Transfiguring Times – 7/10/25
The Rector’s Metamorpho-News Dearly transfigured people of God, You may have heard the recent news that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has given permission for churches and pastors to endorse partisan political candidates as a part of their official teachings. While this may cause concern and worry among Christians, wondering how this will affect their…
| The Rector’s Metamorpho-News |
 Dearly transfigured people of God, You may have heard the recent news that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has given permission for churches and pastors to endorse partisan political candidates as a part of their official teachings. While this may cause concern and worry among Christians, wondering how this will affect their congregation, I want to reassure you that this will not affect the Church of the Transfiguration. I am committed to preserving the ancient and long-standing Christian practice of speaking prophetically, yes, but not endorsing partisan politics from the pulpit or in any official capacity on behalf of the congregation. The Church of the Transfiguration is a model for Christian fellowship across differences. I would not even call us a “purple church,” meaning a mix of registered Republicans and Democrats; we are a rainbow church reflecting God’s promise to all of humanity in Genesis with that sign. I know that at our congregation, and indeed in the wider Episcopal Church, we worship and learn from Jesus together with those who are registered Republicans, Democrats, Greens, Libertarians, Independents, and conscientious non-voters. In fact, among our binational and multi-national members, there are those registered with political parties in Canada and beyond. The Kingdom of God does not have partisan political parties; there is no ‘party’ except the party of Christ, known as the Christians. Therefore, please, know and trust that our congregation will continue to be a haven and house of the Lord for all people who walk through our doors. Bishop Irenei, the bishop of the Orthodox Diocese of London for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (not under the jurisdiction of Moscow), put it biblically and faithfully when he said, “If you’re seeking a place to come where you can compare a ‘right’ leaning ideology against the ‘left’ leaning ideology, go somewhere else. This is not the place to lean right or left, but the point up towards the Kingdom of God. ‘Left’ and ‘Right’, these are totally worldly things. I tire of hearing them. I tire of being asked whether the Church sides with one or the other. We reject the entire model. We seek one Kingdom, and that is Christ’s kingdom. We have one vision for the future of mankind, and that is the vision that Christ lays out in the Gospel. Nothing else.” 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, July 13 Fifth 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 link (for streaming the 10:00am service) OR Facebook link (for streaming the 10:00am service) Please join us after each service in the Fellowship Hall for coffee, snacks and fellowship. |
 Creation Care Quarterly Meeting Saturday, July 12 | 10:00am – 2:00pm Fellowship Hall The primary agenda items will include the introduction of the new Canon for Creation Care and discussing the direction and focus of the Council moving forward. Lunch will be provided so please RSVP to Bill Robinson if you plan to attend in person. For those interested in attending virtually, here is the link for Google Meet which will launch in a new tab or window. Click Here |
 Second Sunday Offering Sunday, July 13 | 8:00am & 10:00am services July’s donation will go to the United Food Bank which partners with more than 120 food pantries, mobile food truck markets, and hot meal sites across Arizona, changing lives by providing essential food support. |
 Food Collection Superstition Community Food Bank Collected Weekly Suggested donations for this week are: boxed cereals and crackers. For next week: canned or 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, July 15 7:00pm Compline Wednesday, July 16 9:30am Morning Prayer 7:00pm Compline Thursday, July 17 10:00am Bible Study/Coffee Hour 11:45am Morning Eucharist 7:00pm Compline Friday, July 18 10:00am Book Club Sunday, July 20 8:00am Sunday Service 10:00am Sunday Service |
 Book Club Friday, July 18 | 10:00am AZ time via Zoom This month’s Book Club will discuss The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare. The discussion leader will be LeAnn Frobom and the Goodreads rating is 4.42. Click here for the reviewAdunni is a fourteen-year-old Nigerian girl who knows what she wants: an education. As the only daughter of a broke father, she is a valuable commodity. Removed from school and sold as a third wife to an old man, Adunni’s life amounts to this: four goats, two bags of rice, some chickens and a new TV. When unspeakable tragedy swiftly strikes in her new home, she is secretly sold as a domestic servant to a household in the wealthy enclaves of Lagos, where no one will talk about the strange disappearance of her predecessor, Rebecca. No one but Adunni… |
 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 Blessing The following parishioner is celebrating a birthday this week: John Bishop on 7/12. Please wish him a very happy birthday and keep him in your prayers! |
 Name Badge Carousel To save space and prevent the name badges from cracking in the heat, the name badge carousel will now be in the Fellowship Hall. This new location will also make it more convenient to drop your badge off after coffee hour, without needing to return to the sanctuary. Of course, you’re welcome to keep your current badge if you’d prefer. However, if you’d like to refresh it or need a replacement badge clip due to wear or cracks, please email Janice. |
 Summer Attendance Per the chart below, more and more people are attending Transfiguration in the summer months (May and June average Sunday attendance). Thank you to Heidi for these exciting statistics! Average Summer Sunday Attendance 2022 2023 2024 2025 52 59 75 89 |
 Rector’s Vacation Fr. Caleb will be on vacation from Sunday, August 17 through Saturday, August 23. |
| Summer Fun |
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| Top: Camp for Adults worship, Bottom left/next: Keynote speaker, The Most Rev Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Bottom right/last: The Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, former Secretary General of the Anglican Communion and retired Archbishop in the Church of Nigeria and Church of England, and the Rev. Deacon Bola Oluloro of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. |
| This week’s photos come from Fr. Caleb and his time at Adult Camp at Chapel Rock. Please send your vacation and/or summer activity photos, along with a brief description/caption, to Summer Fun Photos 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 The Complete Guide to 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 Donations requested for weekly 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 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, August 2 | 9:00am 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) September meeting TBD | 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, September 6 | 10:30am Fellowship Hall All women who attend Transfiguration are included in ECW. The group typically meets the first Saturday of each month to plan their projects and activities with a potluck lunch following the meeting but will be taking a break for the summer. For questions, contact Peg Wier. God’s Soup Kitchen Tuesday, July 22 | 9:00am Fellowship Hall Kitchen This group prepares soups for those in need and/or homebound. For June they prepared chicken noodle 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, July 10 | 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, Offering Counters and Digital Ministry. 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, July 13 | 8:00am & 10:00am services July’s donation will go to the United Food Bank which partners with more than 120 food pantries, mobile food truck markets, and hot meal sites across Arizona, changing lives by providing essential food support. 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 click here for an informational brochure or contact the Church Office. Financial Report Click here to see the Q1 25 Transfiguration financial report. Hard copies are also available in the Narthex and in the Fellowship Hall. If you have questions, please contact Heidi Kinney. |
| Around the Diocese |
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 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-Pistleclick 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 Office (480) 986-1145 or Mobile (480) 980-1981 (call or text) Janice Scalzo, Office Administrator Heidi Kinney, Treasurer Taylisse Boissonneault, Interim Music Director Daryl White, Sexton Office hours: M-T-W-Th. 9am – 1pm Vestry Fr. John Caleb Collins, Chair Wayne Smith, Senior Warden (480) 245-9310 Tom Kevern, Junior Warden Doug Wynn, Deputy Warden Diane Klock, Clerk Anita Joy Bob Kistler Garth Seiple Jane Stoneback Janet Krahn Jo Laslo Ruby Seyffert Sharon Smorynski Social Media Thomas Blum – Website Fr. John Caleb Collins – Facebook page Mary Hovden – Transfiguring Times (please send stories, announcements, photos, etc. to Mary here) Peg Wier, Joe Myshko – Digital ministry |