| The Rector’s Metamorpho-News |
  The Rev. Julie Gerrish at her ordination and Philip Liebold who attended Seminary with Fr. Caleb Dearly transfigured people of God, Are you saved? Have you been born again? Have you ever been asked this question? This question is asked by many who are trying to evangelize in public especially by Evangelical denominations. How would you answer? Do you know what they mean by ‘saved?’ Well, most of those asking that question are really asking if you have made an intellectual acknowledgement in your teenage or adult life to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Certainly, The Episcopal Church professes and believes that Jesus Christ is our personal Savior and that we accept Him into our lives. But, the Christian life is so much fuller and deep-diving than an intellectual acceptance of this eternal truth. Consistent with the historic catholic Church, that is the invisible and universal Church established by Christ through the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in 33 AD, the Anglican Communion understands Salvation as a process, a lifelong journey that continues in our everlasting life. In the Gospel of John, Jesus told Nicodemus that one must be born again of water and the Spirit, meaning to be baptized in the name of the Trinity. In the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus confirms the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and Confirmation (or Chrismation) is our reception of the Holy Spirit being confirmed upon us. When we are installed in a new lay or ordained ministry, we remember our Baptismal vows and our Confirmation. In each of these moments, we accept and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior just as we did when we were born again in our Baptism. This last weekend I had the blessing of seeing two wonderful friends, one from Arizona State University and one from Fuller Theological Seminary. On Saturday, I attended the Ordination to the Presbyterate (Priesthood) of the Rev. Julie Gerrish. She was ordained as a presbyter in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a Full Communion partner of The Episcopal Church. I met Julie when I was an undergraduate student at ASU in 2013. She and I both participated in Lutheran Campus Ministry which I did in addition to Episcopal Campus Ministry. She is the third person from my time at ASU to be ordained to the priesthood (two in the ELCA and one in TEC). Attending an ordination service is a beautiful occasion where we witness someone give their life yet again to Jesus Christ in a new way. The person is set aside to Holy Orders and, for the priesthood, to preside over the Holy Eucharist. If you have not been to an ordination service, I encourage you to attend an ordination in the Diocese of Arizona. In the service, we see the life of a Christian reflected in the thanksgiving of water used for Baptism, in the profession of faith in the words of the Creeds, in the laying of the hands by the Bishop upon the ordinand, and in the celebration of the Eucharist. On Sunday, we were visited by Mr. Philip Liebold who earned his Master of Divinity along with me at Fuller Theological Seminary. He worshipped with us and received Holy Communion with us. In Holy Communion, we receive the Real Presence of Jesus Christ; in the Eucharist the body and blood of Christ are really present in, under, and over the bread and wine as they are consecrated by the priest. How this happens is a mystery. Along with the historic catholic Church (including Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodists), we accept that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist. While it is a mystery, we believe that we receive into our very bodies, the Real Presence of Jesus Christ. So, how would you answer? That is for your discernment as you grow in discipleship and faith in Christ. One of my priests, many years ago, said that he answered by saying, “I was saved. I am being saved. I will be saved.” We were saved from the moment of our Baptism, when we were born again of water and the Holy Spirit. We are being saved right in this moment as evidenced in our Confirmation and other affirmations of faith. And, we will be saved when we enter into eternal life and in the second coming of Jesus Christ on earth. Reflect on this and think about the next time you are asked, “are you saved?” or if you have the opportunity to evangelize and share the Good News and invite people to join us in The Episcopal Church. Jesus wants to save us. Jesus gave His life to save us. Jesus rose again in the body to defeat death. Jesus will come again. I am saved. I am being saved. I will be saved. Amen. Blessings, Fr. Caleb |
| 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 Weekend |
| Sunday, September 1, 2024 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost 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 here youtube.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 |
 Happy 1st Anniversary Please join us for Fr. Caleb’s one year anniversary with us on Sunday, September 1 at coffee hour in the Fellowship Hall following both services. |
 As a Christian community, fellowship and prayer are among the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Please observe quietude when entering and exiting the sanctuary for worship so that members may greet one another quietly and also pray and light candles. For those in need of and seeking silence for prayer and reflection, we are opening the Parish House Chapel before each service for prayer. The Chapel will be open at 7:30am and at 9:30am respectively. Please observe silence when in the Chapel so that this may be a space for those in need of silent prayer and contemplation. |
 Superstition Community Food Bank Suggested donations for this week are: canned vegetables, instant potatoes and rice. For next week: canned meat or peanut butter. Please place your donations in the basket at the back of the church or in the bin in the Fellowship Hall. |
 Collection for Brinton Elementary ECW is sponsoring a collection of supplies for Brinton Elementary School – see list below. Please leave your donations in the bins in the Narthex or in the Fellowship Hall by Saturday, September 7. The school needs: Lanyards, White board markers, Copy paper, Wipes, Small packets of Kleenex, Playdough, Learning games for children ages 5-7, New panties for boys and girls ages 5-6 |
 Sunday Morning Ministry We are seeking dedicated volunteers to serve at the Altar, in the Altar Guild and as Greeters for our Sunday Morning Ministry. This is a wonderful opportunity to be actively involved in our worship services and contribute to the spiritual life of our community. Your participation would be greatly appreciated and would help enrich our Sunday services. Comprehensive instructions and training will be provided to ensure you are well-prepared and confident. If you wish to participate, please reach out to the office at 480-986-1145 or email transfigbookkeeper@gmail.com. Additional information about these ministries is listed in the Love. Grow. Serve. section later in the newsletter. |
| The Week Ahead |
| Monday, September 2 Happy Labor Day – Office is Closed Tuesday, September 3 7:00pm Compline Wednesday, September 4 9:30am Morning Prayer 7:00pm Compline Thursday, September 5 10:00am Coffee Hour & Bible Study 7:00pm Compline Friday, September 6 7:00pm Compline Saturday, September 7 11:00am ECW Meeting & Potfuck Sunday, September 8 8:00am Worship Service 10:00am Worship Service Conversation, coffee and snacks after each service |
 Fall Rummage Sale The annual Fall Rummage Sale will be held on November 21-23 in the Fellowship Hall. There are two rooms set up in the Fellowship Hall for collecting gently used clothing for the sale. There are also labeled boxes available for you to sort and place your donations. We are encouraging everyone from the church to be involved. For more information or to volunteer, please see Mary Lou Lockwood. |
| Formation & Worship |
 Compline Starting back in September (except for Labor Day, September 2) we meet M, T, W, Th and 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 for any questions at 847-651-1396. |
 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. |
 Bible Study & Coffee Hour The Bible Study with Fr. Caleb will be held on Thursdays at 10am in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring a snack to share. |
 Book Club The September book club will meet on Friday, September 20 at 10am AZ time via Zoom (the Zoom link will be posted in the newsletter the day before the meeting). The 341 page book will be “The Personal Librarian” by Marie Benedict and Laura Whayne will be the discussion leader. The Goodreads rating is 4.06; click here for the review. This book covers the remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian—who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray. |
 Autumn Pie Social On Sunday, September 29 we are going to have our first New Members and Returning Members Welcome meet and greet. We will gather after church services, at about 11:45 am, to get to know new members and for current members to become better acquainted with our new members and one another. The church will provide a variety of pies for the social. Members are encouraged to sign up and bring a dish or snack from home to share for a potluck luncheon. |
 Wednesday Morning Eucharist Starting Wednesday, October 2 we will start celebrating Holy Eucharist Rite II on Wednesdays at 11am in the Parish Chapel. |
| FYI |
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  Summer Fun Photos From Terri Beck: “A beautiful way to end the summer visiting family in Chicago and Kansas City.” Please send your summer fun photos to Mary Hovden , along with a caption or brief story. We’ll be winding down our collection of photos in the next few weeks. |
 From the Church Office Our Office Administrator, Janice Scalzo, shattered the femur bone in her left leg the morning of August 20 coming out of her house. She had surgery the next morning at Banner University and is currently at a rehabilitation center in Phoenix. During the next two months, while Janice is healing, please be patient with the office volunteers as they try to cover during her absence. Also – please keep Janice in your prayers as she is healing and recovering. |
 Mid-Year Financial Report Hard copies will be available in the Narthex. |
 Please get in touch with the contact listed in each section below if you are interested in serving in and/or supporting the following ministries. 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. Altar Guild Altar Guild members care for the altar, vestments, vessels and linens under the direction of the Rector, and prepare the altar and worship space for services including weekend worship, weddings, funerals and baptisms. Our next meeting will be on Saturday, September 14. Please contact the Church Office to volunteer or to learn more. Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Our next meeting will be on Saturday, September 7 at 11am in the Fellowship Hall followed by a potluck lunch. Bring your ideas for some social or special events that we might want to be involved in this coming year. If you have questions, please contact Peg Wier. God’s Soup Kitchen This group meets monthly in the Fellowship Hall kitchen to prepare soup for the ill, the needy, and the shut-ins and make such a positive impact on the community. The latest offering is: Taco Soup located in the freezer in the Fellowship Hall. We will meet on Tuesday, September 10 at 9 am in the Fellowship Hall kitchen to make Chicken Noodle soup. If you are interested in volunteering for this ministry, please contact Miriam Waddington. Lay Servers Would you like to be a greeter, member of the welcome team, chalice bearer, reader, torchbearer, crucifer or help count the offerings? Please contact the Church Office so you can find out more and assist. Stitchery Ministry This group meets the second and fourth Thursday each month at 1pm in the Parish House living room to knit, crochet, sew, quilt and other needlecraft. In addition to giving to our own members in need, the ministry donates items to hospitals, nursing homes, shelters and other charitable organizations. Contact Linda Jo Johnson if you have questions. |
 A list of those on our prayer list is posted in the Narthex. Prayers are offered up at Compline, by the Daughter’s of the King, and in the Sunday Services. Please contact the Church Office with your requests and updates. Prayer cards are available in the Narthex; a suggested donation of $1.00 is appreciated. |
 Second Sunday Giving On the second Sunday of each month, all loose plate collection money (not tithes) will be given to a non-profit organization selected by your Vestry. Each organization reflects the mission and values of the Transfiguration Community and the Episcopal Church. September’s Second Sunday plate donation is: Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) which is a global medical relief organization that is working on the front lines of crisis relief in Syria, in neighboring countries, and beyond to save lives and alleviate suffering. SAMS proudly provides medical care and treatment to every patient in need. Online Giving Pledging and financial gifts to the Church of The Transfiguration can be made using the following methods:For credit card or ACH gifts, you can use the QR code on the back of the weekly bulletin or this link: https://onrealm.org/EpiscopalChurchTransfiguration/GiveIf you prefer to use Zelle via your banking app, you can find the church via our email address, officetransfig@gmail.comPlanned Giving Planned Giving signifies the wise stewardship of personal resources bestowed upon us by God. Transfiguration offers various opportunities for making immediate and deferred gifts that reflect your dedication and devotion to God and our congregation. If you’re interested in exploring planned giving at Transfiguration, please reference our Planned Giving brochure (online or copies in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall) or contact the Church Office. |
| Around the Diocese |
 “Love God, Love God’s World” Creation Care CurriculumLove God, Love God’s World is a nine-session, film-based curriculum, ideal for Episcopalians anywhere on the journey with creation care and environmental ministry—from newcomers looking to take their first step to seasoned leaders seeking a transformative small-group experience.READ MORE… |
 Registration for the 64th Annual Diocesan Convention is Now OpenThis year, the convention will take place in person on Saturday, October 19th, 2024 at Saint Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson. Our theme this year is “Rising Joy” as we pray for joy to rise in each of us and each one of our congregations. Visit Our Website Today! |
 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) Janice Scalzo, Office Administrator transfigbookkeeper@gmail.com Tami Root, Interim Music Director 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 Ruby Seyffert Garth Seiple Wayne Smith 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 – Worship service streaming |