St. Philip Presbyterian in Houston will welcome Covenant Conference

You’re in for a treat if you’re planning to come to Houston for the Covenant Network annual conference  in November (see separate articles about the conference).    The congregation at St. Philip Presbyterian Church is honored to be the first church in Texas to host this national meeting and let me tell you they have a whole lot to share with conference-goers! (This is Texas, after all.)Lots of dedication - St. Philip was officially organized under the name of Memorial Oaks Presbyterian Church on September 10, 1950 with 101 charter members.   Starting in a spot that was farmland with only a few houses in sight, the city of Houston (Texas’ largest city) has built around them with skyscrapers and shopping malls.  A complete renovation of the Sanctuary was done in 2007 along with the addition of a 2-story education building.   Today the congregation is 650 members and growing.We must also note the dedication of the congregation of Central Presbyterian Church which merged with St Philip earlier this year.   Central began as a Cumberland Presbyterian Church in downtown Houston in 1894 and along the way became allied with what was referred to as the “northern” Presbyterian Church to become part of PC(USA) at reunification of the denomination.The merger of  St Philip and Central  has focused on mission and outreach and social justice programs in bringing the two congregations together.  Current activities include a hands-on Kids Against Hunger program and also a strong participation in a city-wide interfaith dialogue initiative..   The union of the two churches is expected to expand and broaden the mission programs currently being pursued and enable new initiatives to be undertaken.Lots of commitment - St. Philip may be one of Covenant Network’s newest member congregations but their commitment over the years by way of public statements approved by their Session has made them a welcoming place in the Presbytery of New Covenant.   This fall they will celebrate once again the “Commitment to Peacemaking” adopted in 2003 - We are committed to principles of inclusiveness, believing that God’s love embraces everyone. The St. Philip Peacemaking and Social Justice Committee has been active since the early 1990's.Since the 1980's St. Philip has offered education programs about inclusion.   Individual members are active with Covenant Network and our allied organizations - More Light Presbyterians and That All May Freely Serve.Lots of hospitality - Brand new to St Philip are co-pastors (interim) Rev. Alice Geils Nord and Rev Bernie Nord, who are beginning their pastorate this month!  They join interim associate pastor Rev Kristy Forbes Vits and Parish Associates, Revs Helen P. Bailey, Greg Han and Jack Boelens. The Committee for Local Arrangements for the Covenant Network Conference is headed up by Sara Jean Jackson and Chuck Johnson who report that pretty much the whole congregation is going to be involved from registration to closing worship.    St. Philip’s music program, under the direction of Dr. Justin S. Smith, Director of Music, is pleased that Covenant Network friends will hear the newly installed Fritts pipe organ played by organist Dr. Matthew Dirst. A picture of the organ is on the home page of Fritts’ website (www.frittsorgan.com)  The St. Philip choir will also be singing in one of the worship services.Earlier in the fall - on October 2 - St Philip will offer their Fourth Annual Concert for Peace.  The concert for Peace combines music, poetry and meditative silence into an evening of spiritual and contemplative adventure.  As their newsletter (The Philip-Eye) describes the event.....As people of different faith traditions converge into one space, we recognize that peacemakers must take risks and that the actions called for in following our core principles sometimes put us at odds with those who would exclude some from the peace of God’s love.  Our intention is to energize, inspire, expand and extend our peace consciousness. Thanks to the newly merged St Philip/Central congregations and to the “new” St Philip Presbyterian Church for their witness to God’s gifts of love and peace.   Hope you can come on down to Houston and St Philip and share a whole lot!