Transfiguring Times – 6/5/25
The Rector’s Metamorpho-News Dearly transfigured people of God’s rainbow of promise, Recognizing and celebrating the contributions of our LGBTQ neighbors has become an annual tradition. This point in our history did not begin as a celebration, but as a protest. On June 28, 1969 riots broke out over the arrest of people at Stonewall simply…
| The Rector’s Metamorpho-News |
 Dearly transfigured people of God’s rainbow of promise, Recognizing and celebrating the contributions of our LGBTQ neighbors has become an annual tradition. This point in our history did not begin as a celebration, but as a protest. On June 28, 1969 riots broke out over the arrest of people at Stonewall simply for being LGBTQ. It was a crime at the time, and remained a crime in some states until the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court decision, to publicly tell others that you are LGBTQ. The protests raised awareness about people’s LGBTQ family and friends being abused and persecuted simply for their identity and beliefs. Today, both Democratic and Republican Presidents have recognized LGBT Pride Month. Presidents Bill Clinton (1999), Barack Obama (2009-2017), Donald Trump (2019), and Joe Biden (2021-2025) all made official statements supporting LGBT Pride Month at different points in their presidencies. Affirming and loving LGBTQ people should never be a partisan issue. It is a Christian issue, and a human issue, and we welcome all. Here at the Church of the Transfiguration, we are welcoming and affirming of LGBTQ people and allies. The message that God loves you as you are and for whom you were created to be is the life-affirming message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, he writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (3:28). Let us reflect on that for a moment, “there is neither male nor female…in Christ Jesus.” In the Church, the body of Christ, there is neither male nor female, but all of us are first and foremost, Christians. That is our unifying and central identity and, because of Christ’s incarnation, our other identities are affirmed and loved by God and find their home in the diverse body of Christ. If in Christ, “there is neither male nor female,” how then, can we exclude or reject based on sex or gender? St. Paul is clear and unequivocal in his affirmation for the inclusion of all believers. The Episcopal Church has been a leading voice within the Anglican Communion for a fuller inclusion of LGBTQ Christians in the life of the Church. Some dioceses have ordained openly partnered LGBTQ clergy since 1976. In 2003, the Diocese of New Hampshire elected the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson as the Bishop of New Hampshire, making him the first openly gay and partnered bishop in the Anglican Communion. In 2009, The Episcopal Church voted to support prayers being said with same-sex couples with pastoral accommodation and committed to further study the possibility of formally blessing same-sex relationships. In 2012, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church formally authorized the blessing of same-sex unions followed by a change to the marriage canon in 2015 which included same-sex marriage. Also in 2015, The Episcopal Church supported the use of prayers to celebrate and affirm a trans person’s name change and to support them in their transition. Within the Anglican Communion, other member churches have also taken significant steps to be more fully inclusive of LGBTQ Christians within their congregations. In 2005, the Church of England, the “mother” church of the Anglican Communion, Church of Ireland, Church in Wales, and Scottish Episcopal Church allowed priests to enter in same-sex civil partnerships. In 2017, the Scottish Episcopal Church amended their marriage canon to recognize same-sex couples followed by the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil. Also in 2017, the Church of England supported the use of prayers to mark a trans person’s gender transition and name change. In 2023, the Church of England authorized blessings for same-sex couples in ordinary church services and approved of stand-alone blessings on a trial basis. In 2024, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa published draft prayers intended to be said with same-sex couples which include the option for blessing same-sex couples during a church service. The Anglican churches of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Wales also allow their dioceses to bless same-sex unions while the Church of South India has confirmed that transgender persons may be ordained to Holy Orders. Together, these member churches represent almost half of the 105 million baptized Anglicans worldwide. Even as there are differences among the Anglican churches regarding marriage and relationships, the majority of Anglican member churches came together at the Lambeth Conference and at the Primates’ Meeting to continue a mutual dialogue and fellowship. In 2024, 30 of the 42 Anglican member churches were represented while meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury showing that what unites us is far more than what divides us as Christians committed to walking together in the Gospel. While these changes have been significant, they do not mark a conclusion to the need for continued advocacy and conversation around human sexuality, gender identity, and the LGBTQ community in the Christian life. Instead, we are called to always be examining how the Church, the very body of Christ in the world, can be a home of abundant grace, radical inclusion, and loving welcome. Being made of human persons, we sometimes sin by hurting other people and rejecting them. The Church is called to examine ourselves so that we can practice what we preach and repent when we have hurt others and work to heal woundedness while giving space for those stories to be told. I invite you to prayerfully think how you can show love and support for your LGBTQ family and be an ally as Christ is our ally, our Mediator and Advocate. 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, June 8, 2025 Day of 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) Please join us after each service in the Fellowship Hall for coffee, snacks and fellowship. |
 Altar Guild Meeting Saturday, June 7 | 9:30am Sacristy Please join us as we are seeking dedicated individuals to join the Altar Guild. Members play a vital role in setting the altar table with holy sacraments and preparing the worship space. If you’re interested in serving in this meaningful ministry, please come to the meeting or contact Barbara Press at: 847-651-1396 or at barbarapress02@gmail.com |
 ECW MeetingSaturday, June 7 | 10:30am Fellowship Hall Every woman who attends Transfiguration is a member of ECW. Please join us and you will meet new ladies and be “in the know” about our church happenings. After the meeting we’ll enjoy a potluck lunch, so bring your favorite dish to share. This is our last meeting before a summer break. ZOOM link for watching meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7409401419?pwd=bWNIbGNsdHowY1JaYUM3NDZzdlgvQT09 |
 Second Sunday Offering Sunday, June 8 | 8:00am & 10:00am June’s offering will go to Cloud Covered Streets which provides showers and laundry services to unhoused people in Phoenix. Their mission is to restore dignity through these services and help to improve the quality of their lives. |
 Food Collection Superstition Community Food Bank Collected Weekly Suggested donations for this week are: canned fruits, pudding and gelatin. For next week: boxed cereals 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 |
| Tuesday, June 10 9:00am God’s Soup Kitchen 4:30pm Vestry Meeting 7:00pm Compline Wednesday, June 11 9:30am Morning Prayer 7:00pm Compline Thursday, June 12 10:00am Bible Study/Coffee Hour 11:45am Morning Eucharist 1:00pm Stitchery Ministry 7:00pm Compline Sunday, June 15 8:00am Sunday Service 10:00am Sunday Service |
 Book Club Friday, June 20 | 10:00am AZ time via Zoom The June Book Club will discuss Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. The discussion leader will be Linda Soper and the Goodreads rating is 4.14. Click here for the review. At the end of book discussion time, we’ll take suggestions for books for our new book club year’s reading list. Please send your ideas ahead of time via email to Dea & Linda. |
 Blood Drive Wednesday, August 6 | 9:00am-1:00pm Fellowship Hall The blood drive is open to Transfiguration parishioners and the public. Please consider participating in this very worthy cause. The need for blood is great and donations tend to decrease over the summer months. Click here to make a donation appointment. |
| FYI |
 Birthday Blessings The following parishioners are celebrating a birthday this week: Jack Hovden on 6/7, Bob Kistler on 6/8, Meg Stresen-Reuter on 6/9, Jim Soper on 6/9. Please wish them a very happy birthday and keep them in your prayers! |
 New Sexton The Rector and Vestry are pleased to announce that Daryl White has been appointed as the Sexton for the Church of the Transfiguration. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a Sexton is “An officer responsible for a church and its property, and for tasks relating to its maintenance or management.” In this capacity, Daryl will work directly with Tom Kevern, the Jr. Warden, and Doug Wynn, the Deputy Warden, for maintenance, upkeep, and repairs of the congregational property. We extend our thanks to Daryl for assuming this important role! |
  Happy Anniversary Fr. Caleb This week we celebrate Fr. Caleb’s sixth anniversary of ordination to the Diaconate. Fr. Caleb was ordained to the Diaconate on June 2, 2019 by Bishop Jennifer A. Reddall at Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix, Arizona. |
 Interim Music Director Please welcome Taylisse Boissonneault, who will join us for June and July. Taylisse holds her Masters in Collaborative Piano from Louisiana State University, where she studied under Dr. Ana María Otamendi. Taylisse is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts specializing in Collaborative Piano with full scholarship and serving as a Graduate Assistant under the tutelage of Dr. Andrew Campbell and Dr. Miki Aoki at Arizona State University. She has extensive experience and in the Fall of 2025, she will be a vocal coach and rehearsal pianist for ASU’s production of Ravel’s L’Enfant. |
 Sustainability Practices In order to be more environmentally conscious, we are no longer using plastic utensils in the Fellowship Hall. We sincerely want to thank everyone who has generously donated those items in the past, but we have found that using biodegradable plates and cups, and our own kitchen utensils has helped move us to a greener future. Your support is greatly appreciated. |
 Summer Fun Photos Please send your vacation or summer activity photos, along with a brief description/caption, to Mary Hovden and we’ll publish them! |
| 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 AZ time 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. Morning Prayer Wednesdays | 9:30am AZ time 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 We are currently studying When Women Were Priests. Starting on Thursday, June 19, we will study The Complete Christian Denominations” Understanding the History, Beliefs, and Differences. Books are available in the Parish House office for $15. Morning Eucharist Thursdays | 11:45am Parish House Chapel Please join us in a small group setting as we celebrate Holy Eucharist. Prayer Requests Updated Weekly 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 requested 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 sign-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. NOTE: When using Zelle or a check, designate ‘Altar Flowers’ in the memo field. Altar Guild Saturday, June 7 | 9:30am Sacristy Altar Guild members care for the altar, vestments, vessels and linens under the direction of the Rector. They 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) Wednesday, June 25 | 6:00pm Fellowship Hall All men who attend Transfiguration are included in ECM. The group meets monthly to plan future projects and socialize. If you have questions, contact John Collins at (480) 406-3121. Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Saturday, June 7 | 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 Tuesday, June 10 | 9:00am Fellowship Hall Kitchen This group prepares soups for those in need and/or homebound. For May they prepared tomato basil soup; containers are available in the Fellowship Hall 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, June 12 | 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 Sunday, June 8 | 8:00am & 10:00am services June’s offering will go to Cloud Covered Streets which provides showers and laundry services to unhoused people in Phoenix. Their mission is to restore dignity through these services and help to improve the quality of their lives. 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 Did you know that planned gifts are philanthropic gifts made in the present that are received at sone future date and that they may be designated for specific purposes? To learn more please contact the Church Office and click here for a copy of our new brochure. Financial Report Click here to see the Q1 25 Transfiguration financial report. Hard copies will also be available in the Narthex and in the Fellowship Hall. If you have questions, please contact Heidi Kinney. |
| Around the Diocese |
 Pride Month Resources For decades, LGBTQ+ Episcopalians and allies have worked to make The Episcopal Church a place of belonging and inclusion. We have prayed, studied, and discerned, and in doing so, we have seen the evidence of God’s blessing in the lives and love of our LGBTQ+ siblings in Christ. Read more HERE. |
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 Creation Care Quarterly Meeting Saturday, July 12 | 10:00am – 2:00pm Transfiguration Fellowship Hall Please join us for our quarterly meeting. Lunch will be provided so please RSVP to Bill Robinson if you plan to attend in person. The meeting will also be available online via Google Meet (link will be sent out later). If you have any general questions about Creation Care, our mission and purpose, or if you would like any additional information about participation on the Council, please contact Bill Robinson.. |
 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 Taylisse Boissonneault, 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 Anita Joy Ben Brooks Bob Kistler Garth Seiple Jane Stoneback Janet Krahn Jo Laslo Ruby Seyffert Sharon Smorynski 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 |