastor: Dear Friends, We Presbyterians often talk about our connectional way of doing things. Congregations aren t isolated entities, but rather we join together to share resources, extend our mission, and bear witness to the breadth of the Body of Christ. I am grateful for the opportunities for service presented by our connections and relationships. In 2014, I begin a term on the board of Interfaith Ministries. St. Philip has been a leading supporter of this organization from its inception. I have already been impressed with the religious diversity of our city and the ways IM seeks to help us to better understand our neighbors so that we can live together to promote the common good. Another local involvement for me is the clergy advisory council of Christian Community Service Center. Supported by our congregation in all kinds of ways, CCSC provides a wide range of assistance to needy people in our community. My presbytery assignment this year continues to be the Ecclesiastical Affairs Committee. This group is primarily charged with organizing presbytery meetings, arranging for speakers, planning worship, structuring the docket, and tending to logistics. It s been a great way for me to learn more about the presbytery, its member congregations as well as it people. This is my sixth and final year on the board of Presbyterian Pan American School in Kingsville, Texas. For over 100 years, this mission school has educated young people from around the world for lives of Christian service. I am now in my fourth year as the board chair. While this position means I have to run the meetings of the board, it also gives me the privilege of signing diplomas and passing them to graduates at commencement! In the fall, I will resume my role as adjunct faculty at Austin Seminary. Because of some faculty changes and transitions, I have been asked to teach the introductory preaching course this year. I have been an assistant instructor for the course the past five years. During that time, I feel I have learned a lot about my own preaching, even as I try to encourage and assist students seeking to find their own voices for proclamation. One final off-campus opportunity for me in 2014 is coming in mid-march. I will be the preacher for a hymnal festival in Louisville, Kentucky. Our denomination has held six of these festivals across the country in recent month to celebrate the launch of the new hymnal, Glory to God. The festival will include two days of workshops and worship. I am grateful for the different ways these service opportunities keep before us the connectional nature of the church and the relational aspects of faith. Following Jesus is not a solitary pursuit; rather, it is something we do together. And the company of disciples extends far beyond the walls of St. Philip. Faithfully yours, B

3 Philip-Eye, Page 3 27 January 2014 Welcome New Members... Anne and Butch Wilson are high school sweethearts. They grew up in Cumberland, MD, where attending church and youth fellowship were an important part of their dating years. They graduated from the College of Wooster in Ohio where Butch majored in Geology and Anne got her degree in Math. They moved to Houston in 1973 so Butch could attend Rice University to get his MA in Geology. The oil business has kept him busy ever since. Currently, he is working on a variety of shale plays as a Geologist for Carrizo Oil & Gas. Anne has taught middle school math in both public and private schools. She has served on the staff of three different Presbyterian churches in Children and Family ministry. She enjoyed her time on the staff of St. Philip from Anne is currently the President of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Texas Presbyterian Foundation and also helps with various activities at presbytery. The accomplishments for which Anne and Butch are most proud are raising their two children, Meredith and Michael, whose families have produced 2.6 grandsons (baby due in April!) and 6 grand-dogs. Central Mission Council Appointed At its January meeting, the Session appointed the first Central Mission Endowment Council: James Cooper (1 year term), Julia Fox (1 year term as Session representative); Bebe Burns and Rusty Howard (2 year terms); Cathy Patterson and Dick Howard (3 year terms). John Wurster serves as the seventh member of the Council. The Council has as its task evaluating requests and making disbursements from the Central Mission Endowment Fund. The complete details of the fund s organization are contained in the 2013 annual report, which will be available soon. Duerr Lecture Series 2014 Speaker for the 17th annual Duerr Lecture Series will be Dr. Johanna W. H. van Wijk-Bos, Dora E. Pierce Professor of Bible and Professor of Old Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The title of the lectures is "Listening to Prayer - Israel's Psalms in Christian Experience." Dates for the lectures are February 23, 24 and 25. Dr. Bos will preach at both services on February 23 and present lectures each evening at 7:00 pm. Mark your calendar and plan to attend these thoughtful and stimulating lectures. Hallelujah! CORNER Congratulations to these folks who completed this year s Houston Marathon: John Boone; Jack Lippincott, who has completed more Houston marathons that anyone else, finished his 40th. Jack, you continue to amaze!; and Judy Northrop who run for PCHAS raised over $350 in contributions from St. Philippians and friends. Cathy Patterson and husband, David Wood completed the half Marathon congratulations Cathy and David. Congratulations to Anne Wilson, President Elect for the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators. Debbie Hough, former St. Philip DCE has been named 2014 Educator of the Year by this same organization. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! February 01 Caryn Bahruth Nan Schissler Brandon Steele 02 Walter Baker Maggie Seeliger 03 Bill Morris Betty Stone Mary Louise Wade Anabelle Seeliger Claire Duerr 04 John Lindsay Steven Lawson 05 Beverly Baker Ginny McDavid Gary Willis 07 Ava Arlinghaus 08 Olivia Munson 10 Roy Nelson Caroline Dana 11 Helen Moore PrimeTimers 14 Mary McKelvey 15 Marilyn Crawford Kristen Goetter Molly Vestal 16 Martha Red 18 Julia Fox Velma Guy Grace Nenna 19 Joseph Webster 20 Joseph Blowers 22 Wallace Pepi Winfield Williams 23 Betty Kahn Virginia Waldrop 24 Mary Ann Thomas Charlie Evans 25 Shirley Frautschi 26 Laura Boston Perez Lucas Spath 27 Miles Frey Renee Wright On Thursday March 6 th the PrimeTimers will visit the Texas Quilt Museum and shops in Round Top. More details will be available soon. Call the church office to sign up.

4 Philip-Eye, Page 4 27 January 2014 Institute for Civility Trip to Washington We have heard the stories of the impact that good leadership at Furr High School has had on the students in that depressed area of Houston, and we know from our own congregational experience what a life-changing event the annual trip to Washington has made, not only for the students, but for the community in which they live. This is such an inspirational story, it never gets old. God has worked marvels through individuals and organizations to bring constructive change and hope to students who never before had the opportunity to dream, much less to participate in government. Ten students and two teachers gets to make the trip to Washington every year, for training in leadership and legislative issues, including the opportunity to influence representatives on matters of importance to everyone. However, even with airline discounts and student housing, these trips cost money funds which the families of students at Furr High School do not have. The Institute had relied in the past on individuals and institutions to help raise the funds to send these student groups to Washington, D. C. They hope to do so again. St. Philip members have given generously in the past to this cause, which receives no annual funding from our church. We know that generosity will continue this year. This is a rare opportunity to watch your dollars make a significant impact on students who may have never been out of the city limits of Houston, Texas, to open their eyes to being a part of the life of this nation and its citizens, to realize that they too, despite their family circumstances, have the opportunity to participate as individuals who matter in the self-governing processes of a free nation. All donations are tax-deductible and can be sent to: The Institute for Civility in Government P.O. Box Houston, Texas If you prefer not to mail your donation, you may hand your checks to Mary Sinderson (payable to the Institute for Civility in Government), leave them in the Peacemaking and Social Justice Committee box in the mail room, or make your donation online at Please continue your prayers for this project and the work of the Institute, -- and thank you for your part in mentoring these students. Sunday School Classes for All Classes for Children Nursery (Birth to 3 yrs old) in Room 106 Is available during both services for infants and children to 3 years of age. Preschool (3yrs through 1st grade) in room 105 Godly Play Elementary Age Children Room 105 Feasting on the Word Youth Room 206 6th through 12th grades Explore what we, as Christians, believe and how we are called to live through Bible study, Confirmation, Worship, retreats and mission trips. Support is given by youth sponsors and Sunday School teachers who guide them in articulating and maturing their faith. Adult Classes The SPa (St. Philip Adults) Room 200 Uses Peter Gomes, The Good Book, as the curriculum for a discussion-based class. The Bible Study Class Room 204 a study of Deuteronomy led by Nancy Cook and Al Waldrop. Church and Society Room 201 New Adult Class 4 Sundays in February in the Dining Room Son of Laughter, by Frederick Buechner led by Keatan King and Judy Northrop Delve into the stories of Genesis to make sense of the experiences that make up our faith. All classes begin at 9:30.

Philip-Eye, Page 5 27 January 2014 12:30pm Congregational Mtg.

5 Philip-Eye, Page 5 27 January :30pm Congregational Mtg. VALENTINE S DAY 12pm Office Volunteers Luncheon, Dining Room 12pm Men s Fellowship, CFR 12pm SLAA 12 Steps, Rm16 8pm AA 12 Steps, Rm16

6 Philip-Eye, Page 6 27 January San Felipe Houston, Texas Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Houston, TX Permit No Dated material

Rev. Dr. John W. Wurster Rev. Keatan King Rev. Dr. Samuel Lanham III Dr. Thomas Goetz Dr. Matthew Dirst

Rev. Dr. John W. Wurster Rev. Keatan King Rev. Dr. Samuel Lanham III Dr. Thomas Goetz Dr. Matthew Dirst THE NEWSLETTER of St. Philip Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Volume 59, Number 2 Houston, TX January 26, 2015 Rev. Dr. John W. Wurster Pastor, Head of Staff Rev. Keatan King Associate Pastor Rev. Dr. Samuel