Among the Flock

Visitation: Transfiguration

Bishop Rob Price visited Transfiguration in Dallas on Sunday where a baby was baptized, and 10 youth and 15 adults confirmed. He prayed over Mother Rebecca Tankersley, senior associate rector, who had just celebrated her 11^th anniversary to the priesthood. Rector Casey Shobe commissioned a group of 30 pilgrims for their journey to Greece and Turkey as they follow the footsteps of Paul.

The visitation was wonderful, Bishop Price said. “I was blessed and impressed with the care and beauty with which speaks to the devotion to Jesus by the clergy and congregation,” he said.  “But most of all, l was deeply grateful for the children and youth, and the spirit of joy that they possessed, along with the many adults I confirmed and received. Good things are happening at Transfiguration.”

One of the great ministries at Transfiguration is their strong communications team led by Director of Communications T.J. McCoy and Digital Specialist Al Blackwell. Their communications ministry is a core aspect of their baptismal promise of proclaiming the Good News, they said.  Their love for Christ is reflected in the website structure, visual displays, social media presence, and livestream video. McCoy and Blackwell seek and serve Christ in all persons and view themselves as digital evangelists. As a result, they are thrilled when newcomers say they first got to know the church online before an in-person visit.

The communication department also relies on the talent and gifts of parishioners including Robert Hacker and John Makowski who capture the joy and beauty of parish life with their photography. Their wonderful photographs can be seen in this newsletter below. Hacker is a retired IT professional and Makowski is a retired psychiatrist. Hacker said he “happened” into photography after joining the church in 2014 and he had volunteered for Vacation Bible School, where he took photos and created a slide show.  Makowski began photography later when he volunteered for an event the church sponsored. Both Hacker and Makowski volunteer to take photos of major feast days and special events.

The entire Communication team is a wonderful gift to the life of the Church.  

Visitation: Church of the Redeemer in Irving

Bishop Rob Price visited Church of the Redeemer in Irving on Easter Sunday. "There was a wonderful Easter spread where the whole parish turned out to show the fellowship and joy of the day," Bishop Price said. "I was grateful how they included children and youth in the festivities of the day from the Easter egg hunt to the procession beginning worship itself."

This church is without a full-time priest, and are active and love community and outreach. They serve with Family Promise a faith based non-profit in Irving that provides shelter for families experiencing homelessness. Redeemer also partners with other churches to provide focused financial assistance and food ministry to Irving residents who are in crisis. 

This wonderful parish is also excited about their newest outreach called Change Collection Donation where they take all change and small bills from the collection plate each Sunday and donate the money at the end of the month to a designated organization. This has really caught the attention of the children at the parish and is teaching them about giving.  Leaders teach use the ministry to teach youth about how small giving adds up. They even asked Bishop Price to say something about the new effort. “Redeemer is taking a new approach to missional giving.  Through a program called 'Small Change, Big Impact’, any loose coins, $1, $5, or $10 bills left in the offering plate will be used to support and designated mission focus for that month," Price said. "The mission focus will change monthly, alternating between community (external) and church-based missions. Designed to promote in-church giving, what for many of us feels like small change, when given regularly and combined with other small gifts can quickly make a big impact."

This group of believers offers a weekly Bible study, Daughters of the King chapter, Men's fellowship group and a monthly trivia shindig organized by the parish 30-somethings where they share, learn and laugh. The Parish has partnered with the nearby Presbyterian Church for Lenten soup suppers in addition to hosting blood drives, family game nights, ice cream socials, fund-raising galas and more. These folks are active, love the Lord and love one another.