The 21st Sunday after Pentecost/Feast Day of St Luke

8:00am  The Traditional Eucharist
9:30am The Joyful Noise Eucharist
10:30am  The Musical Eucharist

From the Rector -
​
Morning Prayer with Good Shepherd
We have started praying at Good Shepherd, Belmont for morning prayer on Tuesday. Their Vicar, Michael has also come and prayed with us at Transfiguration on Wednesday and Thursday as his calendar allows. We just started doing this in September, as an attempt to support a neigboring parish and grow our praying community. We are really enjoying it and it is creating space for conversation with other Episcopalians trying to serve our community just down the road.

Healing - 12 steps
One of the conversations I have had with Michael on a Tuesday morning was about the 12 step groups that meet in the Good Shepherd parish hall. They have the longest consistenly meeting 12 step group in the US meeting in their hall, and between Christmas and New Years they have one 12 step meeting on the hour every hour for those who need support at that time of year. It is a great gift to the community, and reminded me that we also offer space to 12 step groups, and they are a place of profound healing in our community. 

This realization inspired me to want to bring the wisdom of the 12 steps program to our wider worshiping community through the Prayers of the People at 10:30am today. I have had a lively and moving conversation over email with our healing team. We acknowledged that this could be a difficult subject, but in reflecting on it I decided that I would like to use these prayers - because they are profound and get to the heart of much human suffering. They also offer wisdom that can help all of us move towards healing and wholeness. 

We have not invited anyone from any of our 12 step groups to join with us, as it is essential to honor the anonymity of the 12 step community - but please be aware people who will have used 12 steps meetings will be worshiping with you this Sunday morning, and for them, these steps are an important framework for living life and growing spiritually. Please be open to whatever wisdom they bring to you.

What we learned this week
Monica and I have been at Pneuma this week. I was leading worship and teaching some workshops, Monica was able to fully enter into the learning experience of the conference. This is a conference for Christian Educators on the West Coast of the US. We listened to Eric Law talk about ‘Holy Currencies’ - which are his metaphor for building sustainable long term ministries. The experience was very inspiring and both Monica and I will be reflecting on his models and would be happy to talk to you about what we learned.


Announcement sheet reflections
During the summer the announcement sheet dropped down to two pages from four. We went back up to four pages for the program year launch - but that is not our prefered model as we are using a lot a paper and we think we could come up with a more environmentally sustainable model.

We are putting a lot of our information for the week on the web site - and would love to know where you get your church information. Do you get it on the web? Do you get it in the announcement sheet? Do you get it by word of mouth? Do you get it in Sunday announcements?

I have had feedback that says you like the weekly letter from me and would like to keep getting that, and not have it shortened. My working proposal (which is open to change) is as follows:

1. We move to having a more extensive printed announcement sheet (more like a parish magazine) on the first Sunday of the month that contains all of the information for the month. 

2. We reduce all other weeks of the month to a single two-sided sheet and only put essential weekly items in the announcement sheet on these Sundays.

3. We retain a Rector’s letter every week - but add new voices on the first Sunday of the month.

4. We continue to put information on the web site and try to discern whether we can rely on that as a means of communication - or whether we need to retain a printed announcement sheet for the forseeable future.

Let me know what you think. 

Wondering Together
I am so grateful for the work on this program in our parish life. The conversations are under way and the feedback I am getting from the co-ordinator, Virginia Fox, is excellent. Thank you for everyone who is putting so much work into this project.

Oktoberfest and Stewardship
We are about to enter into Stewardship Season, I am excited to share Oktoberfest with you and to have a conversation about resourcing our ministry for the year to come. Please come along to Oktoberfest next Saturday and be aware that there will be a silent auction with some excellent items to bid on. The Finance Committee wants you to know that the funds raised at the silent auction will be used to enhance our youth ministry in the year to come.

Love,
Matthew+

News & Announcements 
OKTOBERFEST - this Saturday, October 24th!
Come one and all to Oktoberfest at Transfiguration Episcopal Church!
Saturday, October 24th , 4:00pm in the Parish Hall, $10 per plate*, at the door
We’ll be serving Bratwurst, Sprussen, Pretzels, Himmel und Erde... Traditional German fare. There will be frankfurt sausages (hotdogs) and kaese spaetzle (OK.. mac & cheese) for the kids.  Beverages of every kind for all. It’s the 205th wedding anniversary of King Ludwig (the 1st) to Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. But it’s also the kickoff of our Stewardship campaign!  We will also be holding a silent auction to support the work of our youth ministry in the year to come.
Come be sociable, eat well und trinken Sie ein Bier oder Limonade!
(*ten dollars is a requested donation but we will accept any amount, and suggest no families pay more than $25)

HOME & HOPE WALK RUN COMING UP IN NOVEMBER
The 3rd Annual “The Journey Home” Walk/Run Fundraising Event is to be held on Sunday, November 8th at 1:00pm at Seal Point Park in San Mateo. This is a sponsored event to raise funds for Home & Hope.  Let Matthew or Dace Samta know if you want to participate. 

Distil - for the Fall  
Distil (young adult group) will have a new format for the Fall - faith conversation around the dinner table!  Sunday night potluck dinners, 6:15-8pm:
NEXT Sunday, Oct. 25th - “On Thor and Food” at Dawn’s in Palo Alto 
Sunday, Nov. 29th - “Muddy Field vs. Bright Field”
Sunday, Dec. 20th - “Fast and Slow”
Distil is also still hosting Sanctuary Yoga with yogi, Yael.  Please join us for yoga on
Thurdays, Oct. 22nd, Nov. 12th and Dec. 10th, 6:15-7:15pm.
Questions?  Speak to Dawn Bailey.

LEGACY SOCIETY PARTY
On Sunday, November 1st, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. the Endowment Committee is hosting a “Thank You Party” for Legacy Society members and others in our community who have made long term commitments to Transfiguration.
While the group is enjoying refreshments at the home of Ruth Ciranni, special guest Amanda Kierman, JD, will give us food for thought. At Notre Dame University, Amanda obtained a law degree with a focus on trusts, estates, tax and nonprofit law. She is now the Planned Giving Officer of our Diocese and will talk to us about “Philanthropy and Intergenerational Wealth.”
​If you would like to attend this party, RSVP to Ruth Ciranni. All are welcome!

TRANSFIG FIREFLIES
Fireflies, a preschooler play group (ages 0-5), meets in the parish hall every Thursday, 10am-noon. 
The group is free and everyone is invited, church member or not. We have a play time, story time with musical instruments, healthy snacks and finish with a craft project and/or game activity. We have fun, make new friends and share our joy, wisdom and sometimes frustrations of family life with other parents and caregivers. Stop by and check us out. Even if you do not have the children in this age group, please, let your friends, neighbors and family members of preschool age children know that we would love to welcome them at our playgroup.  Questions? Contact Dace Samta.

Transfiguration Preschool Openings
Our preschool is still registering new students for this year and would welcome anyone from the parish to enquire, particularly in the three year old class. Please pass along the information to friends and neighbors.  For details please look at the web site.
 and contact our director Karen Indorante for more details.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:  Mary Castiglia on Monday, Geoff Lime on Tuesday, Nancy Burnett and Aidan Jobe Sea on Friday. 


Fall 2015 at Transfiguration - Mark Your Calendars!
Various dates in October                      Wondering Together dinners (questions? see Virginia Fox)
Thursday, October 22, 6:15pm          Sanctuary Yoga, sponsored by Distil, in the church
Saturday, October 24, 4-7pm            Oktoberfest at Transfiguration in the Parish Hall 
Sunday, November 1, 10am                 Dia De Los Muertos (All Souls/All Saints Day)
                                                                              One parish-wide worship service at 10am
Sunday, November 29                            The First Sunday of Advent
Sunday, November 29 (pm)                  Home and Hope Hosting Week in the Parish Hall
thru Sunday, December 6 (am)
Sunday, December 6                                Lessons and Carols Community Eucharist at 10am
Sunday, December 13                             Bishop Marc Andrus visitation at Transfiguration
Saturday, December 19, 4-6pm       Snow Day at Transfiguration
Thursday, December 24, 5pm           Christmas Eve Joyful Noise Eucharist and Pageant
Thursday, December 24, 10pm        Christmas Eve Festival Eucharist
Friday, December 25, 10am               Christmas Day Eucharist

Regularly Scheduled programs:
Morning Prayer                                          Tuesday mornings at 9am @ Good Shepherd, Belmont
(with Good Shepherd, Belmont)            Wednesday mornings at 9am@ Transfiguration
                                                                              Thursday mornings at 9am@ Transfiguration

Gospel Preview                                          Wednesday mornings, 10:30 - noon in the Parish Hall
(bible study and conversation)

Transfig Fireflies                                        Thursday mornings, 10am - noon in the Parish Hall
(playgroup for 0-5 yr olds and their caregivers)

Sanctuary Yoga, sponsored by Distil     2nd Thursdays, 6:15 - 7:15pm in the church

Diocesan events for Youth and Young Adults this Fall:
Diocesan convention, including youth presence    October 16-17 at Grace Cathedral
http://www.diocal.org/discipleship/youth/programs

NightSong, a Young Adult evening with Bishop Marc          Second Tuesdays, 7pm in Berkeley
Financial Basics for Young Adults (3-session program)    Tuesdays, Oct. 20, 27 & Nov. 3 in S
www.diocal.org/discipleship/young-adults


LOOKING AHEAD in 2016:
Men’s Retreat@ St. Dorothy’s Rest              Friday, January 8 - Sunday, January 10
Annual Meeting and Brunch                                Sunday, January 31 (following parish-wide 10am service)
Women’s Retreat@ The Bishop’s Ranch   Friday, February 26 - Sunday, February 28
Parish Retreat @ The Bishop’s Ranch     Friday, August 19 - Sunday, August 21
 
Ministry Acknowledgments   
8:00 The Traditional Eucharist
Presider & Preacher:     The Rev. Matthew Woodward
Lector:     Betty Strombom
Usher:     Gari Patton
Coffee Hour:      Maxine Olson
9:30am The Joyful Noise Eucharist
Presider:     The Rev. Monica Whitaker
Storyteller:    Imogen Sanders
Coffee Hour:     The Bakken Family
10:30am The Community Eucharist
Presider & Preacher:     The Rev. Matthew Woodward
Acolytes:      Eve Kearns, Josie Kearns, Louisa Kearns
Eucharistic Ministers:     Barbara Carlisle, Patt Montgomery
Lectors:     Deborah Adams  (Scripture),    Skip Howie  (Prayers)
Director of Music:     Eric Choate
Welcoming/Greeting:     Skip and Sarah Howie
Kids Club:    Kristen Kearns, Silvio Del Rosso
Chapel Time:    Monica Whitaker, Bob Adams
Childcare:      Veer Singh, Nikki Singh 
Coffee Hour:     Phuong Thai and Greg Spurrier

Altar Flowers:     Hayes Bakken
Altar Guild:      Ruth Leijon, Betty Strombom, Tania Philipp
Sunday Bankers:     Jan Jensen, Gari Patton

Dedication
The Altar Flowers today are given to the Glory of God by the Bakken Family
in thanksgiving for life, health and family.

This Week
Sunday, October 18
The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Feast of St. Luke
8am    The Traditional Eucharist
9:30am    The Joyful Noise Eucharist
10:30am    The Musical Eucharist  with healing ministry
Monday, October 19
3:15pm    Snake Dragon Club -Japanese language storytime(classrooms)
7pm     FA Meeting (Parish Hall)
Tuesday, October 20
9am    Morning Prayer (at Good Shepherd, Belmont)
6:30pm    New Millennium Chamber Orchestra rehearsal (Church)
7pm       AA Meeting  (Parish Hall)
Wednesday, October 21
9am    Morning Prayer (Chapel)
10:30am    Gospel Preview Bible Study   (Parish Hall)
3:15 -5:45pm Looking Glass Korean Learning Center (classrooms)
4-5:30pm     Looking Glass Korean Learning Center (Parish Hall)
Thursday, October 22
9am    Morning Prayer (Chapel)
10:30am    Transfig Fireflies (Parish Hall)
6:15pm    Sanctuary Yoga (Church)
Friday, October 23
5:30-8:30pm Friday Hangout, Integrated Missions for Kids (Parish Hall)
Saturday, October 24
8:45 -11:15am Looking Glass Korean Learning Center (classrooms)
11am-2pm    Private Event (Kawato) (Parish Hall)
4-7pm    Oktoberfest at Transfiguration (Parish Hall) 
Sunday, October 25
The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
8am    The Traditional Eucharist
9:30am    The Joyful Noise Eucharist
10:30am    The Musical Eucharist

COMING UP:
Sunday, November 1, 10am    
Dia De Los Muertos (All Saints Day) 
One parish-wide worship service at 10am