Description
Matthew 17:1-9
God’s revelation to His people is a demonstration of His love and His grace for them. Of course, we are overwhelmed by it, by the thought of it. But at every turn the revelation of God confirms to us that Jesus is our Lord, that our faith is not in vain, that we need not live in fear, but that we should live by faith in Him. And a revelation of this kind provides us with another word from God about the hope of glory that lies ahead of us, no matter what we have to endure here on earth. Only in Christ is there any hope of passing beyond the grave to glory. The Transfiguration reminds us that God-sized transformations are happening all around us. Sometimes they can be found in the small things in life and sometimes it is in the big things in life. But in order to see them, we need to follow Jesus up that mountain, we need to open our eyes to witness the presence of God and we need to believe that what we are seeing is real and true.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Pastor / Worship Leader
Greetings on this beautiful Sunday morning. Today is the day in our liturgical calendar on which we focus on the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. This is the last Sunday before we begin the season of Lent. As we enter into prayer and worship, may the Lord prepare our hearts to receive His revelation for us, that it may give us fresh understanding of the God whom we serve.
Worshipers
We would have our eyes opened that we may see God’s glory.
Time of Praise and Worship
Jesus
Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, 2016 sixsteps Songs, Worship Together Music, S.D.G. Publishing, Alletrop Music (Admin by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Grateful
Chris Brown, Matthew Ntlele, Stefan Green, Steven Furtick, Music by Elevation Worship, Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), Shout Music Publishing (Admin Capitol CMG)
Build My Life
Brett Younker, Karl Martin, Kirby Kaple, Matt Redman. 2017 Said And Done Music, sixsteps Music, Thankyou Music, worshiptogether.com songs, Karl Martin Publishing Designee (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Kaple Music, Bethel Music Publishing (Admin Bethel Music) Arkyard Music Services
[Traditional Options]
Blessed Redeemer
BH75 109; BH91 149; CH 326; HFG 275; HGP 100; HS 60; RH 158; STTL 243; WHM 237; WIS 104
Tis Good, Lord, To Be Here
ELW 315; LBW 89; LSB 414; LW 89
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
BH 75 31; BH 91 7; CH 90.271; CHH 2; EH 376; ELW 836; HWC 1; HPW 10; HFG 377; HLC 25; HGP 14; LBW 551; LSB 803; NCH 4; PH 464; RH 4; RS 669; STTL 174; WC 20; UMH 89; WAR 59; WHM 36; WIS 2
Invocation
Pastor/Worship Leader
O Holy One, on mountaintops and valley floors you reveal to us the light of your love. Our hearts desire is to bask in the amazing glory of the divine presence. With each encounter we are changed and transformed. Draw us nearer that we might receive a double portion of your Holy Spirit. Help us, O Holy One, to live our lives as a reflection of divine glory. May we walk among our brothers and sister as a blessing, bearing light into dark places, hope to displace despair, and love that casts out hate. Our world is hurting, and we need the followers of Jesus to follow more closely. Maybe then we will hear your voice speaking to us and saying, “listen to my Child, the Beloved!”
Worshipers
Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor/Worship Leader
Holy God, mighty and immortal, you are beyond our knowing, yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ, whose compassion illumines the world. Transform us into the likeness of the love of Christ, who renewed our humanity so that we may share in his divinity, the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit?
Worshipers
Transform and renew us, Lord, we pray. Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor/Worship Leader
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 you have worked in our own 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.
Worshipers
Grant us the grace and wisdom to watch, to listen, to follow, to learn, and, in the
end, to possibly understand, as we join you on The Way. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Exodus 24:8-18
God invites Moses to ascend the mountain and enter into the cloud that covered it – passing into the presence of God. What must it have been like to be in the presence of God’s glory on Mount Sinai? To the Israelites below, it looked like “a devouring fire.” But from within the cloud? We are not told. We do know that when Moses finally did descend, his face shone brightly with God’s glory. There are times God calls us to places that appear to be in the midst of the fire, or shrouded in mystery like a cloud that we cannot see into. But surely to follow His call means to move closer into His living presence, and to be touched by His glory.
8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. 12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” 13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.” 15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
