Bulletin – Sunday, February 23, 2020

Sunday, February 23, 2020
Transfiguration

Approach

Gathering Song – VU #585 – “Jesus Bids Us Shine”

Welcome, lighting the candle and 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! Sometimes there is the veil, the overshadowing, terrifying cloud, the questions, the appearing and disappearing, the excitement, the wondering, the silence.

All: Sometimes God shows up in ways we cannot deny.

One: Always God shows up somehow.

All: So we have shown up here, now. May God give us eyes to see.

Opening Hymn – VU #413 – “O Splendour of God’s Glory Bright”

Prayer of Approach and Confession

God, you bring us together in this place, we come to be fed, to be renewed, to seek understanding. God, you challenge us in this place. We try to embrace the challenge, trusting that through challenge we grow in faith. God, you are revealed in this place, sometimes in shining glory, sometimes in tears and struggle. And yet we must ask you to forgive us, God, when we linger too long by the waters, and on the mountain tops, enthralled with the glory that flows from you. When we fail to listen to your voice leading and guiding us, shake us from our contentment and send us forward endowed with your power. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Passing the Peace

Time for All Ages

Hymn – VU #103 – “How Good, Lord, to be Here”

The Word

Scripture Reading:

Exodus 24:12-18
Matthew 17:1-9

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!

Meditation – “To Be On The Mountain”

Anthem – “Transfigure Us, O Lord”

The Response

Offering / Response: (VU #537)

Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
And some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make;
Be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.

Offering Prayer

Almighty God, who made us who we are, we offer all of ourselves to You. Take our talents, our energy and our joy, and use us to share Your love. Take our mistakes, our regrets and our pain, and use us to bring Your healing. Magnify the gifts we offer before You today, to spread Your peace in the world. Amen.

Prayers of the People

One: Let us walk:
All: In the light of the God of Transfiguration.

Closing Hymn – VU #371 – “Open My Eyes, That I May See”

Commissioning / Benediction

Response

I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
No turning back, no turning back.