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Saying Grace,
Giving Thanks
by Father Ted
If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this week, there is a good chance that you are a little overwhelmed with your final preparations. Is your turkey large enough to feed everyone? Is that can of evaporated milk from six years ago still safe to go in a pumpkin pie? Did the grocery store run out of Sister Schubert’s Yeast Rolls? Perhaps you are still unsure about who is going to be there. Do you have enough chairs and place settings? If not, who is going to have to sit at the kids’ table? Maybe it is your first time hosting Thanksgiving and you are worried about getting the timing right. Even for experienced hosts, getting everything to the table at the correct temperature at the same time can seem like a nearly-impossible task.
But one thing you should not worry about is how to say grace. The blessing before the meal is arguably the most important part of the day, since giving thanks is the entire reason for the holiday. Perhaps you have a favorite blessing that you have said before meals for your entire life. Maybe you will pray freely, inviting others around the table to add their own prayers of thanksgiving. You don’t have to have a call-and-response version of Psalm 145:15-16 from the ’28 prayerbook like the Clarkson family does (The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord;* and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand,* and fillest all things living with plenteousness.), but you should probably try a little harder than, “Good food, good meat, good God: Let’s eat.”
If it is your turn to say grace this Thanksgiving, I hope you will give thanks for all the good things that God has done for you and for your loved ones this year. Even when times are hard and lean, or when the...
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- Church Office Closed
- Formation Is Underway
- Make A Christmas Dedication
- Adopt an Angel
- Second Half Lunch Bunch
- Carter Blood Drive
- Advent Lessons & Carols
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- Still room for Dallas By Chocolate
- Reading the Gospel of Mark
- Babysitting is Available
- Children's Christmas Pageant
- A Visit From St. Nicholas
- Realm and EMF
- Have a Grateful Thanksgiving
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Church Offices Closed For Thanksgiving
The Church Offices are closed this
Thursday, November 23 & Friday, November 24
for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
The offices will re-open Monday, November 27 at 9:00am.
In the event of an urgent pastoral need contact the clergy here
or call 972-233-1898 & press option 9.
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Formation
Angels of Advent
Join us in Roper Hall at 10:15am throughout Advent for a panel discussion exploring Angels as they are portrayed in scripture and popular culture.
Angels are some of the most prominent characters in the biblical accounts of the first (and second) comings of Christ, yet they are some of the most overlooked and poorly understood. We will focus on these other-worldly creatures as we prepare our hearts for Christ’s birth. You might be in for some surprises.
If you missed our first session last week, you can watch it in here and then join us this Sunday.
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Make Christmas Dedications Now
Christmas will be here before you know it and it is time to make your dedications of flowers, music, and Christmas trees.
Make your dedications by December 10 so that everything will be in place for Christmas Eve.
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Adopt an Angel Tree Angel
Our Angel Tree is up in the Gathering S[ace. This is your last Sunday to Adopt an Angel. Our collections will benefit families at Spring Valley Elementary School and families that utilize our Food Pantry.
Adopt Angels this weekend and return gifts by Sunday, December 3.
For questions or to volunteer, email Pamela Sternweis or call her at 214-587-2675.
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Carter Blood Drive
Help save lives by donating blood. The Carter Blood Care Bloodmobile will be in Transfiguration's parking lot on Sunday, Dec 3 from 10am - 2pm.
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Advent Lessons & Carols
Sunday, December 3, 2023,
5:00pm
in the Nave with Incense
Reflect on the themes of Advent through Scripture and music in this gorgeous Transfiguration tradition with Transfigured Nights. Before we hurry to the manger in Bethlehem, let us remember the words of the prophets and angels who foretold of the Savior’s birth.
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Still Room for Dallas By Chocolate
There's still room for this Monday, December 4 at 5:30pm for a bus ride, 3 desserts venues, and Dallas Christmas lights. There will be wine, water, and soft drinks too! But, please register by this Friday!
The cost per person is approximately $55/person but will vary based upon the total number who sign up. Payment is due at time of registration. For full details and to sign up click the button below. For additional question contact Pastor Nancy.
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Reading the
Gospel of Mark
Saturday, December 9, 2023,
1:00 - 4:00pm
on the Labyrinth
Since the Sunday morning gospel readings for the next twelve months will draw primarily from Mark’s gospel, join us for an afternoon reading through the entire book. We will take turns, going chapter by chapter, reading from our Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible.
Volunteer to read or plan to join us in person.
Contact Fr. Ted Clarkson volunteer.
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Babysitting Is Available
The Fig Youth will be offering Babysitting on December 16, 2023 from 9:00am - 6:00pm in the Youth Center. There are two options for which you may choose:
HALF DAY - You may drop off anytime between 9:00 - 6:00pm for a total of 4 hours. Please indicate what time you will drop off and pick up.
Cost - Minimum donation of $30 / $45 for 2 or more children for the half day.
FULL DAY - You may drop off anytime after 9:00am
Cost - Minimum donation of $75 / $50 for 2 or more children for the full day.
All children are welcome.
Snacks provided.
Please bring blankets/pillows, etc.
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Calling All (Little) Angels
All children and toddlers - 5th graders are invited to participate in our annual Christmas Pageant, which takes place at the 3:00pm Christmas Eve service. There will be both speaking and non-speaking roles. Junior High and Youth students are invited to assist with the pageant. We will also need adult volunteers to help with costume fitting, props, rehearsals etc.
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St. Nicholas To Visit
St. Nicholas is scheduled to visit Transfiguration
December 3, 2023
St. Nicholas has been known to leave sweet treats for those who leave their shoes outside their doors, so we want to remind all our children and youth to leave their shoes outside their Sunday school classroom door on December 3rd. After class feel free to visit or have your picture taken with St. Nicholas on the Labyrinth.
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Over the last few months, the Episcopal Men's Fellowship has begun using Realm to help them communicate with their membership, manage registration for their monthly dinners and programs, and process registration fees when needed. Now EMF's membership mailing list is in sync with changes members have made in their own Realm profile or notified the Church about. Event registration is streamlined allowing for easy collection of registration numbers and pre-payment which helps in planning and preparing for the event. More and more of our Ministry groups are making use of all that Realm offers us without adding your contact information to non-Church mailing lists and systems.
EMF joins the ranks of Altar Guild, Daughters of the King, the Church Prayer Chain, Disciples Bible Study, Stewardship Committee, Vestry, and many more using Realm with their Ministry groups. If you would like to learn more about what Realm can do to assist you in your Ministry efforts or if you need assistance accessing your Realm Account, we are here to help.
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Have a Grateful Thanksgiving
Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP p. 246)
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