|
The True Vine
by Fr. Ted
In the front yard of my house growing up, we had a bank of azaleas that ran along the west side of the lawn. They were gorgeous: think Amen Corner at the Masters. Our one-acre lot had all kinds of azaleas, but those particular bushes bloomed pink and white; they were an explosion of color. But there was another plant, a stubborn vine, that would grow up among the azaleas: honeysuckle.
Now honeysuckle is one of the most romanticized plants in the south. All Southerners know the joy of walking by a honeysuckle plant, breathing in its intoxicating fragrance, and plucking a few flowers to taste the sweet nectar inside. But the best honeysuckle vine is the one that grows in someone else’s yard. Our honeysuckle vines would grow throughout the azaleas, working their way from the base of the plant out to its farthest branches. If left untended, the honeysuckle would eventually fill out the entire azalea bush and choke it to death. So every year, we would climb into the azaleas, pull out as much honeysuckle as we could, trying not to damage the bushes, and clip the vines at the ground. Honeysuckle is hard to irradicate from your yard, but it’s pretty simple to keep in check.
There was another vine that laughed at our efforts to keep in check: smilax. Smilax grows from ever expanding matrices of tubers in the ground, sending up soft, pliable vines with pale, waxy, green leaves to the tops of the tallest trees. Once a smilax vine made it to the top of a tree, it would spread out like a blanket, creating its own canopy, absorbing all the sun’s rays before they could get to the tree, eventually killing it. Getting rid of smilax required a two-pronged approach of...
Continue Reading....
| |
- Formation Reminder
- Fig Youth Baby Supplies Drive
- DOK Clothing Drive
- St. Philip's Mother's Day Store
- Open Door Kickoff Social
- Transfigured Nights: Tea & Tallis
- Ramp Project Dallas Volunteers
| |
- Pentecost Readers Needed
- Sacred Ground Circle Sign-up
- Calling the Class of 2024
- Collecting VBS Snacks
- Calling all VBS Volunteers
- Supporting St. Hilda's
| |
Opportunities to Help Others | | |
Three of our ministry groups are sponsoring drives to collect and share items. See how you can help them. They need your support. |
| |
Daughters of the King Collecting new and gently used women’s clothing | |
|
Donate women's sizes 18 to 3X, for New Friends New Life, a local organization that works to get women out of sex trafficking.
Items needed: sportswear, work-appropriate clothing, belts, and handbags (no shoes, underwear, or sleepwear, please)
We will have a collection box and rack
for items on hangers, this weekend
(April 27-28).
| | |
|
The Fig Youth
Collecting Baby Supplies for Mother's Day.
| |
|
Donate supplies to help struggling mothers.
Items needed: diapers (all sizes), baby wipes, powdered formula, baby bottles, pacifiers
Please keep all donated supplies in their original packaging and bring your donations before May 12. There will be a collection box in the Gathering Space.
For more information contact,
Delynda Moravec.
| | |
|
Outreach Committee
Collecting Gifts for the St. Philip's Mother's Day Shop
| |
|
Donate new items for children at the St. Philip's School and Community Center to give to their mom.
Items such as: 'Best Mom' mugs, notepads, books, journals, lotions, frames, and costume jewelry are requested. Bigger gift bags also are needed. Items may be left in the St. Philip's basket on Sunday, April 28, and Sunday, May 5.
Volunteer to help at St. Philip's store on Saturday, May 11 from 9am-1pm. Assist students in shopping, gift wrapping, and card decoration.
To volunteer contact
Susan Fisk (214-729-2166)
|
| |
|
Open Door Kickoff & Social
If you have been a part of the Open Door community in the past, or if you are interested in learning more about this supportive community for LGBTQ+ individuals, we invite you to join us on Saturday, May 4 at 6:30pm in the Parlor. This event marks the revitalization kickoff of the Open Door Ministry, where we will introduce our new council members, share our strategic plan, vision, and mission, and enjoy fellowship with one another. Pizza and soda will be provided, and you are welcome to bring additional food and drinks to share. You may also bring your own wine and/or beer.
For more information, contact Open Door
| |
|
Transfigured Nights: Tea & Tallis
Transfigured Nights pulls out all the stops for its fourth Tea & Tallis on Sunday, May 5, at 5:00pm. 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.
| |
|
Volunteer for The Ramp Project
The Dallas Ramp Project is calling for volunteers for Saturday, May 11 at 7:30am. Help us build ADA compliant ramps for low-income elderly and disabled individuals with the local chapter of the Texas Ramp Project at Texas Ramp Warehouse. No experience required. Must be 16 or older to participate. We have 12 slots to fill so sign-up now. Sign-up close the Monday before the event.
| |
|
Pentecost Readers Needed
As part of our worship on the weekend of Pentecost, May 18 and 19,
we hear the story from the Book of Acts in many languages. If you can read the story in a language other than English, at any of our three services, please contact Fr. Ted.
| |
|
Sign-up for Sacred Ground
Here's your opportunity to sign-up to be a part of two new Sacred Ground Circles: one starting May 25 and one June 1. Space is limited, so sign up today.
Sacred Group is an 11 session film and readings based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. In small groups you are invited to walk through chapters of America's history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family stories, economic class, political, and regional identity. Meetings are from 10:00am to 12:30pm every other Saturday in the Church Parlor.
Please note that circle size is limited to insure a focused experience for all participates; therefore, registration is required using the buttons below. For more information contact the Racial Justice Ministry.
| |
|
Calling the Class of 2024!
If you are a high school senior, we want to recognize and celebrate you on Sunday, May 19 at the 9:00am service. As part of the celebration, we are asking for your picture, where you are graduating from, and what your plans are for the future (ex. college and major). We ask that you submit your information and photos by May 5. Please note that photos are limited to 2MB in size for uploading. You can contact Delynda Moravec for more info if needed
| | |
|
VBS Snack Collection Underway
We have begun collecting individually wrapped snacks for VBS. Donations can be dropped off in the blue tent located in the tower cloister.
Suggested items: Goldfish, cheez-its, pretzels, fruit snacks, veggie straws, fruit bars, granola bars, animal crackers, teddy grahams etc.
VBS Volunteers Needed
Vacation Bible School gets closer and closer: June 3-7 from 9:00am - Noon and offering an afternoon option for the first time. Be sure to sign-up your campers below! We also need Volunteers to help. Sign-up as a volunteer now so we can help you start preparing.
| |
Support St. Hilda's Guild | |
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 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
| |
|
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.
| |
|
Share the Good News of Christ at work at the Fig!
Share this e-news with your friends and family.
| |
Follow Transfiguration on these Social Networks | | | | |
