Prison Awareness Month
September is Prison Awareness Month in the Diocese of Arizona. Find out what Saint Philip’s Prison Ministry has been up to and what is on the horizon.
Fun and Fellowship at Camp Genesis
In May, Saint Philip’s raised over $1,000.00 to support Camp Genesis, a diocesen-run summer camp that serves children and youth affected by incarceration. Your donations helped camp staff purchase new backpacks, water bottles, and other summer camp essentials for campers who spent a fun-filled week at Chapel Rock in June.
Camp Genesis Director, The Rev’d Deacon Kim Crecca, shared the photos of campers enjoying outdoor fun like archery and kayaking, and sharing a reflective moment with new friends. Thanks for making this summer so special for these campers! Learn more about Camp Genesis here.
Supporting Families through Angel Tree
Saint Philip’s first time participating in Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree last November and December was a lot of fun. Volunteers and donors helped coordinate with dozens of local families touched by incarceration to provide Christmas gifts to children on behalf of their parent in prison.
Many of the kids and their families were able to join volunteers for a Christmas party in the Murphey Gallery. They decorated cookies, had their faces painted, and more. Lots of caregivers shared stories about how much joy Angel Tree brought into the lives of these children and youth.
Angel Tree will return to Saint Philip’s this December. Organizing for this year’s program will begin soon, and dedicated volunteers are needed!
The first information session will be at 11:15am on Sunday, October 5, in the Saint James room. Please contact Kyle Kim-Hays at k2hays@gmail.com to sign up, or click here to learn more.
Kairos Inside: Serving Those in Prison
Longtime Kairos Prison Ministry volunteer Jim Prescott-Smith shares this dispatch about the upcoming Kairos Inside weekend taking place at Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy next month, and invites you to join a prayer vigil.
Kairos Prison Ministry International brings Christ’s teachings to those behind bars through a 3-day weekend program. It changes hearts and changes lives. This ecumenical ministry is encouraged by our Diocesan Prison Ministry Committee, and some of our parishioners volunteer to serve inside prisons in Arizona. The end result is a Christian community of inmates inside prison who meet regularly to pray, worship and hold each other accountable.
The next Kairos weekend in Arizona is October 23-26 inside Saguaro Prison in Eloy. You are invited to sign up at the link below for a half hour prayer slot during which you would pray for these inmates to be touched by God’s love during the Kairos weekend. Sign up here.
Saint Philip’s Junior Youth will decorate place mats for this event this Sunday, September 28, and will learn about the impact of incarceration on society and how God calls us to serve our brothers and sisters in prison.
Sending Hope Behind Bars
Becoming a pen pal is a way to share much appreciated hope and encouragement with someone behind bars, and can lead to a lasting and fulfilling friendship.
Are you interested in being a pen pal with someone in prison? This fall, Prison Ministry Coordinator Emily Lyons will start a new prison correspondence group to meet monthly. If you want to learn more, email Emily at elyons@arizona.edu.
