T H E N E W S L E T T E R o f S t . P h i l i p P r e s by t e r i a n C h u r c h U . S . A .

Volume 59, Number 15 Houston, Texas

St. Philip’s

Rev. Dr. John W. WursterPastor, Head of Staff Rev. Keatan KingAssociate Pastor

Omar RouchonMinistry Associate

Rev. Dr. Samuel Lanham IIIPastor Emeritus Dr. Thomas GoetzDirector of Music Dr. Matthew DirstOrganist Laurie FortenberyOffice ManagerDenise FerrellBookkeeperMicah MeyersCommunications AssistantWilbert ParadaFacilities SupervisorDimas ParadaCustodianPeter RamadanCustodian Laurie FortenberyNewsletter Editorphilip-eye@saintphilip.net

August 3, 2015

Weds., August 5th

Philip-Eye Page 2 August 3, 2015

Dear Friends, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the board of Interfaith Ministries. Of the thousands of con-gregations in Greater Houston, we have been among the leading supporters of IM from its founding 40 years ago. I encourage you to go to www.imgh.org for a glimpse of all that is happening through this amazing organization. This summer, the board elected a new CEO, Martin Cominsky. As I went for a meeting with Martin this week at the new IM building on Main Street in Midtown, I saw for the first time the plaque representing our contribution to IM’s cap-ital campaign:

A more recent grant from our Central Mission En-dowment Fund has made possible an expansion of IM’s exciting youth leadership program, iLead. Our own Ben-nett Johnson participated in iLead a few years ago, and we’re hopeful more of our youth will take advantage of this opportunity in the future.

We have a couple of extraordinary guests coming to St. Philip this month. We welcome Robert Dykstra Au-gust 8-9 for our Summer Lecture Series. I know you will enjoy his insightful reflections and creative presentations. There aren’t many better ways to spend an August Satur-day than feeding your spirit in the cool climes of St. Philip. Please RSVP on the website or through the church office if you’re coming so we can have the right number for lunch.

On August 30, Music at St. Philip presents an or-gan recital by David Heller. David is the University Organ-ist at Trinity University, where he has been since 1986. His first year at Trinity coincided with my senior year. Since I was always hanging around the chapel in those days, we became friends. In fact, I even had a brief career at Trinity as David’s page turner. David was the organist when Deb and I were married at Trinity in 1990. Over the years, I’ve learned much from him about music and worship. I’m al-ways inspired by his playing and eagerly await the chance to hear him on our Fritts organ. I hope you can join us that evening in welcoming him to St. Philip.

Faithfully yours,

In Our PrayersToto McGehee - surgery this weekKen Bartholomey - Mary Ann Recuperating at Home Thomas’ husband - cancer Bedford VestalSandra Cooper - MD Anderson Jo JonesSteve Carmichael - lyme disease Winston CrowderMalcolm Host - health concerns Chuck JohnsonLarry Dean- Seven Acres Tom “Mike” Tomforde, Jr.- Hallmark HC Linda Joullian,Wayne Truxillo’s sister - cancer

Blessing of the BackpacksOur tradition of sending off our students to start another school year will continue on Sunday, August 23. A special litany and blessing over school bags will take place during the 11 o’clock worship service. All are invited and wel-comed to participate!

SUNDAY SCHOOL UPDATE Nursery and PreschoolInfants and children through 3 years old8:30 am to 12:30pm - Room 106Staffed by professional childcare providers Preschool 4 through 12th gradeThese classes will not meet during the summer months. They will resume in the fall. Adult Classes CHURCH & SOCIETY - Room 201SPa CLASS - Room 200BIBLE STUDY - Room 204ARTS & CRAFT STUDIOThese classes will not meet during the summer months. They will resume in the fall.

CCSC Back-To-School CCSC needs donations and volunteers for their Annual Back-to-School drive. The event takes place at Faith Lu-theran Church at 4600 Bellaire Blvd. this Friday and Sat-urday, August 6 & 7. They are asking for monetary dona-tions, donations of school-appropriate clothing, volunteers and food for volunteers. Checks can be made payable to St. Philip with “CCSC” in the memo line. Clothing-wise they especially need coats, sweaters, jeans and khaki pants, and closed-toed shoes. Volunteers are needed both days from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations of fruit or veggie trays or small sandwiches are also much appreciated. Contact Je-nilee Simmons for more information.

Philip-Eye Page August 3, 20153

CHILD PROTECTION & SAFETY TRAINING WORKSHOP

Calling all teachers and volunteers who work with St. Philip children and youth. Jan Fox will be leading a Child Protection and Safety training workshop this month in accordance with the church’s child protection pol-icy. All teachers and volunteers must complete the training, but all adults of the church are invited and encouraged to participate, especially if there may be future occasions for your participation with our children and youth programs this school year. There are two opportunities for the training: Sunday, August 16 and Sunday, August 23. Both workshops will be held at 9:30 a.m. in Room 201. Please contact Omar Rouchon if you have any questions.

I hope that as you read this copy of the Phili-pEye, you are in a place that is cool and com-fortable – it has certainly been a hot summer in Houston! I am frequently asked how I feel about being back in the sultry heat of the Bay-ou City, and I am instantly reminded of the feet of snow I found myself buried under just a few months ago in Boston – and then I smile as I breathe in the almost-stifling, near-tropi-cal Houston air.

I have enjoyed getting reacquainted with this congregation and with old friends over the past couple of months, and I have enjoyed get-ting to meet so many wonderful members of this community. Thank you to all for the many ways you’ve extended a warm and loving wel-come – what a wonderful experience to feel like I have returned home. It is hard to believe that August is upon us – it seems as if it were just yesterday that I was in the library finishing term papers and pre-paring for final exams. But I am very excited about the start to another year in the life of Children’s ministry and educational programs at St. Philip, and excited about working along-side members of this congregation of all ages. As we prepare for the new year, there are a few events which I’d like to draw your atten-tion to:

Child Protection and Safety Training Class-es will be held August 16 & 23. (Please read more about them in article on left side of page.)

Rally Day/BiblesSt. Philip’s annual kickoff to the Sunday School year will take on a new form this year. Amidst the excitement and anticipation of the year ahead, we will hit the ground running with classes beginning on the morning of Ral-ly Day, Sunday, September 13. All of our Sun-day morning classes will meet in their regular locations. Two weeks later, September 27, will be another exciting Sunday. During the 11 o’clock service, bibles will be presented to students in 1st, 3rd and 5th grade. We will also begin our children’s chapel during that service, continuing to gather on the second and fourth Sundays each month. I am delighted to be here and very excited about all of the opportunities for learning, dis-covery and growth which lie ahead. Enjoy the remaining days of summer!

Peace be with you,

Dear St. Philippians,

Philip-Eye Page 4 August 3, 2015

Music at St. Philip Concert Series presents the third and final concert in the 2015 Summer Recital Series on Sunday, August 30, 6:00 p.m., with organist David Heller. Dr. Heller serves as Professor of Music and University Organist at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. He holds degrees from Law-rence University and the Eastman School of Music. He has performed as recitalist throughout the U.S. and Europe as well as Korea and Taiwan, often at national and regional conventions of the American Institute of Organ Builders, the American Guild of Organists, and others. Dr. Heller’s program on the Fritts organ at St. Philip Presbyterian Church will include works by Di-eterich Buxtehude, J. S. Bach, Johannes Brahms, Max Reger, Gerre Hancock, and “Archangel Suite” by Craig Phillips (b. 1961). The public is cordially invited to all concerts. Admission is free at all Music at St. Philip Concert Series programs, an offering will be received to help support the series.

Admission is free; an offering will be received.

Philip-Eye

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage PaidHouston, TXPermit No. 2396

THE NEWSLETTER of St. Philip Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

PHILIP-EYE info.Articles should be sent to Laurie Fortenbery: philip-eye@saintphilip.net.

Please take note: The deadline for submitting articles for the next PhilipEYE is Thursday, August 13.

4807 San Felipe, Houston, TX 77056 www.saintphilip.net

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN 2015-2016 Houston Area Horizons Bible Study

for Presbyterian Women

Presbyterian Women of New Covenant Presbytery in-vites you to an overview of the 2015-2016 Horizon’s Bible Study, “Come to the Waters,” during the month of August. You pick the date and location that is best for you. Pre-registration is requested one week prior to the event.

Tuesday, August 11 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon St. Stephen Presbyterian Church 2217 Theta Street, Houston 77034 Register with Candy in the church office at 713-946-4006 or email at officesspc@gmail.com

Saturday, August 29 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon Spring Branch Presbyterian Church 1215 Campbell Rd, Houston 77055 Register with Margaret Rouse in the church office at 713-464-7659 or secretary@springbranchpres.org.

In the 9 lessons of the study, water plays a central role in the stories of scripture, from the chaotic waters of Cre-ation to the River of Life in Revelation. The rich imag-ery of water throughout the Bible helps us understand and articulate our faith. Just as water nourishes our bod-ies, so these passages on water nourish our souls. The study was written by Judy Fletcher, former moderator of Synod of the Sun.

CONNECT WITH MONTREAT REMINDER!

Visit beautiful Montreat Conference Center October 5-8, 2015 with other women from New Covenant Presbytery as we encounter God through relationships, renewal, rec-reation and rest. Housing will be in the newly renovated Assembly Inn. Registration fee ($330 for single occupan-cy and $210 for double occupancy) includes lodging for 3 nights and 7 meals.In addition to meeting the Montreat staff and touring the conference center and surrounding area, we will have a book discussion of Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward. For registration information contact Mary Ann Thomas at ma.thomas48@yahoo.com or 281-277-3844. Other mem-bers of the planning team are Sara Jean Jackson (sjj10223@gmail.com), Cathy Steward (cathy@cathy steward.com), Becky Weatherall, and Anne Wilson.

Seafarer Christmas Boxes St. Philip will be participating in the 2015 Christmas Shoe-box Program. We are collecting the following items to fill the Christmas boxes: 100 medium sized shoe boxes, ho-tel samples (of shampoo, conditioner, hand cream), socks, wash cloths, bars of soap, toothpaste/brushes, handker-chiefs, pencils, pens, paper, cards, paper clips, sewing kits, stick, cotton balls, band aids, cups, gloves, ziplock bags, small calendar, packs of tissues, decks of cards, razors, comb, flashlights, chewing gum, hard candy, rubber bands, a holiday card. The boxes will be distributed to visiting seafarers by volunteers and Chaplains working with the Houston Int’l Seafarer’s Center. Place your donations in the wishing well in the Gathering Area.