Transfiguring Times – 1/23/25
The Rector’s Metamorpho-News Bishop Mariann Budde, Be Merciful to the Stranger Dearly transfigured people of God, When is leading with humility and with mercy unpopular? I wish I could answer the many questions I often receive about why people are so divided, why people do bad things, or why American Christianity is struggling with exhibiting the…
| The Rector’s Metamorpho-News |
 Bishop Mariann Budde, Be Merciful to the Stranger |
| Dearly transfigured people of God, When is leading with humility and with mercy unpopular? I wish I could answer the many questions I often receive about why people are so divided, why people do bad things, or why American Christianity is struggling with exhibiting the foundational Christian virtues of humility and mercy. Unfortunately, there is no crystal ball that can reveal to us all the answers. However, what I do know and we know in The Episcopal Church, as part of Christ’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, is that to be a Christian and disciple of Jesus is to embrace humility and mercy in all things we do. In Matthew 5:7, Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” If we wish to receive mercy, and I cannot think of anyone who does not want to be shown mercy, then, we need to be merciful in response to God’s grace. I am sure that, by now, most of us have heard about the sermon delivered by the Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, the Bishop of the Diocese of Washington D.C., at the Washington National Cathedral’s service of prayer after the presidential inauguration. Although media headlines like to sensationalize news and politicians like to dissect and weaponize the words said by clergy, Bishop Mariann did not say anything controversial or overtly partisan. To put it quite simply, Bishop Mariann asked that our nation’s leaders lead with humility and show mercy to those who are different. Specifically speaking to the new presidential administration, Bishop Budde said “Millions have put their trust in you. As you told the nation yesterday you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.” Hearing the calm and kind voice in which she said these things it would be difficult to find anyone who could object to the loving and very Christian message. Bishop Mariann even emphasized that millions of Americans have put their trust in a new presidential administration and, therefore, that trust carries the weight of responsibility and power. However, the media quickly tore into the bishop’s statements during her sermon, cherry-picking sound bites in order to get the desired result. Some attacked Bishop Mariann and the Washington National Cathedral for hosting the prayer service for the new presidential administration. Others attacked Bishop Mariann and the Washington National Cathedral for asking the new presidential administration to lead with humility and mercy. I cannot fathom how her honest and simply Christian words have been so taken out of context that there are now polarized partisan reactions to her sermon. Still, I think the fact that she is being attacked by all sides demonstrates something important; she has spoken with a prophetic witness that has awoken the American nation to the reality of our need for forgiveness, mercy, and humility. Speaking prophetically rarely makes everyone happy. In fact, more often than not, to speak prophetically is to upset almost everybody. Bishop Mariann’s welcome of Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and others made some people angry because they wanted her to reject the people that they do not like. Bishop Mariann showed that God loves the very people with whom we disagree or whom we do not even like. Bishop Mariann’s sermon about showing humility and showing mercy to those who are different made some people angry because they do not want the people who are different to be given the mercy that they themselves also desperately need. May God give us all the courage to walk in the Christian faith like Bishop Mariann Budde, a disciple of Jesus who is not afraid to upset the world by showing love, welcome, kindness, and mercy. The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration is a house of worship for all who come through our doors, all who seek to know Jesus, and all who seek mercy. To paraphrase Paul in Galatians, in Christ, there are no divisions for we are all one in Christ Jesus. 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, January 26, 2025 Third Sunday after the Epiphany 9:00am (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) Join us after the service for our annual meeting and potluck lunch! |
 Prayer and Reflection 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 8:30am this Sunday. Please observe silence when in the chapel so that this may be a space for those in need of silent prayer and contemplation. |
 Annual Meeting Please join us on Sunday, January 26 at 10:30am in the Fellowship Hall for our Annual Meeting and potluck lunch. We will have one service that day at 9:00am. Please bring a dish to share for the potluck! |
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  A heartfelt thank you to Lynn Graff who will be completing her term as Senior Warden this Sunday at the Annual Meeting. For the past five years – through COVID and Rector transitions – she has always been there for us. Thank you Lynn – we love and appreciate you!! |
 Superstition Community Food Bank Suggested donations for this week are: canned fruits, pudding and gelatin. For next week: boxed cereal and crackers. You can place your donations in the basket at the back of the church or in the bin in the Fellowship Hall. |
| The Week Ahead |
| Monday, January 27 6:00pm Movie Night Tuesday, January 28 7:00pm Compline Wednesday, January 29 9:30am Wednesday Morning Prayer 11:00am Wednesday Morning Eucharist 7:00pm Compline Thursday, January 30 10:00am Bible Study & Coffee Hour 1:00pm Stitchery Ministry 7:00pm Compline Saturday, February 1 9:00am Crazy Chile Farm Soil Prep Day 10:30am ECW Meeting and Potluck to Follow Sunday, February 2 8:00am Worship Service 10:00am Worship Service |
 Valentine Baskets Once again the ECW will be raffling off Valentine baskets. Raffle tickets will go on sale January 26 at the Annual Meeting and will continue the next two Sundays with the drawings on February 9 after the 10am service. If you have any questions, contact Mary Lou Lockwood at (803) 707-0730. |
 Crazy Chile Farm Returns Now that we’re able to plant our fields again, two spring planting workdays have been scheduled for the field behind the Fellowship Hall:Saturday, February 1 from 9am-12noon. Soil preparation day: tilling, addition of soil amendments, layout of irrigation rows and fence repairs. Lunch will be provided.Saturday February 15 from 9am-12noon. Planting day: chile seedlings are ready to go, maize (aka corn) and sorghum will be planted from seed. Lunch will be provided. Please let Bill Robinson know if you’re able to help. For additional information about these workdays, click here. |
 Spring Field Trip All are invited to attend a field trip to St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery in Florence on Saturday, February 8. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 9am for coffee and snacks and then head together to Florence. For questions, contact Wayne Smith or the Church Office. |
 Planned Giving Workshop On Saturday, February 15 from 10-11:30am, Clyde Kunz, Canon for Stewardship and Planned Giving for the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, will conduct a planned giving workshop, The Basics of Legacy Giving in the Fellowship Hall. For more details click here. So we can make logistical arrangements, please let us know if you can attend by clicking here. |
 Book Club The February Book Club will meet on Friday, February 21 at 10am AZ time via Zoom. We will discuss Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Linda Soper will be the discussion leader, the Goodreads rating is 4.33, and click here for the review. |
 Spring Luncheon Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 22 for the annual ECW spring luncheon and style show. We will start selling tickets to the event on Sunday, February 16. Also, if you’re interested in providing a themed raffle basket for the event, contact Mary Hovden here. More details to come! |
| Worship & Formation |
 Compline We meet T, W and Th 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, contact Barbara Press at (847) 651-1396. |
 Wednesday Morning Eucharist On Wednesdays at 11am we celebrate Holy Eucharist in the Parish House Chapel. |
 Bible Study & Coffee Hour We meet on Thursdays from 10 – 11:30am in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring a snack to share. Starting January 9th we will have a new book for our Bible Study, Jesus in Egypt: Discovering the Secret of Jesus’ Child Years. We will learn about Jesus’ early life from history, scripture, and early Church legends. The book is free from Amazon Audible Audiobook and Amazon Kindle by clicking here. |
 Movie Night Our next movie night will be on Monday, January 27 at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. Movie TBD. |
 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. |
| FYI |
 After last week’s January Book Club discussion of “The Island of Sea Women” set in South Korea, some of the AZ book club members went to lunch at a Korean restaurant in Mesa. Those who went included Dea, Terri, Ellen, Sue, Lynn and Laura. |
 Birthday Wishes We have no parishioners celebrating a birthday this week, but stay tuned for more birthdays next week! |
 Vestry Openings We have two vacancies (two three-year terms) on the Vestry and an incumbent (Janet Kahn) who is up for re-election. We will vote on and elect parishioners for these openings at the January 26 Annual Meeting. If you’re interested in learning more, contact Fr. Caleb. |
 If you are interested in serving in and/or supporting the following foundational ministries, please get in touch with the contact listed in each section below. 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, contact our Flower Guild Director, Ruby Seyffert with your special requests. When using Zelle or a check, 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. Contact Barbara Press to volunteer or to learn more. Episcopal Church Men (ECM) All men who attend Transfiguration are included in ECM. They typically meet the third Wednesday of each month at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall. They are also hosting a field trip to St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery in Florence, AZ on Saturday, February 8 (see earlier article). If you have any questions, contact John Collins at (480) 406-3121. Episcopal Church Women (ECW) All women who attend Transfiguration are included in ECW and invited to attend meetings and activities. Our next meeting will be on Saturday, February 1 at 10:30am in the Fellowship Hall followed by a potluck lunch. For questions, contact Peg Wier. ECW member, Caryll Prokosch, is collecting aluminum cans. You can deposit your cans in the red bin located either in the Fellowship Hall or behind the Parish House on the patio. For inquiries contact Caryll at (480) 647-8127. God’s Soup Kitchen This group meets monthly in the Fellowship Hall kitchen to prepare soup for those in need. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 4 at 9am. The latest offering is Chicken Noodle Soup located in the freezer in the Fellowship Hall. If you are interested in volunteering for this ministry, 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? Contact the Church Office to learn more. Stitchery Ministry This group typically meets the second and fourth Thursday each month at 1pm in the Parish House living room to knit, crochet, sew and quilt. Our next meeting is on Thursday, January 30 at 1pm. In addition to giving to our own members in need, the ministry donates prayer shawls and other hand stitched items to hospitals, nursing homes, shelters and other charitable organizations. Contact Linda Jo Johnson if you have questions. |
 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. January’s donation of $375 will go to Naco Wellness Initiative which is a partnership providing health care, garden and wellness education, and economic development to the residents of Ambos Naco (Both Nacos) on the U.S.- Mexico Border in Naco, Arizona (pop. 1,100) and Naco, Sonora (pop. 5,770). 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.com Quarterly Financial Report Hard copies will be available in the Narthex. Planned 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, reference our Planned Giving brochure (online or copies in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall) or contact the Church Office. |
| Around the Diocese |
 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. |
| 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 Eileen Chandler, 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 Fr. John Caleb Collins – Facebook page Mary Hovden – weekly e-newsletter (please send stories, announcements, photos, etc. to Mary here) Peg Wier, Joe Myshko – Worship service streaming |