From the Rector
Dear Friends in Christ,
In the weeks ahead, we will bid Chris Campbell farewell as he heads back to school.
He has served in a number of roles over the last couple of years. He began to assist with communications as Mtr Kelli’s time was winding down. He managed the crucial audio/video editing and posting that helped us weather the closures of 2020. Then he worked with Jonathan Sprinkle to begin a rapid transition back to in-person services with live-streaming.
After the Sprinkles moved away, Chris managed the AV upgrades to enable the live-streaming capability we have now under the pressure to offer live-streaming as we were transitioning back to in-person services. That work involved laborious research and handling supply-chain issues and many other challenges even as we sought to keep so many aspects of parish life available both online and in-person. It is fair to say that Saint Philip’s would not have the capabilities that exist today without Chris’ tireless work.
Many of you will have talked with Chris as he facilitated countless Zoom meetings over the last couple of years and helped us with the use of the Owl conferencing system. Much of the progress we have made since the pandemic began, with regard to communication and connection, has been his work.
The transition of the Little Shop to its new and much more visible location was his effort, along with Mtr Mary. He has also developed the new, environmentally friendly approach to our bulletins and coordinated the development of the new Christmas Eve bulletin along with Jeanine Colini.
He has served behind the scenes doing everything from merchandising coffee to managing dimming the lights on Christmas Eve.
Chris also spearheaded the development of NightSong, Saint Philip’s compline ministry at the Mercado Annex, and the parish’s partnership with the Tucson All Souls Procession. He has been instrumental in welcoming young adults to life here, helping to lead Bible studies, and serving in liturgical roles across the church whenever he’s needed.
There’s much, more more I could list here—but it’s a “thank you” and not a resume!
Some of you will have, practically, seen Chris grow up here. He’s a son of the parish, if you will. It has been a real gift to have him involved in recent years in these new ways and to see his sense of vocation develop and grow. One of the gifts Saint Philip’s offers is its role as a teaching parish—it is a place where people are formed for all kinds of ministry for the wider Church.
As we say goodbye to Chris, I hope you will all take time to say thank you to him, as well. His work has been tireless, faithful, and rooted in his love of this place and its people.
One way you can say thank you is by contributing to the purse we will send him off with in the weeks ahead. (Details below.)
Thank you, Chris, from everyone here!
—Fr Robert
There are several ways to give:
1. A check made out to Saint Philip’s with “Christopher purse” in the memo section may be dropped in the Sunday offering plate or mailed to the office: Saint Philip’s in the Hills, PO Box 65840, Tucson, AZ 85728, attention Mtr Mary Trainor;
2. Text a contribution. To make a gift to the church by text message, text the amount ($xx.xx) you’d like to give to 520-447-1313. The first time you’ll be asked for your name, method of payment (select from the drop-down menu), and the frequency of your contribution. In this case, you would choose “one time,” and;
3.) Online by credit card by using the link at the end of this section. When the giving page appears, click on the arrow on the first option to select “Give to Chris Campbell purse” option and follow subsequent prompts.