Religion and faith: St. Philip's in the Hills loses 2 of its clergy

St. Philip’s in the Hills to lose 2 of its clergy

St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave., will lose its two assistants to the rector at the end of September.

Both are moving out of state to new parishes.

The resignations of the Rev. Greg Foraker and the Rev. Vicki Hesse are effective Sept. 30, according to letters each wrote to the congregation. The church is also looking for a new leader, after its rector, John Kitagawa, retired this summer. That transition is being led by Frank Clark, the interim rector.

The church intends to fill that position by next summer. The next rector will then fill the positions vacated by Foraker and Hesse. Until then, they will be filled by interim clergy.

Because the laity will identify the new rector, the departure of Foraker and Hesse will not affect that process.

The timing is a coincidence, said Foraker, who will now serve as associate rector for ministry development and vocational discernment at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Fort Collins, Colorado, a state where he has family. Foraker has worked at St. Philip’s for nine years.

Hesse, who has been at St. Philip’s for three years, is headed to Christ Church Grosse Pointe in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, where she will work as associate for parish life and Christian formation.

Jewish women to hold annual book brunch

Congregation Chofetz Chayim, 5150 E. Fifth St., will host its annual women’s brunch that falls between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

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For the last seven or eight years, Esther Becker has organized a book brunch, bringing together up to 100 women. This year at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, the women will discuss “A World After This: A Memoir of Loss and Redemption” by Lola Lieber, who recounts her experience with the Holocaust and the strength she found in her marriage and faith.

“I hope that people will take away that there is room for growth and always room to connect to God, no matter what situation we’re in,” said Becker, whose husband is the congregation’s Rabbi Israel Becker.

Up to 100 women may register by emailing Esther Becker at ewbecker@me.com or at 10:45 a.m. Sunday before the event begins.

Space is limited. The book and brunch costs $25.

For more information, visit tucsontorah.org .

Freethought Arizona to host talk on Sunday

Freethought Arizona will host a talk titled “The Enlightenment in America” 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 20. A discussion from 8 to 9:15 a.m. will precede the talk.

The speaker, Richard Miller, is active in organizations that focus on secular issues, such as the Phoenix chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation — Valley of the Sun Chapter.

The free talk at the DuVal Auditorium at Banner-University Medical Center, 1501 N. Campbell Ave., will explore the Enlightenment’s impact on the Founding Fathers and the United States.

For more information, visit freethought-az.org .