Spotlight St Peter's Charlotte

Transfiguration Tidings

March 12, 2025

The Church of the Transfiguration

Together we shine forth with the love and light of Christ Jesus.

Dear all,

This Sunday is the Second Sunday in Lent, where we continue our liturgical walk of reflection and growth. I cannot think of a better group of people to journey through lent with. Please see articles below for some Lenten offerings.

As always, if there are ways we can help assist or get you connected into the life of the church, please reach out. We look forward to seeing you back in Bat Cave for worship together. To see the readings for Sunday, the second Sunday in Lent, Click Here. If you missed the service, and would like to watch it on YouTube, Click Here.

Updates on Recovery Work:

I am excited to share an update with you all. As you know, the woods north of the church parking lot took some serious damage after the storm (we lost most of the canopy), but even before they were quite over-run with kudzu. All these downed trees, in addition to not looking nice, creates a fire risk for the church. With great thanks to the volunteer work neighbors in Bat Cave, and a large group of Amish who were staying at the church last week, most of those grounds have been cleared. This means the area is safer, more attractive, and ready to use. That leads to the second piece of good news - some of that area can now be used for local rebuilding efforts at Bat Cave. We are still working to figure out the scope details on this (we will let you know as we learn more), but it would be a beautiful way to live into our current mission of being a palace for Refuge, Refreshment, and Renewal for our community. There is much more planning to come, but for now, we have much to be grateful for as that land will look better, be safer, and help our community.

Here is a picture of the amazing work of the Amish who were building sheds and shelters for folks in Bat Cave/Chimney Rock - using our parking lot as a giant workshop. Plus the fallen trees on our property are what they used to mill and build these structures. I am so glad Transfiguration was able to host this group of hard working young men. (Please include picture I am sending)

God’s peace,

Fr. John

A Special Lenten Invitation

Since we are not able to do many midweek gatherings yet, our sister church, The Church of the Transfiguration in Saluda, NC, has invited us to join them for their Wednesdays in Lent dinner and book study. The address is 72 Charles St, Saluda, NC 28773.

This opportunity begins with Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm, followed by a Soup Supper and Book Study. The book is: The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J. M. Nouwen (Click Here to Purchase). The conversation is facilitated by Fr. Will, Henry Mitchell, and Ellen Lind.

Please come to the event having read the assigned chapters for each day:

March 12: Prologue and Introduction (it’s okay if you haven’t read this yet!)

March 19: Chapters 1-3

March 26: Chapters 4-6

April 2: Chapters 7-9

April 9: Conclusion and Epilogue

Bearing Witness Project

A few years back, right after the first intense year of COVID and churches began resuming in-person worship, I had a priest colleague share how they were doing a different Lent that year, a “lighter” one. Her thought was that everyone had been living through a whole year of Lent already. As we know, Lent is the liturgical season that can feel “heavy” as it is a season of repentance and growth. But I think for us, we too have already been living in the season of Lent in our Gorge area. So, as a church, we too are doing a different type of Lent. Some of this is because regular access for gatherings (fasting, formation, soup dinner, healing service, etc.) are difficult right now with the roads, but also because we need something a little “lighter.” I am inviting us to something called “The Bearing Witness Project.” I think this might grow into more as time goes on, but for this Lent, I am hoping that each of us can start a new practice - to Bear Witness.

Here is how it will work. In your bulletins each Sunday in Lent, there will be a “Bearing Witness” card. The thought is that we, as those bearing witness to all that has and is happening in our gorge, will daily or weekly write down on these cards (or create your own if you aren’t able to make it into church) where you see God. It’s a simple practice, but I think deeply meaningful as we live into our call to Bear Witness to the stories around us. We can see God moving in the kindness around us, the generosity of neighbors, and even in the stories of hardship we feel, know, or hear. Then, at the end of Lent, we will have an opportunity to bring our Bearing Witness Cards back to church and give them to God as part of our offertory.

More information to come on this. You can start this Sunday, or any Sunday after. But as you are able, I ask you to prayerfully consider joining your church community for a Holy Lent as we begin the “Bearing Witness Project.”

Online Noonday Prayer

After a brief pause, we are resuming our online prayer service every Thursday at 11:30am. This is a great opportunity to connect together each week, and remember our community and each other in prayer. Once our roads are more reliably open during the week, we can move back to the church. But until then, this is a good opportunity to pause each week and pray for our church family and center ourselves during this season of Lent.

Link to Online Noonday Prayer

Spotlight on St. Peter's in Charlotte

We are so grateful for the amazing work done at our church by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in downtown Charlotte. 12 folks came and worked alongside some of our parishioners. Together they restored our grounds, unloaded and organized firewood, and prepared Saylor Garden for Spring. Because of groups like this, we are making progress on our grounds. Deep thanks for the friendship and help of St. Peter’s!

Re-Gathering on Sundays

What a gift to return to our beautiful church building in Bat Cave; thank you all for your patience and understanding during this long season away. While this is an amazing step to celebrate, there certainly are some important things to be aware of, as Bat Cave is far from normal:

Each week things may change in terms of our road access, please stay tuned from week to week - God willing we will continue to worship there each week! Our presence back in Bat Cave is so important.
Road Access - as of now, you can drive in from Route 64 or Highway 9. As you are likely aware, the road through Chimney Rock is not open for regular use - however - we WILL be able to use it on Sunday mornings only.
We have been told by Chimney Rock leadership that if we go to the checkpoint on Sunday morning, just say you are going to church at Transfiguration and they will let you through. If you are having trouble, call Barbara Meliski at 828-289-9911.
It will be good to limit the cars going through, so we do encourage some possible carpooling. Also, be aware the road through is getting better every day, but it’s not an easy drive. Larger vehicles are ideal if you have the option.

While there are some challenges in returning, it will be so good to be back in our church home. All are welcome. See you Sunday morning!

Pre-Eulogy Dinner March 20 at 6:00 pm La Strada Restaurant in Lake Lure

Please join us for dinner on March 20. If you are new to these dinners, we order from the menu, share some time visiting with each other, and then enjoy hearing from our featured speaker. This month's speaker is our Senior Warden, Dixie Robinson.

Simplified Coffee Hours

Volunteers Needed (Snack Sunday Mar 23)

We are trying something new for coffee hour

The first Sunday of the month will be "Lunch Sunday". This is for those who enjoy bringing a lunch for coffee hour.

The other Sundays are all "Snack Sundays". Bring something light - chips and dip, cheese and crackers, a bunch of grapes .... easy things that you pick up at the store. Just enough so we have something to sit down and enjoy while we visit each other.

If we have a 5th Sunday (and we do on March 30th), that will be a POT LUCK Sunday. If you can, bring a dish to share. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Mark your calendar for the Pot Luck Sunday.

You will not need to furnish drinks for coffee hour or Pot Luck Sunday. Those have been generously donated and will be available each week.

We do need volunteers for coffee hour.

Praying for those who have asked for our prayers and whom we know to be in need

Ken and Ann Washburn, Margie Moore, Tom Taylor, Cameron Day, Marion Wilson, Michael Webster, Sam Thompson, Heyward and Nancy Nettles, Carol and J Michael, Harriet and Robert Taylor, Malee Keller. Aliesa Bowman, Neva Sheets, Lynn Morehead, Wendy Field, Harrison Poe, Ann Robinson, Katrina Robinson, Kim Lutthans, Tony Gambee, Julie Weaver

For those who mourn

The family and friends of Doug Bowman

All who are displaced and who are suffering

Please send any names to be included on the prayer list to Julie Maziarka.

Meals for Volunteers

We still need volunteers to provide some meals for the volunteers serving in the Bat Cave community. We are providing the hot meal at lunchtime now since that is their larger group. They have frozen meats available (chicken, beef, etc.) for you to pick up and cook if you prefer. If you have questions, ask Saundra, Carlann, Dixie or Kathy - they have taken meals and can help you plan. Team up with someone to make it easier. The meals are so appreciated! The church can reimburse you for expenses.

To sign up for taking a meal or to find out more go to

https://takethemameal.com/OKEB3569

Or contact Carlann for more information.