Come and See

October 24^th, 2010

By Sharla Darby

I began coming to St. Philip’s on and off since 2000 and have found that this community has brought me many gifts, opportunities of growth and transformation. In fact it is difficult for me to just focus on one of those gifts. For example, teaching Sunday school provided me with opportunities to gain experience with children that help me gain employment at a time I had no job. Singing in the choir for two years helped me grow my self-confidence and brought me moments of divine enlightenment while listening to the voices in the midst of the voices themselves. This led me to open my ears and my heart to hear what was being said during those Sunday services. It brought me back to God after leaving the Christian church years earlier. Centering prayer taught me how to feel comfortable in prayer and brought me a peace that I had never experienced previously. And as a chalice bearer I have begun a transformation in me to realize my mission to serve.

I have received so many gifts from so many aspects of St. Philip’s programs and ministries. As I thought about these gifts and how they transformed me I realized that there was one moment that had the most profound effect on me. This moment led me to have a much deeper commitment to St. Philip’s and the work being done here. After being away from St. Philip’s for over a year I found myself being drawn back to look for help and peace from my pain of losing a friend to suicide and working through issues with my father’s mental illness. I felt lost, scared, hurt, and tired. One Sunday after service I went to the healing blessing and met Cliff Blinman, one of St. Philip’s affiliated clergy. When I reached out to him for help he immediately, without judgment provided a healing blessing, comfort, information, and a listening ear. I was to leave on a plane the next day to assist my father and found after that service I had an entire community of prayer behind me supporting me on this difficult journey. They provided me with books from the library and added me to their prayer list. And as I sat on that plane I realized that St. Philip’s was a welcoming, non-judgmental community that had given me so much over the years. I also realized I had not given back or even helped to foster and support this community so it could continue to help others like myself. I knew on my return from my trip to help my father that I would make a commitment by giving financial support, volunteer and work to welcome and help others as I was helped at my lowest time. More importantly, over time I have found that the actual commitment process was the key to my continued healing and transformation.

I want to thank you all for your support; financially, emotionally, and physically which has supported my continued growth and transformation. Because of your continued support I have been able to grow my self-confidence, gain a job, overcome hardships that seemed impossible, and recognize that those experiences can be transformed into gifts to help others with similar hardships. Please continue to support St. Philips as generously as you can. You just may find that it will transform you like it is transforming me. I know I will; and I will continue to welcome the transformation. Now I ask you in what ways are you being transformed?