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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 99)

L: The Lord sits enthroned upon the cherubim.
P: The Lord is great in Zion, and is exalted over all the peoples.
L:  Let them praise God's great and wondrous name!
P: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!
L: Come let us worship at the Lord's footstool!

 

Call to Worship

L: God our Creator, you brought light out of darkness and set the sun to brighten the day, and the moon and stars to illumine the night.
P: Your glory blinds the eyes of our sin; your radiance warms our needy hearts.
L: You lead us by the light of your truth into the way of righteousness and peace.
P: You are holy, O God, and blessed is your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
L: On a lonely mountain, his human body was transfigured by your divine splendor.
P: In his face, we have glimpsed your glory. In his life, we see your love.

 

Call to Worship for Transfiguration Sunday

L: Let’s go up the mountain. To the place of voices and conversations,
to the place of listening.
P: To the place of meeting, to the place of mists,
L: Let’s go up to the place where the land meets the sky
where the earth touches the heavens,
P: to the place of meeting, to the place of mists,
All: Let’s go up the mountain to worship Christ the King

 

Invocation

The light and love of God who wonderfully made you, who graciously redeemed you, who calls you each by name, be with you all.

And also with you.

Let us pray. O God, in the transfiguration of your Son you confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the witness of Moses and Elijah, and in the voice from the bright cloud you foreshadowed our adoption as your children. Make us with the king heirs of your glory, and bring us to enjoy its fullness, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

 

Prayer of Intercession

Encouraged by the radiant light of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, let us pray with boldness and confidence.

For the church, that we may gather with reverence in the presence of the Lord and be sent into the world to serve with hearts full of faith and love, let us pray to the Lord:

Hear us, O God, and show us your glory.

For the nations and world leaders, that they may serve in humility and be driven by God's mighty hand to act with justice and righteousness on behalf of the whole creation, let us pray to the Lord:

Hear us, O God, and show us your glory.

For those who long for wholeness and health (especially) that they may look to Christ the healer for hope and to his people for daily comfort, let us pray to the Lord:

Hear us, O God, and show us your glory.

For the ministries of this congregation, that our worship of God and our service to our neighbors and one another may be fervent and faithful, let us pray to the Lord:

Hear us, O God, and show us your glory.

Remembering all the saints who have reflected God's glory, that we may see the hand of God in their lives and join them on the mountain of the Lord when all has come to pass, let us pray to the Lord:

Hear us, O God, and show us your glory.

Into your hands, great God of heaven, we lay our prayers, trusting in your mercy through the one who showed us your face, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen

 

Prayer based on all Lections:

God of Light and God of Glory, on this Transfiguration Sunday at the conclusion of the Epiphany season, let us see your glorious light break forth among us once again.  As Moss's face was beaming with your glory on Mt. Sinai, let our faces too reflect your wondrous grace and beauty.  Lift the veil from our eyes and allow us to see Jesus for who he is--in full majesty and glory.   God of Light and Glory, visit us once again through the Spirit and in the name of the One whom you sent into the world for our salvation.  Amen.
 
 

Prayer for Illumination--from the Orthodox Tradition

I give thanks to You, Holy Trinity,
that because of Your great goodness and patience
You have not been angry with me, lazy and sinful though I am,
and have not destroyed me and my sins together,
but have shown Your usual loving kindness,
and though I inclined to despair, you have moved me to glorify Your might.

Now enlighten the eyes of my mind
and open my mouth so that I may study Your sayings,
understand Your commandments,
do Your will,
sing to You with thankful heart,
and praise Your all-holy name.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and ever end to the ages of ages. Amen.

Transfiguration Prayer--prepared by William Loader

O God,
We open our eyes and we see Jesus,
the months of ministry transfigured to a beam of light,
the light of the world,
your light.
May your light shine upon us.

We open our eyes and we see Moses and Elijah,
your word restoring us, showing us the way,
telling a story,
your story, his story, our story.
May your word speak to us.

We open our eyes and we see mist,
the cloud of your presence
which assures us of all we do not know
and that we do not need to fear that.
Teach us to trust.

We open our eyes and we see Peter’s constructions,
his best plans, our best plans,
our missing the point,
our missing the way.
Forgive our foolishness and sin

We open our eyes and we see Jesus,
not casting us off,
but leading us down, leading us out -
to ministry, to people.
Your love endures forever.

We open our ears and we hear your voice,
‘This is my beloved Son, listen to him!’
And we give you thanks. Amen

 

Mountain Top Prayer
by Hugh Stone

Lord of light and life,

Walk with us Lord as we climb the mountains in our lives.

Listen to our questions and help us find your answers.

Speak to us when the clouds appear. May your voice clear away our confusion.

Free us to follow your way of self-giving love in paths of service and ministry.

Bless the ministry of this congregation as it seeks to obey your will and share your grace in this community.

Strengthen each one of us Lord that we may be agents of your peace and instruments of your will. Amen.

 

Closing Prayer:

God of glory and mercy, before his death in shame, your Son went to the mountain top and you revealed his life in glory.  Where prophets witnessed to him, you proclaimed him your Son, but he returned to die among us.

Help us face evil with courage, knowing that all things, even death, are subject to your transforming power.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Closing Prayer

Holy God, give us faith to feel you near;
Give us eyes to see your glory;
Give us courage to tell of your revealing love.
Amen