March 3, 2019

THEME: Claiming the Light Within

NOTES: Have you ever noticed how our physical posture reflects what's going on deep inside our hearts? Our sorrows and worries literally bow our heads and shoulders. Excitement makes it difficult to sit still. Resentment tightens our jaws and stiffens our joints. Joy makes our eyes shine and our faces glow. Worry tightens into a knot between our shoulders.  Gratitude opens our arms into expansive gestures. What then is the visible result of the light of Christ within our hearts?

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 12 & Luke 9:28-36 and 37-43a (NRSV)

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 12 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, 13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. 14 But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. 15 Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; 16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
4 Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.


Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said.

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."

While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.


8:30 am Order of Service

We Gather in God's Presence

Welcome
Prelude
Lighting the Christ Candles
Praise Hymn#517 "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" (verses 1, 2, & 3)
Call to Worship 
Leader: The earth has its kings, but God is ruler of all.
People: Praise God above all, the giver of life!
Leader: The mountains may tremble, the oceans may roar,
People: but God's presence is more powerful than the earth itself.
Leader: Come into God's presence, for God is among us now.
People: O God, show us your glory; we seek your ways.
Leader: Come to the Rock, the God of life.
People: Our God is present now.

—by Mary Scifres, on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/blog/entry/1779/worship-elements-october-16-2011

Invocation
Loving, living God,
be among us now.
Live in us,
that we may be people of steadfast hope
and powerful giving.
Help us remember
that all we are and all we have
are gifts from you,
gifts to be shared in service and love.
Holy One among us,
help us be a holy people
who receive your word with joy
and live your message with love. Amen.

—adapted form a prayer by Mary Scifres, on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/blog/entry/1779/worship-elements-october-16-2011

We Contemplate God's Word

Scripture
Sermon

We Pray Together

Joys & Concerns
Prayer Hymn#264 "Where the Spirit of the Lord Is" (sing twice)
Praying Together 

Prayer of Intercession for Transfiguration Sunday
(based on Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36, 2 Peter 1:16-18)

It is a strange time of year, O God.
We linger between the seasons of Epiphany and Lent.
We are between the joy of your appearing
and the horror of your undoing
at the hands of those who would not or could not
embrace your way of life.

Perhaps we – like Peter, James, and John –
wait for your appearing in dazzling light and unmistakable clarity:
We are in need of a glimpse of Jesus
who is the way through the mix and mess of this life.

We are in need of a glimpse of Jesus who is the truth –
the truth that love is stronger than hate;
peace is possible;
and life can emerge even in the midst of devastation.
We pray for that truth to be known.
(PAUSE)

We are in need of a glimpse of Jesus who is the life;
inviting us to follow in his footsteps
as he trod the way of love and justice,
inviting us to follow him in prayer
as he lived out his faith
and made You known.

We give thanks for the good news that unfolds in the world
as people dream your dreams, follow your nudging,
and seek you in the faces they meet each day.
Perhaps, O God, it is the only Transfiguration we really need.

For all those who are quiet witness to your love and way of life,
we give thanks, O God.
(PAUSE)

Draw us to the rhythm of Lent as it unfolds in our midst;
a sacred invitation to explore the corners of our soul.
Open us to your light that we might see ourselves clearly,
with all our fears and faults and faith,
with all our desires and dreams and duties.
Help us to see our journey as a place of your appearing –
that like Peter, James, and John
we may come down from the mountain
and set one foot in front of the other
in your name and for your sake. Amen.

~ adapted from a prayer from World in Prayer, a ministry of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Lodi, California, USA. http://www.worldinprayer.org/
 

We Come to the Lord's Table

Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn#422 "Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ" (all verses)
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving

We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn#595 "Be Thou My Vision" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Blessing

10:40 am Order of Service

We Gather in God's Presence

Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship  
Leader: The earth has its kings, but God is ruler of all.
People: Praise God above all, the giver of life!
Leader: The mountains may tremble, the oceans may roar,
People: but God's presence is more powerful than the earth itself.
Leader: Come into God's presence, for God is among us now.
People: O God, show us your glory; we seek your ways.
Leader: Come to the Rock, the God of life.
People: Our God is present now.

—by Mary Scifres, on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/blog/entry/1779/worship-elements-october-16-2011

Praise Hym#517 "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" (verses 1, 2, & 3)
Lighting of the Candles 

Invocation 
Loving, living God,
be among us now.
Live in us,
that we may be people of steadfast hope
and powerful giving.
Help us remember
that all we are and all we have
are gifts from you,
gifts to be shared in service and love.
Holy One among us,
help us be a holy people
who receive your word with joy
and live your message with love. Amen.

—adapted form a prayer by Mary Scifres, on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/blog/entry/1779/worship-elements-october-16-2011

Passing of the Peace
Faith Hymn#259 "Spirit of the Living God" (sing twice)

We Contemplate God's Word

Scripture
Choir Anthem
Children's Sermon
Sermon

We Pray Together

Joys & Concerns
Prayer Hymn#264 "Where the Spirit of the Lord Is" (sing twice)
Praying Together 

Prayer of Intercession for Transfiguration Sunday
(based on Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36, 2 Peter 1:16-18)

It is a strange time of year, O God.
We linger between the seasons of Epiphany and Lent.
We are between the joy of your appearing
and the horror of your undoing
at the hands of those who would not or could not
embrace your way of life.

Perhaps we – like Peter, James, and John –
wait for your appearing in dazzling light and unmistakable clarity:
We are in need of a glimpse of Jesus
who is the way through the mix and mess of this life.

We are in need of a glimpse of Jesus who is the truth –
the truth that love is stronger than hate;
peace is possible;
and life can emerge even in the midst of devastation.
We pray for that truth to be known.
(PAUSE)

We are in need of a glimpse of Jesus who is the life;
inviting us to follow in his footsteps
as he trod the way of love and justice,
inviting us to follow him in prayer
as he lived out his faith
and made You known.

We give thanks for the good news that unfolds in the world
as people dream your dreams, follow your nudging,
and seek you in the faces they meet each day.
Perhaps, O God, it is the only Transfiguration we really need.

For all those who are quiet witness to your love and way of life,
we give thanks, O God.
(PAUSE)

Draw us to the rhythm of Lent as it unfolds in our midst;
a sacred invitation to explore the corners of our soul.
Open us to your light that we might see ourselves clearly,
with all our fears and faults and faith,
with all our desires and dreams and duties.
Help us to see our journey as a place of your appearing –
that like Peter, James, and John
we may come down from the mountain
and set one foot in front of the other
in your name and for your sake. Amen.

~ adapted from a prayer from World in Prayer, a ministry of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Lodi, California, USA. http://www.worldinprayer.org/
 

We Come to the Lord's Table

Invitation to the Table
Communion Hym#422 "Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ" (all verses)n
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving

We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn#595 "Be Thou My Vision" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Blessing
Closing Hymn#431 "Go, My Children, with My Blessing" (verse 1)