St. Phillips making things happen

The first time I attended St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Sulphur Springs in June, I thought the church was really down, but I quickly discovered the beautiful church with small congregation was not out.

Later visits to the church proved the congregation had life, and the number of times churchgoers reached out to welcomed me had grown exponentially. Soon, Father Thomas A. Pantle and I met and decided we should sit down for a visit and let News-Telegram readers hear the good news about what was happening at the beautiful church on College Street.

On that first, visit Father Tom let the congregation know he was not new to the pulpit, but he was new to St. Philip’s. The new Father Tom was assigned to the church in June, but as a visitor, I was glad he let us know he too was new. His sermon urged those of us in attendance to get involved with the church by being active in the community as well as coming to church on Sundays.

Father Tom is a spry 80-year-old. His most recent church duty was St. Dunstan’s in Mineola, where he served for 16 years. Father Tom’s age isn’t slowing him down in his quest to bring his flock closer to Jesus Christ.

Now he has committed to the church, he will stay through Trinity Sunday, which is in June 2020. The diocese’s Bishop George R. Sumner was instrumental in convincing Father Tom that Sulphur Springs is where he is needed. Sr. Warden Brittany Myers and Jr. Warden Ron Fouts also made sure Father Tom knew he was needed as well.

Father Tom took exception to the term, “dying congregation” and referred to the church as slumbering but not dying, and based on the visits I have made to the church while living in Sulphur Springs, I agree.

“The church finances are sound, and the church never really died; it was just in a deep slumber”, he said.

The church building is unique and superbly laid out to reflect the symbolisms that, along with the book of Common Prayer, allow the membership to participate in the worship, which is unique to the Episcopal church.

St. Phillip’s has a history of keeping the chapel open 24 hours a day, but unfortunately, items were stolen years ago. However, the altar cross, processional cross and two altar candle sticks were later recovered by the police and returned to the church. Father Tom has restored the stolen symbols and put the items back to work. The worship area has been lighted up, and the wonderful building and committed core group of dedicated parishioners are making sure St. Philip’s will be here for decades to come.

The final question to Father Tom was, why would a worshiper want to come to St. Philip’s?

“To experience the involvement in the worship service and learn to offer your service to the Lord in the coming week. We use the Book of Common Prayer which allows us to worship together and turn our attention to asking for forgiveness and for help to be better disciples for Christ in the coming week,” he replied.

St. Philip’s also has its own prayer, The Prayer for St. Phillips, which spells out what a good Christian should strive for and how to go about it. It is one of the big reasons those who have held the church together over the years are so dedicated and why when newcomers visit, they usually feel the need to come back.

Sunday worship is held at 10:30 a.m., and should you decide to visit, be assured you will be welcomed.