Sedalia, CO

Proudly carrying over a one-hundred-and-fifty-year history, St. Philip in-the-Field Episcopal Church seeks an open-minded welcoming individual with passion for pastoral care and connectedness within the community who can build upon current successful ministries and with us continue to spread the love of Jesus Christ beyond ourselves.  St. Philip’s Church, a Mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, is surrounded by the beautiful and historic Bear Canon Cemetery, and situated on the eastern flank of the beautiful Bear Creek Valley just south of Sedalia, Colorado.  St. Philip’s is home to approximately 100 members. 

St. Philip’s Church is a stable family of long-time parishioners and newer members. We are a welcoming community and have seen continued growth in attracting new families and younger people over the past few years. Many of our members live in the Douglas County region, but others live throughout the southern and southwestern portions of the Denver metropolitan area, making our time together that much more special.  Our congregation enjoys fellowship and actively participates in outreach ministries that reflect our understanding of the gospel. We also have a strong core of volunteers who lend a hand where needed – in worship, fellowship and grounds maintenance. Alongside the scenic drive of Perry Park Road, many visitors are true drop-ins, and in general, most of those visitors have been drawn to return.

St. Philip’s Church seeks a priest who will embrace its location, legacy ministry and membership as the right blend for all those seeking the perfect place to experience God’s work.

Worship

St. Philip’s worship is two services on Sunday mornings at 8 and 10.  During good summer and fall weather, one of those Sunday services has joyfully been substituted with a service on Saturday evening and often conducted on the church’s patio overlooking the mountain vistas.  Most Sundays see 50+ communicants, and two-to-four of these are children who are a part of our Sunday School program during the 10 o’clock service.  

Leadership

Retiring Vicar Janet Fullmer

Treasurer Cory Peters

Bishop’s Committee

• Bishop’s Warden Briston Jones
• Junior Warden Dakota Hoyt
• Katherine McKenna
• Scott Mooney
• Jeff Simonis
• Tom Wajnert

Outreach

St. Philip’s regularly supports organizations in need.  Most notably these are:

• St. Francis Center Denver
• Locally Haiti (formerly Colorado Haiti Project)
• Help and Hope Center (formerly Douglas County Crisis Center)
• Kairos Prison Ministry
• And several other projects through the St. Philip’s family

St. Philip’s also hosts and facilitates events and meetings for the greater Sedalia and Castle Rock communities, to include an annual Memorial Day event at the Bear Canyon Cemetery and an interdenominational ashes-on-the-go at Ash Wednesday.  Our Good Friday ecumenical outreach Stations of the Cross event has participation inclusive of other church denominations and community members who look forward to this special outdoor service in the pristine valley of our church.

The St. Philip in-the-Field Facebook page is St. Philip In The Field | Sedalia CO | Facebook.

Fiscal Condition

St. Philip in-the-Field holds no mortgage on its church building itself, and is on very firm financial ground. 

Background on Sedalia, Castle Rock, Douglas County and Colorado

Unincorporated Sedalia, Colorado is home to St Philip in-the-Field and is conveniently located between Castle Rock, CO and the metropolitan Denver area.

Colorado is a state renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and an array of outdoor recreational activities. Members of St. Philip in-the-Field Episcopal Church enjoy the privilege of living in this remarkable state, with access to various attractions and a vibrant community.

Outdoor Activities

Colorado offers an abundance of outdoor activities throughout the year. The state is known for its majestic Rocky Mountains, which provide ample opportunities for hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or simply enjoy being immersed in nature, Colorado’s diverse landscape caters to all interests.

Climate

Colorado experiences a semi-arid climate, characterized by mild to warm summers and cold winters. Residents get to enjoy four distinct seasons, each with its own charm. Summers are generally sunny and pleasant, making it perfect for outdoor adventures, while winters bring snowfall and offer opportunities for winter sports enthusiasts.

Cultural Scene

Colorado has a thriving cultural scene with a mix of cosmopolitan cities and charming small towns. The state’s capital, Denver, is a dynamic city known for its vibrant arts and music scene, museums, and professional sports teams. Residents can explore art galleries, attend live performances, and indulge in diverse culinary experiences. Additionally, nearby towns like Castle Rock offer a quaint and welcoming atmosphere, with local shops, restaurants, and community events.

Education

Families with children will find a strong educational system in Colorado. Douglas County, where St. Philip’s is located, is home to nationally recognized schools, providing excellent academic opportunities for students. The state is also home to renowned universities and colleges, offering a wide range of educational programs and resources.

Natural Wonders

Living in Colorado means having easy access to a multitude of natural wonders. From the iconic Rocky Mountain National Park to the picturesque Garden of the Gods, there are numerous national parks, forests, and protected areas to explore. Outdoor enthusiasts can go hiking, fishing, wildlife spotting, or simply enjoy the scenic beauty that surrounds them.  St. Philip’s Church itself is situated in a beautiful valley with stunning views of the Front Range and surrounded by an historic cemetery.

Quality of Life

Colorado consistently ranks high in surveys measuring quality of life. The state’s commitment to preserving its natural environment, along with a strong sense of community, contributes to a high standard of living. Residents of St. Philip’s Church enjoy the balance between an active outdoor lifestyle and a welcoming community that embraces diversity and fosters a sense of belonging.

A Calling …

Does the history, spirituality and loving community of St. Philip in-the-Field Episcopal Church speak to you?  If so, we encourage you to notify the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado for more information.

Good Morning and Blessed Friday in Easter Week to all! 

On this grey day, as we await rain and snow and other reminders that spring in the Rockies is not all sun and warmth and birds singing as we had earlier this week, the weather is a fitting reminder that change is part of the very ordinariness of life. I am reading a new translation of Julian of Norwich’s Divine Revelations of Love… and so fresh on my mind is that All– the good, the bad, the heartbreaking, the joy-filled, the change- All is precious and held in God’s Almighty hands…  and in it all, God is making all things new and all will be well. Alleluia! 

So, as we come to the end of the first week of Eastertide, I invite you to take a brief look at the week at St. Philip that has led to this week of joy. Thanks to all who have sent photos- some new ones are attached- and to all who participated and made each step filled with love. We had the blessing of music from Olivia, Shawn- with Ron helping lead singing, and Igor- with bells and alleluias at Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday; many lector and reading parts; Dave and Margaret ushering and assisting with myriad tasks to make each service special; sacristans cleaning, setting up, serving at altar, filling the church with flowers and joy at Easter… every single part of the Holy Week worship was filled with blessing and reverence and care… thanks to our wonderful team and those who attended, prayed, and helped– Thank you All!    

Coming up, today at 5 pm we have Compline by zoom; Sunday services are at 8 and 10, with 10:00 service beginning with one of my all-time favorite songs- Morning has Broken- as well as blessing of new communion linens, thanks to a special donation, and the return of Episcopal Minutes for Eastertide. Mark your calendars for spring cleanup day- May 20, and for Pentecost Sunday-May 28. If you have someone or something to add to or remove from the prayer list, now is a good time to update. If you have a special event that you’d like commemorate by providing flowers for a particular Sunday, see the list in the Parish Hall.  The prayer list and calendar follow.

And finally, take a few minutes to pray and rest in peace in God with this beautiful version of The Deer’s Cry- aka in other settings as St. Patrick’s Breastplate-   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGHWiAGpIP0

The Rev. Janet Fullmer

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle. 
St. Francis of Assisi

As I write this, we are in the cold of February, ending the weeks of Epiphany, and getting ready to welcome to the season of Lent. 

I love that Lent comes to us just as we are beginning to enjoy more light in our days- as spring is coming! The days are lengthening (old English for lengthen is Lent, hence the name for this season), signs of life after winter are beginning to pop up everywhere- birds returning and preparing to nest; sprouting of dormant plants, budding of trees, and rain replaces snow for the moisture needed for all this growth. Ahhhh!  

So you might think it’s time to rejoice – and it is – but we do it in conjunction with a deep look at another part of life- the inward spiritual life that fully includes both light and darkness, joy and sorrow, hope and loss, doubt and confidence, bringing forth the fruit of faith and hope. Yes, all of that is included in the Lenten journey that begins on Ash Wednesday with the reminder, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return”, and concludes with the great celebration of Easter, Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! 

In between Ash Wednesday and Easter, our Sunday lessons will remind us that wherever we are- be it on top of the mountain or in the valley of the shadow of death, at the cross and in the hospital, in hope or joy or despair… or anywhere we can be… we need not fear, for God is with us. Jesus has walked this way with us- and has shown us and taught us to walk the Way of Love. And in walking this way of love, has shown us that though it may be very hard, nevertheless it is the way of life. It is, in fact, the way of life that overcomes death and all the darkness we face. He bids us to open our hearts and eyes and see that He walks with us still-  loving us, and reminding us that no darkness… not all the darkness in the world!… can overcome the light that he has brought and continues to shine.  

Barbara Brown Taylor has written an inspiring book that can help in our journeys in darkness… it is called Learning to Walk in the Dark. If you have not yet read it, it would be a good companion in Lent, as we go into the wilderness, sometimes walking in, and sometimes peering into, the darkness.  Taylor helps us to hold onto the promise that through the 40 days of Lent, we will not only not be alone, but we will be learning to see in the dark… learning to walk in the dark… learning to sit in the dark and to even there behold God beholding us… in love. 

This Lent, we will also have a time to listen to New Testament teacher A. J. Levine share insights and information about Jesus’ time on earth, and some of the Signs and Wonders he did to bring light and encouragement, as he taught of God’s loving kindness and care for all. In the special, holy time of Lent, I encourage you to include a time of special devotion or practice, and particularly a time of prayer and contemplation to sit in peace and to- as Mother Teresa put it- behold God as God beholds you. On a warm enough day, there is a bench just west of the patio at St. Philip that is a bit secluded and has a peaceful view of the valley and mountains. It invites you to Perch… Ponder… Pray.   

The practice of serving others is a certain way to come closer to God- for, as we serve the least among us, and care for those in need, we are in fact serving Christ. As Jesus told in the story of the sheep and the goats, Mt 25:40, 45– as we do for the least of those among us, we do for Christ. So as we visit the sick, the lonely, the incarcerated, the homeless, and as we care for and help those who are lonely, overwhelmed, suffering addictions, or lost and know nothing about God, as we notice and tend to them we are noticing and tending to Christ Himself… for in truth, that is who they are.     

Through Lent, through the easy and good, and the tough and difficult times life, and every moment in between remember that even in darkness, we are not alone… Jesus is with us, walking in light: he says,  

I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.   John 8:12 

May Peace and Blessings for a Holy Lent be with you.
Vicar Janet 

If you are traveling on Hwy 105 and you look west just south of Wolfensberger Road, you will find a rare beauty, St. Philip of the Field Church. This lovely, well kept, white frame church has stood for 150 years. It is surrounded by Bear Canon Cemetery, where generations of West Plum Creek families have been buried. The beginning of this historic little church tells a fascinating story that is still a matter of record and is an important part of the folkelore of Douglas County.

Originally there was a little log building just north of the present church that served as a school, church, and community meeting place. In the years of 1869 to 1871, the pioneer families felt a need of some kind of church and began to plan to build. Mr. Newton S. Grout was hired to build the church. He modeled it after a church that he had attended as a boy when he lived in Maine. It was built over the period of two months in 1872 – four years before Colorado became a state. Mr. H. H. Curtis, his boys, and others hauled the rough lumber from Round’s Mill in the mountains, coming down Devil’s Gap on Garber Creek, a most hazardous trip to construct the building. Wooden planks supported by heavy grocery boxes served as pews. The church was built without the help of any group or denomination. Once the outer portion of the church was finished, Methodist Circuit Riders came and held services along with clergymen of other denominations. However, all history does have its twists and turns. A man named Lambert came into the community, posing as a minister, and urged the members to raise money to complete the church. He was so well liked; he was allowed to hold on to the monies that were collected from various fundraisers. When they had raised over $600 to finish the church, Lambert and the money disappeared! This was so discouraging to the members that there were no further improvements to the church for many years.

The 150th Anniversary Celebration took place on September 24th at St. Philip in the Field. More history was revealed, along with some special presentations by long standing members. There was a tour of the church and a Bear Canon Cemetery walk to visit gravesites of several founding pioneers of Douglas County.

The information for this story comes from – The First 100 Years, written by Margaret E. Benn.

Men’s and women’s Kairos teams from St. Philips join other Christian groups to provide outreach to prisoners incarcerated at the Men’s Territorial Correctional Facility in Canon City and the Women’s La Vista Correctional Complex in Pueblo. The mission of the Kairos Prison Ministry is “to share the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ to impact the hearts and lives of incarcerated men, women and youth, as well as their families, to become loving and productive citizens of their communities”. (Kairos website)

“Dry Bones Came Alive”

“Was lost but now am found”

“Heaven on earth”

“I have never been freer than I am now in this prison – I have been transformed”

These are a few of the comments we have heard at the end of a Kairos weekend when participants describe what that time was for them. Some people’s stories try to capture their experience of God – one man described the feeling of being forgiven and feeling hope again as standing on the shore and feeling waves wash over him again and again…  a woman described being led out of the tomb, like Lazarus, and knowing she had been given new life… and team members will tell stories of seeing miracles – seeing the outward and visible signs of changed appearance… smiles and laughter, styled hair, cleaned clothes – that reflect the inward spiritual grace that has transformed hearts of stone into soft, loving, forgiving hearts turned to God.

The powerful impact and changed lives just described isn’t the exception – it is the rule of Kairos Prison Ministry weekends… and it is amazing to behold! Kairos ministry is grounded in making God’s Love real – in showing it to people who frequently have little experience of love, and whose daily experience undercuts any positive feelings. For most, the concept of unconditional love is totally foreign. Grace and Mercy are not the experience of God that they have known, so speaking of God’s Love, Forgiveness, and Grace, and thinking of themselves as God’s Beloved, are at best words meant for someone else… but in the course of a weekend, residents and team alike find that this is God’s gift to each of us – and all of us rejoice!

The mission of Kairos Prison Ministry is to “share the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, to impact the hearts and lives of incarcerated men, women and youth, as well as their families, to become loving and productive citizens of their communities.” The vision is “A Community Spiritually Freed From the Effects of Imprisonment, Reaching all Impacted by Incarceration through the Love, Hope and Faith Found in Jesus Christ.”  Our motto for living into that mission and vision is “Listen, Listen, Love, Love.” We listen and love as we hear our residents’ stories, and share our own stories and witness with them.

Kairos teams serve in correctional facilities throughout the state – men serve in men’s correction facilities, and women serve in women’s facilities. At the end of each weekend, though, the Closing Ceremony is open to male and female, team members and visitors. Closing is when residents are invited to speak of their experience at Kairos, and the stories told are the best way to get a glimpse of the outpouring of God’s Love and how it has healed, broken down walls and resentments, and given new life to the participants. Facilities in Colorado where Kairos teams serve range from Denver Women’s Prison, to LaVista Women’s Prison, to the Territorial Correctional Facility at Canon City and to the correctional facilities in Buena Vista, Sterling, and Bent County. 

For families of the incarcerated Kairos Outside is offering a weekend similar to that of Kairos on the inside – so that whole families may be transformed by the powerful, never-ending love of God. Volunteers for Kairos – whether inside prison walls or outside – are always most welcome! Kairos is an ecumenical program, so the worship traditions represented are not just Episcopal. One of the joys of serving on a team are that differences of doctrine and tradition are put aside to represent the Jesus Movement at its core – God With Us – God Who Loves, Forgives, Transforms, Strengthens and Sends us.  

To find out about serving on a team, or supporting Kairos by donations, prayer, or attending a Closing, go to: www.kairosofcolorado.org, where you will find general information, as well as the contact information for particular teams. Or, contact us: ron.fullmer@msn.com; janetfullmer@msn.com- we will be delighted to give you more information, talk about our experiences, or help you to get connected, as needed.

We are excited to invite you to join this branch of The Jesus Movement in Prison… Just say, Here I am – send me! – You will be so glad you did! 

Ron Fullmer and The Rev. Janet Fullmer, Vicar, St. Philip in the Field, Sedalia, CO

Vicar Janet and her husband Ron traveled to Haiti in January 2019 with the Colorado Haiti Project. Ron writes:

On January 22nd, we headed to the airport, along with our dear friend and Haiti traveling companion, Marti, who was on the first CHP trip back when it was a just beginning. We had a 11:30pm plane to catch, with a quick turn around in Miami and then on to Port au Prince. I spent time on the plane thinking about the time ahead – would it be mostly a vacation, a reunion with friends, a mission trip or most likely, some of each…

Click on the link below to read the entire post:
https://www.facebook.com/ron.fullmer/posts/10210854169349979

To view photos from the trip click on the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10210853909943494&type=1&l=c2e0bc358b