Transfiguration Sunday: Theological Banquet Ecumenical January 14, 2021

Home Church Transfiguration Sunday Theological Banquet: Ecumenical February 14, 2021 Rev. Karen Hollis

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

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you

so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free. Today we are learning about the final stream in Janet Gear’s Theological Banquet: Ecumenical. You will hear this theology through the words of the liturgy, the scriptures, songs and sermon. This is the theological stream that focuses on partnering with God to transform the world through love and justice.

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite

you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship.

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

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

All:      And also with you    

Call to Worship   Iona Abbey Worship Book

One:    The world belongs to God,

All:      the earth and all its people

One:    how good it is, how wonderful,

All:      to live together in unity.

One:    Love and faith come together,

All:      justice and peace join hands.

One:    If Christ’s disciples keep silent

All:      these stones would shout aloud

One:    Open our lips, O God,

All:      and our mouths shall proclaim your praise.

Opening Prayer  Read the prayer slowly... Unknown

Holy One, it is your will that we be gathered together as one family in yourself. Fill our hearts with the fire of your love and the desire to ensure justice for all. By sharing the good things you give us, may we secure an equality for all our brothers and sisters throughout the world. May there be an end to division, strife, and war. May there be a dawning of a truly human society built on love and peace. We ask this in your name, Amen.

Hymn: Let There Be Light   v. 1,3,5,6    VU #679

1 Let there be light,

let there be understanding,

let all the nations gather,

let them be face to face;

 

3 Perish the sword,

perish the angry judgement,

perish the bombs and hunger,

perish the fight for gain;

5 Your kingdom come,

your spirit turn to language,

your people speak together,

your spirit never fade;

 

6 Let there be light;

open our hearts to wonder,

perish the way of terror,

hallow the world God made.

Invitation to Confession

The Ecumenical stream feels this pull, this burden, to fight for something they cannot turn away from. To organize, to join together, to put themselves out there . . . this ministry is unrelenting and exhausting and yet we cannot turn away. Sometimes it can become overwhelming and we feel all alone. Let us bring our whole truth to God.

Prayer of Confession

Where are you, God? We are watching the world come apart at the seams, the suffering, the pain, the injustice is only growing. Where are you, God? The world feels heavy on our shoulders . . . and it feels like you are nowhere. We cannot do this alone. We thought you were faithful, but now we wonder if you are merely an idea.

Silent Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Grace

Friends, hear the good news . . . You are not alone; God is as close as our very breath, as close as the person next to you fighting for justice. God sees what you see, more even, and weeps with the oppressed. God shares the pain of the afflicted and is the ground on which justice stands. Thanks be to God!

Peace of Christ

Christ comes with the transforming power of peace. Let us share with each other the peace he brings, that it may work in and between us.

            One: The Peace of Christ be with you!

            All:   And also with you!

 

First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-8 NRSV    Mona Smart

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

   because the Lord has anointed me;

he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

   to bind up the broken-hearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

   and release to the prisoners;

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,

   and the day of vengeance of our God;

   to comfort all who mourn;

to provide for those who mourn in Zion—

   to give them a garland instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

   the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

   the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

They shall build up the ancient ruins,

   they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

   the devastations of many generations.

Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,

   foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines;

but you shall be called priests of the Lord,

   you shall be named ministers of our God;

you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations,

   and in their riches you shall glory.

Because their shame was double,

   and dishonour was proclaimed as their lot,

therefore they shall possess a double portion;

   everlasting joy shall be theirs.

For I the Lord love justice,

   I hate robbery and wrongdoing;

I will faithfully give them their recompense,

   and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

Gospel Reading   Tim Leadem    

One:      God be with you.       

All:        And also with you

One:      The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Mark

All:        Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 1:21-28

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

One: This is the Gospel of Christ;

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

 

Reflection:  Seeking Justice  (see attached)               

Silent Reflection

A New Creed: Let us affirm our faith . . .

We are not alone,

    we live in God’s world.

 We believe in God:

    who has created and is creating,

    who has come in Jesus,

       the Word made flesh,

       to reconcile and make new,

    who works in us and others

       by the Spirit.

We trust in God. 

We are called to be the Church:

    to celebrate God’s presence,

    to live with respect in Creation,

    to love and serve others,

    to seek justice and resist evil,

    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

    God is with us.

We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.

                                      

Prayers of the People     Mona Smart    (see attached)                     

One:    God of healing and compassion

All:      Hear Our Prayer

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 for ever. Amen.

Offering  Pat Armstrong 

Let us pray . . .    Unknown

Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it: a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor; a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them; a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect; a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love. Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, and bless us with each step we take, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn: O for a World   v. 1,2,4,5                                                   VU #697

1 O for a world where everyone respects each other’s ways,

where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise

2 O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved,

where truth is spoken, children spared, equality achieved.

4 The poor are rich, the weak are strong, the foolish ones are wise.

Tell all who mourn: outcasts belong, who perishes will rise

5 O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace,

where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease.

 

                              Words: Miriam Therese Winter 1987 © 1990 Medical Mission Sisters.

                                                    Music: Carl Gotthelf Gläser. Arranged by Lowell Mason

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.

male:     The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories, feeding you, challenging you.

female: 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!