Post Sandy Hook Sermon that Vowed to Mobilize Faith Communities to Fight the Gun Lobby and Push for Gun Laws

This sermon by Rev. Gary Hall is prescient as we grapple with the painful aftermath of a gunman who recently killed 17 people with an assault rifle at a high school in Parkland, Florida. In this sermon delivered in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy in 2012, Rev. Hall vowed to mobilize the nation's faith communities to fight the influence of the pro-gun lobby and advocate for stronger gun control laws. Sadly, the only safeguards that were implemented to help protect kids from gun violence were removed by U.S. president Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers. Since 2012 we have seen dozens of shootings. The February 2018 Parkland tragedy was the worst mass school shooting since Sandy Hook. Once again there is a call for gun legislation. Will this time be different? Will we see more than thoughts and prayers?

Black History Month: Meet the Community

This is a republication of “Meet The Community” from 2014 in celebration of Black History Month. Like many Anglican and Episcopal churches, Black people are an important part of St. Philip's parish family. This series is offered in respectful appreciation of their esteemed place in our Parish as well as an acknowledgment of the important role of Black people in churches across North America.

Black History Month (BHM) takes place in February each year and it is an opportunity for all people to celebrate those who have championed civil rights, to remember some very disturbing facts about the past and to acknowledge the social justice work that still needs to be done.

St. Philips Church Calendar 2018

Merry Christmas!

Advent Resources 2017 - Anglican Church of Canada

Its that time of year again. To help you to celebrate the season of Advent through to Christmas the Anglican Church of Canada has assembled a list of resources. Here are three of those resources with accompanying links.  

PWRDF 2017 Advent Reflections This Advent The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) invites you to take a few moments each day to reflect on the season and enter into prayerful consideration of its meaning. Join us in these Advent Reflections, which encourage thought on issues of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, and food security. Click here to sign up.  

#AdventWord 2017 — A global Advent calendar During Advent, we anticipate the coming of Christ, an event that awakens our deepest desires and longings. Respond to a daily meditation with images and prayers that speak to your heart and be part of a global Advent Calendar that brings us together in communion. Participants are invited to respond with an image of their own on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. The result is a crowd-sourced global advent calendar that creates a sense of worldwide communion and wonder. We hope that you will consider participating and inviting your diocese to join. It is fun to see so many young people praying together. Click here to sign up.  

Sisterhood of St. John the Divine Readying Ourselves to Receive. Daily Advent Reflections for 2017 Written by the Oblates and Sisters of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine. Click here to go to the daily reflections.

Primate endorses Bill C-262 in letter to Prime Minister Trudeau

Archbishop and Primate Fred Hiltz has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in support of a bill that would require all Canadian laws to be in harmony with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
In the letter, Archbishop Hiltz expressed his support for Bill C-262 on behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada.

St Philip's to host summer day camp

New this year -- St Philip's to host summer day camp for children 5-12

St Philip's will be hosting a day camp for children ages 5 through 12 this summer.

The camp will operate for the week of August 21 to 25. Many other day camps close as of August 18, as the staff prepares to go back to university and college. This often leaves parents in a bind, as there are very few child-care options for that week.

The camp will be animated by the Rev. Deacon Jessica Bickford, who has more then a dozen years experience working with children and youth, in the Anglican Church and with community organizations such as the Boys' and Girls' Clubs. Jessica was most recently director of the Family Life Project at Trinity Memorial Church in NDG, and will be joined by some of the volunteers from Trinity, as well as new volunteers from St Philip's.

The program is not religiously based and is open to all children. The camp will use "Play it Fair", an innovative program used at day camps and after-school programs across Canada, which increases children's understanding of human rights, respect for diversity and peaceful conflict resolution. The games and activities provide a starting point for children to work together to find ways to promote inclusion, respect, fairness, acceptance and cooperation, all while having fun.

Other activities will include art projects, swimming, indoor and outdoor games, and an end-of-camp show.

The camp will run daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Extended care is available from 7:30 am and until 6:00 pm for an additional fee.

For more information, and to register, go to https://locksop.wixsite.com/stphilipsdaycamp, or contact the church office at (514) 481-4871 or office@stphilipschurchmontreal.ca