DUERR LECTURE SERIES - 2015 · 2015-02-10 · port on my journey to being ordained. St. Philip has . shown itself to be a fertile breeding ground for minis-ters. Extending the timeline

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 . February 9, 2015Volume 59, Number 3 Houston, Texas

St. Philip’s

Rev. Dr. John W. WursterPastor, Head of Staff

Rev. Keatan KingAssociate Pastor

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 [email protected]

“Exploring the Teaching of Jesus”DUERR LECTURE SERIES - 2015

Dr. Ottati will be preaching at the 8:30 and 11:00 worship services on Sunday morning. All lectures begin at 7:00 p.m., and the Sunday evening lecture, in the Fellow-ship Hall, will be preceded by dinner at 6:15, $7.00, no reservations necessary. Lectures on Monday and Tuesday evenings will take place in Room 209, the choir rehearsal room. The sermon and all lectures will be recorded and available in sets of four CDs. Child care for all ages is available for each lecture by calling the church office, 713 622-4807.

The lecture series was established in 1998 in memory of Chris Duerr, with the pur-pose of bringing the best Reformed scholars and preachers to St. Philip and the wider com-munity each year. Duerr was born and raised in Germany, growing up during the years of World War II. He came to the U.S. in 1950 in the first class of Fulbright Scholars from Ger-many, studying at Michigan State University. He also studied at the University of Hamburg, Germany, where he received the equivalent of a Master’s Degree in political economics. He moved permanently to the States in 1968, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1973. He joined St. Philip in 1979 and later served as a ruling elder.

The Lecture Series was established through generous contributions made in Du-err’s memory. While the lectures are free and open to everyone, your gift to ensure the con-tinuation of the series on an annual basis is greatly appreciated. Gifts may be made to the series in honor of or in memory of a friend or loved one. Checks should be made payable to St. Philip, marked “Duerr Lecture Series” and sent to the church office.

Come and take part in the lectures for a time of challenging study and spiritual re-newal.

DUERR LECTURE SERIES BROWN BAG LUNCHMen and women are invited to meet with Dr. Douglas F. Ottati on Monday, February 23, at noon in the Dining Room. Please bring a brown bag lunch and enjoy informal conver-sation with the speaker for the Duerr Lecture Series. Bring a friend, all are welcome, no reservations necessary. Note that there is only one lunch meeting this year and both men and women are invited.

Douglas F. Ottati, speaker for the eighteenth annual Duerr Lecture Series, February 22, 23 and 24, is Craig Family Distinguished Professor of Reformed The-ology and Justice at Davidson College. His lectures will focus on selected features of Jesus' teachings: his message of the king-dom of God, drawing on Luke 6:20, "Bless-ed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God," and his emphasis on love of God, neighbor, and even enemies. He will explore these teachings in the gospels, some ways in which they have been inter-preted in the church's theological tradition, and how they connect with broad contem-porary issues. Dr. Ottati will preach on Sun-day at both services, "But a Samaritan...," Deuteronomy 6:4-8 and Luke 10:25-37.

Born in northern New Jersey, Douglas Ottati grew up and was confirmed in the Presbyterian Church in the town of Tenafly and was later ordained as a Ruling Elder. He received the A.B. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from The Divini-ty School, University of Chicago. Joining the faculty of Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA, in 1977, he was the M. E. Pemberton Professor of Theology from 1998 - 2007. Coming to Davidson College in 2007, his scholarly interests include con-temporary theology and ethics, as well as the history of theology and ethics, partic-ularly in America. In demand as a speaker and lecturer, Ottati has given many presen-tations throughout North America as well as in Great Britain and South Africa. In ad-dition to journal articles and book reviews Dr. Ottati has published numerous books in-cluding Reforming Protestantism: Christian Commitment in Today’s World (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995), The-ology for Liberal Presbyterians and Other Endangered Species, (Geneva Press, 2006), and Theology for Liberal Protestants: God the Creator, (Eerdmans, 2013).

As the son of a Brazilian father, Douglas Ottati has played and followed soc-cer since he was young, and coached youth soccer for many years. He enjoys reading, travel, and walks and hikes with his wife, Pamela. They are the parents of two adult children.

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Dear Friends

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Even though at least a few among us are still put-ting away things from Christmas, the season of Lent is coming soon. Ash Wednesday is February 18, three weeks earlier than in 2014 because of the widely shifting dates for Easter. The forty day period of Lent has long been seen as an opportunity for renewed focus on faith and discipleship. Many folks take on a particular practice for the season, while others seek to give up some things, lessening their power over us.

With this edition of the Philip-Eye we are includ-ing a calendar of Lenten practices. Attending to this cal-endar might be a good fit for you and your family to mark these days. Or maybe your spiritual life would be enriched by making a commitment to join us for midday worship for the six Wednesdays of Lent. I will preach on Ash Wednes-day. For the subsequent weeks, we will have guest preach-ers from around our presbytery. Each preacher will focus on a parable of Jesus. Another possibility for a Lenten dis-cipline is participating in a new Sunday School class for this season. Led by Keatan and me, “Singing the Faith” will follow a Presbyterian curriculum based on various hymns within our tradition, giving close attention to the words and images of the texts, as well as the biographical circumstances of their writers. The first class is February 22. All of these – and more Lenten opportunities – are de-scribed in further detail in this newsletter or on the church web site.

While I am decidedly in the camp that Lent is a time to take on something new, rather than give something up, I am re-thinking that stance in light of a recent com-ment by Pope Francis. He recommends that we give up indifference for Lent. “Our heart grows cold. As long as I am relatively healthy and comfortable, I don’t think about those less well off. Today, this selfish attitude of indiffer-ence has taken on global proportions, to the extent that we can speak of a globalization of indifference. It is a problem which we, as Christians, need to confront. Indifference to our neighbor and to God also represents a real temptation for us Christians.”

Of course, the flip side of giving up indifference is taking on awareness and intentionality. Can we pay atten-tion to the people and situations around us? Can we resolve to do what we can with what we have in the places where we have been set?

Let’s not be indifferent about Lent. Instead, let’s use the gift of these forty days to open ourselves to what God would teach us through our commitments and practices.

Yours in Christ,

Dear friends of St. Philip Presbyterian Church,Thank you for all your encouragement and sup-

port on my journey to being ordained. St. Philip has shown itself to be a fertile breeding ground for minis-ters. Extending the timeline backward, know that you have formed me, shaped me, given me opportunities to stumble, grow, learn and seek God. Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.

Sunday’s Ordination Worship Service was an amazing day. And I have so many of you to thank: John and Keaton, The St. Philip Choir, Thomas Goetz and Chris Holman, Mike and Miles for providing the bread, and of course all of you who were witness to an “Ain’t it grand” sermon by Cynthia Rigby. And yes, although Keaton said I would be doing the dishes, someone at St. Philip did the “communion dishes” for me. I don’t know who you are; I have my suspicions, but thank you. Laurie Fortenbery, you did a great job with the bulletin and someone very kindly handed them out before the service.

And I now have a beautiful red stole that will assist me in worship and will always remind me of the St. Philip Congregation. Thank you.

Sunday was a special, exciting, joyful and mov-ing day and I will never forget it. I am grateful for your loving embrace. It is like the arms of the concrete cross in the sanctuary that reaches out toward us. St. Philip, Christ is with you and in you. St. Philip, you are a dear family to me and I thank you and love you very much.

Grace and peace,Laureen Suba

February 9, 2015

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Fellowship Opportunity

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SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES FOR ALL

Nursery and PreschoolInfants and children through 3 years old8:30 am to 12:30pm - Room 106Staffed by professional childcare providers

Preschool 3 through 1st GradeGodly Play Class - Room 104

Elementary 2nd-5th GradeGrades 2 and 3 meet in Room 105Grades 4 and 5 meet in Room 103

Music - with Music Director, Tom Goetz1st through 5th grades 9:30 am – 10:00 amChildren join teachers in their classrooms at 10:00

Youth in Bible StudySt. Philip youth, 6th through 12th gradesRooms 204 and 206Supported by sponsors and Sunday School teachers

Adult Classes

CHURCH & SOCIETY - Room 201 *Feb 15* The Jasper Ministerial Alliance - TheHealing of a Community in Crisis - presented by Rev. Louise Row - pastor of First Presbyterian Church - Jasper, Texas in 1998, at the time of the of the brutal slaying of Mr. James Byrd Jr. *Feb. 22* First in a five-week Lenten Season series- Search Homeless Services - to engage, stabilize, educate, employ and house individuals and families who are homeless.

SPa CLASS - Room 200 The SPa (Saint Philip Adults) class is a fellowship of adults from all walks of life who gather for learning, dialogue, and prayer. Our current study is “That They May Be One: The Evolution of Christian Community.”

BIBLE STUDY - Room 204 Currently the class is engaged in a study of Joshua, a rich, complex and often troubling book in the Old Testament that follows the Hebrew nation from wandering in the wilderness into the conquests of the Promised Land. The Bible study class utilizes the in-sights of a variety of scholars and texts to expand our understanding of God’s message of faithfulness to His people. Nancy Cook and Al Waldrop lead the discus-sions. All are welcome. In January we’ll look at the current issues facing the Presbyterian Church USA.

ARTS & CRAFT STUDIO Room 9 (old classroom wing) Please see our schedule on the St. Philip website. This class is a time for creativity and learning ways to express your joy of the Lord through the visual arts. You don’t have to be crafty to join. Learn some-thing new, teach something new and share in the gifts and talents given to us.

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WORK DAY IN THE GARDEN FEBRUARY 14

It’s time for Spring Cleaning in the St. Philip community garden! To get the garden ready for spring planting, we’ll be pulling out old plants, weeding, amending the soil, and generally straightening up the garden. Help get things ready for our second year of celebrating God’s bounty and raising food for hungry neighbors through the CCSC food pantry. We’ll meet at the garden (on the back side of Fellowship Hall) at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 14. No green thumb required!

Join us for food and fun at this month's Friday Phil-up! We will meet at Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe,

1511 Airline Blvd., at 6:30pm on Friday, Febru-ary 20th. Childcare will be provided on the church

campus, beginning at 6:00pm.

Volunteer OpportunitiesFebruary 9, 2015

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The Season

of

at St. Philip

ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP Ash Wednesday is February 18. We will have worship services at 12 noon and 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Both services will include the imposition of ashes for those who desire to begin the season of Lent with this ancient sign of mortality.

E-VOTIONS FOR LENT John Wurster will again prepare daily devotions for Lent, which are distributed each morning via e-mail. Join thee-votions list by sending a note to [email protected]. Past subscribers are automatically carried forward.

Music at St. Philip Concert Series will present Mass in G Ma-jor, D. 167 by Franz Schubert (1797-1828), on Sunday, March 1, during the 11:00 worship service. The music will be in-corporated into the service of the Lord's Supper. The young Schubert composed this work in the first week of March, 1815, making this its 200th anniversary. Taken as a whole,

the music reveals both astonishing beauty and the extraordi-nary talent of a teenage composer who at times ignores the musical conventions of his day, exercising free thought, both artistically and theologically. The St. Philip Choir and Solo-ists will be joined by chamber orchestra and organist Mat-thew Dirst, and conducted by Thomas Goetz.

A Lenten Musical Offering

Have you been meaning to try Sunday School at St. Philip, but haven’t gotten around to it? Do you find it hard to com-mit to anything that isn’t coffee before 10:00am? Are you seeking to deepen your appreciation and understanding of music in worship? Consider attending Sunday School as a six week Lenten discipline! Beginning Sunday, February 22, Pastors John Wurster and Keatan King will co-teach a six-week Sunday School class on Lenten hymns. Each session will invite participants to study one hymn by considering it’s theology of Lent and by exam-ining Scriptural references which undergird the hymn text.

We will learn about the hymn writers and the context which inspired their work. One author of this curriculum is Mel Bringle, who happens to be our Mo Ranch Retreat Keynoter this year. We look for-ward to familiarizing ourselves with Mel’s work in anticipa-tion of her time with us in June. The class begins at 9:30am and will take place in Room 202 until our final lesson on March 29. We look forward to deep-ening our spiritual connection to these hymns as a commu-nity! For any questions you have, please email Keatan King at [email protected] .

A Lenten Adult Sunday School Class: Singing the Faith

February 9, 2015

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5 WAYS TO SERVE JOB SEEKERS AT JOBNET

JobNet offers a variety of skill-building services and access to the tools required for searching for and obtaining gainful and lasting employment. One of the strongest features of our program is that it is a small, supportive environment. Clients are guided by our skilled volunteers and many practical resources. This encouraging atmosphere helps each participant navigate the current job market and manage the ups and downs of searching for employment.

1. Become a COACH 2. Send JOB LEADS3. Facilitate a WORKSHOP 4. Use Your COMPUTER SKILLS5. Manage the FRONT DESK

If you would like to share in that experience, become a part of the JobNet team by calling Kate Gallup at (713) 961-3993 x 211. Help is always needed.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS A LITTLE HELP FINDING A JOB?

Christian Community Service Center's JobNet is an exceptional resource for unemployed and under-employed job seekers! Use the computer lab, phones, fax and copier, schedule one-to-one coaching sessions, attend skill-building workshops - all free of charge!

Regular workshops include: Job Search Techniques: helps clients get organized, find job leads and ace an interview. Effective Communication: the importance of written correspondence & personal presentation. Art of Interviewing: covers topics from answering hard questions to meeting the receptionist. Resume Writing: focuses on strengths and skills to match the job. Attitude Power: positive, can-do attitudes can make a world of difference.

Job seekers are asked to attend Orientation on Monday or Wednesday at 9:45 a.m. (our office is centrally-located near Greenway Plaza: 3224 Mercer. Call 713.626.8320 for more information.

WHEN YOUR COMPANY HAS OPENINGS…SHARE THEM WITH JOBNET

One of CCSC’s member churches called JobNet for help finding the right candidate for a maintenance position. With a good job description and list of qualifications provided by the church, JobNet was able to refer a client that was a good fit.

If your company has openings, contact JobNet with the details including how to apply. The job description can be posted on the Job Board as a Hot Job and JobNet staff and volunteers can talk to clients to find candidates that are a good match.

Contact the JobNet Manager, Mickey Hammond, at 713/626-8320, or email [email protected]

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. - Hebrews 13:2

Christian Community Service Center’s

2015 Azalea Dinner & Auction

Thursday, March 26, 2015 6:00 to 9:30 p.m.

Post Oak Hilton 2001 Post Oak Blvd., 77056

$95/ticket or $180/couple

Sponsorship Levels Hallelujah Table of 10 $10,000 Illuminate Table of 10 $5,000 Triumph Table of 10 $2,500 Jubilation Table of 10 $1,500 Proclaim Table of 10 $1,250 Rejoice 2 tickets $500+

Table Sponsors & Underwriters will receive special recognition in the dinner program if information is

received by 3/16/15.

Live Auctioneer Benefiting the Programs of CCSC

Emergency Services-Central Emergency Services-Southwest JobNet Martha’s Way Back to School Louise J. Moran Vision Care Jingle Bell Express Ray Burgess

Attorney at Law & former CCSC Board President

Serving the poor, hungry, disabled, and otherwise needy while respecting their

religious, ethnic, or cultural differences.

Contributions should be made payable to CCSC and mailed to P.O. Box 27924, Houston, TX 77227 or visit ccschouston.org/Azalea_Dinner.html

MasterCard, Visa, American Express & Discover are accepted. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, which is the amount of your donation minus the cost of the meal.

For additional information, please contact Kelly Finkenbinder at 713-961-3993, or via email at [email protected].

With the help of almost 1,700 volunteers, CCSC is able to assist more than 54,000 people annually in the following programs: :

The Christian Community Service Center (CCSC) will hold their 2015 Azalea Dinner and Auction on Thursday, March 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets for church members are $95 each or $180 per couple., made payable to CCSC and mailed to P.O. Box 27924, Houston TX 77227. Or you can purchase them online at [email protected].





































February 9, 20155

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: [email protected].

Also, contact Laurie if you would like to receive the Philip-Eye online. You get the news faster, the church saves postage, and the impact on the environment is lightened just a bit.

Bill Davis - recuperating at homeTrudy Cleveland - recuperating at homeMary Benson-receiving treatments Jo Jones - recuperating at the BuckinghamJan Connor - recuperating from surgeryWanda McHone - recuperating at homeCarolyn Vestal - recuperating at homeRita Hannah - rehab after fall Bedford Vestal - rehab after fall Al Atkinson - cancer treatments Rusty Howard - recuperating at home Frank Donnelly - under hospice care Larry Dean - Seven Acres on Braeswood T.E. “Joe” Keever - The Hallmark A.M. “Mike” Tomforde, Jr. - Hallmark HC

Linda Joullian, Wayne and Sandra Truxillo’s sister - lung and stomach cancer.

Anna Michalka, Lorraine Scott’s mother - recuperating from a broken shoulder.

Baker Fullerton -Walker Fair's uncle - complications from heart surgery.

Mike Josler, former member Danielle Willis Josler’s husband - lung cancer.

Clare Slick Way, Bill Slick’s sister – recuperating at home

Congregational Concerns

Governor Frazier, a member of St. Philip, is looking for handyman work and/or light labor. If you can benefit from his assistance, please call 832-512-3648 or email him at [email protected].

Handyman Available

Easter Boxes for Women’s Home

It’s that time once again to begin filling Easter boxes. The recipient of these boxes, the Women’s Home is a unique long-term residence program providing women the opportunity to rebuild their lives through spiritual counseling, individual therapy, and work training. The Easter boxes, a long-time project of Presbyterian Women, is open for participation by all. The goal is to fill 55 boxes and present them to the Women’s Home for Easter distribution. Here are some suggestions of needed items: cosmetics (purchased or department store sam-ples), hotel or airline samples, tooth brushes and tooth paste, mouthwash, razors, combs, hair brushes, hair spray, postage stamps, envelopes, note paper, note cards, and jewelry. Note: especially needed are 10-14 oz. bottles of shampoo. You may do a complete box, a partial box, or just donate loose items. Bring to a PW Circle meeting or leave in the marked con-tainer in either the church office or the Gathering Area near the Sanctuary. Please feel free to call Janet Davis at 713-464-2385 if you have any questions.

2014 Annual Report Copies of the 2014 annual report, which were distributed at the February 8 congregational meeting, are available in the church office.

Please take note: The deadline for submitting articles for the next PhilipEYE is February 18.

Documents

DUERR LECTURE SERIES - 2015 · 2015-02-10 · port on my journey to being ordained. St. Philip has . shown itself to be a fertile breeding ground for minis-ters. Extending the timeline