| The Rector’s Metamorpho-News |
| Dearly transfigured people of God, God’s family is as numerous as the stars in the sky. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Continue to invite your family and friends to worship with us for a Sunday service. This week, we had more than 147 people participate in our Sunday worship, a 5% increase from the Sunday before! We have also reached 1,000 ‘followers’ on our social media presence. In case you missed last week’s column, the previous week, more than 310 people participated in our services during the week and 140 participated on the previous Sunday. My heart is uplifted seeing the growth at our congregation. Even before Easter, I am humming to myself “Now the Green Blade Rises,” my favorite Easter hymn. The Church of the Transfiguration has now reached 1,000 ‘followers’ on our social media page, 310 people during weekly services, and up to 147 on Sunday morning. I believe that the impact our church is having in the lives of others can be felt in our congregation. I am hearing words like “joy,” “liveliness,” and “relevant” being used to describe our worship and ministries. In a way, this is what St. Patrick’s Day is really all about. Patrick was born in Roman-Britain to a wealthy Roman family. His father, Calpurnius, was a Senator and deacon in the Church. As a Senator, Calpurnius would have been a part of the symbolically highest constitutional authority in the Roman Empire which continued to refer to itself as the Roman Republic. In practice, the emperor was the highest authority and dictator of Rome, but, in theory, the Senate was the council that governed the Empire. Patrick had a privileged life, but, according to legend, he liked to party and engaged in pre-Christian pagan rituals. One night, while away from the Roman villa, he was kidnapped by Celtic raiders and he was enslaved. Patrick despaired, but God’s voice spoke to Patrick and told him that the Lord would deliver him and that one day he would return to Ireland and bring the Gospel to the Irish people. Finally, in about 430 AD, Patrick heard the voice of God again telling him to take a ship back to Roman Britain. Once there, he pursued ordination in the Church. After being ordained a priest and bishop, he traveled to Ireland and brought the Good News. It is well documented that pre-Christian pagan customs in the British Isles included human sacrifice. Patrick shared the news that instead of God wanting you to be killed for God, God was willing to die for you so that you could live forever with God. This Gospel was liberation for people living in fear of death. Gradually, a king and local chieftains became Christian and the Church of Ireland was established. To this day, the Church of Ireland is led by an Archbishop in Armagh, Northern Ireland. During the Reformation, the Church of Ireland in Armagh became Protestant, specifically Episcopalian, and the Church of Ireland, a part of the Anglican Communion, continues to worship in the pre-Reformation Cathedral. The Roman Catholic Church built another cathedral for their archbishop in Armagh. Similar to Patrick, the Church of England traces its roots to two early periods of its history. First, the church is connected to the Christian Church in Roman Britain which is known to have existed by at least 314 AD. After the Romans began to recede, the Anglo-Saxons, or the early English, established their kingdoms in England. At this point, the Church of England can trace its origins to the missionary work of St. Augustine of Canterbury, the Apostle of England. In 597 AD, Pope Gregory the Great appointed Augustine to share the Gospel with the English whose kingdoms had replaced the Roman government. King Ethelbert was baptized as a Christian and most of the English people joined him in becoming Christians. Augustine was the first Archbishop of Canterbury and, since then, the Archbishop of Canterbury has been the spiritual leader of the Church of England. During the Reformation, the Church of England separated from the Roman Catholic Church aligning itself with the Protestant Reformation. Under Queen Elizabeth I, she established a settlement or a “via media, or “middle way,” defining the Church of England as being theologically in-between Lutheranism and Calvinism, so that both could be members of the Church of England, and as ritually in-between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, so that Catholics and Protestants could worship together in the same church. Today, because of these efforts, the Anglican Communion is the third-largest body of Christians in the world with more than 85 million baptized members, about 26 million of whom are in the British Isles and 4 million in North America. Are we that different from these men and women who grew and built up the Church? We have a calling to share the Gospel in love and in action with those around us. Jesus says that we are called to go into our world and make disciples of all nations. The Anglican Communion has grown globally, a long way from its small roots in Roman Britain in the fourth century, the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the sixth century, and the Reformation in the 16th century. Please, continue to invite family, friends, and neighbors to join us for worship on Sunday and to be a part of our various ministries for outreach, discipleship, and fellowship. Sometimes, we may feel small or like we are swimming upstream, but remember that we are part of the third-largest body of Christians worldwide and this worldwide Communion brings us together with hundreds of millions of Christians. Blessings, Fr. Caleb |
  left to right: St. Patrick’s Cathedral founded in 445 AD, The Episcopal Church of Ireland; Statue of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral in the Church of England |
| 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, March 23, 2025 Third Sunday in Lent 8:00am (spoken service – Rite I) Please see the cream colored Order of Worship in the pews or click here 10:00am (choral service – Rite II) Please see the white 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 in the Fellowship Hall for coffee, snacks and conversation! |
 Book Club Friday, March 21 | 10:00am AZ time via Zoom The March Book Club will discuss Back Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. Ellen Jackelen will be the discussion leader, the Goodreads rating is 4.09, and click here for the review. The book club Zoom link is: Launch Book Club To enter manually: Meeting ID: 740 940 1419 Passcode: 514514 |
 Spring Luncheon & Style Show Saturday, March 22 | 10:00am Fellowship Hall Join us for a fabulous ‘Hawaiian Delight’ Luncheon & Style Show!Doors Open: 10:00am to view and purchase clothing from New Image Fashion. Luncheon: 12:00noon, followed by an exciting style show. You will also be able to purchase tickets for beautiful raffle baskets and buy $2 grab bags. Tickets: $20 each (Only 104 seats available). Tickets will be sold in the Church Office T – Th from 9:00am – 1:30pm. |
 Beginning Sunday March 22, we will be offering non-alcoholic white wine (to distinguish it from the alcoholic wine). This will be on the left side of the sanctuary near the gluten-free station. Although called wine, this non-alcoholic option is certified non-alcoholic. |
| Flowers in Lent? A Note from Fr. Caleb While the Roman Catholic Church does not allow flowers in Lent, The Episcopal Church does not have such a rule. Traditionally, Episcopalians do not use flowers in Lent to emphasize the penitential season and to make Easter all that more special with the return of flowers. However, this year I was approached with requests to allow floral arrangements in Lent. The reasons are personal and vary, but to put simply, the reasons were that there are people who are hurting, struggling, and grieving and they want to make an offering of flowers asking for God and all of us to remember them in prayer and in love. My heart is first and foremost the heart of a pastor and I have made pastoral accommodation for these requests from the heart and soul. This pastoral accommodation is not novel. The ancient Greek Rite of the liturgy includes flowers in Lent. Why? Every Sunday is called a “mini-Easter,” and it is common among Greek Rite Christians to continue to wear bright colors and gold in the liturgy on Sunday for the same reason, reserving the purple of Lent for weekday Lenten services. When you see the flowers this year during Lent, remember that they are being offered by our beloved ones in the congregation as part of their Lenten reflections and supplications to God. |
 Food Collection Superstition Community Food Bank Collected Weekly Suggested donations for this week are: boxed cereal and crackers. For next week: canned and dehydrated soups. 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 |
| Tuesday, March 25 7:00pm Compline Wednesday, March 26 8:30am Walking on Wednesday 9:30am Morning Prayer 7:00pm Compline Thursday, March 27 10:00am Bible Study & Coffee Hour 11:45am Stations of the Cross 7:00pm Compline Sunday, March 30 8:00am Worship Service 10:00am Worship Service St. Patrick’s Social after both services |
 Lenten Collection Wednesday, March 5 – Thursday, April 17 Bins in Narthex and Fellowship Hall Transfiguration Daughters of the King, in partnership with Fr. Caleb who uses one of his days off to work at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, is collecting the following NEW supplies for the Chaplaincy Department at the hospital: Bibles, Electric votive candles (+ batteries), Electric pillar candles (+ batteries), Different color highlighters, Kleenex, Different color pens (blue, black, red), New stuffed animals, Yellow legal notepads |
 St. Patrick’s Social Sunday, March 30 | after the 8:00am and 10:00am services Fellowship Hall We will celebrate the life and ministry of St. Patrick with Irish Cream Coffee after the 8am service and a Baked Potato Potluck after the 10am service. For the Baked Potato Potluck, please bring your favorite baked potato toppings (e.g. sour cream, bacon bits, shredded cheese, scallions, chili, etc.) to share. We will also welcome new members at both socials. |
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| Worship & Formation |
| Prayer and Reflection Sundays | 7:30am and 9:30am Parish House Chapel 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. Please observe silence when in the chapel so that this may be a space for those in need of silent prayer and contemplation. Compline Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays | 7:00pm via Zoom Compline/Evening Prayer is held via ZOOM. Meeting ID: 740-940-1419. Passcode: 514 514. Contact Barbara Press with questions at (847) 651-1396. Walking on Wednesday Wednesdays | 8:30am Apache Junction Library You are invited for a walk in the desert! We will walk for about 45 minutes on fairly level dirt paths on land belonging to the city park. Meet us in the parking lot behind the Apache Junction Library on Idaho. Lynn Graff and Laura Whayne will be there to guide you. Future plans, times, ideas are open for discussion. Contact Lynn Graff if you have questions or suggestions. Morning Prayer Wednesdays | 9:30am via Zoom Please join us via ZOOM to prayerfully start the day. Meeting ID: 740-940-1419. Passcode: 514 514. Contact Barbara Press at (847) 651-1396 for questions. Bible Study & Coffee Hour Thursdays | 10:00am Fellowship Hall Our Lenten bible study will be Genesis and the Book of Adam and Eve found here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/398/398-h/398-h.htm Please bring a snack to share! Stations of the Cross Thursdays | 11:45am Sanctuary During Lent, please join us for this beautiful worship service. Morning Eucharist Thursdays | 11:45am Parish House Chapel Please join us in a small group setting as we celebrate Holy Eucharist. NOTE: This service will take a break during Lent, resuming on April 17. Prayer Requests 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. |
| Ministries |
| Altar Flowers Weekly donations needed 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 donate altar flowers, please sing-up on the flower sheet posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex. Ruby Seyffert will then reach out to you regarding any special requests. For the remainder of Lent, floral arrangements will be white and green only. NOTE: When using Zelle or a check, designate ‘Altar Flowers’ in the memo field. Altar Guild Saturday, April 5 | 9:30am Sacristy 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. Monthly meetings are held to plan for upcoming services, Episcopal Church Men (ECM) Wednesday, April 23 | 6:00pm Fellowship Hall All men who attend Transfiguration are included in ECM. The group meets monthly to plant future projects and socialize. If you have questions, contact John Collins at (480) 406-3121. Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Saturday, April 5 | 10:30am Fellowship Hall All women who attend Transfiguration are included in ECW. The group meets the first Saturday of each month to plan their projects and activities with a potluck lunch following the meeting. For questions, contact Peg Wier. God’s Soup Kitchen Monthly soup creations Fellowship Hall Kitchen This group prepares soups for those in need and/or homebound. For March, they prepared a delicious Pasta e Fagioli; containers are available in the Fellowship Hall kitchen freezer. Their heartfelt efforts continue to make a positive difference in the community, one delicious bowl of soup at a time. If you are interested in volunteering for this ministry, contact Miriam Waddington. Stitchery Ministry Thursday, March 27 | 1:00pm Parish House This group meets the second and fourth Thursday each month to knit, crochet, sew and quilt. 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. No previous experience required – the group can help you learn how to knit, crochet, etc. Contact Linda Jo Johnson if you have questions. Sunday Morning Ministry 8:00am and 10:00am services We are looking for committed individuals to serve in various roles during our Sunday services. Positions available include Acolytes, Chalice Bearers, Greeters, Readers, and Counters who count the donations after the 10:00am service. These roles plays an essential part in our worship experience and help nurture the spiritual life of our community. Training and guidance will be provided to ensure you feel well-prepared and confident in your role. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the office at (480) 986-1145 or email officetransfig@gmail.com. |
| Giving |
| Second Sunday Offering Second Sunday of each month | 8:00am & 10:00am services This month’s loose plate collection of $533 was donated to Gathering Humanity which is a grassroots, non-profit organization that provides essential goods to those experiencing resettlement and other vulnerable populations. 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 Planned Giving “When my will/trust is read, what will my children and grandchildren learn about my values?” If you want to learn more about making a significant impact on Transfiguration and its mission, please contact the Church Office. |
| FYI |
 Birthday Blessings The following parishioners are celebrating birthdays this week: Patty Howard on 3/20, Barbara Press on 3/23. Sue Burrough on 3/25. Please wish them a very happy birthday and keep them in your prayers! |
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| Rector’s Gift Shop Narthex This wonderful space is stocked with the following gift items:In commemoration of St. Patrick’s Day, the mini statues of St. Patrick are 50% off or $6 each ($25 retail price)Prayer cards for $1Crosses for $1Small framed icons for $5Large wooden icons for $30All proceeds go to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund which supports the Welcoming Committee and New Members’ Ministry. |
 If you were unable to join us for our annual meeting and would like to see the reports, please click here to read about and celebrate our accomplishments in 2024. |
| Around the Diocese |
 Diocesan Publication 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 Wayne Smith, Senior Warden (480) 245-9310 wsmith17@cox.net Tom Kevern, Junior Warden keverntom@gmail.com Heidi Kinney, Treasurer churchtransfigtreasurer@gmail.com Diane Klock, Clerk Ben Brooks Anita Joy Bob Kistler Janet Krahn Jo Laslo Joe Myshko Ruby Seyffert Garth Seiple 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, Frank George IV – worship service streaming |