St. Philip’s offers a full slate of Lenten activities: services, classes, suppers, and recitals, plus other special events. Click here to view the schedule.

Wednesdays: Services, Supper, Classes

On Wednesdays, there is a Rite II Eucharist service at 12:15 p.m. in the Church. Afterwards, at 1 p.m., the Rev. Vicki K. Hesse presents “Spiritual Awakening: the Dynamics of Experiential Faith.” Explore the changing cultural landscape today, discerning what it means to be spiritual, to be religious, and how as Christians today, we might be grace-filled witnesses to the reality we know and experience in God. Each session will include a DVD presentation from theologian Diane Butler Bass to fuel discussion and reflection. Segments include Arriving, Believing, Behaving, Belonging, and Awakening.

At 6 p.m., St. Philip’s J2A youth host a soup and salad supper ($7 person/$20 family). Gather in the Gallery for fellowship and help support the youth group’s pilgrimage.

After supper, at 6:45, we will adjourn to the Church for a Compline service before the evening’s classes begin.

At 7 p.m., there are three class offerings. In the West Gallery, our Rector, the Rev. Canon John Kitagawa, leads “Episcopal 101,” a journey of discovery about the Episcopal Church. Learn about the basics of the Episcopal Church tradition:  history, theology and spirituality, liturgy (worship), music, and decision-making.  There will be many opportunities to ask questions and enter into dialogue.

In the La Paz room, the Rev. Greg Foraker and Rabbi Helen Cohn of Congregation M’kor Hayim present “Interfaith Cooperation: Coming Together to Change the World,” exploring what it means to be a faithful person in an interfaith world. Group discussion and reflection will be fueled by DVD presentations with interfaith commentator Eboo Patel investigating what it means to be “literate” about other faiths, how interfaith cooperation “works” and why, the skills needed for interfaith cooperation, and the significant role that our faith communities play in this process.

And in La Parroquia, the 20s/30s/40s/50s group explores Lenten traditional practices in preparation for Easter. This series is designed for younger adults who may be working on establishing new family traditions or may feel unfulfilled with their current Lenten rituals. Topics include the tradition of fasting for spiritual enrichment and the biblical origins of this practice; the call to volunteer service (including an in-house volunteer project); different forms of prayer and why they can lead us into different spiritual journeys; why we are called to worship as a community and how it enriches our spiritual paths; and Stations of the Cross, visiting each station and exploring through small group discussion the importance of these stations.

Thursdays: Noontime Recitals

On Thursdays during Lent, Friends of Music presents noontime recitals beginning at 12:15 p.m. An array of talented local instrumentalists and vocalists will provide forty minutes or so of music — an entertaining and relaxing way to spend your lunch hour. All concerts are held in the Bloom Music Center. Suggested admission is $10.

The series begins on Thursday, February 19, with “Settings of the Masters’ Words.” Hailed for his commitment to exploring a vast array of song repertoire and his special passion for American song, tenor Mitchell Sturges with pianist Woan Ching Lim will perform settings of texts by James Joyce and William Shakespeare.

On Thursday, February 26, Skyline Flutes presents French Flute Fantasy: music by French composers, and American in Paris. This all-star flute quartet consists of founder Jerry Ervin, Fran Moskovitz, Christine Harper, and Sandy Schwoebel.

On Thursday, March 5, guitarist Gus Woodrow presents masterpieces for guitar. Inspired at age 7 by music of the Beatles, Augustus Woodrow began playing the guitar and never stopped to look back. At 19, he has already earned top prizes in regional competitions. Do not let this opportunity pass to hear a major developing talent at the start of a promising career.

On Thursday, March 12, Nancy Monsman, cello; Kevin Justus, clarinet; and Elise Jackendoff, piano, perform Beethoven’s Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 11 for Clarinet, Cello and Piano and Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces for Cello and Piano. Was Schumann responding to the voice of Beethoven, creating a complicated musical dialogue between two masters?

On Thursday, March 19, Sheryll McManus, piano, presents “Gems of Bach/Petri, Beethoven, and Liszt.” A former pianist of the St. Louis Symphony and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Sheryll brings riveting stage presence and keyboard mastery.

The series concludes on Thursday, March 26, with “De-Lovely Duets!” presented by Tre Amici: Laurel Decker, mezzo-soprano; Elena Todd, soprano; and Marie Sierra, piano. The concert includes duets by Brahms, Massenet, Delibes, Guastavino, Britten, Balfe, and Irving Berlin … sure to be … De-Lovely!

Interfaith Retreat Weekend

The Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook

A special Interfaith Spring Retreat Weekend, “Exploring the Pilgrimage of Life,” on March 20–22 is hosted jointly by St. Philip’s and Temple Emanu-El, with retreat leader the Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook. Click here for more information.