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February 14, 2018 – 7:00 p.m., Ash Wednesday, St. Philip Lutheran Church
Ash Wednesday, is the first day of the season of Lent and begins a 40 day journey intended to be a time of confession, reflection, preparation, and fasting.  It is a time for Christians to remember that our hope comes from the Christ of the cross and is assured by Jesus’ Easter resurrection.  Come and experience the powerful promise of Jesus as we gather for worship in the sanctuary.

Lenten Worship Series: Open My Life Lord
When we cannot see the beauty of your creation, open our eyes, that all living things thrive and grow.  When we neglect the poor, the sick, and the grieving, open our hands to do your work in the world.  When we ignore the cries of injustice in our midst, open our ears, that all will know your love.  When we are hardened against our neighbor, open our hearts and heal our resentment.  When we are closed to the grace you long to give us, open our lives and turn us to follow in the way of the cross.

February 21, 2018 – 7:00 p.m., St. Philip Lutheran Church, Rev. John McCandlish
Open My Eyes Lord: Paul saw the light of Christ shining around him on the road to Damascus. As individuals and communities, what do we have difficulty seeing?

February 28, 2018 – 7:00 p.m., Glade Creek Lutheran Church, Rev. David Derrick
Open My Hands Lord: We use our hands to pick up a child, to serve a meal, to play an instrument, to wipe away a tear. Jesus used his hands for healing and for deeds of great power.

March 7, 2018 – 7:00 p.m., St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Rev. Ken Lane
Open My Ears Lord: Ancient Greek philosophy notes that we have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. Jesus reminds us that we sometimes hear but don’t listen, listen but don’t understand.

March 14, 2018 – 7:00 p.m., St. Philip Lutheran Church, Rev. James Davis
Open My Heart Lord: Listening to Paul’s teaching, Lydia opened her heart to God and was baptized. Her willing, trusting faith echoes down through the centuries as we witness her “open heart procedure.”

March 21, 2018 – 7:00 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, Lutherans of the Roanoke Valley – CANCELLED
Open My Life Lord: Writing to the Galatians, Paul tells us that we have died to the law so that we might live to God. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.

*All services except Ash Wednesday preceded by Soup and Bread at 6:00p.m.

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.

Pastors David and Kelly 

We are blessed at St. Philip with great resources! One of which is an Endowment Fund and other investments that allows our congregation to expand ministry in many exciting ways.

However, Church Council also wants to thank you for your generosity to ensure that the infrastructure and core ministry of the congregation continues to happen. Endowment income and investments are not used for the day to day ministry of St. Philip. We continue to need to watch very closely our expenditures as they relate to daily operation.

To date, our expenditures for daily ministry outspend the offerings received from the congregation. St. Philip expects an $8000 deficit for the year 2017. 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.

We give God thanks for the diversity of people throughout our community and for the unity we celebrate in Christ Jesus our Lord. Witness to the gifts of diversity and unity is happening again this year as the churches of the Hollins community gather to give thanks.  Participating churches are Enon Baptist, Summerdean Church of the Brethren, St. Philip Lutheran, Northview United Methodist, Hollins Church of the Nazarene, Green Ridge Presbyterian, and First Baptist of Hollins.

We gather to celebrate the goodness that is God’s promise in Christ Jesus. We lift up our connection to one another and boldly give our thanks and praise to God as we worship and as we live the life of faith in our neighborhood.

This year, as in years past, the churches of the Hollins Community will worship together. The worship service Sunday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m. will be held here at St. Philip. MAKE PLANS TO BE PRESENT AND DEMONSTRATE ST. PHILIP HOSPITALITY. St. Philip will be hosting a reception immediately following the worship service.  If you are interested in helping provide food or staffing the reception please speak to Pastor David or Linda Rhodes.

Christ the King Sunday – Colossians 1:11-20

Focus:  Christ the Ruler of All

word of life  

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and indivisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.”   (Colossians 1:15-16 NRSV)

Read Colossians 1:11-20

The church calendar comes to a close with Christ the King Sunday.  Christ is proclaimed as the one who has dominion over all.  This proclamation is supported by this beautiful text from Colossians.  With its hymn-like qualities, the message of this passage concerning the immediate reign of Christ is intended to be sung higher than the stars and wider than the oceans.

This passage begins with a prayer of strength and patience, but shifts to a resounding confession of faith.  “[Jesus] has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14 NRSV) It is Jesus alone who has the capacity to rescue and save us from the power of darkness in our lives.

1. Give examples of the power of darkness.
2. How do we get transferred into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son?

The use of “kingdom” is quite rare in the New Testament outside the gospel accounts of the life of Jesus. This passage implies the transfer to the kingdom of Christ has already occurred.  We have already been rescued and forgiven our sins.  The reign of Christ has already begun.

Sometimes we do not associate Christ as being present at the time of creation, but can limit his presence to his time on this earth.  With soaring language, the author of Colossians proclaims Jesus present at creation, and it is through him all things came into being. Jesus is the first, in that he is the most important of all.

Jesus is the first-born of creation, but also the first born of the dead.  Take a moment to contrast verse 15 and verse 18 in chapter 1.  Christ is not just king and ruler over a few people, but over all of creation. It is Christ which gives us hope of a future beyond our limited time on this earth.

The clearest snapshot we have of God is through Jesus Christ. If asked what God looks like, we can point to Christ as long as we acknowledge that even Christ does not precisely define the vastness and mystery of God.

3. Describe what God looks like.
4. What images (if any) best portray the image of God?

Jesus is declared the firstborn of creation.  Most certainly Jesus is the firstborn of the new creation made by God through Jesus on the cross.  He is the head of the church, the body of Christ.  Though he died on the cross and faced humiliation, that reality does not diminish the authority of Christ as the head of the church. It has always been the church of Christ and Christ alone.

5. Describe what it is like if (and when) a church forgets that Christ is the head of the church.
6. Describe a church which fully places Christ as its head. 

Word among us
“Holy Spirit defeats Immaculate Conception”
“St. Michael and All Angels dominates”
So reads the headlines on the sports page after a weekend of high school football.

1. Describe a time when you supported a #1 team or participated in a first place team.
2. What does it feel like to be #1?

Victory has more to do than the final score of a sporting event. Using #1 language to describe Christ is not typical.  We do not want to get caught up in theology of glory language, but rather proclaim the crucified Jesus Christ.

But on Christ the King Sunday, we could post #1 signs throughout our churches. For on this day of the church year, we resoundingly declare Jesus Christ as number one and head of the church, of the whole of creation, and of the dead.  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation…” (Colossians 1:15 NRSV)

There is more.  “He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything…” (Colossians 1:18 NRSV)  God has turned the world upside down by bringing Jesus from death to life.  Christ is the first resurrected from the dead.  As we join Christ in our baptism, we join the winning team which through Christ defeats the power of death and sin.  The victory is because of God’s action through Christ.

3. How does it feel to be part of the first place team established by Christ?
4. Is this something to brag about and tell others? Explain your answer.

faith practice in daily life

Live among God’s faithful people

This passage from Colossians boldly connects the glory of God with the blood of his cross.  It is through the cross that God has reconciled all things.  God has not been defeated by the powers of darkness which grab hold of us while living in this world.  Instead let us claim our baptismal inheritance and hold tight to Christ as our ruler of our life, church, and world.

5. What questions do you have about the reign of Christ?
6. What evidence do you see that Christ reigns triumphant?
7. What difference does it make that Christ is #1?

Prayer

May we be made strong with all the strength that comes from God’s glorious power, and may we be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to God, who has enabled us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Amen. (modified verse from Colossians 1:11)

last word

Ponder what it means to be part of the winning team of Christ.

We are blessed at St. Philip with great resources! One of which is an Endowment Fund and other investments that allows our congregation to expand ministry in many exciting ways. However, Church Council also wants to thank you for your generosity to ensure that the infrastructure and core ministry of the congregation continues to happen.

Endowment income and investments are not used for the day to day ministry of St. Philip. We continue to need to watch very closely our expenditures as they relate to daily operation. To date, our expenditures for daily ministry outspend the offerings received from the congregation. That deficit will not be offset by investment income, per our investment policies. St. Philip Council asks that you faithfully give and consider increasing your offering so that we finish the year in a strong financial position.

In 2016, the St. Philip Endowment generated $15,000 for ministry initiatives through St. Philip. Church Council has approved the following ministries which, again, are made possible by the Endowment Fund:

$5000 grant to St. Philip Youth for ELCA Youth Gathering

$2000 Seminarian Support – to support our student Matt Leonard

$1500 grant to Camp Caroline Furnace – Virginia’s Outdoor Lutheran Camp

$6500 media upgrade throughout the building

Church Council also approved several upgrades which were made possible by funds from St. Philip’s additional investments. These included:

$6,250 Color Pinter/Copier

$3,390 Automatic Door – to allow easier access for folks with mobility challenges