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Thank You for Your Generosity
It is so important to say thank you. St. Philip is a community that practices generosity. That generosity takes shape in so many ways. Thank you. As we celebrate that generosity know that we are always hopeful for expanding the ways we live out mission and ministry. Please prayerfully consider making an additional gift as the calendar year comes to a close.
We are active in so many ways, but know that for Christ’s sake there is always more we might do. Remember that gifts made through December 31st count as charitable donations for the year 2017. You can also be creative in your giving
Consider:
- Consider increasing your offering so that we finish the year in a strong financial position. If 80 St. Philip families gave just an additional $100 between now and the end of the year, we would cancel that deficit and finish in the black. Your pastors are committed to making that additional contribution and invite you to do the same.
- Giving stock. Pay no tax on capital gains when donating stock to a church.
- Visiting the St. Philip website and set up a regular gift to ministry of St. Philip electronically.
* please speak with your accountant or tax advisor for details concerning charitable gifts.
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Church Council News – November
Church Council News – November
Dan Radmacher
Council met on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. in the church library. Though most of the meeting was taken up by going over and approving the 2018 spending plan, a good portion of the meeting was devoted to Pastor Kelly’s announcement that she has accepted a call to serve as Assistant to the Bishop of the Virginia Synod.
This sad and exciting news means major transitions ahead both for St. Philip and the Derrick family, and council spent some time discussing potential ways to fulfill the many responsibilities that Pastor Kelly currently handles. No decisions were made, except to keep Pastor Kelly’s compensation in the spending plan so resources would be available for future staffing decisions.
Council continued to wrestle with the spending plan, approving a plan with a hefty $17,000 shortfall. The fixed expenses of funding the church — staff compensation, utilities, maintenance and upkeep — continue to outpace giving in recent years. While St. Philip is blessed with resources, including substantial endowment and investment funds, council wants to make sure those are used in a responsible and sustainable fashion.
There will be a congregational meeting on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 10 a.m. to discuss and approve the spending plan.
The next council meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Thank you to all who helped cook, serve, and clean up for the Thanksgiving Feast at Philips!!
On Christmas Day, you are invited to serve the community as part of your family Christmas tradition. This year’s Feast will be more to-go boxes for our neighbors, but we will also serve those who come to eat at St. Philip.
How can you help?
- Volunteer to serve at the Feast
- Volunteer to pack to-go boxes for our neighbors
- Purchase and cook a turkey and/or a ham
- Bake a pie or pies
- Volunteer to help set up or clean up
- Make a financial donation to support the Feast (be sure to write “Feast at Philips” on your check)
This is a great opportunity to share God’s love by sharing with our neighbors. If you would like to be a part of this ministry, there is a volunteer sign-up sheet in the narthex with specific duties listed. If you have questions about offering yourself for this feast, speak with one of the pastors. Thank you for your servant hearts!!
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November 2017
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November 2017 Servers
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Live Like That: Love, Feed, Serve
Love, Feed, Serve is not slogan; it is mission, it is purpose, and it is identity. St. Philip is an active community of faith, compelled by God’s grand gift of love to share that same love with others. St. Philip Church Council has been reflecting upon who we are as congregation and community at this particular moment of time. In our conversations, what surfaced over and over again is that we are people who are shaped by God’s love in a way that changes how we live. We see God’s love epitomized in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and are called to live as Jesus would have us live – to Live Like That.
AND, as conversation continued; equally clear is that our living together at St. Philip is lived out as we love, feed, and serve neighbors near and far.
SO, St. Philip Council proudly announces a tag line, including a new logo that we hope gives direction and inspiration to our discipleship and faith in the coming months. As the weeks unfold, keep thinking about how it is that you Live Like That, share stories as to how God’s love is shared in your own experience, be active in serving so that a hungry world might be fed with the good news of a resurrected Christ.
We Live Like That Everywhere We Go
Tag. You’re it! We want to Live Like That in our worship, through our shared ministry at St. Philip, and in our daily living. Be sure to share your stories of how you Live Like That: Love, Feed, Serve by jotting down on the back of one of our Live Like That tags your experiences. Then hang your tag on the cross in the gathering space (narthex) as a sign of the multiple ways we live out the faith together.
Disciples On The Move – Live Like That mobile
Because our lives of faith are lives of faith everywhere we go, boldly proclaim that you are connected to the community of faith at St. Philip. Boldly proclaim that you joyfully live out your faith. St. Francis once said, “Preach the gospel at all times. Use words when necessary.” You are invited to at least start some of those conversations by putting a St. Philip Live Like That window cling on the back of your car.
St. Philip window clings are available in the gathering space and during Café on Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall. We are asking for $5 donation for the clings. We are disciples on the move – let’s cover our vehicles showing the Roanoke Valley that we are people who Live Like That: Love, Feed, Serve.
A New Website To Go With The New Logo And Tagline
The St. Philip website http://stphiliplutheran.net has gotten a facelift to accompany our new tag line, Live Like That, and logo. We hope the congregation will find the new website cleaner, more useful and easier to use.
The monthly newsletter and worship assistant list are available under the Congregational Life menu, and recent news about St. Philip’s ministries and other activities should be easier to find. St. Philip is a dynamic, active church, and we hope the new website reflects that.
St. Philip is also on social media. Check out the Facebook page and Twitter @StPhilipROA.
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Youth News
(More details are available in your email and texts)
Youth Group: Both Middle School and High School Groups meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, 4-6pm, with dinner for all at 5:30pm. Come join the fun!!
November:
5th – Rake leaves for members of the congregation
12th – Youth-led Worship Service: both services!!
17th – 19th (Fri-Sat) – Lost & Found: Youth Retreat for 7th & 8th graders
19th (7pm) – Hollins Community Thanksgiving Worship (NO Youth Group)
Youth Faith Formation:
Middle School and High School Faith Formation is part of Sunday Youth Group. We use lots of different materials: re:form Bible study, videos, conversation, and “burning Jesus questions” (but PK, why would we want to burn Jesus?!).
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College Student Care Packages
St. Philip will send a care package to each of our 11 college/graduate students at the end of the fall semester (late November). Let’s be sure that they know that just because they are away at school they are still in our thoughts and prayers. You are invited to bring in donations of crackers, cookies, hot chocolate, drink mix, energy bars, candy, chocolate, highlighters, post-it notes and flags, pens, pencils, etc. Donations will be accepted (in a box in the narthex) through Sunday, November 26. Parents, your child(ren) will not get a care package if we don’t have an accurate current mailing address for him/her. So please get that info to the office ASAP!
November 12 (10-10:45am), ALL ages will gather between worship services for a short bible story followed by a service project. Just for 45 minutes, 10-10:45am. Just once per month.
In November, in honor of Veterans Day, we will make cards for the 230 veterans at the Salem VA (Veterans Administration) Hospital. I encourage everyone to be part of these gatherings! If you’d like to help with these in any way, please speak with Pastor Kelly.