Categories
Newsletters

New Membership Database is a “Breeze”

In January, the staff and church council began exploring new options for managing St. Philip’s membership roll, the church directory, email lists, and contribution records. Since 2016 the church office has used a church management system called PowerChurch, which while robust in it’s own right, had limitations for multiple users. Pastor Laura introduced a newer church management system called Breeze.

One of the highlights of Breeze is that more than one person can use parts of the system at a time, which means regardless of where a staff member or volunteer is working – home, office, or on the road – the information in the database can be accessed. Another exciting feature of Breeze is that congregation members can also create an account and access a church directory straight from their phones or computers. 

What can congregation members do with Breeze?

  • Access church directory information on a computer at https://stphiliplutheran.breezechms.com or download an app for Android and iPhone by searching “Breeze CHMS.” (The icon looks like a sailboat).
  • Update their own information as soon as it changes.
  • Search for contact information for other active congregation members.

How does it work?

  • Once you access Breeze either by computer or by app, create an account. The church’s id is stphiliplutheran. If there is a profile in Breeze that matches your name and email address, Breeze will sent you an email with an invite link. (If you do not receive your invite link and have more than one email address, please check with Laura Latham in the church office to be sure we have your preferred email address on file.)
  • Go to “People” and search for your name.
  • Once there, edit your information (if needed) by mousing over or placing your finger on the grey box that says “Main” and “Contact.”
  • Upload a photo of yourself and a photo of your family!
    • For individual photos, click on the profile image, select the photo you’d like to use from your device, adjust the photo as needed, click “set as profile picture.”
    • For family photos, mouse over the grey box that says “Family”” and click to edit section. Upload photo as above.
    • (Please only upload photo of you and/or your family. These images will be seen by other members who may need help connecting faces and names.)
  • Search for other active congregation members by going to “People” and searching their name.

If you have any questions or need help navigating this new service for the church, please contact Laura Latham at officeadmin@stphiliplutheran.net or 540-929-1804 (personal cell while telecommuting). If there is information in your profile you can’t edit and would like to have changed, please contact Laura about that as well.

Categories
Newsletters

St. Philip Invitation – July 2020

Categories
Newsletters

St. Philip Invitation – June 2020

Categories
Newsletters

St. Philip Invitation – May 2020

Categories
Newsletters Uncategorized

Zoom Meetings Update – Password Required

Many organizations, including churches, have increased their usage of Zoom meeting software exponentially over the past few weeks. To increase security for their users, Zoom is now requiring passwords for all meetings. All St. Philip Zoom meetings going forward will require a password – 24019. This includes Zoom Cafe Sunday morning at 9:30am, Youth Group, Monday Bible Study, etc. Below are the new links to those meetings. Thank you for your care and flexibility as we continue to adapt to this new way of being the church. Looking forward to beginning Holy Week and celebrating Palm Sunday with y’all tomorrow!

Zoom Cafe – https://zoom.us/j/135031599?pwd=UWtWSDRGdWh4MTZ6RCtYL0lPZXdIdz09

Youth Group – https://zoom.us/j/151785108?pwd=WEZlUlJQUWxseHBET1hXN0c2MkxWdz09

Bible Study – https://zoom.us/j/181894145?pwd=a0Q4ZUdqdHc1dDNzZ3hDb1BNR0Njdz09

Categories
Council Notes

In-Person Gatherings at St. Philip Suspended Until May 17

Hopefully many of you heard the telephone message earlier this week from the Council President about the decision to extend the suspension of our in-person worship gatherings until May 17.

Due to the continually evolving circumstances this can change, so continue to check for updates from your church council and the pastors. 

This decision was difficult and arrived at by Church Council after prayerful consideration and discussion with our pastors in a special meeting of Council Tuesday night, March 24th.

Some may wonder, are we overreacting?  That’s possible.  In fact, I hope we are!  The only other alternative is that our actions turn out to be inadequate…too little, too late.  I hold no hope that our actions prove to be the PERFECT response.  So, we really do have only the two options, and I think most would agree that if we err, we need to err on the side of caution.

Stay plugged in.  Watch for email updates each week. Listen to telephone messages.  Follow St. Philip on Facebook.  Be a regular visitor to the St. Philip website. Read the Bible. Participate in online worship, bible study, and more upcoming events available online. Read your mail.  Participate in programs being developed to reach members who cannot connect digitally.  Join the Prayer Chain.  Be creative and resourceful.  Spend time in Prayer. After all, we ARE in the Wilderness and we have an opportunity to make THIS Lenten experience the most memorable one ever.

Although we are suspending in-person gatherings, we are NOT suspending our expenses. So, bills need to be paid, salaries need to be paid, and our ministry continues to move forward.  Steps have been taken to reduce expenditures as much as possible, but it is still VERY important for us all to prayerfully consider maintaining our regular level of giving.  This should be easiest for members who have set up electronic automatic drafts. For those of you who have not done this, please consider this option*.  Otherwise please mail your checks to the church office so we can sustain our vibrant ministry.

God’s Peace be with you, and I look forward to us all being able to get together soon.

Gary Sahm, Council President

*click on the “Generosity Matters” tab, then “Give Now”.  You can make a one-time donation, or set up a regular, recurring donation.

Categories
Christian Education

Cross Generational Faith Formation

Mark your calendars for another Cross-Generational Faith Formation event on Palm Sunday, April 5! Gather at 10am in the Fellowship Hall for an interactive time of learning, faith conversation, and creativity! Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to grow in faith as we journey to the cross. Disciples aged 0 to 100 are invited, make plans to join in the fun!

Categories
Congregational Life Uncategorized

CANCELLED – LUCOM Family Night

This event has been cancelled.


Does your family enjoy camping?

Camp Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp and Retreat Center is revving up for the 2020 season, and you are invited to an informational event to learn about the Camp Caroline Furnace camping experience.

On Sunday, March 22 at 5:00pm, College Lutheran Church in Salem will be hosting a Family Night event. Join in the fun – dinner, games, and a campfire for s’mores. Bring your questions about summer camp and retreats. All are welcome.

FREE…GOOD FOOD…GOOD FELLOWSHIP…GOOD INFORMATION

An RSVP is requested to julie@carolinefurnace.org or respond to the Facebook event, found at the College Lutheran Church Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/166951391227167/

Categories
Congregational Life

CANCELLED – Celebrate Life Seminars

PLEASE NOTE: All in-person gatherings have been all-in person events have been suspended until April 1. Please see this note from the pastors regarding the response to COVID 19. http://www.stphiliplutheran.net/pastoral-update-to-covid-19/

Have you ever had questions about end of life care, legal options, funeral planning, or legacy giving? These are hugely important topics that often bring up a lot of questions. St. Philip is hosting a three-part event to learn more about how we can celebrate life as aging adults. This month there will be three sessions covering many important aspects of caring for elderly adults, including hospice care, legal processes, funeral planning, and legacy gift giving.

These sessions will be held on March 1, March 15, and March 29. Each session will follow the 11:00 service on Sundays and include a light lunch. Please RSVP to the church office by February 24 if you would like to attend these informative sessions! If you have questions, please see Pastor Laura.

Categories
Worship Servers

March 2020 Worship Servers