Parish Announcements
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Featured | Around St. Philip’s | The Trees | Community News
Featured announcements
Confirmation classes coming up soon – Classes meet October 11 – November 8 – Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson will visit St. Philip’s to offer confirmation, reception into the Episcopal Church, and reaffirmation of baptismal vows. Confirmation classes will begin meeting soon, Oct. 11–Nov. 8. Interested? Email Gabe at gabe@stphilipsdurham.org.
Sunday Forum: Creation Haikus – Sunday, Oct. 4 • 10am • Parish Hall and Zoom – It’s time for Creation Haikus! The observation of nature traditionally is one of the ancient subjects of haikus in Japan, so it couldn’t be more perfect. How have your eyes been opened to the living world around us? Join us in exploring creation, three lines at a time.
Healing Eucharist – This Wednesday, October 7 • 5:30pm • Chapel – Every first Wednesday, at our regular 5:30 Eucharist time, we offer a public service of healing with Eucharist, prayers, anointing, and laying on of hands for those who wish it. All are welcome.
Engage! Listening to the Saints – Wednesdays, October 7–28 • 6:30pm • Library and Zoom – On Wednesday evenings in October, join us in reading short excerpts from different saints to see how their words might support us on our journey of faith. With no reading to be done beforehand, come to one session or all of them.
Save the Date: Fall Retreat Day at The Trees – Saturday, October 17 – In this busy season, you’re invited to gather for an experience of worship in the wild at the Trees. We could all use a little grounding, contemplation, and reflection as the leaves begin to turn. More details to come.
Around St. Philip’s
20s/30s Pumpkin Carving – Saturday, October 10 • 2–4pm • Garden Close – Join the 20s/30s group for an afternoon of pumpkin carving! Bring your own pumpkin and a snack to share; some carving tools will be available, or bring your own. Questions or want to join the 20s/30s WhatsApp group? Email Julie Bennett at juliebennett1121@gmail.com
Join a St. Philip’s dinner group – Looking for an easy way to get to know fellow St. Philippians beyond coffee hour? Dinner groups meet monthly at restaurants or in members’ homes, with no agenda other than enjoying a meal and getting to know one another. Groups will be formed based on participants’ schedules and preferences. Questions? Email Amanda Joan Smith at youngfarnleydragon@gmail.com. Sign up for a dinner group
Apply for Outreach Funds for your ministry or organization – Applications due October 2 – Does your ministry or organization need funds to serve others in the year ahead? St. Philip’s Outreach Committee is accepting 2027 funding requests from ministries within St. Philip’s and from community organizations. You don’t need to have received funding from St. Philip’s in the past to apply. Apply online, or pick up a paper application at front desk. Apply online for outreaching funding
Make Lunch at UMD – Saturday, October 3 • 11:30am–1:30pm • Urban Ministries of Durham – Every first Saturday, a group from St. Philip’s preps and serves lunches for our Urban Ministries of Durham neighbors. Join us! Sign up to make lunch
Ladies’ Breakfast – Wednesday, October 7 • 9am • Guglhupf Restaurant (2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd) – Inviting all ladies of every age to join us for breakfast. We meet the first Wednesday of every month to share in conversation and get to know each other beyond the “Peace” in church. Email Carol Linden at carol@effectivewithpeople.com for more details.
Old Guys’ Breakfast – Wednesday, October 7 • 9am • Refectory Cafe (2726 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd) – Are you an old – or not-so-old – guy? Come have breakfast with our older but young-at-heart men at the Refectory Cafe this coming Wednesday. All gentlemen, regardless of age, are welcome to join us. Email John Sommerville at cjsommerv@gmail.com for more details.
Still thinking about the Ministry Fair? Did a ministry catch your interest on Sunday – but you forgot to sign up or want to learn more? It’s not too late! Email Sue Guptill at sueguptill@icloud.com, and she’ll connect you with the right person.
POSTPONED: Durham CAN at statewide candidate forum – The statewide candidate forum previously announced for October 18 will not take place as scheduled. Organizers are working to reschedule the event; stay tuned.
Events at The Trees
The Trees is St. Philip’s satellite property, 50 acres of wooded land with a beautiful mid-century-modern facility nestled amidst the rolling hills just outside of Durham. Learn more about The Trees
Quiet Day – Tuesday, October 6 • 10am–2:30pm • The Trees – Come join us for a bit of quiet and centering surrounded by the trees. The house and trails will be open and available. At noon, we’ll offer a shared time of silence for 10 minutes. Contemplative practice suggestions and creative offerings will be available. Learn more
Nature Journaling: Living Water – Fridays, September 4 – October 2 • 10:30am • The Trees – Slow down, pay attention, and spend some time with the natural world this Season of Creation. Over five Fridays, we’ll explore the creek at The Trees and the web of life it supports through nature journaling inspired by this year’s theme, Living Water. Each gathering will offer prompts for observing and creating, including experimenting with water in our art and considering how we can help nurture this creekside habitat. No art or journaling experience needed. Learn more
Wonder with Nature Retreat – Saturday, October 24 • 9:30am–1:30pm – In The Trees’ sixth monthly contemplative retreat, we’ll explore the gentle contemplative practice of forest bathing – or a meditative walk in the woods. We’ll connect with ourselves and the wonder of the natural world through simple sensory activities, noticing what is being released and the new spaces being created during this season of change. Poetry, meditation, journaling, creating, and time to wander will be offered. Guided by Elizabeth Newman, certified forest bathing guide. Sliding scale: $30-95. Register here
Community News
UMD Fall Festival – October 3 • 11am–3pm • Urban Ministries of Durham (410 Liberty St) – Come enjoy food trucks, games, music, trunk or treat, prizes, pumpkins, face painting, a raffle, and a kids’ costume contest! Proceeds benefit Durham’s largest public homeless shelter. For sponsorship or exhibiting information, contact sfilter@umdurham.org.
An evening to support Liberia Medicals – Saturday, October 17 • 6pm • Jewish Community Center, Durham – Join Liberia Medicals for their third annual fundraiser, an evening of dinner, drinks, and music in support of healthcare work in Liberia. Hear stories and updates from a recent trip, along with a keynote on the need for diagnostic and primary care services in Liberia. Tickets: $50 adults; $25 ages 13–17. LiberiaMedicalsInc.org | View event flyer
Are you registered to vote? Double check. – Register by October 9 – Election Day is approaching! Take a moment now to make sure your voter registration is active and your information is up to date. If you need to register or correct an issue, the deadline is October 9. Check your voter registration