The Day of Pentecost

10am Festival Eucharist
with the Baptism of Colton Ronald Ashley

A parish-wide celebration with Grill on the Hill lunch to follow

From the Rector
​
Good Grief and the Lessons of Pentecost

Getting back into the swing of things after my trip was a bit of a challenge. Firstly, many of the things that I would normally do in April were moved to early May. Then there was the normal catching up with email and administration when you have been away. Finally, something happened that was out of the ordinary.
In the rush of getting back I noticed I had a 'Good Grief' session planned in my calendar. I thought nothing of it at first. Good Grief is our group for those grieving a significant loss. I have taken many Good Grief sessions, so when in Admin mode I noticed it, and acknowledged that I would be taking it. We had some email discussion about it, and I agreed with Monica that she didn't need to double up with me and come to the session.

That was all with my Admin brain working, not some of the other parts of my brain: like the pastor, or the Grandson, or the person with experience of loss.

It wasn't until I was getting ready for the session on Monday afternoon that I remembered I was grieving myself. My Grandfather had just passed away the week before. So I was going to lead a session on loss, attempting to support others, while I was feeling in the middle of it myself.  By this point on a Monday afternoon it was too late to ask Monica to swap out with me, so I just went along, but I said something as we began that led to a session unlike most in this program.

"I wanted to say that I realize I am experiencing loss myself," I said to the group. "That means I may not be able to do quite what I normally do, remembering what you all say and relating your comments back to each other, whilst looking for a theme." I paused for a moment and looked around at our small group. There were five there that night, and each had varying degrees of experience with loss. 
"We may just have to talk and have each of us look out for each other tonight." 
People smiled, and nodded, I think someone took my hand. We talked.

As we discussed our loss, including my own, I was aware of the conversation ebbing and flowing around the room. Different people shared their story, and offered comfort. I didn't guide the conversation, although a few times I tried, but didn't quite manage with my usual 'group process' head on.
In the middle a member of the group reminded me of something I had told her about emotions and Jung some years ago. "You will feel your feelings until they are felt," she told me. 

It is an interesting experience to have words you have used to support and encourage others in grief reflected back to you. It was gentle, it was kind, it was encouraging. I said, "but I don't want to." Which brought some laughter to the group.

This moment reminded me to attend to my own grief as much as I hope you all do to yours.

Why do I tell you this on Pentecost? Because it tells us something about the church we are building. Each of us has the Spirit. Each of us has experience and an ability to offer one another comfort. We are a place where everyone leads and everyone serves. 

Good Grief this week reminded me that I am a part of a community that is growing together in love, and that each of us have something to offer one another as we are open to the Spirit of God guiding us.
Amen. 
Love,
Matthew+

News & Announcements

TODAY, May 15 - Day of Pentecost 
The Day of Pentecost - Festival Eucharist at 10am.  Our parish-wide service today includes the baptism of Colton Ronald Ashley and our community art piece for Pentecost.   
A 'Grill on the Hill' lunch - a barbecue lunch -will follow the service.  Please plan to bring whatever entree (no raw chicken, please) you want to grill for yourself/your family, a side dish, and a beverage to share... and a picnic blanket.  We'll have the grill fired up and provide condiments, plates, cups and utensils.

Pentecost Art
Today during the worship service, we will ask families/households to bring up their decorated flames which have been worked on at church the past two Sundays or at home.  Participants will hang them on our artpiece at the appointed time, as part of a reflection time.  Children are also invited to color the cover of the announcement sheet during the service. Crayons and colored pencils will be available on the table at the back of the church.       

St. Margaret's Guild - May Ingathering
This month, St. Margaret's Guild sponsors an ingathering for the Teen Van and Teen Homeless Shelter: a program run by Packard Hospital for Children at Stanford, providing for needs of homeless youth in the Peninsula and South Bay. The Van moves from established locations, provides toiletries and other housekeeping items, limited medical services and referral assistance to teens living on the streets. We can support the efforts of this program with donations of the following:
*$20 Target gift cards            *movie passes  
(PLEASE NOTE: THESE SHOULD BE HANDED TO A GUILD MEMBER OR LEFT AT THE OFFICE.)
*New Underwear     *Brushes and combs       
*New Socks       *Toothbrushes and toothpaste
*Sample sized shampoos, deodorants, soaps & other toiletries (hotel packs are great!)
*Small toiletries bags (important for keeping their "gear" together in their backpacks) 
Place items in the basket in the Narthex, except as noted above.
For more information on this program, please contact Nancy Burnett.

In Memoriam
We announce the passing of Jim Wall, a former senior warden at Transfiguration, husband of The Rev. Anne Wall.  He died on April 11th, may he rest in peace.  For those who knew him and wish to attend, a funeral is planned for tomorrow, Monday, May 16 at St. Marks, Palo Alto at 3 pm.

Youth Confirmation Sessions continue Next Sunday, May 22
There will be one more session of the Youth Confirmation program on Sunday, May 22, 9-12, to be led by Matthew Woodward and Dace Samta.  Youth will be invited to participate in the General Confirmation at Grace Cathedral on June 4th and we will be celebrating with participants, mentors and leaders the next morning at Transfiguration. 

Service Times
Thank you so much for your responses to our request for feedback about Sunday service times, during the month of April.

We received a variety of comments and have shared them with the Vestry. The majority of the feedback on the Ministry Team proposal about service times was positive. Two areas of concern were raised:
1) Enjoying the combined services as an opportunity to see younger families gathering with the rest of the congregation and a desire that this should not go away.
2) A desire that our creative approach to liturgy on the first Sunday of the month should be retained even if we no longer have regular combined services.

The Vestry balanced this against the concern that frequently changing the pattern of worship was creating a barrier to participation. We realized, by reviewing attendance figures and by talking to young families, that many were not able to get to the combined services as much as we had hoped.

It is our desire to continue to build on our creative, diverse and engaging liturgical style, while responding to real concerns from members of the congregation about accessibility.

We will therefore be moving to a pattern of every Sunday of the month having three services at 8am, 9:30am and 10:30am. On the first Sunday of the month we will continue to try experimental approaches to liturgy, new music and intergenerational worship. We will also focus on five Sundays a year as combined (parish-wide) service Sundays. These are: The Day of Pentecost, Transfiguration Sunday, All Saints' Sunday, The Annual Meeting Sunday and Palm Sunday.  These services will continue to be developed to make sure that they reflect the whole life of our community and our approach to liturgy.


​This Week
Sunday, May 15
The Day of Pentecost
10:00am        Festival Eucharist for Day of  Pentecost 
                            with baptism of Colton Ronald Ashley  & Grill on the Hill potluck lunch to follow
6:15pm          Distil Dinner Club (Young Adults) (venue tbd)

Monday, May 16
10:30am        God Group (Parish Hall) 
noon              Preschool Chapel Time (church)
3:15pm           Snake Dragon Club storytime (classrooms)
7pm                FA Meeting (Parish Hall)

Tuesday, May 17
9am                Morning Prayer (Good Shepherd, Belmont)
6:30pm          New Millennium Chamber Orchestra rehearsal (Church)
7pm                AA Meeting  (Parish Hall)

Wednesday, May 18
9am                Morning Prayer (Chapel)
10:30am         Gospel Preview (Parish Hall)
3:15 -5:45pm Looking Glass Korean Learning Center (classrooms)
4-5:30pm       Looking Glass -Dance class (Parish Hall)
7pm                 Zen Meditation Group (chapel)
7pm                 FA Meeting (Parish Hall)

Thursday, May 19
9am                 Morning Prayer (Chapel)
10am                Transfig Fireflies (Parish Hall)
2pm                 Staff Meeting (Parish Hall)
6:30pm           Dinner & Conversation with Rector (Parish Hall) 
7:15pm             Peninsula Young People's AA (Church)

Friday, May 20
3:30-5pm        Girl Scout Brownie Troop (Parish Hall)

Saturday, May 21
8:45-11:15am   Looking Glass Learning Center (classrooms)

Sunday, May 22
The First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday
8:00am          Traditional Eucharist
9am-noon     Youth Confirmation Session
9:30am           Joyful Noise Eucharist
10:30am         Musical Eucharist