The Sun Does Shine

by Fr. Casey

In a wonderful bit of providence, this weekend, as we prepare for Monday’s full eclipse, we will hear a bit from the first letter of John that says, “This is the message we have heard from Christ and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all (1John 1:5).”

It is a spiritual lesson that we will experience in one of nature’s great wonders. For as we gaze up at the totality (using proper eyewear, of course), the sun will seem to lose all its light and go completely dark. Yet, this is a matter of perspective, rather than departure. The sun will still very much be in its place, blazing with light and heat, sending its world-sustaining energy toward us all the time; it will simply be obscured for a moment from our particular vantage. The sun will not have gone out, though the world may seem dark for a time, and with a bit of patience and trust, we will see it shine once more and again live and move by its radiance.

We’ve all walked through times when it seemed that the light by which we walked has floundered or failed. The God who seemed so near to us, whose presence we used to feel without thought or worry, suddenly feels absent. These experiences can be a lot like an eclipse, if we lacked the help of science to anticipate them; that is, it can feel like God was there one moment, and then, without warning or reason...

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In this E-news:

• Our Easter Outreach Offering
• Parish Nurses Health Screening
• Bob Martin's 100th
• St. Elizabeth's April Potluck
• Bingo Night Youth Benefit
• Adult Formation for Easter
• Peace Post This Sunday
• Transfigured Nights: Tea & Tallis

• Reception Desk Volunteers Needed
• Mexico Pilgrimage 2025
• Solar Report
• Children & Youth Easter Formation
• Calling all VBS Volunteers
• Support St Hilda's

Our Easter Outreach Offering

We are pleased to share that the Easter Loose Plate Offering totaled $12,500. This money will be donated entirely to World Central Kitchen for their continued work feeding people impacted by humanitarian and natural disasters around the world. Tragically, seven WCK workers were killed by an Israeli missile strike on their relief convoy in Gaza last week, demonstrating just how dangerous the work of compassion can be. So in addition to our financial contribution, we ask everyone to pray for the people of WCK, who shine resurrection power into places of despair and death.

Our Good Friday loose plate offering of $1,200 will be donated to the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, providing vital support to our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.

Parish Nurses Health Screening

Our regular Health Screenings for the first weekend of the month is this Saturday and Sunday, April 6 & 7. Our Parish Nurses will be available before and after services adjacent to the Labyrinth providing blood pressure checks and consultation. 

Bob Martin's 100th

You are invited to join in the Gathering Space between services this Sunday to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Bob Martin, beloved member, husband, father, businessman, veteran, pilot, inventor, and woodworker.

St. Elizabeth's April Potluck

St. Elizabeth's monthly potluck supper will be this Thursday April 11 in Roper Hall. Please make plans to join us. We are moving the start time to 5:30pm to extend our opportunity to meet and socialize before the meal at 6:30pm. This is a great opportunity to form closer bonds with your community of friends at the Fig.

Our Ministry Spotlight speaker will be Allison Blalock, Director of Children's Ministries.

Members of St. Elizabeth's Potluck Group receive an email invitation to RSVP and sign-up to bring food through Realm. If you did not receive this invitation or you are not a member of this group, you can click here to join and RSVP.

You may also contact Nancy Korman or simply show up with a side dish or dessert!

Bingo Night Youth Benefit

Join us for BINGO Night in Roper Hall on April 13 at 6:30pm. The cost is $20/person or $50 for a family of 3 or more. Proceeds benefit the Youth Pilgrimage to Scotland this summer.

You can also make a contribution to support the Pilgrimage if you so choose.

Adult Formation Starts Next Sunday

Starting Sunday, April 14, Eastertide brings us three unique formation opportunities for Transfiguration Adults. Class will be at the formation hour (10:15am - 11:00am) between Sunday Services. Be sure to check the Gathering Space monitors for class locations.

• Ignatian Spirituality

Led by Joseph Palacios and Fr. Ted.

• Braver Angels

Facilitated by Fr. Casey

• Visions of Resurrection in The Saint John's Bible

Guided by Mtr. Rebecca

See our

Adult Formation Pages

for class descriptions and details

Peace Post Moved to April 14

Join us next Sunday to write short notes to our elected officials. Each month, we write in support or concern over issues of justice and human dignity. You may write concerning any issue you wish but we will have a list of timely topics you are free to address, as well. We'll be writing in the parish office from 10:00am until 1:30pm, and we hope you'll join us.

Transfigured Nights: Tea & Tallis

Transfigured Nights pulls out all the stops for its fourth Tea & Tallis on Sunday, May 5, at 5pm. A spring Gala benefitting the Transfiguration Choir’s 2024 Pilgrimage to Scotland, this event will feature works for choir, solo voice, piano, harpsichord and other instruments. The concert in the church will be divided by an intermission during which attendees will sample some favorites of an English high tea, including scones with jam, finger sandwiches, and desserts. Childcare will be provided. Advance ticket purchase required. Adults: $30; Students: $15. For an additional gift of $100, you may host your own reserved table of 8 for tea and receive a special hostess gift. 

Reception Desk Volunteers Needed

We are looking for volunteers to work the reception desk. Hours are Monday through Friday, 1:00pm - 4:00pm. There may be occasional times that we need someone to work 9:00am- 1:00pm. Responsibilities include answering the phone, providing information, and routing calls to the appropriate staff members. The receptionist also greets individuals who are arriving on campus to meet with a staff member or who are seeking assistance.  

If you are interested, please contact Fred Ellis at (972) 233-1898 or click here to email him.

Mexico Pilgrimage 2025

Join pilgrims from Transfiguration on a journey to the mountains of Mexico in 2025 to witness one of nature’s true wonders: the vast overwintering monarch butterfly colony. Led by Fr. Casey, this pilgrimage is tentatively scheduled for February 19-25 and will feature visits to three different parks in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Preserve, engagement with local culture and people, and a visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The cost is $1,800 plus airfare. Most of the trip occurs at/above 8,000 ft of elevation, including hikes of several miles, so participants must be in very good health. If you have further questions, please contact Fr. Casey.

Powerful Sunny Days

As we prepare for the total solar eclipse this coming Monday, it is fitting to look back at the first quarter of 2024. The Church roof and its covering of solar tiles has been working with our ever lengthening daylight hours to: 

• generate 9.8 Mwh of electricity
• offset 7.9 tons of carbon
• contribute the equivalent of planting of 118 trees, charging 885,627 phones, or powering 13 electric cars to drive across the U.S.

Formation for Children & Youth

Begins April 14

Robust Formations offerings for Children and Youth kicks off for the Easter Season in two weeks.

Children:

Ages 2 years - Grade 5

We offer a Montessori style classroom experience for children 2 years old through 5th grade. Our youngest kids enjoy Wee Wonder, while kids 4 and over share in Godly Play, in which they grow their spiritual imaginations through storytelling and responsive play.

Learn more by visiting our Children's Formation Pages or contact Allison Blalock.

Youth:

Middle & High School

We invite youth to take their faith deeper. We offer engaging dialog-based growth opportunities on Sunday mornings and at Crossover on Wednesday evenings. See full details on our Youth Formation Pages or contact Delynda Moravec.

The members of St. Hilda's Guild faithfully serve the Fig by staffing the Kay Andrews Bookstore and Gift Shop and the Clothes Horse Resale Shop.

The Clothes

Horse

The Clothes Horse is a resale shop providing the community with a place to donate gently worn clothing and offering budget-minded customers a source of reasonably-priced, good-quality apparel. 

Tuesday: 10am - 2pm

Thursday: 10am - 2pm

Saturday: 10am - 2pm

Clothing donations are accepted at any time the shop is open.

The Kay Andrews Bookstore

Our Bookstore and Gift Shop, located in the hallway near the Memorial Garden and the Children's wing are making adjustments to their hours of Operation. Until further notice the they will be open and ready greet you at the following times:

Thursdays: 10am - 2pm

Sundays: 9am - 1pm

Share the Good News of Christ at work at the Fig!

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