Prelude
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
Welcome Jeff
Call to Worship Laura
Lord, you have called us to the mountaintop, but we are tired and weary.
Help us to go where you have invited us.
Give us eyes to see your vision of simple wisdom and complicated truth.
Give us ears to hear your message of gritty hope and new life.
Lord, we have come, together while apart, to experience you.
Let us worship God, tender and just.
Opening Hymn
We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding
We have come at christ’s own bidding to this high and holy place,
Where we wait with hope and longing for some token of God’s grace.
Here we pray for new assurance that our faith is not in vain,
Searching like those first disciples for a sign both clear and plain.
Light breaks through our clouds and shadows, splendor bathes the flesh joined Word,
Moses and Elijah marvel as the heavenly voice is heard.
Eyes and hearts behold with wonder how the Law and Prophets meet:
Christ with garments drenched in brightness stands transfigured and complete.
Call to Confession
God became one of us so that we could see the face of love, hear the voice of peace, be touched by the hand of grace, and know the heart of mercy. God comes to us, offering us forgiveness and new life. Please join me in prayer as we lift up to God the brokenness in ourselves and our world, first in silent prayer.
Prayer of Confession
God of vulnerability and glory, you sent Jesus among us as the light of the world, to reveal your love for all people. On this Transfiguration Sunday, we confess that our narrow vision often hides the brightness of your light. And our fear and fatigue often obscures your message of hope and new life. In the past week, we confess what we have said and left unsaid, what we have done or left undone - things that have not realized your dream. Forgive us, God, and make new creation right here and right now, in our words and actions, in our hearts and minds. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Siblings in Christ, God is too busy loving you to be disappointed in you! You are forgiven. You are loved. You are set free.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Peace of Christ and Common Life
Scripture Readings
Mark 9:2-8 and 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:1
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon Rev. Jeff Lehn
Responsive Hymn No. 189, verses 1, 4 & 5
O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
Call for Offering
On this day, we are invited to participate in God’s kingdom emerging all around us. May we offer ourselves to God with glad and generous hearts, freely giving our tithes and offerings to the ministry of this congregation. In lieu of passing the plate, we invite you to give through our church website, our smartphone app, by texting the word “Wilmette” to the number 77977, or by sending a check to the church office. As we gather our gifts together and offer them to God, may we do so in gratitude and praise.
Congregational Response - The Doxology (OLD HUNDREDTH - Hymn 606)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Sending Hymn No. 192, verses 1 & 3
Lord, the Light of Your Love Is Shining
Charge and Benediction
Postlude
Andantino Edward Elgar
Sources
Prayer of Dedication – from ministrymatters.com/february14, 2021
Prayers of the People – adapted from 2 prayers: “Transfiguration Prayer” ~ written by rev karla, and posted on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/ and “Pastor Prayer on Transfiguration Sunday” — written by Rev Abi, and posted on the A Place for Prayer blog.
