By Father Casey Shobe

This weekend is our Annual Meeting. I realize that reminding you of that is the equivalent of telling about half of you to stay home…but if you do, you’ll be missing out!

At Annual Meeting this Sunday, which happens between the two services in the church, I will share with you several pieces of great news. The results of the capital campaign feasibility study are in, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. This church has once again risen to a challenge, and it is wonderful to behold. So, I’ll have that good news, along with a bunch of related information.

We’ll also hear good news about both the 2019 financials and the 2020 budget. You stepped up in a big way to leave us in a strong position to end the year, and your pledges of support have grown our budget for 2020 in exciting and energizing ways.

We’ll also celebrate the newest recipients of the Tau Cross and Crown, which is awarded to parishioners who have made significant contributions to our church. There are three recipients this year, but you’ll have to come to learn who they are!

What I won’t be able to do is thank each deserving person for all the faithful things they did for our church as we sought and served Christ in all persons. I won’t be able to, because there are simply too many people to thank, and too many moments to celebrate. So, I hope you’ll read the beautiful Annual Report – which is filled with gorgeous photographs as well as succinct distillations of the work of dozens of ministries and committees – to get a sense of just how much we were up to in 2019. Which was a lot!

In the midst of a messy world, with countless situations that demand the full measure of love’s force, I am more thankful than ever to be part of Transfiguration. This church empowers me to face every hardship as an agent of Christ’s compassion. I struggle to imagine trying to wade through these troubled times without you at my side. I am thankful for the ways you show Jesus to me, and I can’t wait to see what adventures we have in the year ahead.


 

Fr. Casey became the fourth rector of Transfiguration in October 2014 after having served churches in Rhode Island and Houston. He is married to Mtr. Melody Shobe, also an Episcopal priest, and they have two daughters, Isabelle and Adelaide. Fr. Casey grew up in Temple, Texas, and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. His Master of Divinity was earned at Virginia Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry at the School of Theology at the University of the South (Sewanee). He loves playing golf, road cycling, hiking, brewing beer, and working in his yard. You can contact Father Casey by email.