Transfiguration of Our Lord
Prelude
“Ebenezer”
Gathering
Confession and Forgiveness
Please stand as you are able. The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
P: In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Please kneel or sit as you are able.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P: Most merciful God,
C: we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
The minister stands and addresses the congregation.
P: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Please stand as you are able.
Entrance Hymn #89 (green hymnal)
“How Good, Lord, to Be Here!”
1 How good, Lord, to be here!
Your glory fills the night;
your face and garments, like the sun,
shine with unborrowed light.
2 How good, Lord, to be here!
your beauty to behold
where Moses and Elijah stand,
your messengers of old.
3 Fulfiller of the past
and hope of things to be,
we hail your body glorified
and our redemption see.
4 Before we taste of death,
we see your kingdom come;
we long to hold the vision bright
and make this hill our home.
5 How good, Lord, to be here!
Yet we may not remain;
but since you bid us leave the mount,
come with us to the plain.
Greeting
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
Kyrie: #601 (blue hymnal)
Kyrie (Ghana)
1 Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
2 Christe eleison. Christe eleison.
Christe eleison. Christe eleison.
3 Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Hymn of Praise: #606 (blue hymnal)
Glory to God (Liturgy of Joy)
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the father.
Glory to God in the highest. Amen, amen.
Prayer of the Day
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray.
Almighty God, the resplendent light of your truth shines from the mountaintop into our hearts. Transfigure us by your beloved Son, and illumine the world with your image, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
The Word
Blessing of the Lector
P: Let us pray.
Gracious God, your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Send your Holy Spirit upon Chet as he proclaims the word, so that all who receive it will no longer dwell in the shadows, but will have the light of life.
C: Amen.
Please be seated.
First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12
1 Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”
4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10 He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalmody
“The Mighty God the Lord”
1 The mighty God the Lord,
Hath spoken and did call
The earth from rising of the sun
To where he hath his fall.
2 From Zion’s holy hill,
Perfection’s high abode
Of matchless beauty, even thence
In glory shineth God.
3 Our God shall surely come,
Keep silence shall not he;
Before Him fire shall waste, great storms
Shall round about Him be.
4 And to the heav’ns above
He sendeth forth His call,
And also to the earth that He
May judge His people all.
5 Together let My saints
Before Me gathered be;
Those that by sacrifice have made
A covenant with Me.
6 Then shall the heav’ns declare
His righteousness abroad,
Because He only is the judge;
Yea, none is judge but God.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
3 Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Please stand as you are able.
Gospel Acclamation: #610 (blue hymnal)
Alleluia (South African)
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 9:2-9
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 2nd chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
2 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, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 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.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
9 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.
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Please be seated.
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
Silence for reflection and meditation.
Hymn of the Day #651 (blue hymnal)
“Shine, Jesus, Shine”
Refrain
Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory;
blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with love and mercy;
send forth your Word, Lord, and let there be light!
1 Lord, the light of your love is shining,
in the midst of the darkness, shining;
Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us,
set us free by the truth you now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me: Refrain
2 As we gaze on your kingly brightness,
so our faces display your likeness,
ever changing from glory to glory,
mirrored here, may our lives tell your story.
Shine on me, shine on me: Refrain
Please stand as you are able.
The Apostles’ Creed
A: Let us confess our common faith with all Christians throughout time and place, using the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
A: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
After each petition:
A: Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
After the last petition:
A: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
Peace
P: The peace of Christ be with you always.
C: And also with you.
The ministers and congregation may greet one another in the name of the Lord.
Invitation to Offering
A: We heard Paul say, “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Let us give our offering so that our congregation might shine forth the good news of Jesus Christ through worship and service.
Offertory: Hymn #518 (green hymnal)
“Beautiful Savior” vv. 1-3
1 Beautiful Savior,
King of creation,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’d love thee,
truly I’d serve thee,
light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
2 Fair are the meadows,
fair are the woodlands,
robed in flow’rs of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer,
he makes our sorrowing spirit sing.
3 Fair is the sunshine,
fair is the moonlight,
bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer
than all the angels in the sky.
Offertory Prayer
A: Let us pray.
C: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Meal
Dialogue
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
P: It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord. Sharing our life, he lived among us to reveal your glory and love, that our darkness should give way to his own brilliant light. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Sanctus: #617a (blue hymnal)
Holy, Holy, Holy (Schubert)
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow’r and might,
holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow’r and might,
heaven and earth are full, full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Thanksgiving
P: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
The Lord’s Prayer
P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
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,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Invitation to Communion
P: At Jesus’ table, heaven and earth are joined as one. Come and see.
Please be seated.
Agnus Dei: #89 (maroon hymnal)
“The Lamb” vv. 1-3
1 The Lamb, the Lamb,
O Father, where’s the sacrifice?
Faith sees, believes
God will provide the Lamb of price!
Refrain
Worthy is the Lamb
whose death makes me his own!
The Lamb is reigning on his throne!
2 The Lamb, the Lamb,
one perfect final offering.
The Lamb, the Lamb,
let earth join heav’n his praise to sing. Refrain
3 The Lamb, the Lamb,
as wayward sheep their shepherd kill.
So still, his will
on our behalf the Law to fill. Refrain
Communion
P: The Body of Christ, broken for you.
The Blood of Christ, shed for you.
Those who wish to commune at the altar rail may either bring forward their individual Communion kit, or receive the wafer and wine/grape juice by intinction (dipping) from the Communion Ministers, when they are directed forward by the usher. Those who wish to commune in their seat with their individual Communion kit may remain seated.
Communion Hymn #649 (blue hymnal)
“I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”
1 I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
Refrain
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
2 I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear Sun of righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father. Refrain
3 I’m looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
we shall know the joy of Jesus. Refrain
Table Blessing
P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C: Amen.
Post-Communion Canticle: #624 (blue hymnal)
“Now, Lord” (Detroit Folk Mass)
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of all people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.
Post-Communion Prayer
A: Let us pray.
Almighty God, you provide the true bread from heaven, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that we who have received the Sacrament of his body and blood may abide in him and he in us, that we may be filled with the power of his endless life, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Silence for reflection.
Sending
Announcements For God’s Mission in the World
Please stand as you are able.
Blessing
P: Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.
Closing Hymn #654 (blue hymnal)
“Alleluia, Song of Gladness”
1 Alleluia, song of gladness, voice of joy that cannot die;
alleluia is the anthem ever dear to choirs on high;
in the house of God abiding thus they sing eternally.
2 Alleluia! Lead our praises, true Jerusalem and free;
alleluia, joyful mother, bring us to your jubilee;
but by Babylon’s sad waters mourning exiles now are we.
3 Alleluia cannot always be our song while here below;
alleluia our transgressions make us for a while forgo;
for the solemn time is coming when our tears for sin shall flow.
4 In our hymns we pray with longing: Grant us, blessed Trinity,
at the last to keep glad Easter with the faithful saints on high;
there to you forever singing alleluia joyfully.
Dismissal
A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
“Deo gracias”
Worship Leaders
The Rev. Emily Beckering, Pastor
Kris Keith, Music Director
Kate Wollenburg, Organist
Nancy Erbeck, Assisting Minister
Chet Laine, Reader
Upcoming Events
Sunday, February 11: Transfiguration of Our Lord
9 am Intergenerational Sunday School
10:30 am Worship Service
Wednesday, February 14
2:30 pm Bible study
7 pm Ash Wednesday Worship Service
Sunday, February 18: First Sunday in Lent
9 am Sunday School / Adult Bible Study & discussion
10:30 am Worship Service
Monday, February 19
7 pm Council Meeting
**Epistle items due**
Wednesday, February 21
2:30 pm Bible study
7 pm Lenten Worship Service
Thursday, February 22
6 pm Confirmation Class
Copyright Notices
Kyrie (Ghana): Tune © 1987 Dinah Reindorf, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
Glory to God: Music by James Capers © 1993 Augsburg Fortress.
Alleluia: Arr. © Gibingca Mxadana
Shine, Jesus, Shine: Text and music by Graham Kendrick © 1987 Make Way Music (admin. by Music Services in the Western Hemisphere). All Rights Reserved. ASCAP
Holy, Holy, Holy: Music adapt. by Richard Proulx © 1985, 1999 GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638. www.giamusic.com. 800.442.3358. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Lamb: Text and music by Gerald Patrick Coleman © 1987 MorningStar Music Publishers, St. Louis, MO. All rights reserved.
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light: Text and music by Kathleen Thomerson © 1970, 1975 Celebration
Now, Lord (Detroit Folk Mass): Music by Tillis Butler and James Harris © 1986 Fortress Press, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
Hymns/anthems: Music reprinted and streamed by permission under ONE LICENSE #A‐726103 and CCLI Licenses #21045423 and #21045416. All rights reserved.
Liturgical texts and service music: From SundaysandSeasons.com. Copyright © 2024 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS010308.