Worship Lay Ministries During times of Worship, there are several lay participates who actively contribute to our Holy experience. These people are Parish members and their ministry actions represent the worship community with Holy participation. If you are interested in serving the ministry of the church in any one of these capacities, please contact the Church Office: office@stphilipmemphis.org . Acolytes An important ministry for our youth and adults is to serve as Acolytes. The word “acolyte” means “helper”. With the Acolytes’ responsibilities, they perform valuable services in helping those in charge of the Worship. At the beginning of the service, they are lighters of the candles and extinguishers of the flame at the end. During the processional, they may carry candles (torch bearers), banners, or the cross (crucifers) as the ministers and choir enter or exit the church. The Acolytes assist with the Gospel Procession when it is read from the center of the church. They also help with receiving the offerings from the congregation and assist the priest with his or her duties at the Altar. St. Philip welcomes worshipers who want to become a part of this vital ministry. Training is scheduled at convenient times for participants. Ushers Parish ushers are persons who help ensure a smoothly running church service and who ministers to people in a variety of practical ways. Their duties include greeting people as they arrive for the service, assisting people with special needs, collecting the offering. St. Philip provides a pocket tag that easily identifies our ushers. As the worshipers arrive, the ushers will act as doorkeepers, greeting each person with a smile, shaking hands, and handing out bulletins. They are also available to answer visitors’ questions and extend extra help in seating those who need the assistance. They are ready to assist anyone in the congregation who might need help, to aid latecomers in finding a seat, and to inform those in the sanctuary of any urgent matters. The ushers will always present first-time visitors with a welcome gift bag. As a part of the liturgy, the ushers are responsible for taking up the church offering and then walk back toward the alter during a hymn of praise. They hand the plates to the Verger who then presents it to the Rector who blesses the tithes and offerings. Also, they count the number of worshipers so the Rector will know the amount of bread and wine to prepare for the Eucharist. After the service, ushers will again be at the door to greet the congregation as they leave and provide assistance as needed. The ushers will then make sure that the sanctuary is tidy, the thermostat is adjusted, and the lights are shut off. The heart of an usher is that of a servant, and he/she does this work for his Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:24 ). The church usher has a true love for the people of the Parish and a desire to promote an atmosphere of reverence and worship in the house of the Lord. . Verger Ministry The term verger usually refers to a member of an Anglican Church who takes on the extra duties of planning the details of services, participating in religious processions, and can substitute for any worship role except Priest or Deacon. The word verger comes from the ceremonial staff or rod that the verger carries during these processions — in Old French, a verge is a "twig, branch, or wand of office." Vergers serve the church in a ministry of welcome. Often a visitor to a new parish church will see the verger in a simple black cassock moving about the church before the worship service, checking fonts, candles, and in general prepping the church for solemn worship. The verger is usually the first person a visitor meets and cheerfully responds to any inquiry concerning the upcoming service, church facilities or current program offerings. Logistically, a verger’s support allows the clergy more time for pastoral and sacramental responsibilities. Many of the other typical verger duties include assigning, training and checking in lectors, chalice bearers, acolytes and prayer intercessors. The verger coordinates with the altar guild and funeral guilds, checks lighting, and the Priest’s vestments and liturgical hangings. Above all, he/she works behind the scenes making sure that everything runs smoothly during the liturgy. All of the Verger's duties are specific to the church in which he/she serve and can evolve through many years under the direction of the rector. Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEM) Lay Eucharistic Ministers are licensed by the bishop to administer the consecrated elements of the eucharist. Lay eucharistic ministers may be licensed to administer the consecrated bread and wine at any celebration of the eucharist in the absence of a sufficient number of priests and deacons to assist the celebrant. They may also be licensed to go from a Sunday eucharist or other principal celebrations of the eucharist to share the sacrament with members of the congregation who were unable to be present at the celebration because of illness or infirmity. Lay eucharistic ministers may be licensed for either or both ministries. This ministry is understood to be an extraordinary ministry, and is not to take the place of the ministry of priests and deacons concerning the administration of the eucharist. Lay Readers The Lay Reader volunteers to read the Scripture Lessons during worship services. The Book of Common Prayer directs that laypeople should read the lessons preceding the Gospel. The readers at St. Philip are provided a printed copy of Lessons well in advance so they may practice their reading. All scripture readings are derived from the Episcopal Church Lectionary . Oblation Bearers Oblation Bearers are responsible for processing the oblations (the bread and wine to be offered for consecration) to the altar during the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion). They also represent the entire congregation in which we offer our lives to God as a “reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice.” Offering Counters The Offering Counters count the Sunday and special service offerings and prepare the receipts for bank deposit. They document the giving for the finance secretary who then enters the information in the church finance database, preparing a record for each giver.

Adult Christian Education Sunday - 9:15 AM till 10:15AM Join us throughout the school year as we learn about the many aspects of the Bible, Christian worship and church history. We have several study series during the year. Each individual series has a book of study and accompanying video on the subject. We engage in group discussion that is open to everyone to share questions and reflection. Please join us during this time of learning and fellowship.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd At the very heart of our life in Christ at St. Philip you will find our children. The vision and understanding of the spiritual life of children which we embrace is that of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the spiritual formation of children 3-12 years old which is based on Scripture and Liturgy with underpinnings in the Montessori Method of education. Developed in Rome over 50 years ago by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi, this work is sometimes described as the meeting ground of two Mysteries: the Mystery of God and the Mystery of the Child. The place of this encounter is the “atrium” classroom. These environments are specially prepared spaces with developmentally appropriate materials designed to help the child come closer to God. The atrium is a place of prayer, work, study, and community. There are separate environments for Level I (2 ½-6 years), Level II (1st-3rd grades), and Level III (4th-6th g rades). Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has been a mustard seed work for us at St. Philip. It began slowly in 1994 with an environment only for the youngest children, but has grown to include a full scope of this approach for children ages 2 ½ -12 years. In the gospel of Matthew Jesus holds up children as spiritual models when he says, “unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” They may be the smallest, but certainly not the least. We consider our children a very important part of who we are and we do all that we can to respect and to nurture their relationship with Christ.

2024 Camp Able St. Philip Day! The Emmanuel Center The Emmanuel Center served more than 2,000 people each year through programs that inspire spiritual, physical, and educational growth. They provided recreational activities and continued learning and developing programs that include spiritual direction, social service programs, educational enrichment, and organized sports. This has been an amazing community outreach ministry in our city. The Emmanuel Center was an oasis of hope amongst an area with many statistics. Their statistic, moreover, was at a 100% high school graduation rate with kids going on to do great things! For more information, you can check out their website. Click the link "Emmanuel" . St. Philip continues to provide the Emmanuel Center with baskets full of cleaning supplies and other household goods for new families that move into their neighborhood. St. Philip maintains a "blue barrel" in the Parish Hall where food and non-food items are collected for this ministry. If you would like to give funds, please make your check out to St. Philip and write "Mid-South Food Bank" in the memo line. We will forward the money to this worthy cause. Parish Discretionary Fund The Discretionary Fund is received the first Sunday of each month during the Worship times. The loose offering and other gifts so designated are given to St. Philip’s Discretionary Fund for the purpose of helping persons in times of serious need. Regardless of their circumstance, this Parish takes seriously the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 25: "Lord, when did we see you. . ." The Parish Discretionary Fund is administered by our Rector Father Terry Street. If you wish to contribute by check, please make it out to St. Philip and designate: “St. Philip’s Discretionary Fund.” You may contribute to this fund at any time. Your funds are always in great need. Your checks may be mailed to the church office. Please indicate "Church Discretionary Fund" in the memo line. Thank you for your continued and generous support. Also, you can contribute with a debt or credit card to this much needed ministry by clicking here . Choose "Church Discretionary: Charity Giving" in the dropdown menu. The Manna House of Memphis Ministry A long time and essential ministry that has the active support of St. Philip Episcopal Church is the Manna House of Memphis. The parish has donated much money, time, food, and articles of clothing. Each year, we have a time when we collect coats, socks, shoes and underwear so that the "guests" of Manna House can have warmth from the colder temperatures outside. Manna House of Memphis offers hospitality to homeless and poor guests. Hospitality includes welcoming of guests, and the offering of basic services such as clothing, hygiene items, showers, and serving coffee or other beverages. Staff and volunteers seek to interact with their guests and will learn their names and their stories. Manna House is grounded in the spirit of the Catholic Worker Movement and thus seeking to welcome all guests from the streets with a spirit of hospitality that respects their dignity as human beings. In offering hospitality, Manna House affirms that hosting guests involves not only provides needed material goods, but more importantly honors guests’ humanity and personhood. As stated on MHM website: “We are not a social service agency; rather we are persons welcoming other persons to share ourselves, our gifts, and gifts we have received from others. We seek to know our guests as persons with names, histories, and hopes. We seek to be stewards of God’s graciousness, not possessors of power and privilege dispensing charity from above. We seek to build relationships and we are not out to “save” people or remake them in our own image. We recognize and repent of our racism, classism, sexism, and heterosexism, and we seek to create a community of hospitality in which all are welcomed as children of God.” The mission : Hospitality to homeless and poor persons in the city of Memphis; Advocacy for persons on the streets; Opposition to violence–on the streets, by the police, through imprisonment, executions & war; Witness to the reign of God. If you want to learn more about the Manna House of Memphis, donate money or become a volunteer for this worthwhile ministry, we invite you to visit their WEBSITE: https://www.mannahousememphis.org/ Relief for Victims of the Recent Natural Disasters Considering a way to assist the victims of the recent natural disasters in the U.S. and abroad? Episcopal Relief and Development is working in these areas to provide help to those impacted. You can donate through St. Philip by noting "Relief Fund" in the memo line of your check and placing it in the offering plate. You can also donate directly to the Fund via their website . 2023 Camp Able St. Philip Day!

Our "Coffee Hour" St Philip is known for its hospitality and “coffee hour” following the Sunday worship services is a small way to make a big difference by welcoming our guests and visitors. This is usually much less than an hour, but sharing a cup of coffee and a donut among those with whom we worship deepens our relationships with others as a faith community. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Parish Hall immediately following the services. Our Coffee Hour Hosts make this happen! This ministry comes with minimal Sunday morning responsibilities and is always looking for volunteers to help. If you are interested, contact the Parish office: office@stphilipmemphis.org

I'm New.... What To Expect Expect to be warmly welcomed. Expect to be with people who enjoy being together, laughing and talking. Expect to see people and families just like yours. Expect to feel at home. Expect to be with people who are committed to worship, fellowship and discipleship. What Should I Wear Please be comfortable. There are no strict dress codes. Discretion is always appreciated. What Time s are Services 8:00 AM Sunday service is a contemplative service, with no music. 10:30 AM Sunday service is a full Holy Eucharist, with organ and singing. 12:15 PM on Wednesday offers Holy Communion and Healing Service.

Midwife is very happy about the new development on the maternal waiting house as evidenced by her brilliant smile. This special clinic building is for women living in the bush who are at risk of losing their babies or their own lives are at risk. It is a unique structure especially in the remote area of Lofa County in the area infamously known as The Blood Diamond Fields! Some of our children in Mbalatahun, precious blossoms of God Picture of three of the leprosy patients. This is an example of the roads traveled on each mission to and from Monrovia, Liberia to the village of Mbalatahun, “the village of healing” in Bantu. It is the mission's center where, despite the hardship of 14 to 15 hour journey, we serve for God’s Glory and in memory of Fr. Stevens Portrait of Father Gerald Lee Anthony Stevens, Earthly founder of The Fellowship of the Cross. This portrait hangs in the chapel of the monastery which is being renovated.

Men's Club Did you know, if you are an adult male and a member of St. Philip you are automatically a member of the Men's Club. Come join us for our next meeting. We enjoy a fellowship meal, discuss upcoming projects and activities, and get to know each other little better. We meet monthly on the 2nd Thursday at 6:30 in the Parish Hall. The Men of St. Philip continue to prepare a "Paul Bunyan" breakfast for our members, guests and visitors during the summer! Gary Mullins President - Men's Club

Flower Guild In addition to regular Sunday services, the Flower Guild takes care of ordering and placing the Easter lilies and Christmas poinsettias at St. Philip. We also handle the flowers for any special occasions such as a reception for the Bishop, the new Confirmands, etc. We welcome anyone who is interested to team with us. If you would like to serve in this ministry, please email the church office: office@stphilipmemphis.org .

Altar Guild Have you ever wondered how the Altar is prepared for Communion? Who is responsible? The Altar Guild, who is made up of members from St. Philip, work regularly to ensure proper protocol is presented for all services. The Altar Guild is a wonderful, rewarding ministry and we're ALWAYS looking for new people. The only requirement is that you be a confirmed member of the church. You are not expected to work alone. A seasoned member of this ministry will always be working beside you. If you're interested, please contact the church office by email: office@stphilipmemphis.org .

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 10:13-16) The Vestry of St. Philip Episcopal Church made a promise and pledge. We made our commitment to grow our children’s and youth ministry. We have become an older congregation. The “heyday” of children and youth filling our halls has pasted. It is time for a fresh start. Perhaps the COVID-19 crisis has a blessing at the end. Families are returning to faith and worship. It is a new beginning at St. Philip. We have in place an outstanding children’s Sunday School with "The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd." We have a small nucleus of youth who serve the church as Acolytes. We have a base/softball field. It needs work, but we can improve it to make a place for children and youth teams to practice or have games. We have a modern playground for children to use. We have much maintained open ground where soccer fields can be lined out and used. We have gym space where volleyball games can be played. This same space is excellent for youth to meet. We have our Girl Scouts meetings there. We could also use the gym for children’s basketball games. Yes, we have strong will to grow our ministry for children and youth. Please, help us! Bring your children and youth with you if you are visiting. Make this your church home. I guarantee, you will have many grandparents who will love your family and welcome you into this parish home.

WORSHIP In this section, you will find a videos of recent sermons given on Sundays at St. Philip. G o to the link podcast page and select the sermon. BECOME A PART OF OUR WORSHIPPING FAMILY We invite all to join us as we celebrate the Lord's grace and love. Celebrate with us the Holy Eucharist. All baptized Christians are welcome and we welcome all people to altar to receive a priestly blessing. May the Peace of the Lord that passes all understanding and circumstances of this life be with YOU! St. Philip Episcopal Church's prayer is that you will find hope and peace. May you find comfort in these words that echo throughout the worship services: “Keep calm and carry on.” “Take heart, do not be afraid.” Pray for protection, healing and restoration. Fortify yourself with spiritual readings and study. Stand firm in our faith. Reach out to those in need. Allow your hearts and homes to be a temple of God. Prepare a place for a sacred space. As Easter People, celebrate Easter – Alleluia! Be patient!