The 20th Sunday after Pentecost
October 18, 2020
9:15am Joyful Noise via zoom
10:30am Zoom/Livestream Eucharist
(No public worship at Church
during Covid-19 pandemic)
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From Your Interim Rector
the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila
15 October 15, 2020
St. Paul wrote the following in his letter to the Romans:
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. (Rom. 12:12-13, NRSV)
As I write to you, I am a stranger. Very few of you have met me. I am, by definition, a stranger in
your close-knit community. Yet, I feel welcomed with open arms. I started my time with you a bit earlier than planned, meeting with the church staff, with Mike Robinson to talk about the Search process, sharing the Gospel on Wednesday at the Gospel Preview, joining the Vestry meeting Wednesday evening, and meeting with Noreen, and later with Hailey, Fran, and Jureck on Thursday morning. Everyone I met exudes warmth and a hospitable spirit, which uplifted my soul as I left my home of St. Francis of 18 years and had been feeling loss. And now, I joined yours and will become part of a new family. Let me say thank you to everyone I met so far for welcoming me with open hearts.
I don't have to remind you of what each of you is experiencing. As a church and community, we live in difficult times, further disrupted by the fact that we remain somewhat isolated in our “safe bubbles”. I would love nothing more than to gather where I could meet each of you face to face, break bread, and get to know you. Alas, that is infeasible given the state of the pandemic. So, we will, as my boss used to say, "Ham and Egg it". Zoom is an imperfect vehicle, but it has some advantages, and we should exploit every advantage it offers. I recognize, though, it is just not the same as what we are used to and is often an inadequate replacement for our pre-COVID gatherings and celebrations.
Consequently, it is up to me and to you to come up with novel ways for us to meet, safety being paramount. I am open to your suggestions. Let creativity reign supreme.
This Sunday, I will participate in the service and will preach for the first time at Transfiguration. I look forward to seeing all your faces on Zoom and chatting at Zoom Coffee Hour. In addition to coffee hour, I have discussed how we might meet in other ways. I will join both the morning Meditations during the week and Morning Prayer, as well. I already mentioned the Gospel Preview. Equally important, you will find me at the Transfiguration on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I am happy to meet you – in the garden (with masks and socially distanced, of course), over Zoom, Facetime, or other means, and over the phone (yes, I like to talk on the phone). I also respond to text messages and emails. Pick something that works and reach out. I will also reach out to each of you over the next few weeks.
I would end with another heartfelt thank you to Bill, Michelle, and the vestry, Noreen and the Staff, and the clergy. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your family. Until Sunday, stay safe, wear your mask, and know that the God of manifold Blessings loves you.
Yours in Christ,
Bob+
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Contact information for Bob Kossler:
phone/text: (415) 309-9118
Note: Bob's weekday time off is Mondays.
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This Sunday, October 18
The 20th Sunday after Pentecost
- story, music, prayer with coffee hour to follow
We offer this service of songs, a story and prayer for our littlest members and their families. This short
15 minute service will be followed by a coffee hour time. Join the zoom gathering by using this link Joyful Noise password: 2020.
10:30am Zoom/Livestream Liturgy - Eucharist
Members of staff and the congregation lead worship from their different spaces, and we combine it all with creativity and goodwill online.
This Sunday, we welcome our Interim Rector, The Rev. Bob Kossler who will preach; with The Rev. Frances Tornquist, presider; and The Rev. Hailey McKeefry-Delmas, deacon.
*** By using this link, you agree that we may record and stream your audio and video (if you activate them) ***
OR you can participate via livestream. In this medium, there is a 25 second delay, and it will also be available later on-demand.
To download or print the bulletin for Eucharist click here:
4:30pm Faith Lab (Youth Group) via zoom
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Contribution and Virtual Offering Plate
We are thankful to parishioners who pledge and are mailing their checks directly to the Transfiguration office, or have set up auto payment from your bank. It is very helpful that we continue income at this time as we seek to create connections to each other and maintain parish life. If you are not a pledger at Transfig, please do use our ‘virtual offering plate’ on the front page of our website to make a contribution to our work as you are able.
Happy Birthday
Mary Castiglia on Monday, Aidan Jobe Sea on Friday.
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Faith Lab
Sundays at 4:30
All youth in grades six and up are invited to join Faith Lab. We meet every Sunday at 4:30 pm to talk, play games and do activities. Join us this week to help us plan our Halloween activities! Contact Michele Maia for the zoom password.
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Halloween Pics and Pumpkins
Saturday, October 31, 2 - 4 pm
Faith Lab is creating a safe Halloween activity for families. Come visit our pumpkin patch outside at Transfiguration on Halloween. Wear your costumes and take a selfie in the photo area. Email it to me, [email protected], to be included in a virtual Halloween parade slideshow that we will enjoy during coffee hour. Please use the sign-up genius link to sign up for a time to visit our pumpkin patch: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B094FAAAD29A3FB6-halloween.
Masks are required and please maintain social distancing.
We won’t let COVID stop us from having some Halloween fun!
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El Día de los Muertos
In Mexico, November 1st and 2nd are celebrated as el Día de los Muertos - the day of the dead. During el Día de los Muertos, we are reunited with the dead and celebrate the eternal love that binds us together. In preparations for our time with the dead, we build ofrendas, or altares, adorned with brightly colored paper crafts, foods, toys, pictures, candles, and other objects that remind us of the dead.
Join us as we explore traditional Mexican baking in preparation for this very special celebration. We will be meeting on zoom Sunday, October 18th at 4PM Pacific. For zoom details and recipes, email [email protected].
On Sunday, October 25th at 4:00PM Pacific, we will be learning paper crafts including how to make papel picado and paper flowers for your ofrenda. Join us on the Faith Formation zoom, passcode: 2020 to make paper crafts together. You will need colorful tissue paper, scissors, string, glue and pipe cleaners for our crafting session. Most of the supplies are in the Dias de los muertos packets that will be available for pickup outside the church. For more information email Michele, [email protected]
And finally, on Sunday, November 1st, join us at 4:00PM Pacific as we share our ofrendas and remembrances of our loved ones. We will gather in the Faith Formation zoom room, passcode: 2020. An ofrenda helps us to remember and reunite with the loved ones that have left us. Pictures of the loved ones, foods that they particularly liked, and trinkets that remind us of them are all special items that can be added to the altar. Candles, paper flowers, papel picado and sugar skulls are other items that are often used to decorate ofrendas. There are innumerable ways to set up a home altar—just use your creativity and memories of those you wish to commemorate to guide you. For more ideas and background about the tradition of home altars, you can check out these websites:
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Día de los Muertos @ home |
Día de los Muertos commemoration is a beloved Transfiguration tradition and we are inviting you to celebrate at home this year. Traditionally we set up an ofrenda, make paper flowers, and bring pictures of the loved ones we want to remember to church. Since we are not able to set up an ofrenda at church, you may like to set up your own sacred space at home. We have Día de los Muertos kits available to send home with materials for making paper flowers and papel picado, as well as paper frames for your remembrance with a photo, drawing or name of loved one(s) and a coloring page. If you would like to participate in our Día de los Muertos celebration at home, please email me, [email protected], we will send you a Día de los Muertos kit with material and instructions.
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Welcome Back,
Community of Wonder (C.O.W.)!
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Mondays at 4 pm
Welcome back to our community of wonder! All children are welcome to join us Mondays at 4pm for stories, games and activities. We will gather in the Faith Formation Zoom room. Come and greet old friends and make some new ones as we explore the wonder, wisdom, witness, welcome and other “wows” of our faith.
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Peace Pantry at Hillsdale High School
Cookies and muffins and bread, oh my! Several of us have been gathering at Hillsdale High School on Friday mornings at 9:15 to pray over our offerings of home-baked bread and cookies that will be added to the boxes of food distributed to 140 food-insecure Hillsdale families later that morning. No, what we’re providing won’t feed 140 families. But it may make a difference in the lives of 20 families that haven’t had home-baked treats in a long time, and will let them know there are people out there who care. Love matters.
If you’re a baker, fire up your oven and crank out some bread or cookies. If you have a fruit tree, gather up those apples or tangerines. Put your offerings in small bags that can be easily handed to families as they drive by for their food pickup. Financial contributions are also needed and welcomed; go to the Hillsdale High Peace Pantry page at https://www.smuhsd.org/domain/2883 and click on the Peace Pantry Donations link.
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Book Club
The book club will be meeting via zoom on
Saturday October 24 from 3:00-4:30.
Everyone is invited. We will read and discuss Sue Monk Kidd’s novel The Book of Longings. Several members of the congregation have already read this book and highly recommend it (and asked to have the book club read and discuss it). Please email Helaina if you plan to attend and she will send you the Zoom link.
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Photo Directory Update - Send in new photos now!
Seeking updated photos for our Directory! Many of us are stuck at home, and this would be a perfect time to gather together your clan, including animals if you like, and take a selfie! We’re not looking for studio-quality shots - just a picture that will enable us to have a face to go along with a name. This will be especially helpful for Bob Kossler, our new Interim Rector who has joined us this week.
Please, get out your cell phone - or a real camera! - take a picture of yourself or your family, and send it in JPEG format to me at: [email protected].
Let’s aim for Nov. 15th at the latest, so Bob doesn’t have to wait too long to get to know us by sight. Thanks for your help!
-Gari Patton
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This Week in Parish Life
Sunday, October 18
The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
9:15am Joyful Noise Service - via zoom: story, music, prayer with coffee hour to follow
10:30am Zoom/Livestream Liturgy: Eucharist -with Zoom coffee hour to follow
4:00pm Baker's Club w/Joseph focused on Day of the Dead traditions (email Joseph for link)
4:30pm Faith Lab (Youth Group) via zoom (email Michele for link)
Monday, October 19
8:30am - Morning Meditation
4:00pm - Community of Wonder (C.O.W.) via zoom (email Michele for link)
Tuesday, October 20
8:30am - Morning Meditation
10:30am - Staff Meeting via zoom
Wednesday, October 21
8:30am - Morning Meditation
9am - Morning Prayer
10:30am - Gospel Preview
Thursday, October 22
8:30am - Morning Meditation
Friday, October 23
8:30am - Morning Meditation
Saturday, October 24
3:00-4:30pm - Book Club via zoom: The Book of Longings
Sunday, October 25
The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
9:15am Joyful Noise Service - via zoom: story, music, prayer with coffee hour to follow
10:30am Zoom/Livestream Liturgy: Eucharist -with Zoom coffee hour to follow
4:00pm Paper Crafts for Día de los Muertos with Joseph & Lydia, via Faith Formation Zoom. Password: 2020. Faith Lab youth will also be participating in this.
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Clergy Support during the pandemic
If you wish to speak to any of our clergy please note their phone numbers and email below and reach out to them or call the church office for assistance. We are not able to meet in person as per Diocesan instructions unless it is a matter of life or death, but we ARE delighted to talk to you about any pastoral concerns. If a pastoral situation occurs that is a matter of life or death please reach out to one of our clergy as noted below.
Staff
Interim Rector: The Rev. Bob Kossler
Director of Music: Matthew Burt
Director of Family Ministry: Michele Maia
Operations Manager: Noreen Huey
Assisting Priests
The Rev. Jureck Fernandez
The Rev. Frances Tornquist
Deacon
The Rev. Hailey McKeefry-Delmas
Parish Office 650 341-8206
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Transfiguration Episcopal Church
3900 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA 94403
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