Transfiguration of Jesus, The

Description

Here are worship resources inspired by the transfiguration of Jesus.

Scripture

Matthew 17:1-8
Mark 9:2-8
Luke 9:28-36

Prayers

Pastoral Prayer

O Lord,
You call us to go to the mountain top with you
And we follow, not quite sure of what is to happen,
but we like mountain tops,
we like the view from up here,
we like mountain top experiences.
Lord some times we need mountain top experiences with you
when our days are dark and dreary,
when our hearts, are heavy,
when the valleys seem more depressing then ever.
Lord, may this mountain top experience
fill our hearts with your light,
may we be filled with your love,
may we be filled with hope.

Lord, we are aware,
that just as Moses and your disciples
were changed by their experiences
that we too are changed and transformed
into the image of Christ by your mercy.
Lord, may we have unveiled faces that reflect your love,
your hope, and your light.

Amen.

~ written by Rev. Abi, and posted on A Place for Prayer.
http://revgalprayerpals.blogspot.ca/

Prayer

O God,
We open our eyes and we see Jesus,
the months of ministry transfigured to a beam of light,
the light of the world,
your light.
May your light shine upon us.

We open our eyes and we see Moses and Elijah,
your word restoring us, showing us the way,
telling a story,
your story, his story, our story.
May your word speak to us.

We open our eyes and we see mist,
the cloud of your presence
which assures us of all we do not know
and that we do not need to fear that.
Teach us to trust.

We open our eyes and we see Peter’s constructions,
his best plans, our best plans,
our missing the point,
our missing the way.
Forgive our foolishness and sin

We open our eyes and we see Jesus,
not casting us off,
but leading us down, leading us out -
to ministry, to people.
Your love endures forever.

We open our ears and we hear your voice,
‘This is my beloved Son, listen to him!’
And we give you thanks.

Amen.

~ written by William Loader (2/2001), and posted on Bill Loader’s Home Page.
http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/

Prayer of Confession

Peter, James, and John went up on the side of a mountain with Jesus
and experienced glory.
But then Peter wanted to stay. “It’s good for us to be here.
Let’s get comfortable.”
We are also often tempted
to keep the experience of the Divine to ourselves,
to enjoy the company of the saints
instead of going back down the mountain
to continue the work of the Kingdom of God.
God knows this temptation of our hearts, so let us confess
and pray for forgiveness.

God of glory and light, forgive us when we are
complacent and comfortable
with keeping the riches of your love to ourselves.
Keep calling us down from our mountains of privilege.
Keep expecting more of us as your disciples.
Keep reminding us to listen to your Son,
in whose name we pray.

Amen.

Whether we hear a voice from the heavens
or a still small voice in our hearts,
listen carefully for the love of God.
Believe and accept God’s love and live in God’s freedom.
We believe! Thanks be to God!

~ written by Rev. Dr. David Bahr, pastor of Park Hill Congregational United Church of Christ in Denver, Colorado. Posted on the United Church of Christ website.
http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/

Spoken Resources

Entry into Worship

Today we are celebrating the holy light that illuminated Jesus.
We celebrate his transfiguration on the mountain.

Light of light: transfusing & transforming light.
Divine light flooding out the shadows.
Light of love, light of delight.
Light that turns doubters into followers.

It is the same God who at the beginning said:
“Let there be light,”
who has shone in our hearts with an understanding
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The mightiest One of all, God the Eternal,
speaks and summons the whole earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.

From God’s holy mountain, God’s light,
the perfection of beauty, shines out.

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page.
http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Benediction

Go now, and speak of what you have seen of God’s glory.
Do not cling to the holy moments
when heaven overshadows you,
but as the Lord lives, listen to Christ and follow him
from the places of revelation
to the places of mission.

And may God shine the light of glory into your hearts.
May Christ be with you and never leave you.
And may the Spirit renew the image of God within you.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
in the name of Christ.

Amen.

~ Copyright © 2003 Nathan Nettleton.
http://www.laughingbird.net/

Songs

Traditional Hymn: Immortal, Invisible

Worship Together #53

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render—O help us to see
‘tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!

~ Walter Chalmers Smith.

Contemporary Hymn: The Mountain

How bitter-sweet to be here on this mountain,
high up above the troubles of this world;
to leave behind the clamour of the needy crowd;
to be at last alone with our dear Lord!
And God's true light expunges every shadow -
there is no doubt up here in this high place -
we see the glory of our God in Jesus;
see now that holy, holy light upon His face.

We long to stay up here upon this mountain;
How good it is to be here with our Lord.
To bask here in the light of God's great beauty,
kneel at His feet and soak up every word.
O, hear His call: "Come, gather all my faithful!"
Come, let His word shine in your hearts unveiled.
Oh! to go now to heaven like Elijah!
Oh that this holy, holy vision would not pale!

How bitter-sweet to be here on this mountain,
for well we know the valley waits below;
Our fellow trav'lers wait for news from mountain tops,
to share with us the joy that we now know.
They need to know that Jesus is the Saviour,
He is the light that shines for all the world.
and we will serve Him in the darkest valley
We will proclaim, proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord!.

~ words written by Brenton Prigge © 2006 New Hymn CCLI # 4674104.
Posted on http://www.newhymn.com/
He writes,“CCLI license holders may freely use and reproduce these lyrics, provided that CCLI copyright protocol is followed.”

Tune suggestion:
LONDONDERRY AIR (“O Danny boy”)

Contemporary Song: Blessing and Honour

The air is filled with angels
Who speak and shout your name
The atmosphere is changing
As eternity invades
Suddenly above us
The floor of heaven breaks
As your Spirit falls down
We will say

Blessing and honour
Glory and power
Be to your name, be to your name
All of the praises
Throughout the ages
Be to your name, be to your name
Forevermore

One day we will see you
Shining like the sun
Face to face with Beauty
Eye to eye with Love
Standing with the elders
We will throw our crowns
At the feet of Jesus

You're the Alpha, the Omega
The Creator and Sustainer of all
You're the Alpha, the Omega
The Creator and Sustainer of all

~ Vicky Beeching, Jonny Macintosh, Sarah Macintosh. Copyright © 2010 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at EMICMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by kingswaysongs.com) / worshiptogether.com Songs (ASCAP) (adm. at EMICMGPublishing.com) / Integrity Worship Music (ASCAP). CCLI Song #5665002. If you use this song in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license.

Listen to it here: http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=1791008

Contemporary Song: Shine on Us

Lord let Your light, light of Your face, shine on us
Lord let Your light, light of Your face, shine on us
That we may be saved, that we may have life
To find our way in the darkest night
Let Your light shine on us

Lord let Your grace, grace from Your hand, fall on us
Lord let Your grace, grace from Your hand, fall on us
That we may be saved, that we may have life
To find our way in the darkest night
Let Your grace fall on us

Lord let Your love, love with no end, come over us
Lord let Your love, love with no end, come over us
That we may be saved, that we may have life
To find our way in the darkest night
Let Your love come over us
Let Your light shine on us

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoYdQa6Cprc

Images

Notes

This worship resource was created/compiled by Christine Longhurst. You are welcome to use it free of charge, and where appropriate, please note the source. If you are printing any of the resources for distribution, please print the source as well. The content of the worship resource does not necessarily represent the views of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, which oversees the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. For more worship resources by Christine Longhurst, see http://www.re-worship.blogspot.ca or http://www.faithmatters.ca.

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