News You Can Use – 10/12/23
| A Message from Fr. Caleb |
 Dear Transfiguration Community: Psalm 106:23 “So he would have destroyed them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath from consuming them.” In this Psalm, the psalmist is both lamenting the sins of Israel, God’s chosen people. As Christians, Israel represents both the literal Israel of the psalmist and also represents the Church today. This Psalm reminds us that God is a forgiving and merciful God. Moses interceded for Israel and God listened to his prophet. This also represents how Jesus stands as our Mediator with God the Father. Jesus stands “in the breach, to turn away his wrath from consuming them.” This does not mean that God took a lot of convincing or that God wanted to be an angry wrathful God. It was in God’s plan to forgive and to call faithful people to intercede for the world. When the saints, both living and departed, pray to God on behalf of the world, God listens and hears. How does prayer work? That is a part of the wonderful mystery of God and the universe that God created. However, asking someone to pray for others joins our intent with God’s hope for the world. Blessings, Fr. Caleb+ |
| This Sunday |
| Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost October 15, 2023 Holy Eucharist Rite II, in the Sanctuary Order of Worship – click here 8am (quiet without music) 10am (music with choir) Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/transfiguration.mesa Direct link: https://player.castr.com/live_7b7216d05c8e11eeac38cda98672d4e1 All services may be live streamed and recorded Coffee, snacks and conversation follow the 8am and 10am services in the Fellowship Hall |
| Coming Up |
| The Week Ahead |
| Monday, October 16 7:00pm Compline including Spiritual Communion Tuesday, October 17 7:00pm Compline Wednesday, October 18 9:30am Morning Prayer 7:00pm Compline Thursday, October 19 10:00am Coffee & Conversation w/Fr. Caleb 7:00pm Compline Friday, October 20 10:00am Book Club 7:00pm Compline Sunday, October 22 8:00am Worship Service 8:45am Choir Rehearsal 10:00am Worship Service Stewardship Campaign begins Refreshments after both services |
 Coffee Hour w/ Fr. Caleb Please stop by for coffee & conversation in the Parish Office living room every Thursday in October from 10-11am. This is a great opportunity for us to become better acquainted with Fr. Caleb and with each other. Coffee will be provided and you’re welcome to bring potluck snacks. |
 Book Club This month’s book club discussion will be held on Friday, October 20 at 10am AZ time via Zoom. The selection for October will be Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom; Ann Pullinger will be the discussion leader. Crow Mary is a sweeping saga inspired by the true story of Crow Mary—an indigenous woman torn between two worlds in 19th-century North America. It is 348 pages long, the Goodreads rating is 4.38 and the link to the Goodreads review is here. |
 Stewardship Campaign We will kick off our Stewardship Campaign on Sunday, October 22. We will hand out pledge packets before each of the services and ask you to return them by November 12. There will also be an online pledge card available. The main purpose is to give you an opportunity to prayerfully consider what you plan to give to the church next year. This information is used by the Treasurer and the Vestry to help determine our budget for 2024. Our pledge financial goal is $160,000. This year, we will also ask you to let us know what talents or time you would be willing to share with the church next year. |
 Trunk or Treat Please join us on Tuesday, October 31 from 5-7pm in the church parking lot for Trunk or Treat. More details to come! |
 ECW Rummage Sale The ladies of ECW will hold their annual rummage sale on November 16, 17 and 18. Please bring your donations to the Parish Hall. If it is after office hours, please call Jo first before bringing any items over. Also – if anyone knows of someone with a pickup truck for transporting items for the rummage sale, please let Jo know! For questions, contact Jo Laslo at jfaith3844@aol.com. |
| Announcements |
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| St. Francis Day – Blessing of the Animals What a wonderful representation of our beloved pets at last Sunday’s service. |
 In Memory of Walt Devonshire We lost our good friend, Walt, this week and we already miss his smiling face, his great stories and his calm, steady presence. He will be remembered as a gentleman who generously gave his time and energy to the causes he believed in. Here is one of my favorite photos of Walt – raising the flags at church. Rest in peace dear Walt. |
 God’s Soup Kitchen Members of God’s Soup Kitchen encourage parishioners to pick up their latest offerings of soup from the Fellowship Hall freezer: potato, ham and cheese or pasta e fagioli. Delicious soups from this faithful group can be given to those who are ill, those in need and those who are unable to leave their homes. |
 Name Tags Wearing your name tag in our church service can be a helpful way for people to connect and build a sense of community. It will also help Fr. Caleb get acquainted with us. If you would like a name tag, please contact the church office here. |
| Stewardship |
 3rd Quarter Financial Overview Copies of the third quarter financial overview will be available for pick up at this weekend’s services. Thank you to Heidi for preparing this informative report!! Did you know that financial gifts can be made via Zelle using our email address – officetransfig@gmail.com? |
 Superstition Community Food Bank Suggested donations for this week are: canned vegetables, instant potatoes and rice. For next week: canned fruits, puddings and gelatin. Please place items in the basket at the back of the church. |
| Worship |
 Sunday Servers Would you like to be a greeter, chalice bearer, reader, torchbearer, crucifer or help count the offerings? If so, please contact Janice Scalzo so she can arrange for training and get you on the schedule to serve. |
 Worship Service Streaming We are now streaming our 10am worship service to Facebook. The link is noted in the ‘This Sunday’ section and you will not need a Facebook account to view the service. Please let Peg Wier know if you encounter any issues. |
 Altar Flowers Altar flowers can be dedicated in honor of special life events such as birthdays and anniversaries, in memory of a loved one or just as a general thanksgiving. If you would like to contribute to future altar flower displays, please contact the Church Office, use Zelle or put “Altar Flowers” in the memo when placing your check in the offering plate. |
 Choir Come make a joyful noise! We rehearse on Sundays at 8:45am, before the 10am service. If you are interested in singing in the choir, please reach out to Mackenzie Marr for more information. All are welcome to join! |
 Compline Come pray with us! We meet M-F at 7pm via Zoom for Compline/Evening Prayer. The service is available on ZOOM. Meeting ID: 740-940-1419. Passcode: 514 514. For additional information, please contact Thomas Blum. Every Monday at 7pm, Compline will include Spiritual Communion for those who cannot receive the Sacrament of Communion due to physical distance or medical reasons. |
 Morning Prayer Please join us every Wednesday morning at 9:30am via Zoom to prayerfully start the day. The service is available on ZOOM. Meeting ID: 740-940-1419. Passcode: 514 514. For additional information, please contact Ann Williamson. |
| Second Sunday Giving |
| On the second Sunday of every month all loose plate collection money (not tithes) will be given to several non-profit organizations. These organizations were selected by your Vestry because they reflect the mission and values of the Transfiguration Community and The Episcopal Church. For a complete list click here. October collection: Coffee Pot Farms |
 Coffee Pot Farms is a 36-acre farm located in Dilkon, Arizona. Yazzie says she founded the farm on the belief that “food is the first medicine, as it comes from Mother Earth, and that food sovereignty is the critical first step to creating healthy communities and healthy families.” Our focus is on producing the highest quality produce and making them available to low-income families. In addition, we grow good food for the health of our people. |
| Special Moments |
 Here is Marge Connelly with her one year old great grandson; what a joy filled photo!! Please send your travel/adventure/special moments photos and accompanying stories/text to the News You Can Use editor, Mary Hovden at click here. |
| Diocesan News |
 Creation Care Ministry We are called to be caretakers of the gift of God’s creation. On these Creation Care pages, you can explore more about that call, learn about actions you can take for the Earth, explore resources to increase your knowledge, find prayers and liturgies to use in your church or home, and learn about new Creation Care events and initiatives. Bountiful God, you call us to labor with you in tending the earth: Where we lack love, open our hearts to the world; where we waste, give us discipline to conserve; where we neglect, awaken our minds and wills to insight and care. May we with all your creatures honor and serve you in all things, for you live and reign with Christ, Redeemer of all, and with your Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.from “Liturgical Materials for Honoring God in Creation,” in the Book of Occasional Services 2018 (page 291). |
| Diocesan Publications Please contact the church office if you would like to receive the Arizona Episcopalian, a free quarterly publication from the Diocese. To sign up for the weekly Diocesan email E-Pistle click here. |
| Who We Are |
 The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration is an open and affirming Christian community in the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement. We acknowledge the living culture of the Salt River Pima and Maricopa people, the traditional custodians of the land we stand on, and pay tribute to the unique role they play in the life of this region. We are a member of the Union of Black Episcopalians, whose mission is “to unite the diverse cultures, concerns and gifts of Black Episcopalians by providing preparation and encouragement for living the Baptismal Covenant and fully participating in the mission and governance of The Episcopal Church.” |
| Photo taken by Jack Hovden |
| Clergy and Staff Fr. John Caleb Collins, Rector transfigurationrector@gmail.com; office (480) 986-1145 or mobile (480) 980-1981 (call or text) Mackenzie Marr, Choir Director & Pianist www.mackenzielynmarr.com Linda Ostmeyer, Office Manager officetransfig@gmail.com Janice Scalzo, Bookkeeper transfigbookkeeper@gmail.com Office hours: M-T-W-Th. 9am – 1pm Vestry Lynn Graff, Senior Warden lwgraff@yahoo.com; mobile (480) 201-2939 Heidi Kinney, Treasurer churchtransfigtreasurer@gmail.com Diane Klock, Clerk John Bishop Ellen Jackelen Bob Kistler Barbara Press Garth Seiple Jane Stoneback Peg Wier Social Media Tom Blum & Ben Brooks – website Tom Blum, Jo Laslo & Bill Robinson – Facebook page Mary Hovden – News You Can Use e-newsletter (please send stories, announcements, photos, etc. to Mary here) Peg Wier – Worship service streaming Lynn Graff – Vestry liaison |