News & Announcements

News & Announcements

Rector’s Note: Writing our Next Chapter

I am going to begin with a very difficult reality: the closing of St. Philip, in its current form, is virtually inevitable. The only thing that will change this is the development of a larger, actively engaged community living out God’s presence at the corner of NE Knott and Rodney, and the corresponding funds to support that community. Without both of these elements, we simply cannot continue long-term in any effective way. 

Rector’s Note: Resting in the Lord

The vestry believes that it is time for St. Philip to consider resting in the Lord, to lay down this Parish, and together with God, let the Spirit do a new work on this small plot of land that has been our home. We have been good and faithful servants, and the Spirit of this community is still with us, despite the aging of our bodies. Our mission for the future calls us to be willing to be transformed in ways we cannot yet see, and of which we may not be a part. Please join us for two congregational meetings where we will discuss our future, and answer questions: December 11th and January 8th.

Diocesan Truth and Reconciliation Listening Session

The diocesan Truth and Reconciliation Working Group is hosting a listening session at St. Philip’s after the liturgy on Sunday, March 26th. We are seeking to record the experiences of church members related to race and racism, especially as it pertains to their faith lives.  What role did/does St. Philip the Deacon and its members play in the life of the greater community? What have members of St. Philip’s experienced in the diocese and the wider Episcopal Church? How has…

Advocacy Training Opportunities

Join ‘Countering NIMBYism’ Trainings with Leaven Community this month! It’s time to kick-off the ‘People’ part of ourHousing and Wholeness campaign! Leaven Community is hosting a series of trainings on how to have courageous conversations with our neighbors around the housing crisis – conversations that address people’s concerns, counter the NIMBYism narratives that divide us, and build active support for humane & proven solutions to this crisis. Sign up today!Trainings will be held at a variety of “anchor sites” throughout the tri-county area…

New (to us) Sanctuary Chairs!

This last week St. Philip picked up over one hundred solid maple chairs from Multnomah County Libraries. Rebecca, Thomas (her son), Tony, Aimee, and Rev. Maria loaded the chairs, a lovely meeting table, a whiteboard, and few other office items into one uHaul, a minivan, and a small pickup truck. Meanwhile, Bernadine swung a drill and took apart the plywood desk in the office, and Janet helped sort all our hymn books and BCP into neat piles. Over the course…

Financial Pledge Update

Pledges are up by 65% for 2023! This is incredibly good news, and we thank you for your generosity. As we commenced discussing our future, one financial fact stood out: in order to stay open and have full-time clergy and a small paid staff, St. Philip needs to raise at least $200K a year. We delayed our pledges for 2023 so that we could have an honest conversation about our financial future. St. Philip has liquid assets, that is, money…

The Alcena: Congregational Input Update

Alcena Affordable Housing Project Update from Gary Carroll, II At the annual meeting of the St. Philip’s congregation, Gary Carroll and Rev. Maria presented the progress and process of The Alcena, and included information on the latest discussions between St. Philip’s and our project partner, PCRI.  Additionally, they shared the new project parameters that the vestry requested our consultant, Second Stories, to explore. Second Stories produced additional options for St. Philips to consider and the congregation was asked to rank-choice…

Shrove Tuesday Shrimp & Grits Dinner

St. Philip the Deacon continues its tradition of celebrating Shrove Tuesday with a Shrimp & Grits Dinner at the church on Tuesday, February 21st at 5:30pm. Kitchen volunteers will begin chopping and prepping at 2pm, and anyone interested in helping set up tables should come at 4:00. Dinner will be served at 5:30. After dinner, around 6:45, we will burn palms to make ashes for the Ash Wednesday Service (held at 6pm on Wednesday, February 22nd). Please consider staying afterwards…

Crisis De-escalation Skills Training

On the 17th of January, there was a de-escalation training held at St. Peter and Paul Episcopal Church, where Rev. Sara Fischer is the rector. For those of you interested, yes there was coffee and snacks.  The training was given by two women who had worked together as part of Portland Street Response’s Crisis Response Team. One was still with the CRT. Their training centered around what situations volunteers may experience while offering services to unhoused people, or people who…

Land & Housing Coalition Mass Assembly

Leaven Community’s Land & Housing Coalition is organizing a tri-county Mass Assembly of over 400 people on Sunday, February 26th from 4-6pm at First Unitarian Church (1211 SW Main St, Portland). Their purpose is “to show our people power and invite our elected officials to join us in more creative, community-centered policy and action so that all Oregonians can find wholeness and belonging in our communities.“ Join them and bring your families and neighbors, so that we can change the answer to…

Our Community: North Portland Library

The North Portland Library is asking for community feedback on the design of its interior. Between now and February 13th, you can vote for your favorite of three options online at https://multcolib.org/help-us-redesign-north-portland-library-vote-your-favorite-design Go to their website https://multcolib.org/expanded-north-portland-library to see the architect’s rendering of the North Portland Library expansion project which will add 1,500 square feet to this historic builing. Closer to home, take a look at the architect’s rendering for the expansion of our next door neighbor, the Albina Library…

Best Gifts Workshop

A Best Gifts workshop will be held on February 11th from 9 :00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the church. What do I have to offer? In search of an answer, this workshop invites participants to explore three questions: What does success mean to me? What skills do I use when I am successful? How can I offer my skills in service of others? Pre-registration is essential. Contact Rebecca in the office office@stphilipthedeacon.org or sign up in the parish hall.

Build, Share, and Shelter Love

What can I do to joyfully build, share, and shelter love at St. Philip? We need to decide who and how we want to love, and realize that may not reflect our historical membership. We need to be creative, be willing to do new things, and hand leadership over to those, if any, who want to take it in new directions.