Epiphany Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Light of Christ, awaken us this hour to the glory of your presence in our midst. Shine among us in such a way that the darkness without and within may be pushed back, such that we might truly see what is really real. Help us to recognize our sin for what it is. Enable us to behold the world as you created it to be, as you created us to be. Empower us to move from darkness to light, from sin to new life. May your light within us shine through into worship this day, as all days. This we pray in the name of the Word made flesh, the light which is the light of all people. Jesus Christ. Amen.

Welcome and Announcements

Introit     Out of the East     Harry Noble

Call to Worship 2

ONE: People of God, arise, shine, for your light has come! The light of Christ has come into the world. Immanuel. God with us.

ALL: So arise, shine, for your light has come! And we will follow the light–when it shines brightly in the night sky when it glows dimly on the horizon.

ONE: We will follow the light–when it leads down familiar paths to expected destinations when the road is unfamiliar and the star rests above a dubious-looking home. We will lift up our eyes and look around. And when we see the Christ child, may our hearts be overwhelmed with joy.

ALL: When we are in the presence of Immanuel, may our knees bend in worship. When our journey brings us, finally, to the heart of God, May our hands open in generous sharing; May our mouths open in generous praise. Let us worship together.

Hymn 135  There's a Star in The East

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth. The one who is full of patience, who is not afraid of silence, who does not need to fill each moment with activity and noise. The one who is beyond bluster and flurry, and who does not jostle for attention.

We believe in God the Son, Savior of creation, who slipped into Bethlehem one night, mostly unnoticed, who lived thirty years without headlines or hurry, who frequently took time alone with his patient Father, who waited for the right time to become the suffering servant, who stood quietly before the noise of his accusers, whose silence overpowered their words, who died, then rose again on a quiet Sunday morning.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens, empowers, renews and refreshes, sometimes arriving with obvious power, sometimes with the quiet breath of a whisper.

We believe in one God who patiently waits for us, and who longs for us to do the same.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men.

Jesus makes us free to live again!

Passing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth.

Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart!

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 72

                                  Matthew 2:1-12

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem      Sweet Little Jesus Boy     Robert MacGimsey

Sermon:   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 145  What Child is This  

Invitation to the Offering 4

The willingness to give is a sign of life. The fruit tree gives of its fruit, and we know it is alive. The ability to give comes and goes. Truly God is good to us in ways beyond our understanding. Offerings consist of many things, some of which are financial. As we offer our gifts and lives in this moment, may we become imitators of God, who holds nothing back from us, but is generous and gracious with us. You are invited to come and put your offerings and any prayer requests in this basket on the table now, or later this morning, and you are welcome to continue mailing your offerings to the church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory    'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime    Trad. Huron

Prayer of Dedication 5

Lord, we bring before you the common things of our common life: our money, our songs, our labors to be your faithful congregation, our needs and dreams, our joys and sorrows, our selves. We celebrate all this with you, seeking the touch of your Spirit so that we will share more deeply what we are and have with all people in our city and our world. In faith and gratitude we offer common things made miracles by your grace. Bless what we give and bless what we keep that all may be used for your glory. Amen.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Preparation of the Table

Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving 6

Welcome to the delight that is this table. Our Lord's table. Welcome to the table where the love of God meets Humanity. We welcome everyone to this table, no matter your church background, your knowledge of biblical ideas, no matter your sexual orientation or gender truth, no matter your mood. Wherever and whoever you are you are welcome here, you belong, you are worthy.

This is for you, but it may change you from one who is anxiously concerned about their own redemption into one who knows that Christ's body is the earth and all who walk upon it, are one in Him. Into knowing that we are not redeemed by our being good but by our being connected. Into knowing that daring to eat at the table of Jesus Christ has unimaginable consequences.

So come, come to be made whole, and to participate in the work of making us one with God and each other.

LEADER: The Lord be with you

PEOPLE: And also with you

LEADER: Lift up your hearts

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord

LEADER: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

PEOPLE: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

LEADER: Let us pray.  We give you thanks, O God, for making your love evident since the very beginning of time when you spoke the word which replaced the darkness of chaos with life-giving light. A light which has nurtured generations of people, and plants and creatures, great and small. A light which also revealed the fear and powerlessness caused by corrupt and evil actions. And so you spoke the Word which would once and for all dispel the darkness of chaotic lives. Through your love for the world the Word became flesh and lived among us full of grace and truth. The angels caroled glory to you in the highest heavens and peace to all people on earth, and we join with them and with all people to praise your holy name saying together:

ALL:  Holy Lord, God of endless love, heaven and earth are surely full of your glory. The angels sang of it - we have been lavished with it. Blessed is he who was born that we might have life. Glory to God and on earth peace to all people.

ONE:  Continuing in prayer, Holy God, as the travelers with their treasures were overwhelmed with joy on finding Jesus, so we also are overwhelmed on finding out the depth of his love for us. For Jesus showed just how beloved we are to him, by loving us and giving himself for us.

Send the power of your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine, O God, that we may experience the presence of the Word-made-flesh - Jesus Christ. Breathe your Spirit in us that we may be one body with him - living out his ministry in the world today and every day. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Generous God, You are the source of all life, creating and sustaining every living thing. You are the source of all food, material and spiritual, nourishing us in both body and soul. You are the light that goes before us, shining into the darkness. May we be filled with your breath nourished by your food renewed by your living water and sustained by your love.

Prayers of the People

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 146  Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     Auld Lang Syne     Trad. Scottish

1 Peter Haynes Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren

2 Joanna Harader Spacious Faith

3 copyright © Dave Hopwood

4 Thom Schuman

5 Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Epiphany Bells

Opening Prayer 1

God of light that shines through all creation, your word has called us back into your light. May you shine through our lives, making us your children and helping us bear witness to the light that dwells among us; through Christ, our Way, our Truth, and our Light. Amen.

Welcome and Announcements

Introit     Holy Spirit, Hear Us     Roberta Bitgood

Call to Worship 2

ONE: We come together as the family of faith.

ALL: We assemble to honor the living God.

ONE: Through Christ we become God's holy household.

ALL: In Christ we are bonded together to be God's people.

ONE: Our worship is united into oneness by the Holy Spirit.

ALL: In communion with the Holy Spirit, let us celebrate God together.  Let us worship God!

Hymn 663  Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth. The one who is full of patience, who is not afraid of silence, who does not need to fill each moment with activity and noise. The one who is beyond bluster and flurry, and who does not jostle for attention.

We believe in God the Son, Savior of creation, who slipped into Bethlehem one night, mostly unnoticed, who lived thirty years without headlines or hurry, who frequently took time alone with his patient Father, who waited for the right time to become the suffering servant, who stood quietly before the noise of his accusers, whose silence overpowered their words, who died, then rose again on a quiet Sunday morning.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens, empowers, renews and refreshes, sometimes arriving with obvious power, sometimes with the quiet breath of a whisper.

We believe in one God who patiently waits for us, and who longs for us to do the same.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men.

Jesus makes us free to live again!

Passing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 466

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.

You alone, O Lord, are holy.

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.

Alleluia!

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-20

                                  Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem      Peace Be Still     Mia Fieldes, Andrew Holt, Hope Dorst

Sermon:   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 69  I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (Here I Am, Lord)

Invitation to the Offering 4

God has shown us the meaning of generosity in the beautiful diversity of creation, in the overflowing love of Jesus Christ, in the never-ending gift of the Holy Spirit.  God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that honors each other, to be servants to others with joy, to share our love and material possessions.  Let us rejoice in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory    Lean in Toward the Light     Carrie Newcomer

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 722  Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     Standing and Leaning     Arr. Page & Shafferman

1 Touch of Holiness, ed. Ruth Duck

2 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

3 copyright © Dave Hopwood

4 Ann B. Day, Touch of Holiness ed. Ruth Duck

5 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Creator God, in whose image we are made and whose personal signature is written on the very heart of our being: Help us to create in this community the climate of love and compassion, understanding and affirmation, helping each other to grow to our full promise.

Welcome and Announcements

Introit     My Lord, What a Morning     Traditional

Call to Worship 2

We have gathered as God's people to delight in God's presence, to experience God's healing, to receive God's grace. Let us be reconciled and renewed as we worship our God through Christ in the Spirit.

Hymn 475  Come, Thou Font of Every Blessing

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth. The one who is full of patience, who is not afraid of silence, who does not need to fill each moment with activity and noise. The one who is beyond bluster and flurry, and who does not jostle for attention.

We believe in God the Son, Savior of creation, who slipped into Bethlehem one night, mostly unnoticed, who lived thirty years without headlines or hurry, who frequently took time alone with his patient Father, who waited for the right time to become the suffering servant, who stood quietly before the noise of his accusers, whose silence overpowered their words, who died, then rose again on a quiet Sunday morning.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens, empowers, renews and refreshes, sometimes arriving with obvious power, sometimes with the quiet breath of a whisper.

We believe in one God who patiently waits for us, and who longs for us to do the same.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men.

Jesus makes us free to live again!

Passing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 466

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.

You alone, O Lord, are holy.

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.

Alleluia!

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

                                  Mark 1:14-20

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem      I Wander By the Sea     Dale Wood

Sermon:   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 170  You Walk along Our Shoreline

Sacrament of Baptism of Georgia Leah McAlliseter

Invitation to the Offering 4

God has shown us the meaning of generosity in the beautiful diversity of creation, in the overflowing love of Jesus Christ, in the never-ending gift of the Holy Spirit.  God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that honors each other, to be servants to others with joy, to share our love and material possessions.  Let us rejoice in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory    Down to the River to Pray     Ken Medema, Arr. MacDonald

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 486  Child of Blessing, Child of Promise

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     The Lord's Prayer – It's Yours     Matt Maher, Brian Fowler, Jacob Sooter

1,2 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

3 copyright © Dave Hopwood

4 Ann B. Day, Touch of Holiness ed. Ruth Duck

5 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

Bells

Opening Prayer 1

O holy God, high above us yet present within us, assist us in drawing near to you. Let us sense the awesomeness of One beyond us, the fear of your righteousness, the depth of our darkness in your light. In your presence may we feel your tender love, hear your vow of guidance, be changed by your truth, and receive your blessing.  

Welcome and Announcements

Introit     Holy Spirit     Brian and Katie Torwalt

Call to Worship 2

Come, Holy Spirit, enter our lives, whisper our names and scatter your gifts of grace with wild abandon. Give your silent strength to all imprisoned by circumstances beyond ourselves, or by prisons of our own creation. Come, Holy Spirit, help us find ourselves in vital places, bringing your word of freedom to any who are poor or oppressed, and in need of your ever faithful love and grace. Let us worship God.  

Hymn 407  Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayers

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth. The one who is full of patience, who is not afraid of silence, who does not need to fill each moment with activity and noise. The one who is beyond bluster and flurry, and who does not jostle for attention.

We believe in God the Son, Savior of creation, who slipped into Bethlehem one night, mostly unnoticed, who lived thirty years without headlines or hurry, who frequently took time alone with his patient Father, who waited for the right time to become the suffering servant, who stood quietly before the noise of his accusers, whose silence overpowered their words, who died, then rose again on a quiet Sunday morning.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens, empowers, renews and refreshes, sometimes arriving with obvious power, sometimes with the quiet breath of a whisper.

We believe in one God who patiently waits for us, and who longs for us to do the same.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men.

Jesus makes us free to live again!

Passing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 466

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.

You alone, O Lord, are holy.

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.

Alleluia!

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:21-28

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem      In You     Craig Bray

Sermon:   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 722  Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak

Invitation to the Offering 4

God has shown us the meaning of generosity in the beautiful diversity of creation, in the overflowing love of Jesus Christ, in the never-ending gift of the Holy Spirit.  God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that honors each other, to be servants to others with joy, to share our love and material possessions.  Let us rejoice in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory    Lord, for Thy Tender Mercy's Sake     ascribed to Richard Farrant and John Hilton

Prayer of Dedication 5

Ever-giving God, source of all goodness and charity, your ear is always open to our needs. When we cry to you, you are faithful and provide for us. In gratitude, we bring our thanksgiving. For all your mercies, we return to you from our abundance. All that we give, we dedicate to your glory All that we keep, we commit to your care, for we are only stewards of your bounty. Bless what we give and what we keep, for all is your creation. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 320  The Church of Christ in Every Age

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     

1,2 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

3 copyright © Dave Hopwood

4 Ann B. Day, Touch of Holiness ed. Ruth Duck

5 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

Bells

Opening Prayer 1

We have gathered as God's people to delight in God's presence, to experience God's healing, to receive God's grace. Let us be reconciled and renewed as we worship our God through Christ in the Spirit.    

Welcome and Announcements

Introit

Call to Worship 2

ONE: Come, people of God, and worship the Christ. Once we were separated from him, aliens and strangers who did not belong, without hope and without God in the world. Once we loved darkness rather than light. Once we could not sing the Lord's song.

ALL: But now we are joined with Christ, brought near through his love, for he is our peace. Now we who lived in darkness have come into the light. Now we who could not sing have been given a new song. Let us give thanks to God! Let us worship God!  

Hymn 749  Come, Live in the Light

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth. The one who is full of patience, who is not afraid of silence, who does not need to fill each moment with activity and noise. The one who is beyond bluster and flurry, and who does not jostle for attention.

We believe in God the Son, Savior of creation, who slipped into Bethlehem one night, mostly unnoticed, who lived thirty years without headlines or hurry, who frequently took time alone with his patient Father, who waited for the right time to become the suffering servant, who stood quietly before the noise of his accusers, whose silence overpowered their words, who died, then rose again on a quiet Sunday morning.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens, empowers, renews and refreshes, sometimes arriving with obvious power, sometimes with the quiet breath of a whisper.

We believe in one God who patiently waits for us, and who longs for us to do the same.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men.

Jesus makes us free to live again!

Passing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 466

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.

You alone, O Lord, are holy.

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.

Alleluia!

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:29-39

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem      Let It Be Known     Brady, Smith, and Weeks

Sermon:   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 795  Healer of our Every Ill

Invitation to the Offering 4

God has shown us the meaning of generosity in the beautiful diversity of creation, in the overflowing love of Jesus Christ, in the never-ending gift of the Holy Spirit.  God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that honors each other, to be servants to others with joy, to share our love and material possessions.  Let us rejoice in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory    In Bread and Wine     Mary Kay Beall, setting by John Carter

Prayer of Dedication 5

Ever-giving God, source of all goodness and charity, your ear is always open to our needs. When we cry to you, you are faithful and provide for us. In gratitude, we bring our thanksgiving. For all your mercies, we return to you from our abundance. All that we give, we dedicate to your glory All that we keep, we commit to your care, for we are only stewards of your bounty. Bless what we give and what we keep, for all is your creation. Amen.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Preparation of the Table

Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving 6

Welcome to the delight that is this table. Our Lord's table. Welcome to the table where the love of God meets Humanity. We welcome everyone to this table, no matter your church background, your knowledge of biblical ideas, no matter your sexual orientation or gender truth, no matter your mood. Wherever and whoever you are you are welcome here, you belong, you are worthy.

This is for you, but it may change you from one who is anxiously concerned about their own redemption into one who knows that Christ's body is the earth and all who walk upon it, are one in Him. Into knowing that we are not redeemed by our being good but by our being connected. Into knowing that daring to eat at the table of Jesus Christ has unimaginable consequences.

So come, come to be made whole, and to participate in the work of making us one with God and each other.

LEADER: The Lord be with you

PEOPLE: And also with you

LEADER: Lift up your hearts

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord

LEADER: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

PEOPLE: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

LEADER: Let us pray.  We give you thanks, O God, for making your love evident since the very beginning of time when you spoke the word which replaced the darkness of chaos with life-giving light. A light which has nurtured generations of people, and plants and creatures, great and small. A light which also revealed the fear and powerlessness caused by corrupt and evil actions. And so you spoke the Word which would once and for all dispel the darkness of chaotic lives. Through your love for the world the Word became flesh and lived among us full of grace and truth. The angels caroled glory to you in the highest heavens and peace to all people on earth, and we join with them and with all people to praise your holy name saying together:

ALL:  Holy Lord, God of endless love, heaven and earth are surely full of your glory. The angels sang of it - we have been lavished with it. Blessed is he who was born that we might have life. Glory to God and on earth peace to all people.

ONE:  Continuing in prayer, Holy God, as the travelers with their treasures were overwhelmed with joy on finding Jesus, so we also are overwhelmed on finding out the depth of his love for us. For Jesus showed just how beloved we are to him, by loving us and giving himself for us.

Send the power of your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine, O God, that we may experience the presence of the Word-made-flesh - Jesus Christ. Breathe your Spirit in us that we may be one body with him - living out his ministry in the world today and every day. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Generous God, You are the source of all life, creating and sustaining every living thing. You are the source of all food, material and spiritual, nourishing us in both body and soul. You are the light that goes before us, shining into the darkness. May we be filled with your breath nourished by your food renewed by your living water and sustained by your love.Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

Prayers of the People

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 727  Will You Let Me Be Your Servant

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     

1,2 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

3 copyright © Dave Hopwood

4 Ann B. Day, Touch of Holiness ed. Ruth Duck

5 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

6 Rev. Bob Gibson for the London Conference of the United Church of Canada

Bells

Opening Prayer 1

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. Gracious God, thank you for surrounding us with your light. Amen.

Welcome and Announcements

Introit     Here I Am To Worship     Tim Hughes

Call to Worship 2

ONE: Beyond our busyness, Above the cold winter floor there is a glory rising born of heaven and reaching out to each one of us.

ALL: A light that shines through the clouds an invitation seeking all of who we are that transfigures the world.

ONE: A light that transforms darkness into hope that brings life from a cross where old life ends and new life is born.

ALL: In glory Jesus meets us here raising us from depths of valley to the height of the mountain carrying the weight of our humanity to the heights of heavens glory. Let us worship from the mountain and hear again “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”  

Hymn 401  Here in this Place

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth. The one who is full of patience, who is not afraid of silence, who does not need to fill each moment with activity and noise. The one who is beyond bluster and flurry, and who does not jostle for attention.

We believe in God the Son, Savior of creation, who slipped into Bethlehem one night, mostly unnoticed, who lived thirty years without headlines or hurry, who frequently took time alone with his patient Father, who waited for the right time to become the suffering servant, who stood quietly before the noise of his accusers, whose silence overpowered their words, who died, then rose again on a quiet Sunday morning.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens, empowers, renews and refreshes, sometimes arriving with obvious power, sometimes with the quiet breath of a whisper.

We believe in one God who patiently waits for us, and who longs for us to do the same.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men.

Jesus makes us free to live again!

Passing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 466

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.

You alone, O Lord, are holy.

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.

Alleluia!

Scripture Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-12

                                    Mark 9:2-9

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon:   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 193  Jesus, Take Us to the Mountain

Invitation to the Offering 4

God has shown us the meaning of generosity in the beautiful diversity of creation, in the overflowing love of Jesus Christ, in the never-ending gift of the Holy Spirit.  God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that honors each other, to be servants to others with joy, to share our love and material possessions.  Let us rejoice in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory    

Prayer of Dedication 5

Ever-giving God, source of all goodness and charity, your ear is always open to our needs. When we cry to you, you are faithful and provide for us. In gratitude, we bring our thanksgiving. For all your mercies, we return to you from our abundance. All that we give, we dedicate to your glory All that we keep, we commit to your care, for we are only stewards of your bounty. Bless what we give and what we keep, for all is your creation. Amen.

Prayers of the People

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 662  Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude    Hills and Valleys     Tauren Wells

1 Bruce Prewer

2 Rev. Rob Smith, Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church, Apple Valley, MN

3 copyright © Dave Hopwood

4 Ann B. Day, Touch of Holiness ed. Ruth Duck

5 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark