Fall Program at St. Philip's: Ecology and Spirituality

St Philip's Church is proud to announce that its Tuesday evening program for this fall will examine current environmental issues in the context of the Bible and faith. We will look at creation and humanities role as stewards of the natural world. We will then examine our human failings and how that has impacted our environment. Next we will address the theological aspects of repentance and how we can make amends both globally and personally. Finally we will address the all important issue of hope.

Co-facilitators will be our own Fr. Jim Pratt and Richard Matthews. Father Jim formerly practiced corporate law in Boston. Richard is a consultant to business on environmental issues and a widely published author. Richard is also the owner and principle writer of "The Green Market Oracle," an award winning site that is focused on sustainability.

Please consider joining us this fall for what is certain to be a fascinating look at the relationship between faith and the environment. All are welcome to attend.

The series will be located at St. Philip's Church, 3400 Connaught, (corner Sherbrooke) in Montreal West. The program will take place every Tuesday between 8 PM and 9 PM, starting on September 25, and running through November.

If you have any questions please contact the church office at (514) 481-4871.

Ronald Pilgrim's Passion for Fashion

St Philip's own Ronald Pilgrim will be staging a fashion show fund raiser for the church on September 22. I recently had an opportunity to sit with Ron and interview him about his passion for fashion and his love of the church.

Ron began his career as a young boy in his native Barbados. In order to surprise his mom, Ron created his first dress at the tender age of 12. Using his allowance money Ron got a friend to buy the material and using only a needle, thread and his imagination, he made a dress for his younger sister. Ron (or "Rollo" as his younger sister used to pronounce his name) received many accolades from friends and neighbors for his first creation. Everyone who saw it encouraged him to pursue his passion and develop his talents.

When he got older Ron studied tailoring for two years, and then went to work. He recalls his first pay was 2 schillings or just 48 cents. Although Ron worked as a tailor, his recalls that his real passion was always been for women's fashion. He soon followed his dream and dressmaking went from being a hobby to a full time job. Six decades later he is still going strong.

Although he has come a long way since then, for Ron it has never been about the money. Ron is happy doing what he loves and despite his very modest rates, Ron has made a good living from his creations.

Ever since he was a little boy Ron always went to church. He has fond memories of Sunday School. In fact Ron loved church so much that he would attend both morning and evening services. In describing his experience at St. Philip's he says that he was "well received from the beginning." He went on to say the church has brought "peace to my world"

One of Ron's greatest influences was his mother. "She was a great influence and very supportive," As Ron explained, the elders would point their fingers at him and say "Ma Pilly, has raised you right." She sure has Ron and we are proud to have you as a member of our congregation.

The fashion show is a momentous occasion for Ron, please come and help him celebrate what he describes as "his dream come true."

Ronald Pilgrim Creations will be on show on September 22nd in the Memorial Hall at 5 PM. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres are included. Tickets are available at the office ($25) (514) 481-4871. For more information or to reserve your ticket contact Ronald at 514 524 1085.

Proceeds go to St. Philip's Anglican Church.

Outreach at St. Philip's Church

NDG Food Depot

St. Philip's partners with the NDG Food Depot/Dépôt Alimentaire NDG, a community group aimed at alleviating hunger and building community in NDG and surrounding neighbourhoods. Our annual spring community yard sale raises up to $1000 for the Food Depot. On the first Saturday of December, the Food Depot has a community-wide door-to-door food collection, which brings in enough canned goods and staples to last until the summer. St. Philip`s serves as the drop-off and sorting center for the collection in Montreal West and western NDG. As the collection teams drop off carloads of food, about 30 volunteers sort it and pack it in boxes and plastic crates. About 160 cases of canned goods are stored in St. Philip`s basement, and transferred to the Food Depot as needed. Several SPC members also volunteer at the Food Depot. Seniors St. Philip`s maintains an active ministry to our older members, and those who, because of impaired mobility or illness, are unable to attend regularly. The pastoral care team sends out regular cards and a short newsletter to shut-ins. Fr. Pratt regularly takes communion to those who are unable to come to church, and visits members in hospitals and long-term care facilities. The Pastoral Telephone Care Network, a team of volunteers, regularly contact shut-ins by phone to update them on events around the church, or just to chat, and alert clergy to any immediate or serious pastoral needs.  

Mile End Community Mission

Our annual White Gift Sunday in early December collects toys and gifts for the annual Christmas party at Mile End Community Mission, which serves residents of the Mile End neighbourhood.  

St. Michael`s Mission

The women of St. Philip`s hold an annual mission day, coming together to talk or to listen to a guest speaker, while collecting toiletries and winter clothing for the clients of St. Michael`s Mission, which serves the homeless population of downtown Montreal. Also, the vegetables and fruits which decorate the church for our Harvest Festival are then donated to the soup kitchen at St. Michael`s.

Module du Nord Québecois

St. Philip`s participates with several other parishes in chaplaincy at the Module du nord québecois. The MNQ operates a hostel for residents of Nunavik who come to Montreal for medical treatment, and a rotation of clergy provide weekly worship, as the majority are Anglicans.

Scouts

St. Philip`s partners with the Montreal West Scout Group to host an annual blood drive.

Stewardship Gifts & Resources Café: Learning and Skill-building for Parish Stewardship

The Diocese of Montreal's Stewardship Council presents Stewardship Gifts & Resources Café. This event is a day of sharing, learning and skill-building for parish stewardship.

When: Saturday, September 8, from 9 am to 4 pm

Where: St Barnabas Anglican Church, Pierrefonds, 12301 rue Colin, Pierrefonds.

Registration: $10 per person

For more information and registration contact Nicki Hronjak at (514) 843-6577, #244

Rev James B Pratt "The Right Person at the Right Place"

Here is an excerpt from an article published in the Montreal Anglican in April 2009. Rev. James B. Pratt (Father Jim) is a blessing to St Philip's Church and this is evident to all who take the time to know him.
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Rev. James B. Pratt was inducted as the new incumbent of St. Philip’s Church in Montreal West on March 5 [2009] and welcomed as a member of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Montreal five days later.

Mr. Pratt, who previously practiced law in the Boston area for some years, specializing in real estate, had been in charge of the rural Parish of Cow Head in the Diocese of Western Newfoundland since 2002, the year of his ordination as deacon and later priest.

He has been active in various committees of the Western Newfoundland diocese and regional and national bodies, as well as community and health-care organisations.

Preaching at his induction, Rev. Canon Alan Perry of St. Barnabas Church in Pierrefonds recalled a number of discussions on various issues with Mr. Pratt at church gatherings.

The canon praised the judgement and “mature piety” of the new incumbent and said he is “the right person in the right place at the right time.”

Mr. Pratt said he is coming to the Montreal diocese to seek a new challenge, and because he married recently and an urban area has some advantages for the couple.

He is clerical secretary of the Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada – made up of the dioceses in Quebec and Atlantic Canada – and as such became an ex officio member of the Diocesan Council, the governing body of the Montreal diocese between synods, on his arrival in the diocese.

St Philips Anglican Church NDG Food Depot Outreach

At St. Philip's Church outreach is an important part of our faith. This includes our efforts in support of the NDG Food Depot. Our outreach involves tangible giving, prayer and direct involvement as volunteers. It is one of the ways we show God’s love and share the gospel.

As part of our active outreach partnership with the NDG Food Depot, we provide a dry food storage facility and share in community programs such as the annual food drive. Our church is also the drop off zone and our parishioners participate actively in door to door food collection throughout NDG.

We help raise funds and solicit food donations by hosting a community coffee house that showcases local artists. At our annual sidewalk sale we rent tables to vendors and give the proceeds to the food depot.

We are always looking for ways to increase our service to the community. If you have ideas as to how we can be of assistance to the community or if you wish to help us in our outreach objectives please give us a call or come by and say hello!

Why Be Part of St. Philip's Anglican Church

When it comes to choosing our faith in North America we have a wide variety of choices. As Christians we can choose to be Roman Catholic, an Orthodox Christian, a Methodist, a Pentacostalist, or a Baptist.

The question then arises why be part of St. Philip's Anglican Church?

St Philip's embraces both the best of our tradition and new ways to worship as a community. We offer spiritually nourishing liturgy that opens us up to relationship with the Holy.

The Anglican church has deep roots stretching back to antecedents in the Episcopal Church, the Church of England, the Western Catholic Church, the Early Church and the Apostolic Fathers. Christianity is an historic religion and a realization of this connection with the past is the ballast which keeps the Church honest and truthful and faithful. While St Philips is an historic church it is also reaching out towards the future.

Above all, the Anglican Church draws its inspiration from Jesus Christ, unlike other protestant traditions it does not owe its existence to the theological inspiration of Calvin or a Luther or any other single teacher. Its faith was formed in the Apostolic Age and refined in the early centuries of the undivided Church. Its theology is that of the first seven Ecumenical Councils and it holds this theology in common with the great churches of Rome and the East. It has not chosen to emphasize one part of the faith over another, no matter how useful a single part may be. It preaches an individual living faith in Jesus Christ--but it stresses a life lived out in the given of the real Church, the community of saints.

The first mission of the Church is the worship of Almighty God. And it is in this context that the holiness of individual members is realized. Our worship is elegant, respectfully formal, essentially timeless in its form and attitude. Our worship is sacramental and liturgical, embracing the celebration of Holy Communion, Holy Baptism, and the other rites of the Church. That does not make it an historic relic or a sterile ritual. Our liturgy provides the foundation for personal holiness, for the continuing process of each member to stretch and reach and grow in God's grace.

We ask questions and we explore our faith with openness, candor and freedom. Faith is a journey, and we seek to travel together compassionately, respectfully and joyfully. Our mission is the Good News of Jesus Christ; our work is the building of the Kingdom of God;and our hope is peace and love made manifest in our lives and in the world.

The Anglican ethos, focuses on the relatively small parish church where people know and care for one another.

The Church is a rock, a sure foundation on which we can build our own lives and the lives of our children. Our Saviour was the supreme example of God's eternal love for us, and his particular commandment to us was to "love one another". We try to do this. Sometimes it's hard, of course. But we work at this business of loving; we work at it hard. And we love you. Even before we've met you. And we want to share that love when you come to visit us.

We think that you will find in St Philips that seriousness of purpose and joy in living that will best meet your deepest needs. We are certain that, among us, you can grow in grace and in the knowledge of God.

As a community, we strive to be present in the lives of those in need, fulfilling the Christian duty to serve. We create new forms of life-giving relationships, in collaboration with individuals and groups who are also responsive to those in need. We seek to connect people in a growing community to ministries for all age levels, and to discover opportunities for creating interconnections between Christ, our congregation, our community and the environment.

Being part of the St Philip's Church community simply entails that you worship with us regularly. Membership in our parish means being a part of our life and in time finding the areas of ministry and service that are right for you.