Gathering

God touches the world,
and the world changes.
God touches us,
and we are transformed.

In the brightest of day,
in the deepest of night,
on mountain,
in valley,
everywhere.

In this time, together,
we invite God
to open our eyes
to the transformation
of our lives.

And through the change –
we worship God.
Alleluia!

Hymn

Confession & Words of Assurance

God of Mercy and Grace, You come to us in Jesus of Nazareth to break down the dividing walls of hostility between us: Yet we maintain walls that separate and isolate.
You give us the ministry of reconciliation: Yet we nurse our wounds and withhold mercy and forgiveness. 
You invite us to join with Peter, James, and John on the mountain of Transfiguration: Yet we deny the wonders you have worked in our own lives.
You ask us to acknowledge and share our wealth: Yet we refuse to recognize and relieve the poverty around us. 
You bless our lives with boundless love: Yet we fail to witness to that love, and so keep others from knowing you.
Forgive our selfishness, we pray. Transform us by Your Spirit and Your Word into that which pleases You, the image of Christ.   Amen.

Jesus admonished Peter, James, and John not to tell of what they witnessed on the mountain until he was resurrected. But we can tell what we have seen and heard of God’s glory! Here is the good news: Jesus lives! He is raised! We are forgiven! Go, share the vision! Tell of God’s love! In this God is well pleased!

Story Time

Scripture

Jesus transformed

Mark 9 ² Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain where they were alone. He was transformed in front of them, ³ and his clothes were amazingly bright, brighter than if they had been bleached white. ⁴ Elijah and Moses appeared and were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s make three shrines—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶ He said this because he didn’t know how to respond, for the three of them were terrified.

⁷ Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice spoke from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I dearly love. Listen to him!” ⁸ Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Human One had risen from the dead. 

Sermon

 Prayers

In the ordinary moments of our lives, 
When thoughts, distractions,
And busyness might keep us apart,
Open our hearts to let You in, O God.

When You stand before us,
As angel or stranger,
And whisper softly to our soul,
Open our hearts to follow your will.

When we get the call that tells us another person we know has become sick or has died, when we wonder when this will all end, when will people do what they need to do to keep us all safe, we offer our frustrations and pain into Your keeping.

As we look at another week full of computers and distance when all we really want is connection and familiarity, hear our desire for community and help us remember that now is the moment when we can bring Your vision to our world.

Turning our thoughts to those who keep our world moving, we pray for political leaders and store clerks, doctors, nurses and other medical staff, teachers and video makers, all doing their part to make our lives work.

All of these prayers and so may more we pull together and pray the prayer tradition has taught us…

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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.