Kirking the Tartans

by Father Casey

This weekend we will enjoy the tradition of “Kirking of the Tartans” at our 11:15 service. Tartans are symbols of the Scottish clans, and “kirking” is from the Scottish word for church, and in this context means “blessing”. So this is a fun way of honoring those with Scottish heritage, which includes our very own Episcopal Church, which I’ll explain in a moment. But it is far more than just a celebration of history and heritage; it’s also a symbol of our future hope, too, which makes it a wonderful thing to do as we approach Advent.

First, some brief history. After the Revolutionary War, Anglicans in the newly formed United States (who quickly swapped the name “Church of England” for “The Episcopal Church”) desired to have an American-born priest be ordained as a bishop. Up to the war, custom held that all bishops be English, not colonial, and after the war they went back home. Bishops are essential to the life of the church – in the practical sense that they perform ordinations, and in the symbolic sense that they are connections to the apostles – so the leaders of the brand new Episcopal Church understood that something would have to be done.

So they sent a priest from Connecticut named Samuel Seabury (who makes a rather infamous appearance in the musical Hamilton) to England to seek ordination as a bishop. The English bishops there declined, as he couldn’t take an oath of allegiance to the king, but after many months of discussion, a ...

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Collect for Veterans Day

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the veterans of our armed forces. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Adopt an Angel

Stop by the Angel Tree this weekend and help bring Christmas joy to one of the 110 children whose families receive groceries from the Fig Food Pantry. Take a food pantry Angel from the tree in the Gathering Space and return it with a gift card as directed. Alternatively, you can donate before November 29, and the Food Pantry will donate gift cards on your behalf.

You can also adopt an Angel from Vogel and fulfill the Christmas wishes of a child dealing with homelessness. Or gather supplies to fill stockings for residents of Our Friends Place. The deadline to deliver these donations to the church is November 29. Remember, please do not wrap your gifts. Placing them in a gift bag with the tag attached is all that is needed and makes handling easier.

Formation Continues for the Following

While some of the Fall formation classes have wrapped up, two classes continue this Sunday at 10:15am:

Figs With Kids Donuts in the Park

Join Figs With Kids for Donuts in the Park this Sunday, November 15! Stop by the playground after the formation hour ends for donuts and some time to connect with other families while the kids play. It’s an easy, come-and-go morning—we’d love to see you!

Shona Eucharist this Sunday

On the third Sunday of each month, Transfiguration hosts the Zimbabwe Mothers’ Union for a Shona Eucharist. All are welcome to attend this Sunday, November 15 at 2:00pm.

Food Pantry on Monday

The Fig Food Pantry will gather on Monday, November 16 for it's monthly distribution of food to our growing number of clients who depend on our support. This is a great opportunity to gather and serve our neighbors. No experience needed: 

10:30am to 11:00am – Setup

11:00am to Noon – Unloading

Noon to 3:30pm – Sorting/Bagging

3:30pm to 6:00pm – Distribution

Contact

Jodi Dalton or Alan Justice

Join our Group in Realm

TFN: Art Music Monday

The second Art Music concert of Transfigured Nights’ 2026-2027 season is this Monday, November 16, at 7:30pm in the Performance Hall. The program will feature Bach’s Sonata No. 3 in G minor for Viola da Gamba & Cembalo, Phantasy for String Quartet by RoImogen Holst, and Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat Major, “Harp.” Performers will be Maria Schleuning & Kristin Van Cleve, violins; Matthew Sinno, viola; Gayane Manasjan Fullford, cello; and Joel Martinson, harpsichord. The program is free and includes light desserts at intermission. Since these concerts have become exceedingly popular and seating is limited, we recommend arriving by 7:15 pm.

I Want My EMF TV

Join Episcopal Men’s Fellowship on Thursday, November 19 at 6:30pm for dinner. Mike Mignardi, who spent 32 years at Texas Instruments, will share the history of display technology, how modern phone and TV screens work, and which ones are best for your home. $25 registration fee covers dinner and drinks. Please register by Monday, November 16.

Advent with Ebenezer

Charles Dickens beloved novella A Christmas Carol is filled with the themes of the Advent season. Each Sunday morning in Advent from 10:15am - 11:00am, starting November 29, Fr. Casey and Fr. Anthony will explore this classic tale of redemption and transformation along with Dr. Roy Heller, professor of Hebrew Bible at Perkins School of Theology, and Dr. Bob Patten, Professor Emeritus of English at Rice University and Dickens scholar. Make plans to be a part of this formation favorite.

An Advent Reading of the Gospel of Mark

Join us as a reader of the the Gospel of Mark on December 5 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Each year as the season of Advent begins we gather in the Holy Cross Chapel to read aloud, in its entirety, the Gospel appointed for the coming year. This Advent will turn our attention to the Gospel of Mark, the shortest of the synoptic gospels and believed to be the first written. Click the button below to volunteer to be a reader and select one chapter you would like to read. Please volunteer no later than December 1. If you do not wish to read and would like to attend to hear the gospel read aloud please plan to do so.

Youth Sunday Formation

Youth Formation is open to all youth 6th - 12th grade. We meet in the Youth Center inbetween services. Our Middle Schoolers will be learning about Episcopal Virtues, and our high Schoolers will be learning about the basics of Systematic Theology and how to apply them to our lives today.

Youth Crossover

Crossover, our Youth Group of 6th-12th graders, invited youth to gather for an evening of food, faith, fellowship, and fun every Wednesday in the Youth Center from 6:30pm - 8:30pm!