Interfaith

Tucson Historic Marriage Equality Rally at St. Philip’s

equals signThe Supreme Court has just ruled that the Constitution requires all 50 states to legally recognize and perform same-sex marriages. On Monday, June 29, at 5:30pm, Tucson will hold a Decision Day Rally at St. Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church. The event is sponsored by the Wingspan Multifaith Working Group and the 7th Annual Multifaith Pride Service, and hosted by St. Philip’s LGBTQ-A ministry. TIHAN, SAAF, PFLAG, the LGBT Jewish Inclusion Project, and the Culture of Peace Alliance are providing community outreach support.

Faith and community leaders will share prepared statements about this historic case and the long-fought struggle for LGBTQ rights in America and here in Arizona. Three elected officials — Congressman Ron Barber, State Representative Victoria Steele, and Tucson City Councilwoman Karin Uhlich — will speak at the event. Rabbi Thomas Louchheim of Congregation Or Chadash, Rev. Greg Foraker of St. Philip’s, and the Rev. Mike Smith and Sylvia Thorson-Smith from St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church will share perspectives on the decision from the Judeo-Christian Tucson community. Scott Blades, Executive Director of TIHAN, Ann Yellott from the Culture of Peace Alliance will also give their reflections. This will be an occasion for faith communities to join together to mark this historic time. The Monday date for the rally was to allow Jewish community participation in this program.

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 North Campbell Avenue at River Road. There is ample parking in the north parking lot or under the solar structure on the east side. The statements will take place in the Church, and a reception will follow in the Murphey Gallery. Both spaces are fully accessible. Questions regarding this event may be addressed to Marc Paley, organizer, at 520-306-0157. Cameron Rau (520-440-2240) will serve as the St. Philip’s liaison for this event.

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Lenten Events

veiling the crossSt. 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.

lent cross 2At 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.

Mitchell Sturges smThe 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.

Skyline Flutes sm

gus woodrow smOn 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?

Sheryll McManusOn 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.

elena laurel smThe 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

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.

Spring Retreat Weekend: Exploring the Pilgrimage of Life

The Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook

The Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook, Retreat Leader

For a printable schedule of this weekend’s activities, click here.

St. Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church and Temple Emanu-El join to offer a special Spring Retreat Weekend entitled “Exploring the Pilgrimage of Life” on Friday, March 20, through Sunday, March 22. The Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook will lead this weekend for growth, renewal, and community building. Pilgrimage is both an ancient and modern spiritual practice for Christian and Jews, calling each pilgrim to a deeper awareness of life, God, and community. This life-changing spiritual practice lies deep in the heart of many cultures and nearly every major religion of the world. Explore the pilgrimage of your life through this unique interfaith opportunity. The weekend includes opportunities for shared worship, shared meals, and teachings by the Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook.

Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.: We will gather for the Shabbat service at Temple Emanu-El, with the Rev. Dr. Sheryl-Kujawa-Holbrook offering reflections on the Torah portion from the bimah to open our weekend together.

Saturday, March 21, 8:30 a.m.: The day begins with breakfast at St. Philip’s, followed at 9 by the morning talk, entitled “The Way of the Heart.” We will explore the archetypal senses of pilgrims and pilgrimage. It is through our hearts that we experience divine love and renewal.

Saturday, March 21, 12:00 noon: We will continue with a vegetarian potluck lunch at Temple-Emanu-El and the Rabbi’s Tish with the Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook. Bring a dairy or vegetarian dish to share. The afternoon teaching, “The Journey Home,” explores belonging, pilgrimage, and the journey home. Integral to pilgrimage is the journey home and the pilgrims’ need to integrate the life they have lived with new insights gained as they return as changed persons.

Sunday, March 22, 7:45, 9, or 11:15 a.m.: At all three morning services at St. Philip’s, the Rev. Dr. Sheryl-Kujawa-Holbrook will offer reflections on where we go from here as pilgrims and community partners.

Our retreat leader, the Rev. Dr. Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook, is vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty, and professor of practical theology and religious education at Claremont School of Theology, and professor of Anglican Studies at Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont. She is an Episcopal priest of the diocese of Los Angeles and was the national youth officer for the Episcopal Church for ten years. She is widely published, with a special interest in the intersection of spirituality with social justice and interreligious education. Having spent the last 25 years focused on the movement toward anti-racist multiculturalism in faith communities, Kujawa-Holbrook hopes to expand that work to include greater participation in the interreligious movement.

Suggested retreat donation of $25.00 helps underwrite this event. Scholarship assistance is available. Childcare will be provided. To register and reserve your place for this transformative weekend, contact the Rev. Greg Foraker at St. Philip’s or Rabbi Batsheva Appel at Temple Emanu-El.

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue at River Road. The office phone number is 299-6421. Temple Emanu-El is located at 225 North Country Club Road. The office phone is 327-4501.