Hybrid Church Transfiguration Sunday, February 19, 2023, Rev. Sally Bullas

Hybrid Church Transfiguration Sunday, February 19, 2023, Rev. Sally Bullas, Musician: Dorothy Dittrich

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Welcome & Announcements

Whether you are gathering in person, on zoom or worshipping at home with the bulletin, welcome! We are one community, one in the body of Christ. 

Centering & Stillness (fr “40 Degrees from Elsewhere” by Eleanor Nash, adapted)

The doors open…the doors close…behind us, the world…
before us, sanctuary and the stillness of God
Be prayer quiet…share quiet
shore up the noisy clanging in your soul…on your lips
Allow the Holy to find you…bind you up in the Sacred One’s peace
Unwind your spirit…let it float on the song of your soul
through a stream of music in the God-filled silence
Commune with the divine behind your heart, pulsing…
and in your mute presence allow others to share quiet…
Be prayer quiet…                                                        
                                                

(invitation to sit in silence)

Introit: Rise Up, Rise Up  MV #130  

The Christ Candle is Lit 

Greeting
One:  The grace of Christ Jesus, the love of God, 

          and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:     And also with you

Opening Words                                    (Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, worshipwords.uk.co)

One:  Come to the mountaintop.

All:    What will we find?

One:  Jesus, the disciples’ teacher. 
          The prophets who have gone before. 
          God’s voice.

All:    We want to worship. We want to hide.

One:  Instead, give us the courage to rest in the mystery,

All:    To reach toward the thin places where the in-breaking of the    divine shakes us to the core.

One:  Come to the mountaintop.

All:    What will we find?

One:  We will find Christ. In the rocks and the sky. 
All:    In the clouds and wind. In all of creation.
One:  In each other. In ourselves.

All:    Christ is with us! 

Hymn: O Splendour of God’s Glory Bright                                             VU #413

Opening Prayer                                               (From “Sounding the Seasons by Malcolm Guite) 

For that one moment, ‘in and out of time’,
On that one mountain where all moments meet,
The daily veil that covers the sublime
In darkling glass fell dazzled at his feet.
There were no angels full of eyes and wings
Just living glory full of truth and grace.
The Love that dances at the heart of things
Shone out upon us from a human face
And to that light the light in us leaped up,
We felt it quicken somewhere deep within,
A sudden blaze of long-extinguished hope
Trembled and tingled through the tender skin.
Nor can this blackened sky, this darkened scar
Eclipse that glimpse of how things really are.

(a time of reflection)

Passing of the Peace

          One:       The peace of Christ be with you! 

          All:        And also with you!

 

You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on zoom, please unmute and share with one another.

 

Reader: By the gift of your Spirit, calm and quiet our souls that we may hear your Word today and be lifted up to walk with you. In Christ’s        name we pray. Amen

First Reading: Exodus 24:12-18 (NRSV)    Reader: Nancy Hetherington-Peirce

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and 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 into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, ‘Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for 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 people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. 

 

Psalm 99 (Psalms for Praying by Nan C. Merrill)   Reader: Nancy Hetherington-Peirce

Awaken, O you people!  Entrust your hearts to Love.

          For the Beloved reigns supreme;

          let all the earth give thanks!

Your unseen Presence is great in the land;

          You sit with the leaders of nations.

Let them be silent and guided by your Voice!  
          Holy are You!

You are mighty and love justice,

          You establish equity;

Out of the Silence, your Word can be heard in the land
          inviting the nations to live in peace.

Listen O you people!  Open your hearts        to the Beloved,

          that Truth may be born anew!

Many who have gone before you followed the Beloved’s Voice;

          the unknown saints of all generations.

They surrendered themselves into the Beloved’s hands,

          and walked with confidence.

They were guided through difficult times,

          keeping to Love’s way, and trusting in Love’s promises.

O Heart of all hearts, You answered their prayers;

          with mercy, You forgave them their wrongdoing,
          always inviting them to new life.
Sing praises to the Beloved, and aspire to ascend the holy mountain.

          Holy are You, O Giver of Life!

Gospel Reading                                                        Reader: Nancy Hetherington-Peirce

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel. 

Reader:           God be with you.  
All:      And also with you

Reader:           The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Matthew

All:        Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

Matthew 17:1-9 (NRSV)

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 dazzling white. 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 make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright 

cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice 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 looked up, 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.’        

Reader: This is the Gospel of Christ.   

All:        Praise be to Jesus Christ       

Reflection:                              “Leading Light”

Silent Reflection

Hymn: We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding                        VU #104

Affirmation of Faith                                       (from The New Zealand Prayer Book)

You, O God, are supreme and holy.
You create our world and give us life.
Your purpose overarches everything we do.
You have always been with us. 

You are God.

You, O God, are infinitely generous,
good beyond all measure.
You came to us before we came to you.
You have revealed and proved
your love for us in Jesus Christ,
who lived and died and rose again.
You are with us now. 

You are God.

You, O God, are Holy Spirit.
You empower us to be your gospel in the world.
You reconcile and heal; you overcome death.

You are our God. We worship you.

Offering Invitation

Doxology                                                                                                                                         CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

Offering Prayer (in unison)                                                                 (worshipwords.co.uk)

Gracious God, you have demonstrated your compassion and care for the diversity of creation. Accept our gifts and transform them into actions of justice for the unity of your church and people.

Prayers of the People                                                              Mona Smart                                                                                                

One:  Loving God,

All:    Hear Our Prayers

The Prayer of Jesus (sung)                                                                                        VU #959

Benediction                                                                                 (Cara Heafey, worshipwords.co.uk)

May you find time to stop and stare, to lift up your eyes.

May you wonder at the miraculous and the beautiful,
which are all around us waiting to be noticed.

May your hope swoop and soar like a kite, trailing prayers behind it.
And when your attention is pulled back… down…
may you feel your connection with the earth quiet and strong
holding you steady like the hands of God.

Hymn: Holy Spirit, Truth Divine                                                                             VU #368

Thank You

Blessing                                                                                                                         (Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:   The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey,    guiding you, cherishing you.

Right/ The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread andstories,

Zoom  feeding you, challenging you.

Left:    The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom,        

           comforting you, disturbing you.

All:    The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living, guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:  Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:    Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

 

 

 

 

The flowers are given in memory of dad Graham,

and my grandparents