Bulletin – Sunday, February 11, 2024 – Transfiguration
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Transfiguration Sunday
We Gather as People of Faith
Lighting the Christ Candle
One: In a cold world,
All: the light of Christ can warm hearts.
One: In a shadowed world,
All: the light of Christ can challenge us to the ways of peace.
One: In a world of despair,
All: the light of Christ can give real hope.
One: May we be the light of Christ and Bring hope, warmth, and peace.
Announcements
Call to Worship
One: The mountain top, the shining face, the glowing clothes, the voice of God speaking from the cloud, the commandments etched in stone.
All: Sometimes God shows up in ways we cannot deny, in a place we can go, a light we can see, a voice we can hear, a stone we can touch.
One: Sometimes…
All: sometimes there is the veil, the overshadowing, terrifying cloud, the questions, the appearing and disappearing, the excitement, the wondering, the silence.
One: Sometimes God shows up in ways we cannot deny.
All: Always God shows up somehow.
One: So we have shown up here, now.
All: May God give us eyes to see.
Hymn – “Open My Eyes, That I May See: (VU #371)
Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my eyes that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear,
And while the wave-notes fall on my ear, ev’rything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my mouth and let me bear gladly the warm truth ev’rywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Introduction to Prayer – “And When You Call for Me” (MV #96)
And when you call for me,
I have already answered.
And when you call for me,
I am already there.
And when you call for me,
I have already answered.
And when you call for me,
I am already there.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
God of Mercy and Grace, you come to us in Jesus of Nazareth to break down the dividing walls of hostility between us. Yet we maintain walls that separate and isolate. You give us the ministry of reconciliation. Yet we nurse our wounds and withhold mercy and forgiveness.
You invite us to join with Peter, James, and John on the mountain of Transfiguration. Yet we deny the wonders that you have worked in our lives. You ask us to acknowledge and share our wealth. Yet we refuse to recognize and relieve the poverty around us.
You bless our lives with boundless love. Yet we fail to witness to that love, and so keep others from knowing you.
Forgive our selfishness, we pray. Transform us by your Spirit and your Word into that which pleases you, the image of Christ. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Jesus admonished Peter, James, and John not to tell of what they witnessed on the mountain until he was resurrected. But we can tell what we have seen and heard of God’s glory! Here is the good news: Jesus lives! He is raised! We are forgiven! Go, share the vision! Tell of God’s love! In this God is well pleased.
Sung Response – “Behold, Behold, I make All Things New” (MV #115)
Behold, behold I make all things new,
Beginning with you and starting from today.
Behold, behold I make all things new,
My promise is true for I am Christ the way.
Behold, behold I make all things new,
Beginning with you and starting from today.
Behold, behold I make all things new,
My promise is true for I am Christ the way.
We Hear God’s Word
Prayer for Illumination
Mighty God, you spoke to your people in the pillar of cloud as they walked together in the wilderness. Speak to us through your Word Today, that we may hear you calling us out of the wilderness places in our lives and into new places you have promised to show us. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.
Hymn – “We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding” (VU #104)
We have come at Christ’s own bidding to this high and holy place,
Where we wait with hope and longing for some token of God’s grace.
Here we pray for new assurance that our faith is not in vain,
Searching like those first disciples for a sign both clear and plain.
Light breaks in upon our darkness; splendour bathes the flesh-joined Word;
Moses and Elijah marvel as the heavenly voice is heard.
Eyes and hearts behold with wonder how the Law and Prophets meet:
Christ, with garments drenched in brightness, stands transfigured and complete.
Strengthened by this glimpse of glory, fearful lest our faith decline,
We like Peter find it tempting to remain and build a shrine.
But true worship gives us courage to proclaim what we profess,
That our daily lives may prove us people of the God we bless.
Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12
1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 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. 3 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; keep silent.”
4 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. 5 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; keep silent.”
6 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. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 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, and the two of them crossed on dry ground.
9 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.” 10 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.” 11 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. 12 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.
Scripture Reading: Mark 9:2-9
2 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, 3 and his clothes became dazzling bright, such as no one on earth could brighten them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
9 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.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!
Meditation – “What did You See and Hear There?”
Anthem – “Transfigure Us, O Lord”
Transfigure us, O Lord, transfigure us, O Lord.
Break the chains that bind us; speak your healing word,
And where you lead we’ll follow.
Transfigure us, O Lord.
Down from heights of glory into the depths below,
The love of God self emptied, the love of God to show.
You light the path before us, the way that we must go.
Light for those in darkness, the hungry have their fill,
Glad tidings for the humble, the healing of all ills;
In these we glimpse your glory, God’s promises fulfilled.
Transfigure us, O Lord, transfigure us, O Lord.
Break the chains that bind us; speak your healing word,
And where you lead we’ll follow.
Transfigure us, O Lord.
Pardon for the sinner, a shepherd for the sheep,
A drink of living water for all who thirst and seek,
And feasting at your table, the lowly and the least.
To the holy city, Jerusalem, you go;
Your face set toward the ending, the cross to be your throne.
Shall we journey with you and share your Lenten road?
Transfigure us, O Lord, transfigure us, O Lord.
Break the chains that bind us; speak your healing word,
And where you lead we’ll follow.
Transfigure us, O Lord.
We Respond to God’s Word
An Invitation to Share
As an act of thanksgiving, we respond to God’s love by bringing our gifts of time, energy, and skills, our offerings of life and love.
Offering Response – “I Praise You, O God” (MV #61)
I praise you, O God, with all of my heart.
With all the earth I will sing your praises.
I praise you, O God, with all of my heart.
With all the earth I will sing your praises.
Prayers of the People
God of glory, you took your fiends with you when you went to pray on the mountain. You revealed to them the glory of Jesus, your beloved Son, on his way to the cross.
We do not live on mountaintops, but we, too, would glimpse your glory in the ordinary days of our lives, and in the community of your Son in which you have chosen to dwell.
We look for you among people who have no power, no rights, no voice. We look for you among those who live on the streets of our city, whose housing is inadequate, whose homes are not safe.
We look for you among those who grieve a past that is no more and fear a future that seems full of loss.
We hold up to you those who seek your presence in times of turmoil and strife. We pray for those in the war-torn places of the world. We pray for those in our community who need your healing touch…we pray for Marlene, Rob, Heather, Barb, Angela, Jay, Norm, Kieran, Paul, Joe, Nick, Brenda, Al, Brian, Helen, Les.
God who meets us in the broken places, shine the light of Christ deep into our lives, so we may carry that light into dark places and point to the One whose brokenness is our salvation.
We Go Into God’s World
Hymn – “O Splendour of God’s Glory, Bright” (VU #413)
O splendour of God’s glory bright,
From light eternal bringing light;
O light of life, light’s living spring,
True day, all days illumining:
Come, Holy Sun of heavenly love,
Pour down your radiance from above,
And to our inward hearts convey
The Holy Spirit’s cloudless ray.
O joyful be the passing day
With thoughts as clear as morning’s ray,
With faith like noontide shining bright,
Our souls unshadowed by the night.
O Christ, with each returning morn
Your image to our hearts is born;
O may we ever see anew
Our Saviour and our God in you!
Benediction
In the coming week, may you experience the presence of God with joy. May the holy cloud comfort you. May the divine voice encourage you. May the power of the Spirit transform you, transform us, transform our world, Amen.
Response – “Go Now in Peace, Guided by the Light” (MV #211)
Go now in peace, guided by the light of Christ,
So you may be nourished by the Word of Life.
Go now in peace, guided by the light of Christ,
So you may be nourished by the Word of Life.
(Material taken from re:Worship and Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023/2024)
