MO-RANCH RETREAT JUNE 4-7

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1 THE NEWSLETTER of St. Philip Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Volume 58, Number 26 Houston, Texas January 12, 2015 Rev. Dr. John W. Wurster Pastor, Head of Staff Rev. Keatan King Associate Pastor 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 Laurie Fortenbery Newsletter Editor MO-RANCH RETREAT JUNE 4-7 It s that time of the year to sign up for the All Church Retreat at Mo Ranch outside of Kerrville. This year s keynote speaker is Mel Bringle, professor of philosophy and religious studies at Brevard College in North Carolina and the chair of the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song, which oversaw the development of the new hymnal, Glory to God. As a poet, a hymn writer, and a theologian, Mel is in much demand as a speaker across the country. Her presentations are marked by creativity and laughter, as well as keen insight. Our annual retreat FRIDAY PHIL-UP GAMES NIGHT JAN. 16 All are welcome. Friday January 16th, 7pm til 9pm in the church dining room (near the church office). Time to dig out your Monopoly and blow the cobwebs from your backgammon set. Join us for a friendly winter s night of board games! Bring your favorite modern or classic game and some snacks to share. Childcare will be provided, however children are completely welcome to play games too! The Friday Phil-Up will be back to its regular format on the third Friday in February. also gives us space and time to join interest groups, take photography lessons, swim, play in the rapids, read or just sit back and enjoy God s creation. This is an excellent way to visit with folks in the congregation that you never get to see on Sundays. No one is in a hurry to go any where at Mo! Sign up in the gathering area out side the Sanctuary for the next couple of Sundays. Either Jeanie Flowers or Joyce Fox will be at the table with registration forms. We have to reserve our rooms by the end of January! Registration and payment will soon be available at KIDS AGAINST HUNGER PACKING SESSION JAN. 17 Kids Against Hunger at St. Philip is planning a very productive 2015 with a goal of packaging and delivering 150,000 meals. Kid s Meals and Christian Community Service Center can now expect a regular supply of our rice casseroles. Our meals will help provide nutritional relief for an impoverished community and several orphanages in Matamoras, Mexico. We will be packing food Saturday, January 17th from 10:00 a.m. until noon. If you would like to participate in setting up the session arrive at 9:00. Help Kids Against Hunger begin a new year of sharing. St. Philip s DUERR LECTURE SERIES Speaker for the 18th annual Duerr Lecture Series, February 22, 23, and 24, 2015, will be Dr. Douglas F. Ottati, Craig Family Distinguished Professor of Reformed Theology and Justice at Davidson College. Dr. Ottati s lectures, Exploring the Teaching of Jesus, will reflect on selected features of Jesus teachings: his message of the kingdom of God, his special concern for the poor and the outcast, and his emphasis on love of God, neighbor, and even enemies. He will explore these teachings in the gospels, some ways in which they have been interpreted in the church s theological tradition, and how they connect with broad contemporary issues. Dr. Ottati holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and the Divinity School, University of Chicago. He served on the faculty of Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA, for many years and in 2007 joined the faculty of Davidson College. Dr. Ottati will preach at the Sunday morning worship services (8:30 and 11:00) and present lectures each evening at 7:00. All lectures are free and open to everyone. Invite a friend to this spiritually rewarding event. Child care is available for each lecture by calling the church office.

2 1 Philip-Eye Page January 12, 2015 Dear Friends Congregational Concerns Jo Jones - recuperating from surgery Barbara Cloninger - hospice care Rita Hannah - rehab after fall Bedford Vestal - rehab after fall Al Atkinson - cancer treatments Rusty Howard - MD Anderson Frank Donnelly - under hospice care Carolyn Vestal - recuperating at home Pam Keever - recuperating at home Larry Dean - Seven Acres on Braeswood T.E. Joe Keever - The Hallmark A.M. Mike Tomforde, Jr. - Hallmark HC Maurine Koelemay Creed - cousin of Gary Willis, undergoing chemo therapy. Linda Joullian, Wayne and Sandra Truxillo s sister - lung and stomach cancer. Anna Michalka, Lorraine Scott s mother - recuperating from a broken shoulder. Baker Fullerton -Walker Fair s uncle - complications from heart surgery. Mike Josler, former member Danielle Willis Josler s husband - lung cancer. Clare Slick Way, Bill Slick s sister Baylor St. Luke s with GBS. Check out these announcements WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY RESUMES JANUARY 14 A new year of midweek Bible study begins this Wednesday, January 14, at 10:30 in the dining room. John Wurster will lead the class in a discussion of the essential images of Scripture. This is a longitudinal Bible study that looks at the development of themes throughout Scripture. Beginners and everyone else -- welcome! 2015 FLOWER CALENDAR: NEW YEAR- NEW OPPORTUNITY The 2015 Flower Calendar is in the Gathering Area. Commemorate or celebrate a special occasion by providing flowers for the sanctuary on or around that special date. Fill in your name next to the date you choose. Sandra Truxillo will contact you to get more information. The standard fee for flowers is $75. (If the flowers you want cost more, you will know before they re ordered.) Laurie, in the church office, will send you an invoice the following month. I am excited about the new year opening before us. Already in these first two weeks, we ve had workshops for committee moderators and committee members; we ve had a learning retreat for our confirmation students and mentors; we ve had a planning retreat for our education committee; and we ve ordained and installed ruling elders and deacons. While I hope that pace moderates a bit, I can see there are lots of good things coming our way: The Presbyterian Women s retreat is January Katie Cummings is this year s retreat leader. On February 1, Paxton Lambright, another one of our high school seniors, will preach at the 11:00 service. That afternoon at 2:00, Laureen Suba will be ordained as a teaching elder. Austin Seminary professor Cynthia Rigby is the preacher for that service. On February 8, following 11:00 worship, we will have the annual congregation meeting, taking stock of where we ve been and looking to where God is calling us. Lent begins early this year. Ash Wednesday is February 18. We will worship that day at 12 noon and 6:30. The subsequent Wednesdays, we will have services at noon with guest preachers from across the presbytery. The Duerr Lecture Series is February Douglas Ottati from Davidson College is this year s speaker. February 27- March 1 our youth will participate in Conclaves at Camp Cho-Yeh. Those are just a few of the highlights over the next several weeks! Peering further into 2015, I also have to mention that we re hosting the Presbytery of New Covenant meeting on March 21. The incomparable Rodger Nishioka will be here to address the presbytery. Preaching at that meeting will be Gradye Parsons, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Our Mo-Ranch retreat in June features keynote speaker Mel Bringle, who chaired the committee responsible for our new hymnal. Mel is a creative and thoughtful person, whom I have heard speak many times. She always inspires and delights. Our Summer Lecture Series in August features Professor Robert Dykstra of Princeton Seminary. You may remember that Bob was here in August 2013 for the ordination of Nathan Carlin. In November, we will have with us Ruling Elder Heath Rada, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Beyond these, there are even more opportunities for growth and nurture, through worship and music, mission and service, education and fellowship. May we receive God s abundance with open hands and grateful hearts! Peace be with you,

3 2 Philip-Eye Page January 12, 2015 Volunteer Opportunities PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN S HOMES & SERVICES VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY On Sunday morning, January 18, PCHAS needs 150 volunteers to help pour and serve water and Gatorade to the thousands of Houston Marathon runners who pass by our Mile 5 Refueling Station. The Houston Marathon provides the tables, cups, water, Gatorade and trash bins. Contact Jana Hobbs to sign up. Jana.hobbs@pchas.org or Volunteers needs to show up at 5:30 a.m. at the refueling station location at River Oaks Elementary at the intersection of Kirby and San Felipe. Set-up and distribute Gatorade and water to the mara-thon and half marathon runners on the west side of Kirby Drive, in front of River Oaks Elementary; and clean up after the last runner passes. (Last year we were finished by 8:30 am). PCHAS is a charity of the Houston Mar-athon and has its own running team and also individu-als who run on behalf of raising funds and awareness for their mission. Please keep their runners in your thoughts and prayers. They have logged many, many miles for the children and families served through their ministry. LORD OF THE STREETS (LOTS) VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY The next date for us to serve breakfast to the homeless is Sunday, January 25. We gather in the St. Philip parking lot at the back of the church at 6:30am and return by 9:00am, in time for Sunday School. We need 15 volunteers. If this date is good for you, please call Janet Davis at (713) to take part in this gratifying project. SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES FOR ALL Nursery and Preschool Infants and children through 3 years old 8:30 am to 12:30pm - Room 106 Staffed by professional childcare providers Preschool 3 through 1st Grade Godly Play Class - Room 104 Elementary 2nd-5th Grade Grades 2 and 3 meet in Room 105 Grades 4 and 5 meet in Room 103 Music - with Music Director, Tom Goetz 1st through 5th grades 9:30 am 10:00 am Children join teachers in their classrooms at 10:00 Youth in Bible Study St. Philip youth, 6th through 12th grades Rooms 204 and 206 Supported by sponsors and Sunday School teachers Adult Classes CHURCH & SOCIETY - Room 201 January 18: How the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA Functions - The origins and process for overtures to the General Assembly and current issues within the denomination. Presented by Ann Hardy - Ruling Elder at St. John s Presbyterian Church and commissioner to the meeting of the General Assembly January 25: A Report on the Current State of New Covenant Presbytery. Presented by Rev. Mike Cole - General Presbyter for Presbytery of the New Covenant. February 1: The Effect of the Supreme Court Decision 2013 on Voter s Rights. Presented by George Gibson - Anti-Defamation League Vice Chair. SPa CLASS - Room 200 The SPa (Saint Philip Adults) class is a fellowship of adults from all walks of life who gather for learning, dialogue, and prayer. Our current study is That They May Be One: The Evolution of Christian Community. BIBLE STUDY - Room 204 Currently the class is engaged in a study of Joshua, a rich, complex and often troubling book in the Old Testament that follows the Hebrew nation from wandering in the wilderness into the conquests of the Promised Land. The Bible study class utilizes the insights of a variety of scholars and texts to expand our understanding of God s message of faithfulness to His people. Nancy Cook and Al Waldrop lead the discussions. All are welcome. In January we ll look at the current issues facing the Presbyterian Church USA. ARTS & CRAFT STUDIO Room 9 (old classroom wing) Please see our schedule on the St. Philip website. This class is a time for creativity and learning ways to express your joy of the Lord through the visual arts. You don t have to be crafty to join. Learn something new, teach something new and share in the gifts and talents given to us.

4 Philip-Eye Page 3 January 12, 2015 Hallelujah! Project C.U.R.E. received $1,095 from the December 7 communion offering. The Joy Offering received $3,554 from the Christmas communion offering. Thank you for your generosity in your extra support for these worthy mission projects. -- Mission Committee SAVE THE DATE The annual meeting of the congregation Scheduled for Sunday, February 8 in Fellowship Hall, following the 11:00 worship service. Lunch will be available. Business items include review of the 2014 annual report, election of members to the congregational nominating committee, and consideration of the pastors terms of call. SERVICE of HEALING & WHOLENESS The next service of healing & wholeness will be held Sunday, January 25 at 5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. In this service, we claim God s promise of well-being and seek God s healing touch in body, mind, and spirit. The service includes individual prayers with the laying on of hands and anointing with oil, along with scripture readings and hymns. Those seeking healing in their own lives or in the lives of others are encouraged to attend, as well as those who feel called to pray with those who suffer. In gathering for this service, we acknowledge that all healing is from God; and we affirm that in the midst of illness, pain, and suffering our relationship with God in Christ sustains us. PHILIP-EYE info. Articles should be sent to Laurie Fortenbery: philip-eye@saintphilip.net. Also, contact Laurie if you would like to receive the Philip-Eye online. You get the news faster, the church saves postage, and the impact on the environment is lightened just a bit.

5 4 Philip-Eye Page January 12, 2015 Calendar

6 Equal Exchange Sale In the cocoa belt of West Africa s Ivory Coast, where 40% of the world s cacao supply is produced, it s common to see young children holding machetes or pesticide equipment without protective gear. A report commissioned by the U.S. government found that more than 1.8 million children in West Africa were involved in growing cocoa. The United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) says hundreds of thousands of these children, many of them trafficked across country borders, are engaged in the worst forms of child labor. This includes slavery, human trafficking, abuse, and dangerous or hazardous conditions or materials (such as dangerous equipment or tools, exposure to pesticides, or being forced to perform unreasonably difficult tasks or long working hours). It also means they are prevented from going to school. Equal Exchange is committed to sourcing fairly traded cocoa from small-scale farmers who are members of co-ops, in Latin America. Fair Trade ensures stable prices for farmers and upholds International Labor Organization (ILO) standards on child labor. Please support these small-scale farmers with your Valentine candy purchases this year. The Coffee Team will have a large selection of fair trade chocolate on offer, as well as coffee, tea and olive oil, in the gathering area before and after the 11 am service on February 8th. Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Houston, TX Permit No Dated Material Philip-Eye THE NEWSLETTER of St. Philip Presbyterian Church U.S.A.