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Transfiguration Sunday

Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
In the transfiguration, Christ's inner circle is confronted with the overwhelming glory of God. These Calls To Worship celebrate that glory.
Leader:
O come, let us sing to God.
People:
Let us make a joyful noise to our Maker.

Leader:
Let us come into God's presence with thanksgiving.
People:
For God is great,
Leader:
He is above all gods,
People:
Holding the depths of the earth,
Leader:
And the heights of the mountains,
People:
In the palm of his hands.
Leader:
Come, let us worship and bow down,
People:
Let us kneel before God, our Maker.
Leader:
For he is our God
People:
And we are the people of his pasture.

From Psalm 50.
Leader:
The mighty one, God, the Lord,
People:
Summons the whole earth to gather.
Leader:
Our God comes and will not be silent;
People:
A fire goes before him,
Leader:
And around him a tornado rages.
People:
The summons is to come for judgment.
Leader:
For God is the righteous judge;
People:
Who judges all creation.
Leader:
Let us bow before our maker,
People:
And our judge. Amen.

Psalm 103 also goes well with the texts for this morning. This Call is based on it.
Leader:
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
People:
All that is with me, bless his holy name.
Leader:
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
People:
And forget not all his benefits.
Leader:
He forgives all our sin,
People:
Heals all our diseases,
Leader:
Redeems our lives from the pit of hell,
People:
Crowns us with unending love
Leader:
So that our youth is renewed like the eagle's.
People:
He is merciful and gracious,
Leader:
Slow to anger,
People:
And steadfastly patient.
Leader:
Bless the Lord, all you his people!
People:
Bless the Lord, all his works!
Leader:
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
People:
And forget not his benefits!


Prayer Of Confession
Sometimes our confessions are private, and sometimes our people need encouragement to make those private confessions. This Prayer Of Confession encourages a little personal encounter with God.
Introduction to the prayer:

What is between you and God this morning? Only you know. But whatever it is, it needs to be resolved. It needs to be dropped, dumped, let go, overcome.

This morning, let us a take a few moments in silence to come before God and address these obstacles to our relationship.

Let us pray: Abba, we do not wish there to be matters that prevent us from having the richest relationship with you that we can have. But we do, at times, allow things to get between us. Help us this morning to name these matters and begin to take responsibility for them. If there is some sin in which we are wallowing -- bring it to our minds now. (Silence)

If there is some issue or project that is distracting us from giving you our full attention -- bring it to mind now. (Silence)

If there is some earthly relationship we are neglecting and need to repair -- bring it to mind now. (Silence)

If there is some sin that you have long forgiven us for, but which we still hold on to, which still fills us with shame -- bring it to mind now, that we might truly give it to you. (Silence)

Whatever our sin, Lord, help us this moment not only to name it, but to claim responsibility for bringing it to you and working with you to clean it up.

Do not allow us to walk away from this prayer and this sanctuary this morning and forget what we need to do.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Here is a prayer that delves into the ways we limit God.
Leader:
"The virgin birth, the resurrection, the raising of Lazarus, even the Old Testament miracles, all are freely used for religious propaganda, and they are very effective with an audience of unsophisticates and children" -- so says atheist Richard Dawkins. Let us pray.
People:
Lord, we confess that we often think as the atheist thinks.
Leader:
We limit you.
People:
We put you in a box,
Leader:
Expecting you to do only things we can understand.
People:
Forgive us trying to cut you down to our size.
Leader:
And free our minds to begin truly understanding
People:
Just how big you are.
Leader:
Infinite mind!
People:
Endless power.
Leader:
Awesome glory.
People:
Forgive us, Lord.
Leader:
Amen.


Assurance Of Pardon
You might sing this hymn as a response to the above Confession. The second and third verses were written to serve as an Assurance.
(Sung a cappella)

Sing alleluia to the Lord. Sing alleluia to the Lord.

Sing alleluia, sing alleluia, Sing alleluia to the Lord.


Jesus has taken all our sin. Jesus has taken all our sin.

Jesus has taken, Jesus has taken, Jesus has taken all our sin.


He's given us all his righteousness. He's given us all his righteousness.

He's given us all, given us all, given us all his righteousness.


Prayer Of Dedication
Let us pray: All things come of thee, O Lord. And of thine own have we given thee.

Thus begins an ancient prayer that reminds us that not only are our things not ours, but we are not our own as well. This morning we dedicate these gifts with the understanding that we are simply returning to you what is rightfully yours. Take these gifts back and use them as you see fit. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.


Pastoral Prayer
Let us pray: Sorrow bruises us and breaks us, but in so doing it also opens us to truths we often fail to see when all is well. It sometimes makes us vulnerable enough to allow a touch from which we would normally shrink. Lord, in our brokenness help us to be open to your healing touch. Heal each one this morning, Lord. Heal them through and through; from head to toe; body and soul, and mind and spirit.

In the name of the great physician, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.


Benediction
We may not be able to stay on the mountaintop, but the mountaintop of the presence of God can stay with us. Go forth knowing that God is with you, even in you. Amen!


Hymns

All Glory Be To God On High

An Image Of That Heavenly Light

Bright The Vision That Delighted

Chosen Three, On Mountain Height, The

Forever Would We Gaze On Thee

God Of Grace And God Of Glory

God's Glory Is A Wondrous Thing

In The Days Of Old On Sinai

Lord, Thy Glory Fills The Heaven

Majesty

Not Always On The Mount

O Lord, Our Lord

O Master It Is Good To Be

O Splendor Of God's Glory Bright

O Wondrous Sight!

Tis Good, Lord, To Be Here

To God Be The Glory

With Glory Clad, With Strength Arrayed


Contemporary Choruses

Ancient Of Days, Jamie Harvill

Awesome God, Rich Mullens

Days Of Elijah, Robin Mark

Glorify Thy Name, Donna Adkins

Great Is The Lord, Michael W. Smith

Holy Ground, Geron Davis

Lord, I Lift Your Name On High, Rick Founds

Shout To The Lord, Darlene Zschech


Other Music

Be Still, The Newsboys
A wonderful little song calling us to "Be still and know that he is God."

Gloria, Watermark
A beautiful praise song that simply praises God.

No Higher Place, Sierra
According to this song there is no higher place we can be than with God.
UPCOMING WEEKS
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
For May 25, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A mat, like an exercise mat, or a blanket.

Note: You can do this all by yourself, but if you want to have more fun, help your children role-play the story. Select one child to be the sick man, and a few children to be the crowd. I usually play the role of Jesus so I can easily guide things. As you tell the story, have the sick man try to crawl, and have a group of children be the crowd blocking him, and then after Jesus helps him, have the man stand up, roll the mat up under his arm, and walk away smiling. Have fun with it!

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
(This particular installment of StoryShare is adapted from a review of “Seven Psalms” that I wrote for Messenger, our denominational magazine.)

During the night, Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (v. 9)

It all began with a dream.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
The church is a work in progress — and we are expected to be a critical part of that church’s work. In the absence of synagogue worship, Lydia and her fellow believers meet anyway at the riverside. Their faithfulness leads to Paul’s dream which helps create something where there was nothing. The passage from Revelation creates a target for us to aim for, and to work for, even as we wait for its perfect fulfillment.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Acts 16:9-15
John Calvin claimed that this is a text to stir up our commitments to reach out to those in need, especially in this time of intolerance towards immigrants and the poor. A 2024 Gallup poll indicates that 56% of Americans favor mass deportation. And in the most recent poll on the subject of the poor, (a 2002 NPR/Kaiser poll), 52% of Americans found the poor not to have a proper work ethic. It is unlikely we have outgrown that prejudice. In response, the reformer of Geneva wrote:

SermonStudio

Wayne Brouwer
During World War II, many members of the Lutheran church in Germany lost their faith because Hitler seduced them into ways of living that kept them from practicing their faith. But there was one man whom Hitler could not compromise. His name was Martin Niemöller. During World War I, Niemöller had been a great hero in the German military but when the Second World War came, he refused to bow to the authorities. He was marching to a different drumbeat. And march he did.
Forrest E. Chaffee
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Stephen P. McCutchan
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us....
-- Psalm 67:1

Steven E. Albertin
(Sing the first verse and chorus of "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic.")

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
1

Charles D. Reeb
Life has a way of presenting us with defining moments. I remember facing a defining moment in my ministry. I went to see a man in the hospital who was dying. He was not active in the church I pastored, but I knew who he was. When I entered his hospital room, his whole family was standing in a semi-circle around his bed. They greeted me, and then the man told his family that he wanted a moment alone with me. So they left us alone.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said to the paralysed man, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." In our worship today let us explore all that paralyses us, then let us respond to Jesus' command to stand up and walk.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of ridicule that I keep my head down.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of doing the wrong thing that I do nothing at all.
Christ, have mercy.

Special Occasion

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