Our Mission Statement
To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Please remember to send your joys and concerns to the office so we can continue to pray throughout the week.
March 2, 2025 10:15 a.m. Transfiguration Sunday
Welcome and Community Life
Prelude
Call to Worship
Leader: How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
People: All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
* Opening Hymn My Hope Is Built UMH 368
Opening Prayer
Children’s Message Pastor Jim
Prayer Hymn Close to Thee, vv. 1-2 UMH 407
Prayers of the People
Prayer Response Hear Us, O God UMH 490
Choral Anthem I'm Gonna Sing Chancel Choir
Prayer of Illumination
Holy One,
As we hear your word, may your light shine into us. With the Spirit’s power, may your light shine through us.
Scripture Reading
Psalm 99
The LORD ireigns; let the peoples tremble! The Lord sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and wondrous name.
Holy is the Lord!
Mighty Ruler, lover of justice, you have established equity;
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool.
Holy is the Lord!
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. who spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
They kept God’s testimonies, 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 his holy mountain.
Surely the LORD our God is holy!
Luke 9:28-36
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus[a] took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking about his exodus, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, but as they awoke they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not realizing what he was saying. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen;[b] listen to him!” 36 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.
Leader: The Word of God
People: Thanks be to God
Sermon “Astounded at the Greatness”
Holy Communion
Invitation
Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.
Confession & Pardon
Lord Jesus Christ, God's glory and love shone through you that day on the mountain and you persisted in revealing that glory and love through your words and deeds; through your life of humble service. We hear again these wonderful words of God "You are my Son, the Beloved, listen to him!” We confess our failure to listen to you because of the influence on our lives of the gods of this world. When this happens, our attitudes conceal rather than reveal your glory and your love.
If we conceal your love because our pursuit of other priorities prevents us from seeing and serving people in need:
forgive us, Lord.
If we conceal your glory because all we reflect is our own self-centeredness:
forgive us, Lord
If we conceal your truth through our lack of credible witness:
forgive us, Lord.
If we conceal your justice through our failure to empower those who are powerless:
forgive us, Lord.
If we conceal your mercy because of our hard and unforgiving attitudes:
forgive us, Lord.
If we conceal your compassion because of our prejudice and intolerance:
forgive us, Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, cleanse our lives of all shameful attitudes of mind and heart so that we reveal your glory in and through all we do and say and are. This we pray in your name and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Assurance of Forgiveness
(2 Corinthians 4:6)
It is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The good news is that we are not only enlightened by our belief in Christ, we are cleansed and we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God! Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. Glorious are your ways, O Lord. All creation joins in praising you.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. He brings victory over death, dying for our sins and raising us to new life. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Offering our Gifts to God
The Doxology
Prayer of Dedication
Glorious God, who reveals the light of your presence, we bring these gifts as a testament to your transforming power. Jesus was transfigured before his disciples; transform us to reflect your love and grace. Use these offerings to shine your light in the world, bringing hope and healing. In the name of your beloved Son, we pray. Amen.
* Closing Hymn Christ Is the World's Light UMH 188
Breakthrough Prayer
Dismissal with Blessing