Welcome to St. Philip’s, a family dedicated and “determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves.” (1 Th. 2:8). From our family to yours, we invite you to “Come and See” the many opportunities we offer to share the love of Christ with one another through fellowship, ministry, and service to God and our neighbor.
What follows is a list of the ministries and fellowship opportunities that we offer (listed in alphabetical order).
Acolytes:
Time & Place: Yearly Training – TBA
In contemporary Anglicanism, this general term covers not only servers, torchbearers, and lighters of candles, but also crucifers, thurifers, and banner-bearers. These positions of service to our Lord, while typically performed by children and young adults, are open to everyone at all points in life. This is a wonderful way to serve God and those who gather to worship him.
Contact: Buddy Willeford @ 361-362-2664
Altar Guild:
Time & Place: TBA
Description: The Altar Guild, by definition, is a volunteer group of the parish whose ministry is to care for the altar, vestments, vessels, and altar linens of the parish. Altar Guild members prepare the sanctuary for services, clean up afterwards, and supervise the decoration of the sanctuary with flowers and the colors of liturgical seasons. Our Altar Guild is more than a guild, it’s a family whose gift and service to God and neighbor is the care of God’s house where we gather to worship Him.
Contact: Carl Mayberry @ 361-358-9323
Bell Choir – The Philidings
Time & Place: Wednesday’s @ 5pm in the Parish Hall (August – April)
Founded in 1985 with a borrowed set of two octaves, the St. Philip’s Bell Choir has grown in stature and equipment and is currently composed of eight ringers, one director, and two octaves of bells. In addition to special performances throughout the year in our worship services, the Bell Choir joins three other churches in performing at the “Chimes & Chocolates” benefit for the Beeville Vineyard. As the Bell Choir aspires to expand to a three octave choir, it is actively seeking three or more new recruits who wish to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. No bell experience or reading of music is required. If you can count, you can ring, there are no auditions or pressure, just a lot of fun!
Contact: Louise Mayberry @ 361-358-9323.
Choir
Time & Place: Wednesday’s @ 6pm in the Sanctuary
The Choir, our body of singers who provide musical leadership for our congregation in the worship of the church, is continuing to excel and grow musically. Founded in 2010 under the direction of John L. Blackburn, our Organist & Choir Master, the Choir has already enhanced and beautified our worship of the Lord through its seasonal anthems and special performances. While the primary role of the choir is to lead and support the congregation’s worship through singing, due to our size, regular performances at worship are not yet possible, but certainly striven for. If you love to sing, and you love to worship our Lord, please contact our Organist & Choir Master for more information.
Contact: John L. Blackburn, Organist & Choir Master @ johnlblackburn@gmail.com
Daughters of the King:
Time & Place: Third Thursday of the month @ 5;30pm in the Parish Hall.
Description: The Order of the Daughters of the King® was founded in 1885 by Margaret J. Franklin at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in New York City. Members of the Order undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at Baptism and Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ’s Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish. The DOK is an Order, not an organization. We don’t just enroll as members and attend meetings; we take life-long vows to follow the Rule of Prayer and Rule of Service.
Contact: Loraine Brown @ 361-547-6601
Lectors, Lay Readers, & Lay Eucharistic Ministers:
Time & Place: Yearly Training – TBA
These three offices are a part of our Lay Ministry – the term referring to the many ways the “laity” (the “people” of the church, those who have been baptized) live out their baptismal covenants.
Lector: (reader) A lay person trained in reading scripture who is appointed by the clergy person in charge of the congregation to read lessons or lead the prayers of the people. There is no license required for this lay ministry.
Contact: Kathy Young @ 361-358-2226
Lay Reader: A lay person licensed by the bishop to lead public worship under the direction of the member of the clergy in charge of the congregation. The lay reader must be a confirmed adult communicant in good standing and recommended by the member of the clergy in charge of the congregation. A lay reader may lead the Daily Offices of the church, as well as lead/assist in the Eucharist and other liturgies given certain modifications.
Contact: David Henley @ 361-542-9875
Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM): A lay person licensed by the bishop to administer the consecrated elements of the Eucharist both to those within the worship service, and then following the service, to those who were unable to be present at the celebration because of illness or infirmity.
Contact: David Henley @ 361-542-9875
Lenten Luncheons:
(The Margaret Lyne Moser Memorial Lenten Luncheon and Lecture Series):
Time & Place: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th Tuesdays of Lent
Description: The Margaret Lyne Moser Memorial Lenten Luncheon and Lecture Series is an annual Lenten event held at St. Philip’s Church. Sponsored by the Women of St. Philip’s and co-hosted by the women of Faith Lutheran Church, First United Methodist Church, and First Presbyterian Church, the Series is held on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Tuesdays of Lent with lunch served from 11:30 to noon followed by the program from 12:00 to 1:00pm. The cost is $7 per luncheon or $25 for the Series. Reservations must be made in advance by calling the Church office and all members of the community are encouraged to attend.
Contact: St. Philip’s Church Office @ 361-358-2730
Men’s Ministry:
Time & Place: Third Friday of the Month – 6 to 8pm, place TBA.
Description: For this gathering of Christian men, we invite you for food and fellowship as we follow the Proverbial adage that as “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) The food is cooked, and the meeting is hosted by different men each month, so please stay tuned to your church bulletin or Monthly Calendar for more details. No agendas…just good food, good conversation, centered around a great God!
Contact: Corey Hensch @ 361-318-9755
Monthly Luncheon:
Time & Place: First Sunday of the Month following the 10:30 Service – Parish Hall
Description: For this family gathering (in pot luck fashion), we invite one and all for food and fellowship as we strive to follow in the in the footprints of the Apostles who “day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.” (Acts 2:46-47) You don’t have to bring a dish…just an empty stomach and a full heart!
Contact: Louise Mayberry @ the Church Office
Women of the Church:
Time & Place: TBA – The WOTC meet four times a year in January, April, June, and September – Parish Hall.
Description: The Women of the St. Philip’s Church is an organization of the women of our Church and includes all women who attend St. Philip’s. Our purpose is to support the activities and needs of our parish and the community, and to promote fellowship among the women of the parish. All women above the age of sixteen who attend St. Philip’s Church are considered to be members of the WOTC. There are no dues or obligations to membership, but rather it is an opportunity to spend time together in Christian fellowship, to get to know one another, to strengthen one another on our walks of faith, and to share our gifts and talents with the Church in the service of God and our neighbor.
Contact: Lucy Williams @ 361-358-8986
The Vineyard:
St. Philip’s is an active participant in the Vineyard, an ecumenical outreach of churches in Beeville and Bee County. The Vineyard provides food, clothing, shelter, substantial financial assistance and more to those in need in our community.
Contact: The Vineyard @ 361-358-7500