Author: Alice Lebow

Preschool News

Ms. Danielle, Ms. Kelly, Ms. Sherrie, Ms. Rachael

This month marks the end of the 2017-2018 school year for St. Philip Lutheran Preschool. The preschool staff wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank each member of St. Philip for their prayers and hallway smiles while we ministered to over 35 families this year.

The time and effort many of you took to smile at, speak to, and learn the names of various students has meant the world to them. Many of the kids excitedly peek out of the classroom doors when they hear the outside doors open – a testament to their feeling of security and welcome within these church walls. While academics and social/emotional growth are our main focus here at St. Philip Preschool, there is a more important mission of making each child feel honored and welcomed within this body of believers.

The staff is looking forward to a fun summer camp as well as the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. We would like to invite each of you to join us in praying over these students, especially our rising kindergarten students.

For those of you who were unable to make it to the preschool graduation on May 23, please check out the Facebook page at for a video of graduation and pictures from throughout the year.

Thank you again for the honor of ministering alongside you!

Congregational Life Youth Ministry

Youth News

ELCA Youth Gathering

This summer, St. Philip sends 9 youth and Pastor David to the National Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas where they will join with over 30,000 others from around the country. This will be a great faith-filled, fun-filled week (June 26- July 2) as children of God called to serve with compassion, energy, and excitement.

Ultimately, St. Philip wants youth to understand the fierce love that God has for them, just as they are, and that by grace, through faith, they have been saved. When young people (or really any age person!) truly claim this reality, it indeed changes everything.

As the Gathering approaches please pray for our St. Philip group.

Other Summer Youth Events

Regular youth group will pause for the summer. Check out these youth events for summer fun!!

June:

4th (3:30-6pm) – Launching Pad
8th – 10th (Fri – Sun) – Youth Assembly; at Roanoke College

July:

29th (4:30-7pm) – Pool Party at the Radtkes!!

Day of Service Ministries

Day of Service

Linda Rhodes

On Sunday, August 26, St. Philip will once again provided a picnic for the residents at Melrose Towers. They appreciated last summer’s picnic so much, the staff have asked St. Philip if they might return this year.

The menu will be hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixings. There will also be opportunity for bingo and other games. The residents love receiving prizes of toiletries, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, toilet paper and paper towels – items that cannot be purchased with food stamps. Later in the summer look for opportunities to donate these items and how you can help serve St. Philip’s neighbors.

If you have any questions please contact Linda Duncan Rhodes or Donna Wright.

Council Notes News

Church Council News – May

Post author By Alice Lebow
Post date May 31, 2018
No Comments on Church Council News – May

Linda Duncan Rhodes

Council met on May 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the church library.

New council members were welcomed. Sue Huntington was elected Council President and Dan Horine Council Vice President. Council appointed Pete Shick Treasurer and Betty Holland Financial Secretary.

Council members spent the remainder of the meeting reviewing and discussing the Focus groups reports gathered from the congregational meeting. Pastor David told council it would be helpful to him to have someone who could assist him with pastoral care and possibly preach once a month. Several names were discussed by council. Council and Pastor David agreed this person could assist us in forming the vision for the staffing we need.

Pastor David had a recent meeting with Bishop Humphrey to discuss staffing needs. Bishop Humphrey feels St Philip’s potential is off the charts. He did tell Pastor David there are not a lot of pastors looking for part time positions. Pastor David told council the cost for a full time pastor is around $75,000.

The next council meeting will be June 12th at 7:00 p.m. in the church library. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Congregational Life Council Notes News

Casting Nets

Dan Radmacher

Jesus promised to make his disciples fishers of men. But in the modern church, it seems like we hesitate to cast the net. We float happily along in our boat, and hope the fish will simply jump in.

At St. Philip, council wants to figure out how to cast our nets for a vibrant, 21^st century church. We’re going to start exploring some ways of improving outreach to the community using the modern tools available to the church.

I’ll be working on developing a strategy for this, but I could certainly use some help from any social media-savvy members of the congregation. If you have thoughts or ideas, or a willingness to help out in any way, contact me at danrad@mac.com.

A couple of things council is considering starting as soon as possible include live-streaming services using Facebook Live. A tripod will be set up with a phone or tablet and broadcast services live. The hope is this will both offer a convenient way for members of the congregation who can’t make it to church to still experience service, and to help spread the word about St. Philip and its ministries.

Other events may be livestreamed as well.

In addition, council is going to start a church Instagram account to supplement the Facebook and Twitter presence. The hope is to spread the responsibility for keeping that account vibrant by having different people “take over” the account for several weeks at a time. If you have an active Instagram presence, and would be willing to help the church build its own presence, please contact me at the email address above.

Images are an important part of any effective outreach. Please take photos whenever you can at church events. Leadership will figure out the most effective way to share them. If you have a particular interest in photography, let me know.

If we want St. Philip to grow and thrive, we cannot be content to simply wait for fish to jump in the boat. Please let me know if you’re interested in helping find better ways to cast our digital nets.

News

Pastor’s Schedule

Pastor David will accompany St. Philip youth to the ELCA National Youth Gathering June 26 through July 2. Pastor David will be on vacation July 5 through July 20. Pastor Ken Lane will be responding to pastoral emergencies and can be contacted at 366-9481 or 312-6984.