News You Can Use – 11/16/23
| A Message from Fr. Caleb |
 Dear Transfiguration Family: I am writing to you from Chapel Rock in Prescott. Chapel Rock is an Episcopal Camp Community that lives into our calling to be a place of refuge, hospitality, and learning for the world. As I am sitting here for the Monastic Retreat, I am absorbing the quietude and the serenity of changing leaves and the smell of Autumn. Experiencing the Holy with all of our senses is a treasured gift from God. Please, keep me and all in prayer as we live into a period of monastic experience. Blessings, Fr. Caleb+ |
| This Sunday |
| Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost November 19, 2023 Holy Eucharist Rite II, in the Sanctuary 8am (quiet without music) 10am (music with choir) Please pick up the Order of Worship in the Narthex or click here Facebook link (for streaming the 10am service): https://www.facebook.com/transfiguration.mesa OR YouTube link (for streaming the 10am service) youtube.com/@transfigoffice7704/streams Coffee, snacks, birthday cake and conversation follow the 8am and 10am services in the Fellowship Hall as we celebrate November birthdays |
| The Week Ahead |
| Monday, November 20 7:00pm Compline w/ Spiritual Communion Tuesday, November 21 7:00pm Compline Wednesday, November 22 9:30am Morning Prayer 7:00pm Compline Thursday, November 23 Thanksgiving Day – office closed, no coffee hour and no compline Friday, November 24 7:00pm Compline Sunday, November 26 Christ the King Sunday 8:00am Worship Service 8:45am Choir Rehearsal 10:00am Worship Service Refreshments after both services |
 Stewardship Campaign We are currently at 58% of our goal in pledges; our pledge financial goal is $160,000. This Sunday Father Caleb will bless our pledges. If you haven’t done so already, you can return your pledge to the office during office hours or complete it online (link here). |
 Rummage Sale The ECW annual rummage sale starts today, Thursday, November 16,and continues on Friday and Saturday from 8am-1pm all three days in the Fellowship Hall. Please stop by, do some shopping and support the wonderful team that has worked so hard on this event! As you can tell from the photo, there is an amazing assortment of items. |
 Book Club This month’s book club discussion will be held this Friday, November 17 at 10am AZ time via Zoom. The selection for November will be The Book of Goose, a novel by Yiyun Li; our discussion leader is Jane Weichert. It is 368 pages long, the Goodreads rating is 3.74 and the link to the Goodreads review is here. |
 Great EpisGOpal Race The United Thank Offering and Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) are teaming up to bring you the 4th Annual Great EpisGOpal Race! Grab your sneakers, skates or fins and join together in gratitude to race your way Nov. 20-28. The funds raised from this race will support EMM’s programs and the 2023 UTO Ingathering. 100% of what you donate and/or pay in registration fees will support this amazing cause. Anytime between Nov. 20-28, choose your preferred mode and distance and race for good. You can bike a 10K, run a half marathon, or skate a mile—the options are limitless. Let’s race together in gratitude! SIGN UP TODAY! |
 Thursday Coffee Hour Please stop by for coffee & conversation in the Parish Office living room continuing at 10am on Thursday, November 30. 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 snacks. |
 Angel Tree We will have the Angel Tree for Brinton School set up and decorated in the Narthex by the first Sunday of Advent on December 3. Tags will be hanging on the tree with the name of each child, their gender, age, size and their wish list. All gifts will need to be wrapped and returned with the tag attached to the package before school dismisses for the Christmas break (exact date coming soon). |
 Bible Study Starting on Thursday, December 5 at 10am in the Parish Office living room, we will begin a bible study. If you are interested in leading the discussion on an occasional basis, please let Fr. Caleb know. More details coming soon! |
| Announcements |
  Stained Glass Window Project In conversation with the artist that is working on our stained glass windows (for the panel of windows to the left of the altar area – see above photo on left), four windows are completed and two are in progress. We hope that the remaining four windows are completed and all ten installed during the first quarter of 2024. The entire project is funded and we have only paid for what has been installed. Once the final windows are installed, we will pay for the remainder of the project. In case you haven’t seen them, the gorgeous stained glass windows to the right of the altar area are completed and installed (see above photo on right). |
 God’s Soup Kitchen God’s Soup Kitchen is seeking additional volunteers starting in 2024. This hard working and fun loving group gathers once a month to prepare soup for those that are ill, in need and/or unable to get out. The group’s latest offering is tomato basil soup and containers are located in the Fellowship Hall freezer. Please contact the church office at 480-986-1145 if you’d like to help! |
 Name Tags Wearing your name tag in our church service can be a helpful way for us to connect and build a sense of community. 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 are available for pick up at church or you can access it here. 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: boxed cereals and crackers. 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 schedule you to serve. |
 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. |
 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. November collection: RIP Medical Debt |
 RIP Medical Debt uses your donations to purchase bundled medical debt portfolios from hospitals and on the secondary debt market, and then forgives that debt at pennies on the dollar. |
| Diocesan News |
Creation Care Ministry Creating a Stewardship Ethos – How Do You Help Someone Care About the Environment? by John Wennes Ethos – the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations. As a kid growing up in Tempe in the 1960s and 1970s, our family made occasional trips up north to the high country, including the Mogollon Rim, Payson, Kohls Ranch, Woods Canyon Lake, and Slide Rock in Sedona. I recall the fresh, cooler air, the trees, the wildlife, and the fishing. I would dream about catching a beautiful rainbow trout, and occasionally I did. It was an early introduction to ‘nature’, and I thank my parents for making those trips happen. I can’t remember a time since then when I didn’t appreciate the natural world. READ MORE… |
63rd Diocesan Convention Post Survey We would love to get your feedback on your experience at convention this year as we plan ahead for future conventions. Your responses are vital to our diocese and to our staff as we begin preparations for the 2024 convention. Please take a few moments to answer a few questions about the events that took place at convention and provide any comments or feedback. Note, you did not have to attend the convention in order to provide feedback. |
 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.” |
| 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, Music Director 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 |