Church welcomes new pastor

The Reverend Joseph W. Farber from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, has joined the congregation of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Sisters as its new Rector.

On his first Sunday, a service combining both the Episcopal Prayer Book Worship Style and the Ecumenical Worship Style was followed by a celebratory coffee hour.

Fr. Joseph comes from the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church where he has served for the past seven years. He has exhibited a keen interest in matters of faith since he was a child and has studied many different faith traditions. His first professional career was as an attorney but, feeling a need beyond what that offered, he decided to further his education by attending seminary. He was ordained in 2010.

He says, "Everything I believe, preach, and practice is rooted in the understanding and experience of the Divine which St. Paul articulated, that God is 'above all things, and through all things, and in all things' (Ephesians 4:6)."

Having come from a very different part of the country, Fr. Joseph and his family including wife, Jan, and family member, Tracy, are eagerly anticipating new adventures such as hiking, fishing and enjoying Sisters' great outdoors. He also looks forward to meeting not only the members of the congregation, but other clergy people in the Sisters area and becoming involved in the larger community.