Due to the Sunday snow storm, there were no worship services held at the church, so there is no recorded sermon.
The Celebration of the Gospel
February 15, 2015 — Sunday of the Transfiguration
He was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.
— Mark 9.2-3
________ We Gather as The Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE As The Sun Doth Daily Rise Mark Roberts
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 50.1-6
[God shines forth out of all things; all Creation reflects God’s glory. God alone is our judge: God sees us as we really are.]
Leader: The Life-giving One, God the Lord, speaks.
All: God calls the earth into being from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From the beauty at the heart of all things God shines forth.
Our God comes and does not keep silence,
radiating glory that consumes everything,
a storm of beauty that leaves nothing untouched.
God calls all Creation to awareness,
for God sees what we do not.
“Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by giving their hearts!”
The heavens beam with God’s presence,
for God sees everything as it truly is.
SONG Fairest Lord Jesus Blue hymnal #189
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
___________ We Attend to the Word_________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG God Help the Outcasts
Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz (Jenn Woolcock and friends)
PRAYER OF THE DAY Blue hymnal # 259
OLD TESTAMENT 2 Kings 2.1-12
[At the end of his life the prophet Elijah is taken up into heaven in a whirlwind accompanied by a flaming chariot. Elisha, who has steadfastly stayed by his side, witnesses this. ]
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; don’t talk about it.” Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.
The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; don’t talk about it.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.
Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
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NEW TESTAMENT 2 Corinthians 4.3-6
[The gospel, the good news, is “veiled” to some: they can’t see it. But it shines. In the beginning God created light; and in Christ God shines; and God also shines in us, when we turn our faces toward Christ to receive that light.]
If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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GOSPEL Mark 9.2-9
[ Six days after Jesus tells the disciples he is going to die in Jerusalem, he goes up on a mountain to pray, where he is transfigured in light. Moses and Elijah (representing the Law and the Prophets) appear with him. Peter tries to think of how to react, but God repeats what God said at Jesus’ baptism: “This is my Beloved, my Son,” and then adds, “Listen to him.”]
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.
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SERMON
SONG Your Love Be My light Steve G-H
Lord of love, Light of God, let your love be my light.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We give our hearts to you, eternal and all-loving God, maker of heaven and earth. You are pure love, and your love is the light of the world.
We follow you, Jesus, Christ of God, Light of the World, fulfilment of the Law and Prophets. You fully embody God’s love and presence, and radiate God’s glory among us. In your healing and teaching, in your dying and rising shone the love of God. You live among us and your love is our guide, O Christ, our Lord and our light.
We live by the power of your Holy Spirit, your love in us, shining with beauty. Obeying your command to listen to Christ, we devote ourselves to deep prayer, and to love and service for the sake of the healing of the world. In your spirit we are one Body, and we offer ourselves in love to the world, trusting the mystery of your grace and the power of resurrection, to your eternal glory, which shines in all things. Amen.
SONG Alleluia
1. Alleluia 2. He’s my savior 3. I will follow.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
PASSING THE PEACE
______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Eucharistic Hymn Gordon Young
OFFERING SONG
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Blue hymnal #384 vv. 1, 4
PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you these gifts as symbols of our lives. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Fill us with the glory of your love, that we may shine with the light of Christ for the sake of the healing of the world, in the power of your Spirit. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
SONG Shine, Jesus, Shine Black hymnal #2173
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE Please stand and sing to your neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE When In Our Music God Is Glorified arr: Mark Hayes
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners of the room.]