Starving for Grace

by Father Casey

When we begin paying attention to how Jesus describes God, one of the first things we notice is that God is not what we were expecting.

We expect God to help those who help themselves, and instead Jesus says God is like a shepherd who leaves 99 good sheep to seek after one who is wayward.

We expect God to be constantly disappointed in all our mistakes, and instead Jesus says God is like a father won’t even let a child who rejected him apologize before gathering him up and bringing him home.

We expect God to care a lot about keeping the “wrong sort” out of heaven, and Jesus says God is like a host who keeps sending his servants into town to invite more and more people to the glorious party he is throwing.

The God Jesus reveals to us is righteous, yes, but compassionate. Just, yes, but merciful. The God Jesus reveals is full of grace.

Grace is at the heart of who God is. Grace, as in undeserved, unearned love and favor. Grace, as in there is nothing...

In this E-news:

From Our Bishops
Sunday School Jump In
Sharing Faith Dinners Sign-up
Latinidad Festival Tickets
Making Baptismal Stoles
SWANs Return
Second Half Lunch Bunch
Blood Drive
Contemplative Poetry
Anglican Rosary Workshop
Saturday Saints

Hispanic Heritage Event
PES Sunday
Clothes Horse Sip & See
Young Adults Organ Tour
Ramp Project Sign-up
First Informed Communion
Children & Youth Formation
Crossover Dog Treat Making
Crossover Meal Train
St. Hilda's Guild

From Our Bishops

A Letter to the Church

The House of Bishops has issued a pastoral letter to the Episcopal Church in light of the recent events in the United States.

Read The Full Letter...

Bishop Sumner's Retirement

Greetings in Christ. I am writing to inform you that I will be retiring as your diocesan bishop as of January 1, 2026.

Read The Full Letter...

This Weekend and Week

Sunday School Jump Right In

Join us this Sunday for week three of our Fall formation classes:

Letters of Paul: Join Mtr. Rebecca in Roper Hall.
Grace in Action: Join Fr. Casey in the Parlor.
Practical Mysticism: Join Fr. Ted win the Vestry Room.
Bowling Alone: Join Figs With Kids in S203.

Sharing Faith Dinners

Take advantage of this opportunity to join fellow Episcopalians from Ascension and St. Thomas the Apostle on Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 6:30pm – 9:30pm for an evening of faith, hospitality, and connection. This is a chance to share your faith story with other adults, listen with care to other's experiences, and be encouraged in your own spiritual journey. For more details and to sign-up click the button below..

Sign-up Today! Space is Limited

Latinidad Festival Tickets

The free 4th annual family-friendly Latinidad Festival will be held Saturday, September 20 in Annette Strauss Square in downtown Dallas from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Tickets are free. The evening includes a parade, live music, dance performances, food vendors, and a mercado.

Get Your Free Tickets Here

Learn to Make Baptismal Stoles

The Prayer Shawl Ministry is hosting a Cross Stitch Workshop Saturday, September 20 from 10:00am - Noon. This workshop is offered to all those who are interested in cross stitching the Baptismal Stoles. Also, for those interested in joining the Prayer Shawl Ministry, learning how to crochet and/knit, with patterns, yarn, and needles/hooks. This will be help in the Vestry Room. You can learn more about the Prayer Shawl Ministry and contact the leaders for more information in Realm.

View this Group

SWANs Return

The Single Women Living Alone Network (SWAN) meets on the third Saturday of the month from September through May at 4:00pm in the afternoon. We come together to share helpful information, for conversation, spiritual growth, and mutual support. Our first meeting for the coming year will be held Saturday, September 20 at 4:00pm in the Parlor.

Second Half Lunch

A reminder that the monthly Lunch gathering for Second Half is Sunday, September 21 at 12:45pm following the 11:15am Holy Eucharist.

See details and register so we can plan appropriately by clicking the button below.

Save a Life by Donating Blood

Carter BloodCare will be on-site Sunday, September 21. Sign up for an appointment to donate this vital resource for victims of accidents, organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer.

Schedule a Donation

Contemplative Poetry

Spiritual Ministries Institute (SMI) is a local non-profit that offers programs on spiritual practices and spiritual development, led by external speakers. This year these programs will be offered in our Transfiguration Parlor! Check the SMI website for more information on the events scheduled for the upcoming program year, beginning with a program on “Contemplative Poetry” on September 23.

Visit the SMI Website & Register

Next Weekend and Following

Anglican Rosary Workshop

The Kay Andrews Bookstore team are in dire need of Anglican Rosaries to add to their inventory for the upcoming holiday season. To help fulfill this need, Daughters of the King is hosting an Anglican Rosary Workshop Saturday, September 27 at 9:00am in the Vestry Room.

You are invited to join the DOK for this workshop. All supplies will be provided as will assistance in making the rosaries if this is new to you. Let us know if you need more information or if you would like to reserve a spot.

Contact

Carolyn Lewis

Saturday Saints

Teresa of Avila

Learn about the life of Saint Teresa of Àvila, Carmelite nun, mystic, and monastic reformer. The Rev. Melody Shobe of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd will lead a presentation and group discussion. Saturday, September 27 from 9:30am to 11:30am. Registration is $20 at the door or $15 in advance.

The Abbey in the City

5923 Royal Ln

Dallas, TX 75230

Details & Registration

Racial Justice Ministry

Hispanic Heritage

The Racial Justice Ministry invites you to attend the Living Into Solidarity: Hispanic Heritage Event Potluck Dinner and Presentation Saturday, September 27 at 6:30pm in Roper Hall. Our presenters for the evening will be Episcopal Deacon Debra Vela and Transfiguration parishioner and immigration lawyer Claire Carmona. They will help us understand how immigration enforcement changes are impacting our neighbors by sharing their personal experiences. The evening will culminate with an optional labyrinth walk. Please bring a dish and join us.

Contact

Barbara Woster

Parish Episcopal Sunday

Sunday, September 28 at our 9:00am Eucharist we will host Parish Episcopal Sunday. This is a lovely tradition that helps us honor the school we founded 53 years ago and with which we remain in close partnership. A student choir will sing, and Hillcrest Campus School Chaplain Rebecca Gingles will preach. If you are a 9am regular, please come ready to welcome our special guests.

The Clothes Horse

Sip & See

Make the short walk down the hill on Sunday, September 28 from 11:00am - 1:30pm to learn more about the Clothes Horse, our own thrift and resale store. Sip champagne and enjoy some breakfast treats while you shop for a Halloween costume, spirit week outfits, or your next Sunday morning ensemble – choose from St. John, Mistook, Lafayette 148, and other designer items. Discover more about where you can donate your gently-used clothes, shoes, and jewelry and what our store does with those donations and the profit it makes.

Contact

Cassie Bledsoe

Young Adults Fellowship
Organ Tour

Join the Young Adults Fellowship Sunday, September 28 from 12:45pm - 3:00pm for a demonstration of our glorious pipe organ. Joel Martinson, our Director of Music, will be our tour guide. This is your chance to see the instrument up close, peek into its inner workings, ask any questions, and experience its wide range of sounds.

This demonstration will be followed by church tour conducted by Father Ted. If folks are hungry afterwards, we will also convene at a nearby restaurant for a lunch/brunch.

To join in, meet in the Gathering Space immediately following the 11:15am Holy Eucharist.

Contact

Robert Nelson Strobel

Dallas Ramp Project Sign-up

We invite you to join us as we construct ramps for financially vulnerable elderly and disabled individuals, enabling them to exit their residences, particularly in emergency situations such as fires.

Our next event is Saturday, October 11. Full details and the ability to contact the organizer are available in the registration. Please register no later than the Monday, October 6 for this event. We will host another opportunity to serve in November as well.

First Informed Communion

Our First Informed Communion Retreat is designed to help children and their parents connect more deeply with the act of sharing in the Eucharist by providing guided instruction about why we do what we do in worship. Participating children will celebrate their “first informed communion” on November 2, at the 9:00am Eucharist, with a reception following in the Memorial Garden.

While we offer this experience for baptized children who are at least six years of age or older, please consider their readiness. If you have a child you would like to participate, please register them by October 3.

See full details about the full First Informed Communion and register below.

Questions, contact

Allison Blalock

Sunday School For Children & Youth

Our Youth and Children have these opportunities to grow in their experience of God:.

Sunday Mornings:

Nursery - 5th Grade

Nursery – 6 weeks - 24 months | available Sundays during services and formation.
Children's Chapel – 4 years - 1st Grade | Sundays at 9:00am
WeeWonder – 2 & 3 years of age | Sundays at 10:15am
Godly Play – 4 years old - 5th Grade | Sundays at 10:15am

6th Grade - High School

Youth Formation – Sundays at 10:15am in the Youth Center

Wednesday Formation – Children & Youth

Impact Kids

Fourth & Fifth graders are invited to become an Impact Kid. As an Impact Kid our young people are given the opportunity to be ministers of the Gospel by making a real difference in our community – helping the hungry, cheering up isolated seniors, preventing bulling, and more. We will explore complicated issues like hunger, loneliness, and generosity, helping kids grow as disciples of Christ. We gather on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.

Youth Crossover

Our usual Youth Crossover on Wednesday, September 28 at 6:30pm will take place in the Roper Hall kitchen. We will make homemade dog treats to pass out during the blessing of the pets on Saturday October 4. Any treats not used will be donated to local animal shelters.

We invited all youth ages grades 6 - 12 to join in this evening of tale wagg'n fun.

Contact

Bailey Roberts

Crossover Meal Train

Come be a part of the Crossover excitement by volunteering to bring a meal for the Youth. Sharing a meal together is one of the Crossover hallmarks, as the Youth breakaway from the stress of the week for an evening of prayer, fellowship, and fun.

For more info contact

Bailey Roberts

Sign-up to Provide Meals