The Holiness of a Hobbit

by Father Casey

I am a great fan of The Lord of the Rings. I’ve read it numerous times and watched the films many times more. On the scale of Tolkien nerddom, I am pretty average, but other than the scriptures, I’m not sure there’s anything written that is so cleanly etched into my spiritual imagination. So perhaps unsurprisingly, as I’ve been considering the Feast of All Saints that we’ll celebrate this weekend, some of the characters and moments from the books popped into my head.

At a dinner party a few years ago, someone asked the table, “If you could be any character in any story, who would you be?” Before my brain had time to think I blurted out, “Aragorn.” He is the epitome of an epic hero, whose courage and wisdom leads to the defeat of evil lord Sauron.



Tolkien puts a lot of effort into creating a complex but consistently virtuous hero in Aragorn, and he is clearly Christlike. He is long prophesied, fulfills a lineage thought to be broken, is able to pass through the land of the dead, and marches on the gate of...

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Gathering After
 The Table

Stick around after The Table Saturday, October 31 for some delicious autumn and Halloween treats! It's a wonderful chance to enjoy a few minutes of comradarie and fellowship with your fellow parishioners.

Time Changes This

Saturday Night

Saturday night when you go to bed be sure to set all clocks BACK one hour so you don't show up at church an hour early! Enjoy the extra hour of sleep.

All Saints Sunday Baptisms

We gather to celebrate the Feast of All Saints at all services this weekend. As we remember the great cloud of witnesses who surround us at the 9:00am Holy Eucharist, we will receive three new Christians into the household of God:

Lillian Hessley Flowers

Connell Breakey Montgomery Hinshaw

Samuel Thomas Luyckx.

Plan now to be present and renew your own baptismal vows at this wonderful celebration!

Peace Post This Sunday

Both Muslims and Christians are facing increased violence from settlers living illegally in the West Bank. Please consider joining us this Sunday at any time between 10:00am and 1:30pm to write in support of the West Bank Violence Prevention Act, along with many other issues of justice.

Requiem for All Souls

Join us Monday, November 2, at 7:00pm, for a Solemn Requiem Mass in observance of All Souls’ Day. The service will feature Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, Op. 9, for choir, soloists, cello, and organ. Completed in 1947, this setting of the funeral liturgy combines ancient chants of the Requiem with harmonies of 20th-century French impressionism. Jason Awbrey will sing the baritone solos, and Erin Roth Thomas will sing the Pie Jesu. Gayane Manasjan Fullford will play the cello obbligato. Artist-in-Residence Jonathan Gregoire will perform the organ accompaniment for the Transfiguration Choir under the direction of Joel Martinson. The Rev. Meghan Mazur will be the homilist. The service will conclude in the Memorial Garden where we will recite the names of parishioners interred there.

Two Pilgrim Spots Avialable for You

We have 2 openings on the Monarchs of Mexico Pilgrimage this Feb 3-8. We would love for you to join us. Use the button below to grab your spots before they are gone or contact Fr. Casey for more details.

Election Night Compline

The Episcopal Church offices of Public Policy, Partnership, and Witness and Mission invite you to gather with them for Election Night Compline at7:00pm CT on November 3. As polling places close on the East Coast, Episcopalians across the country will come together via Zoom in a prayerful service of Compline. Spanish interpretation will be available.

Transfiguration Wine Society Inaugural

The inaugural meeting of the Transfiguration Wine Society will explore Georgian wines and their deep meaning to early Christianity. You are invited to be a part of this fun event on November 6 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm in Roper Hall.

Calling All Gardeners

The Gardening Ministry meets the first Saturday of every month to help maintain the beautiful outdoor spaces across our campus. Come outside and join us in the Belltower garden Saturday, November 7 from 8-10am.

Fig Fest

One Service at 10:00am Next Sunday

Please mark your calendar for next Sunday, November 8. We will begin with one combined Eucharist at 10:00am, followed by a church-wide outreach project at 11:00am. Then join us for Transfiguration’s annual Fig Fest celebration!

This year, our church is coming together to put together To-Go meal bags for people living at St. Jude Center. 

This is the last chance to help us buy meal supplies by giving to the outreach fund before October 31.

Spirituality of Welcome

The Spiritual Ministries Institute will offer The Spirituality of Welcome workshop on November 14 from 10:00am to Noon. This workshop will be led by Dr. Laura Baghdassarian Murray. She is the director of spiritual engagement and innovation at Fuller Seminary’s Center for Spiritual Formation and previously served as pastor of spiritual formation at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas. Registration Deadline is Nov 10.

Choirs for Children and Youth

We off outstanding musical training and growth opportunities for our children and youth:

• Holy Family Choir for 1st - 3rd Grade | contact Kimberly Ahrens
• Canticle Choir for ages 10-12 | contact Chris Ahrens
• Youth Choir for ages 12-18 | contact Chris Ahrens