Blog – Page 28 – St. Philip Lutheran Church

Sounds of Worship

Judy Burnette

When people think about music instruments used during worship, their thoughts most often turn to the piano and organ. Gradually, acoustic guitars were added as well as drums and tambourines. Church music has continued to evolve using a wide variety of instruments (electric guitars, drum sets, synthesizers) as well as many styles of music. Churches still use organs and pianos, but many have orchestras or “rock” bands.

At St. Philip, we do not have an orchestra, but we are blessed to have many talented people who share their gifts of music by giving us the opportunity to have a wonderful band. We also have those who play other instruments to enhance our worship. Recently our service was a “Celebration of Diversity.” We sang songs from different countries and used a drum ensemble, tambourine, shakers and claves in the accompaniment to enhance the spirit of the music. This may be new for some, but hopefully these are musical sounds that touch your heart.

Worship Assistants

September 2017

September_2017_Servers

Elijah's Backpack Ministries

Elijah’s Backpack

Each Friday afternoon elementary school children receive a pack of healthy food and snacks in their backpacks. Elijah’s Backpack may include the following items: cereal, breakfast bars, oatmeal, juice, tuna kits, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter crackers, soup, apple sauce, fruit cups, ravioli, vegetables, milk, and other nutritious food.

What is Elijah’s Backpack?

Many families struggle to eat healthy meals and snacks every day. Elijah’s Backpack, a free community ministry sponsored by St. Philip Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Virginia, helps families eat more healthy meals and snacks through their local elementary school.

Elijah’s Backpack works with families at Mountain View Elementary and Burlington Elementary, in Roanoke County. The school principal and guidance counselor select participants based upon need. Program participation is kept confidential. A parent or guardian must return a signed permission form for their child to participate. This form is available from their elementary school counselor.

The prophet Elijah was sent by God to visit Zarephath, where he met a widow and her son. When he arrived, Elijah was quite hungry and asked for food. The widow had so little food for herself and her son that she feared they would die of hunger, yet she shared her own bread with Elijah. God responded by providing more than enough for the three to eat together. (1 Kings 17:8-16) God calls us to serve all who hunger (Matthew 25:35-40; James 2:15-16). The story of Elijah reminds us that those who are hungry are also our sisters and brothers, gifted by God and very often sharing what they have with others in need.

WDBJ7’s news coverage of Elijah’s Backpack

Children carrying more than just books in their backpacks

Program Partners

Elijah’s Backpack is supported by St. Philip Lutheran Church, Hollins First Baptist Church, Enon Baptist Church, Hollins Church of the Nazarene, Northview United Methodist Church, Summerdean Church of the Brethren, Life Academy, Faith Alliance Church, Burlington Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Feeding America Food Bank, Hollywood’s Restaurant, and donations from individuals supporting Elijah’s Backpack. We are seeking other community partners.

Global Missions Ministries

Global Missions

The global missions team seeks to promote peace, justice, and care of creation through congregational support of missions at home and abroad. We will educate congregation members about the diverse needs of the community to which we all belong. We as Christians wish to share the many blessings that God has so graciously given.

Our current mission partner is Malawi, Africa. We are active in our partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Malawi.

News and photographs of our missionaries’ trip to Malawi

Watch WDBJ7’s coverage of the mission trip to Malawi:

A group of Roanoke women planning to change lives thousands of miles awa y

Mission Fest

Ministries Minnick Schools Learning Site

Minnick Schools Learning Site

Post author By danrad
Post date August 14, 2017
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St. Philip partners with Lutheran Family Services’ Minnick Schools to provide a place for students with special needs to practice life and work skills that might connect them to careers in the mainstream culture. On any given week, 5 to eight teenagers and young adults disperse throughout the St. Philip facility to move tables, stack chairs, vacuum carpets, and other much needed tasks.

Grocery Bag Ministry Ministries

Grocery Bag Ministry

The need at St. Mark’s Lutheran Food Pantry continues to grow. They need our help to restock their pantry. The food items needed are all Paper products, canned fruit, & canned vegetables. You may make a check to St. Mark’s or give cash if you don’t have time to shop, leave it on the secretary’s desk. St. Mark will mail you a receipt.

Day of Service Ministries

Day of Service

Look for the yellow shirts with the tag line – God’s work. Our hands. Each fall a crew from St. Philip connects with a local organization to provide the people power for projects that might enhance the ministry of the organization.

Ministries Witnessing Paws

Witnessing Paws

We have gone to the dogs. St. Philip serves as a training site for Pet Therapy teams. You will see many of our teams in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, anywhere and everywhere that people might benefit from the unconditional love of a trained therapy team. Miracles of compassion, healing and wholeness truly take place.