The Celebration of the Gospel
March 2, 2014— Sunday of the Transfiguration
He was transfigured before them,
and his face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white.
A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Own, m y Beloved,
with whom I am well pleased.
Listen to him.”
— Matthew 17.2,5
—————— We Gather as the Body of Christ
GREETING
PRELUDE Be Thou My Vision Traditional Irish Tune, arr: Fred Bock
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Light of Creation, light from God,
All: we are in awe. We worship in wonder and praise.
Light of love, shining in Christ,
we are your Beloved. We thank you in humility and joy.
Light of the Spirit, fire of love,
we are aflame with you. We burn with your courage and love.
God says, “This is my Own, my Beloved. Listen to him.”
We are listening, God. Speak, and create us anew. Amen.
SONG Shine, Jesus Shine Black hymnal # 2173
CHILDREN’S TIME
————————————— We Attend to the Word
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Transfiguration Craig Phillips
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of love, your Word is made flesh, your law fulfilled and the prophets revealed in Christ. Your light shines among us. Speak, for we are listening. Amen.
The Sunday of the Transfiguration brings to a climactic close the season of Epiphany, with its theme of Jesus as light of the world.
OLD TESTAMENT Exodus 24.12-18
[Moses goes up on the mountain and encounters God, who shines with light.]
The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.”
Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
PSALTER Psalm 99
[Weaves together the themes of God’s light and glory, Moses, the pillar of cloud, and God’s holy mountain.]
The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble!
God sits enthroned upon the cherubim;
let the earth quake!
The Lord is great in Zion;
and is exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and awesome name.
Holy are you! Mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established equity;
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Extol the Lord our God; worship at God’s footstool.
Holy are you! Moses and Aaron were among God’s priests,
Samuel also was among those who called on God’s name.
They cried to the Lord, who answered them.
God spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
they kept his decrees, and the statutes that God gave them.
O Lord our God, you answered them;
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
Extol the Lord our God,
and worship at God’s holy mountain;
for the Lord our God is holy.
NEW TESTAMENT 2 Peter 1.16-21
[Refers to God’s blessing of Christ on the mountain, and also uses the image of light: we are warned to pay attention to the prophetic message “like a lamp shining in a dark place.”
GOSPEL Matthew 17.1-9
[Reflecting the story of Moses on the mountain, the story describes the vision of Jesus transfigured in light on the mountain. We see Jesus’ glory; his approval from God; his shining forth the good news; his authority equal to the law (represented by Moses) and the prophets (Elijah; ,the oromise of resurrection, as if he is a new dawn; and the command that we listen to him.]
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Own, my Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
SERMON
SONG I Have Decided To Follow Jesus Black hymnal # 2129
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
PASSING THE PEACE
—————————We Share at Christ’s Table
OFFERING OUR GIFTS — Including SECOND MILE PLEDGES
Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring J. S. Bach
COMMUNION SONG
Christ on the mountain height, radiant with God’s delight,
shining with love and mercy bright,
from fear and death released, we come in thanks to feast
upon your resurrection’s light.
Jesus, Beloved One, bright as Easter’s rising sun,
called to listen and follow you,
fearless of pain or loss, help us to bear your cross
with love’s pure light in all we do.
Savior and dearest friend, Law and Prophet’s fullest end,
strengthened by love, by the Spirit drawn,
feed us with courage, Lord. Help us to live your Word
and trust in Easter’s promised dawn.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Black hymnal # 2257
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You have fed us with the light of your love, the radiance of your delight in us, the rising sun of resurrection, the fire of your passion for all beings. Send us out to be light for the world in the power of your Spirit aflame in us. Amen.
—————————— We Are Sent in Ministry to the World
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory Black hymnal # 2102
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE [Please turn across the aisle and sing to one another.]
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you, my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.