The Last Sunday after the Epiphany

From the Clergy
On the first Sunday of Lent the liturgy always takes us to that point just after Jesus has been baptized and moves out into the wilderness to experience temptation. It reminds us of a very important truth: Baptism isn't the end of our journey of faith, it is just the beginning. If you follow the story closely it might look like Jesus walks into a nightmare right after his baptism, but in fact the challenges of the wilderness help him to understand what it means to live into God's dream for him. 
Jesus takes time in the wilderness to work out what his baptism means and to discover who he is as a person who is called by God to make the world a better place. He explores his temptations, his inner turmoil, and discovers resources in his faith to live in a way that some have called crazy, others have called radical, but many are inspired by.

Traditionally Lent has been a time in which individuals are prepared for Holy Baptism. Over many centuries Lent became a season for Christians to reflect on our faith and how it influences the way we live on a day-to-day basis. Parishes often spend Lent reflecting on their mission and purpose in the wider community.

We enter Lent this year with three different but overlapping constituencies in mind:
Candidates for Confirmation/Reception/Reaffirmation: 
We have young people exploring what it means to make a mature commitment to lifelong faith formation. We have individuals interested in being received into the Episcopal Church from another denomination. We have other members of the community exploring their own faith as Episcopalians. These candidates are intentionally following the path of the catechumenate during the customary season of Lent.
The Whole Parish: 
We have reflected as a parish on our hopes for the future, and have discerned the outline of a new vision for our parish life over the next three to five years. This season of Lent is a wonderful time in which we can begin to live into that vision.
Individuals: 
During Lent, each of us in parish life is invited to reflect on our own baptism; on how to follow Jesus into the 'wilderness'; and to explore what it means to follow him in our daily lives today as we live into the dream that God intends for the world.
We are offering a variety of tools to help guide us in observing a holy Lent and preparing us for a blessed Eastertide.  See details on the following page. This Lent, you are invited to reflect on our baptismal promises, and follow Jesus by living into the dream that God intends for the world.
Love,
Matthew+   
Monica+

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Images during Lent
On the cover of Journey this month we have a photo inspired by our theme: "Guide my feet". This photograph was taken by Noelle Huey and features her family, boyfriend and Eric Choate.
Often in major church seasons Noreen, Matthew and the staff collaborate on an art project for the front of our announcement sheets and the cover of Journey. This time we wanted to do something different. 
We started looking for photographs that captured the spirit of 'guide my feet'. We looked at black and white photographs of people on a journey, walking in a forest, or making their way up a path. We liked many of these, but then had an idea. We wanted to see if we could turn this project over to you, and decided to start with this photo of Eric. You see, Eric is following God's guidance in a new step in his life and this picture, of him walking with the sun in the background evokes a sense of his journey.
For the rest of the season of Lent we would love YOU to submit photographs that capture the theme "Guide my Feet".  The photos should be of you on a hike, or walking on a beach, or making your way up a path. The best ones each week will feature on the cover of our Announcement sheet and we will create a gallery of all of them by the time Easter comes around.

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Guide My Feet
We have chosen this traditional African-American spiritual to shape our reflections on the Gospel each Sunday.  Sing along - you'll find yourself singing it throughout the week!

Book Club
We invite you to join fellow parishioners in reading an exciting book by our new Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus. We encourage you to gather into small groups to explore this energizing account of what it means to follow Christ and live into God's dream for the world. We hope to have groups on weekdays, evenings, and weekends so you can choose sessions that are most convenient for you. Beginning on February 17th, Transfiguration will host two Wednesday discussion groups: A brown bag lunch at noon-1:30 pm, and a simple soup supper at 6:00-7:30 pm. Both groups will be self-led by parishioners in the Parish Hall. If you are interested in gathering a discussion group at another time, please contact Matthew or Monica.

Youth Confirmation Classes 
Youth will be gathering every few weeks during February-May to explore what it means to make a mature commitment to lifelong faith formation. Youth will be invited to participate in Diocesan General Confirmations on June 4th. The parish will celebrate with participants, mentors and leaders on Sunday, June 5th.

Meditation Candles & Prayers
Take home prayers
Monica has prepared short meditations for you to reflect on at the dinner table during Lent.  A bundle of six floating candles will accompany the meditations so that you can create your own Lenten centerpiece with a dish of water. Each week in Lent, float and light another candle while reflecting on what each of the Baptismal promises means to you. You may be surprised how your answers to one question develop throughout the week, and how your faith deepens as we prepare for the Mystery of Easter. While meditating on the promises and prayers, think about the Water of your shared baptism with Jesus; think about the Light that Jesus uses to guide your feet; think about how the Spirit empowers you for service to others; think about what God dreams for the world and how you can be a part of it by following Jesus. On Easter, light the sixth candle, and rejoice in our renewed life in Christ!

Episcopal 101 (and 102, 103, 104...)
Over the next several months Matthew will be offering special sessions for those interested in becoming Episcopalian, wondering about their faith, or just wanting to know more about our Church.
We will gather at 6:30pm over a simple pot-luck supper (venue to be confirmed) and have a conversation about the subjects listed below. Matthew has chosen subjects based on questions you have been asking him over the last few weeks and months, that will also help to deepen peoples appreciation of our Episcopal approach to faith. Please email him at [email protected] if you wish to come along and join in.
Febuary 25th at 6:30m
- What is the Anglican Communion and what do they think about sexuality?
March 17th at 6:30pm
- Why do we pray this way?
May 19th at 6:30pm
- What did you do in Israel?




News & Announcements
 - also see www.transfig-sm.org

Director of Music         
We say a final farewell to our Director of Music, Eric Choate today, February 7th. We have a card for Eric that you may sign today if you did not get a chance last Sunday. If you would like to give Eric a monetary gift please place it in the offering plate in a sealed envelope marked 'Eric Choate.' We are happy to collect these gifts and pass them on, but these are given directly to Eric, so they are not tax deductible. Any checks should be made payable to Eric Choate.

I am pleased to announce the appointment Cyril Deaconoff as Interim Director of Music beginning Sunday, February 14.

Cyril Deaconoff
An American composer, conductor and organist. Cyril is a native of Moscow, Russia and completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and his Doctorate in Music at Indiana University, Bloomington. Several of his works have been published by E. C. Schirmer in Boston and may be heard at www.myspace.com/cyrildeaconoff. Cyril's first album of vocal, choral and instrumental music, A Bridge of Hope, may be found at ITunes store, Amazon.com and www.cdbaby.com/cd/cyrildeaconoff Previously Dr. Deaconoff served as the Organist at St. John's Presbyterian Church in San Francisco where he presided over the 140 year old Johnson Organ. In 2013 Cyril was one of 7 organists selected from all over the world to participate in Cesar Franck International Organ Competition in Haarlem, Netherlands, the only American organist to be given such an honor.  Currently Cyril is Music Director for Petaluma Chorale and Artistic Director with Voices of Silicon Valley in San Jose. In 2011 West Bay Opera gave a workshop premiere of Cyril Deaconoff's new opera, The Last Tycoon, after F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Volunteer Board
At our Annual Meeting we put up a volunteer board with opportunities that align with our parish vision. Please go and have a look during coffee hour and sign up for things you would like to do to help us achieve our vision as a parish this year.

Expected & Unexpected
Sunday, February 21 at 9am
"What is a Fiduciary?"
A fiduciary is a person who holds something in trust, acting on behalf of another (as in managing money or property.) A fiduciary assumes a duty to act in good faith with care, candor, and loyalty in fulfilling his or her obligations.
Anne Lassahn founded her firm in 2001 and has been successfully providing fiduciary series in the Bay Area ever since. She has been on the referral list for the probate court in both San Mateo and Santa Clara Countries and she brings many years of business management and care service experience from the five years she ran a home care agency and two years she was in upper management at a large retirement community. Her unique background allows her to serve her clients with professionalism and compassion.
Anne Lassahn will be joining our "Expected and Unexpected" forum on Feb. 21 at 9:00.

Women's Retreat
Feb. 26-28 @ Bishop's Ranch
Registration for the 2016 Women's Retreat is now open. Forms are available online and at church. This year's theme is Gifts of the Spirit. We will gather Friday evening through Sunday midday for social time, prayer, small group reflections, and Eucharist. Saturday afternoon is open for free time at the ranch or in town. Partial and full scholarships are available. If you have any questions, please contact Jan Jensen or Monica Whitaker.

St. Margaret's Guild - February Outreach
St. Margaret's Guild is pleased to sponsor the February Community Outreach Basket (located in the Narthex).  We are again sponsoring the layette program at St. Luke's Medical Center in San Francisco, an Episcopal Charities partner agency providing pre-natal and ante-natal care to mothers who have limited financial means, no health education abilities, and sometimes little family support.  The layette program provides basic clothing and diapers for the newborn at the medical Center before being discharged. Clothing items donated should be new (or very gently used) and the Program does ask that stuffed toys and soap items not be donated - since these last items may cause allergies.
LIST OF WELCOMED ITEMS:        
*ONE PIECE SLEEPER-PLAYSUITS ("ONESIES")     *PAJAMAS    *SWEATERS    *HATS    *SOCKS     
*BABY TOWELS     *MIX AND MATCH TOPS AND BOTTOMS    *WASHCLOTHS     *RECEIVING BLANKETS *DIAPERS IN NEWBORN & SLIGHTLY LARGER SIZES
For more information, please contact Judy Castillo at [email protected] or 650-341-3093.

Grace Cathedral Evensong 
Celebrating those married or partnered for 50+ years 
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, and the Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, bishop of California, cordially invite couples who have been married or partnered for 50 years or more to celebrate their years together at an Evensong on Sunday, February 28, at 3 p.m. This festal Choral Evensong will be sung by the Cathedral Camerata. Couples are invited to renew their wedding vows during the service, and the bishop will pronounce God's blessing. A celebratory reception follows the service. To receive an invitation, or to request an invitation for a couple you know, register at gracecathedral.org/50plus or contact the Rev. Nina Pickerrell, [email protected], 415.749.6361.

Chili Cookoff 
Join in on Family Fun at the Third annual Chili Cook-Off on March 5 at 5:30 in the Parish Hall. Taste the chili offerings from various members of the community and sip beer (noted below) and other beverage offerings. This event benefits the church music program.
Craft Brew Tasting - come enjoy some tasty craft beers with your chili.  We will have all types of beer from microbreweries in the Bay Area and beyond. This is a must for any beer aficionado! We invite people to enjoy their beers responsibly.

Girl Scouts
Invited to earn "My Promise, My Faith" Pin
All Girl Scouts are invited to join Rev. Monica and Michele Maia to earn the "My Faith, My Promise" pin. This pin can be earned each year by Girl Scouts in grades K-12 by completing a five step journey that explores how the Girl Scout Law relates to our faith teachings. We will be meeting twice to work on the first four steps for earning this award: Friday, February 19 and Friday, March 4, 3:15-3:45 pm in the Parish Hall. The final step will be completed on Girl Scout Sunday, March 13 at the 10:30 am service. The girls will participate in leading parts of the worship service and will receive their pins. If you have any questions please contact Michele Maia, [email protected].

Distil Dinner Club
March 13th 2016, 6:15pm
Our ministry for young adults is meeting in a dinner club setting again during the season of Lent. On March 13th we are meeting to discuss the first chapter of Crazy Christians, our book club book for the whole parish for Lent. An alternative to reading the chapter is to watch the sermon it is based on in YouTube. Google Bishop Curry, YouTube, General Convention 2012. Bring along crazy food combinations for this Pot-Luck supper.

Diocesan Summer Camps 
Registration is now open
In the Diocese of California we are blessed with a diversity of camp programs serving people of varying ages and abilities.   St. Dorothy's Rest, The Bishop's Ranch and Camp St. Francis offer a variety of programs throughout the summer.   See the flyers and poster in the Narthex for the full schedule of offerings or follow the links below to find more information.
www.bishopsranch.org
www.stdorothysrest.org
www.campstfrancis.org

Transfig Teens Program during Lent and Easter
A number of our teenagers will be deeply engaged in Confirmation preparation during Lent, but if they have extra time and for those who are not in confirmation classes we will be joining with St. Matthew's, St. Paul's and Trinity for youth activities over the next few months. Please see the dates below. More details will come out as they are available.
Sun. Feb 21
- 5pm - activity to be determined
Sun. March 13
- 5pm - Agape Meal
Sun. April 10
- 5pm - activity to be determined
Sun. May 22
- 5pm - end of year party
We are also planning a year end activity for our own youth, a camping trip, and see previous article in this issue of 'Journey' for summer camp details and links.

Chapel Time & Kids Club Sign-ups
Now is the time to sign up for the rest of the program year for these ministries. Please follow this link to find the sign ups. Thanks!
http://www.transfig-sm.org/members.html
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Coffee Hour
We have many open Sundays for coffee hour hosting, for the 9:30, 10:30 & combined 10:00 services.  Please take a look at the link below and sign-up or call Bethany Lukach at 831-229-4723.  Thank you! 
http://www.transfig-sm.org/members.html 

Altar Flower Dedications
Sponsoring altar flowers is a beautiful way to honor loved ones marking special life events such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, baptism, confirmation, memory of a loved one, or a thanksgiving for life's blessings.  We invite people to sign up on the New 2016 Flower Chart now posted in the Narthex. A donation for sponsoring altar flowers is $30-$50 per family/individual.  You will receive an e-mail prior to the Sunday you signed up for, regarding the wording for your dedication.