February 19, 2023

We welcome all who worship here this morning!

WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE

PRELUDE                                         “Solemn Passacaglia”                            Hal H. Hopson

INTROIT                               “Come! Join Our Cheerful Song”                               Dale Wood                   

WELCOME                                                                 Rev. Susan Warrener Smith     

*CALL TO WORSHIP

     One: The glory of God transfigures the everyday.

       All:   The light of God transfigures familiar faces.

      One: At the heights of our worship, may God’s presence shine through the commonplace.

       All:   At the depths of our pain and struggle, may God’s presence give us courage and peace.

      One:  May God’s light, shining in the face of Christ, illumine all our days.  Amen

Let us worship God. 

*HYMN No. 191                 “We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding,”                               BREWER

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of mercy and of hope, we confess that we come with mixed thoughts and uncertain dreams.  We could not meet our daily needs without the labor of others, yet we take them for granted.  We are offended by slight offenses or oversights against us and hardly consider our neglect of your Word, our patience with evil, and our slowness to act for others.  We could not sense the beauty or meaning of life without your spirit, yet we have not noticed signs of the eternal in the ordinary moments of our lives.  We have not allowed our habits and perceptions to be transfigured by the glory of your grace and presence.  Grant us a taste of your love so we may acquire an appetite for justice and a capacity for fulfillment.  Sharpen our hunger and thirst for you, O Christ.  Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

One:  The grace of God comes to us.  The stars by which God would lead us still

             shine.  The mysteries of God are yet revealed.  We are forgiven.  We are

            accepted.  Sisters and brothers: hear and trust the Good News!

All:    In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.  Thanks be to God.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE #447           “We Are Forgiven”                                    WE ARE FORGIVEN

*PASSING OF THE PEACE                                       

         One:   The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,

All:      And also with you.

  WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

ANTHEM                                                       “Hymn of Promise”                                         Natalie Sleeth

PRAYER FRO ILLUMMINATION

SCRIPTURE Exodus 24:12-18

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.”  Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 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.”

When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 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.  To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.  Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE                                                                                  Sharon Renkes  

SCRIPTURE Matthew 17:1-9

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.  Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.  But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”  When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

SERMON                                                                                                                                     Rev. Susan Warrener Smith              

*HYMN NO. 189                        “O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair”                         DEO GRACIAS

PRAYERS OF TH CHURCH 

TIME OF OFFERING                                                           

*OFFERTORY RESPONSE #607       “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”         OLD HUNDREDTH

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

For life-sustaining gifts that we so often take for granted we give you thanks, gracious God.  As we invest a part of all you entrust to us to further the ministries of the church, may we show to others the immeasurable riches of your grace in Jesus Christ, and may this church be a beacon of hope and love for the world.  Amen.

*HYMN NO. 341                           “O God, Show Mercy to Us”                                             THAXTED

TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING

     Moment for Mission                         CROSSWALK Student Group - Mason Darner                   

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION 

BENEDICTION RESPONSE                    “Lord, Dismiss Us”                                                                        Dale Wood

POSTLUDE                              

Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452