Transfiguring Times – 4/25/24
| The Rector’s Metamorpho-News |
 Dearly transfigured people of God, Thanks to the gifts shared by parishioners and their generosity, an anonymous donor is offering to help us raise funds to support our parish through a match campaign. This campaign is beginning during this Easter season as of tomorrow, April 25 and will continue to the beginning of Advent. Our theme is the growing season of Spring and renewal moving to the Fall season of harvest and thanksgiving for those gifts shared with us. During Advent, we will bless the gifts and the match campaign’s results. Our goal is to raise $16,000 and that will be matched by an anonymous donor, meaning that we have the potential to raise $32,000 for our congregation. Due to inflation, rising energy costs, among other factors, our budget is projected to leave us in the red. We want to be in the black or as close as we can be. Please, help us reach our goal of $16,000 and that will be matched by another $16,000! God is good and has blessed us abundantly with all of your generosity. Blessings, Fr. Caleb |
| Please enjoy a few photos from Fr. Caleb’s Celebration of New Ministry on Wednesday, April 17. Additional photos posted on our Facebook page. Photo credit: Toni Murdock, Diocesan staff. |
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| Fr. Caleb deeply values the connection with the members of our congregation and welcomes your input. Whether it’s through office or home visits, phone calls, or email, he is here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any needs, or concerns, or simply want to chat. |
| This Sunday |
| Sunday, April 28, 2024 Fifth Sunday of Easter 8:00am (spoken service – Rite II) Please see the Order of Worship in the pews or click here 10:00am (choral service – Rite II) Please see the Order of Worship in the pews or click hereyoutube.com/@transfigoffice7704/streams YouTube link (for streaming the 10:00am service) OR https://www.facebook.com/transfiguration.mesa Facebook link (for streaming the 10:00am service) Coffee, snacks and conversation follow both services in the Fellowship Hall |
 Superstition Community Food Bank Suggested donations for this week are: canned or dehydrated soups. For next week: canned meat and peanut butter. Please place items in the basket at the back of the church or in the bin in the Fellowship Hall. |
| The Week Ahead |
| Monday, April 29 7:00pm Compline Tuesday, April 30 7:00pm Compline Wednesday, May 1 9:00am Walking on Wednesdays 9:30am Morning Prayer 7:00pm Compline Thursday, May 2 10:00am Coffee Hour & Bible Study 7:00pm Compline Friday, May 3 7:00pm Compline Saturday, May 4 9:30am Altar Guild 11:00am ECW Meeting with potluck lunch following Sunday, May 5 8:00am Worship Service 8:45am Choir Rehearsal 10:00am Worship Service Conversation, coffee and snacks after each service |
 Bible Study & Coffee Hour The Bible study continues on Thursdays at 10am in the Fellowship Hall. The topic is “The Resurrection” and please bring a snack to share. |
 Stitchery Ministry This group will meet on Thursday, April 25 at 1pm in the Parish House living room. Please join us with your special talents of knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, or any needlecraft. In addition to giving to our own members in need, the ministry donates items to hospitals, nursing homes, shelters and other charitable organizations. Besides prayer shawls, they also crochet scarves for teddy bears. Contact Linda Jo Johnson if you have questions. |
 Walking on Wednesdays Our last walk of the season is on Wednesday, May 1 at 9am at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Meet in the Transfiguration parking lot at 8am to rideshare. We have two guest passes available for free admission and we will eat lunch at a restaurant in Superior after our walk. Please let Ellen Jackelen (ellenjack218@gmail.com) know if you plan to walk with us. |
 Altar Guild Meeting The Altar Guild will meet on Saturday, May 4 at 9:30am in the Sanctuary. Please contact Barbara Press if you have questions or are interested in serving in this very important ministry. |
 ECW Meeting The Episcopal Church Women’s (ECW) group will meet on Saturday, May 4 at 11am in the Fellowship Hall with a potluck lunch to follow. All Transfiguration women are welcome to attend! The Zoom link will be posted in next week’s newsletter. For questions, please contact Peg Wier. |
 Farewell to Dr. Mackenzie Marr Dr. Mackenzie Marr and her husband, Christopher Burkhardt, are planning to move to Washington D.C. As they pursue other opportunities and move closer to family, we want to wish them the very best. Please join us at 10am on Sunday May 26 (her last Sunday with us) to say farewell and extend our thanks for all that Dr. Marr has done for our Music Ministry. Coffee hour will follow. |
 This event, sponsored by the Creation Care Ministry, is free to attend and lunch is provided. RSVP no later than Friday, May 24th. For questions, please email Bill Robinson at dwbrobinson@gmail.com RSVP Today |
 Book Club The book discussion will resume on Friday, June 21 at 10am AZ time via Zoom (link will be sent the week before the book study). The book for June will be The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem by Sarit Yishai-Levi. Our discussion leader will be Dea Podhajsky, the book is 374 pages, the Goodreads rating is 3.98 and to read the Goodreads review click here. The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem is a dazzling novel of mothers and daughters, stories told and untold, and the binds that tie four generations of women. At the June book club discussion meeting we will also compile the new reading list for our book club. Please send your book suggestions with an overview of the book to Dea Podhajsky before June 21. Dea would like those making suggestions to say a little something about the book they recommend at the June meeting. |
| FYI |
 Thanks to Linda On Sunday, April 21 at the 10am service, we gave thanks for Linda Ostmeyer’s years of service as Church Administrator. Linda retired at the end of last year and we miss her at the office. We are also thankful for what she has done and will continue to do for the community of Christ. |
 Stained Glass Window Dedication On Sunday, April 21 at both services, Fr. Caleb officially dedicated our beautiful stained-glass windows. “Look upon the rainbow and praise him who made it. How beautiful it is in its brightness.” from the Book of Occasional Services, Prayer 15. A big thank you to Eileen and all that supported this effort. |
 Special Blessing On Sunday, April 21, Lynn Graff blessed the beautiful stole that we presented Fr. Caleb at his celebration of new ministry. The butterflies reflect metamorphosis or transfiguration – so he will always remember us when he wears it! |
 Financial Updates Printed copies of the first quarter report are available in the Narthex. Thank you to Heidi for doing such a great job of keeping us informed! Pledging and financial gifts to the Church of The Transfiguration can be made using ZELLE (officetransfig@gmail.com) or using the QR code shown in the service bulletin. |
 Lord’s Soup Kitchen Ministry The Lord’s Soup Kitchen ministry prepares a different type of soup each month (Tomato Basil Soup this month) and stores it in the freezer in the Fellowship Hall. Anyone can pick up a quart container to take it to someone in need of food or comfort or for yourself if needed. If you are interested in helping with this ministry, especially during the summer months, please contact Miriam Waddington. |
 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 Janice Scalzo. |
| Worship & Pastoral Care |
 Pastoral Care If you or a loved one is in need of pastoral care at home, including receiving Holy Communion, please email both Fr. Caleb and the Church Office to request a visit. You are also welcome to call or text Fr. Caleb at 480-980-1981. |
 Choir Rehearsal is on Sundays at 8:45 am. If you are interested in singing in the choir, please reach out to Mackenzie Marr for more information. All are welcome to join! Mackenzie would also like your input on hymn suggestions so, we can sing the hymns you know and like. |
 Altar Guild What is an Altar Guild? This group of volunteers cares for the altar, vestments, vessels and linens under the direction of the Rector, and prepares the altar and worship space for services including weekend worship, weddings, funerals and baptisms. This “quiet ministry” is called such primarily because the duties are performed before and after the services. Interested in exploring this ministry? Feel free to contact Barbara Press to volunteer or to learn more. |
 Sunday Servers Would you like to be a greeter, member of the welcome team, 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 as a general thanksgiving. If you would like to contribute to future altar flower displays, please contact our Flower Guild Director, Ruby Seyffert with your special requests. When using Zelle or a check, please designate ‘Altar Flowers’ in the memo field. |
 Compline 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. Call Barbara Press at 847-651-1396 with any questions. |
 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. |
| Prayers |
 People on our prayer list are posted in the Narthex. Prayers are offered up for them each weeknight at Compline, by the Daughter’s of the King and in the Sunday Service. Please contact the church office via phone at 480-986-1145 or email Janice with your requests and updates. |
| 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. April collection: United Food Bank For this month’s second Sunday plate collection we sent $1,534.70 to the United Food Bank. Thank you for your generosity! |
| For over forty years United Food Bank has been dedicated to providing hunger relief to people in the East Valley and eastern Arizona. As a member of Feeding America, our food bank collects, acquires, stores, and distributes food to partner agencies and programs in five counties, serving over 2.5 million Arizonans. Our efforts result in the distribution of more than 22.7 million pounds of food each year, equating to 52,000 meals a day. Our mission of uniting communities to alleviate hunger is achieved through the hard work of volunteers, agency partners, and donors who join us each day. |
| Diocesan News |
 The True Tale of the Diné and The Churro With a Recipe for Lamb Stew and Green Chile by Bill Robinson Throughout the world, the development of “culture” in a group of people is inexorably tied to the food they eat. The Diné (Navajo People) of the American Southwest are no exception. Without question, lamb is the favorite meat of the Diné, an absolutely unique preference. Of all the Native American communities in North America, no other group shares the love of lamb to this extent. So, in honor of Diné uniqueness, here is a circa 1950s recipe for Navajo lamb and green chile stew. But first, there is a short story about how that uniqueness came to pass. READ MORE… |
| The Philadelphia Eleven In celebration of the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, the compelling new documentary The Philadelphia Eleven will have a limited screening in Scottsdale on May 21 at 7pm at the Harkins Shea 14.This screening is sponsored by The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. The event will feature a post-screening conversation with The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Reddall, The Rev. Canon Carmen Guerrero, and Canon Judith Conley.For tickets click here |
 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) Dr. Mackenzie Marr, Music Director www.mackenzielynmarr.com Janice Scalzo, Bookkeeper transfigbookkeeper@gmail.com Office hours: M-T-W-Th. 9am – 1pm Vestry Fr. John Caleb Collins, Chair transfigurationrector@gmail.com Lynn Graff, Senior Warden lwgraff@yahoo.com Tom Kevern, Junior Warden Heidi Kinney, Treasurer churchtransfigtreasurer@gmail.com Diane Klock, Clerk John Bishop Ben Brooks Anita Joy Bob Kistler Janet Krahn Barbara Press Ruby Seyffert Garth Seiple Jane Stoneback Social Media Tom Blum – website Tom Blum, Jo Laslo & Bill Robinson – Facebook page Mary Hovden – weekly e-newsletter (please send stories, announcements, photos, etc. to Mary here) Peg Wier & Lynn Graff – Worship service streaming |