The commencement of the stabilization project affects different church activities.

Worship
This Sunday, April 19, is the last Sunday that worship will be held in the church.

Beginning on Sunday, April 26 and for the next few months, Sunday worship services at 7:45am and 10:00am will be in the Bloom Music Center.

Weekday services are suspended except for two services:

the 12:15pm Tuesday Healing service (in Saint Anne’s Center)
the 5:30pm Wednesday Evening Prayer service (in Saint Anne’s Center)

When capacity in the music center is reached, worshipers at the 10:00am service will be invited to worship in the Saint Nicholas Center.

Also beginning on Sunday, April 26, the Nursery will move from the Ferguson Room to the Nursery in the Children’s Courtyard.

Stabilization project
You may have already noticed the scaffolding covering the church’s exterior south wall.

During the week of April 20, pews and sacred art will be moved from the church and into the Bloom Music Center.

The south entrance to the Columbarium is blocked by the scaffolding. To visit the Columbarium, please stop by the church offices.

Organ
The Holtkamp pipe organ needs to be fully secured from dust and debris during the stabilization work. To that end, the entire organ including the facade, horizontal trumpet pipes, and all interior pipework and mechanism will be sealed with high-grade plastic sheeting. (Think of this as a “food sealer” for the organ.) This work will be done on Monday, April 20, and Tuesday, April 21.

Keeping the organ intact during the stabilization project changes the original restoration schedule. But it means that when worship resumes in the church, the organ will be operational until the builder is ready to begin the restoration work in late 2027.

Moving forward
Leadership, volunteers, and staff have worked hard to implement the many changes necessary for parish life to continue with as little disruption as possible during the next few months. But unanticipated consequences from the construction and move will no doubt arise. And change, even if anticipated, can be challenging.

Visitors and long-time parishioners regularly comment on the generous spirit of Saint Philip’s community. Everyone is invited to demonstrate that, and to exercise patience and extend grace to each other.