Lakeview Presbyterian Church
February 19, 2023
Transfiguration Sunday
Prelude “Finally, I Surrender” Edwards
Welcome:
Call to Worship (from Psalm 99) Andy Meacham, Liturgist
O Lord, you are a lover of justice.
You seek equity and have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
We praise your great and awesome name.
We come to worship you at your holy mountain.
*Hymn “O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!” G #41
Call to Confession
In the transfiguration story, Jesus’ clothes became dazzling white a sign of resurrection out of the violence the world inflicted upon him. Resurrection reminds us that the sins of the world and of our lives will not have the last world. God’s love, compassion and justice will be established on the earth. So let us confess before God and one another.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, even when we see your justice transfigured before us, we cower in fear of following your way in our world. We wonder what it might cost us to walk in the way of Jesus. Help us to listen. Empower us to be formed by the life of Jesus Christ. Restore in us the confidence to be disciples of Christ. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Just as a cloud overshadowed the disciples in the transfiguration story, and they heard a voice say that Jesus is the beloved of God, so too we are God’s beloved people. Be forgiven and restored to our right standing as God’s beloved.
Prayer for illumination
God of transfiguring light, show us your Word as we read the words of Scripture today, so that your will and way can illumine our paths. Amen.
Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures Exodus 24: 12-18 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there; I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So, Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up onto the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come back to you. Look, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.” Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the Israelites. Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
Reading from the Gospel Matthew 17:1-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Hymn (please remain seated) “Be Thou My Vision” G #450
Sermon “Practice of the Presence of God” Peter Murray
*Affirmation of Faith (from the Belhar Confession)
We believe in one holy, universal Christian church, the communion of saints called from the entire human family. We believe that Christ’s work of reconciliation is made manifest in the church as the community of believers who have been reconciled with God and with one another; that unity is, therefore, both a git and an obligation for the church of Jesus Christ; that through the working of God’s Spirit it is a binding force, yet simultaneously a reality which must be earnestly pursued and sought: one which the people of God must continually be built up to attain; that this unity must become visible so that the world may believe that separation, enmity and hatred between people and groups is sin which Christ has already conquered, and accordingly that anything which threatens this unity may have no place in the church and must be resisted; that this unity of the people of God must be manifested and be active in a variety of ways; in that we love one another; that we experience, practice and pursue community with one another; that we are obligated to give ourselves willingly and joyfully to be of benefit and blessing to one another; that we share one faith, have one calling, are of one soul and one mind. Amen.
Statement about Offering our Gifts God is the giver of life and the resources therein. Let us now dedicate our lives and resources to the God in whom we live and move and have our being.
Donations can be placed in the offering plate near the baptismal font in the center of the sanctuary.
Or mailed to:
Lakeview Presbyterian Church, 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705
or given online at: lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Prayer of Dedication
We give you thanks, O God, for the gifts we have received from your good creation. We now ask your blessing upon the gifts we offer here today so that they might be a sign of our commitment to serve you in all that we are and do. Amen.
African American History Remarks Peter Murray
Special Music “If You Want Me To” Owens
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (This is the Ecumenical Version; feel free to use the words of your choice)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
*Hymn “Every Time I Feel the Spirit” G #66
Announcements
Charge and Benediction
Hear the voice from the cloud saying to each and to all: “You are my beloved”. So beloved of God: Listen to Christ. Follow in the way of Christ. Resist evil. Love One another as God in Christ has loved you. Amen.
Postlude “Hands and Feet” Herdman