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)

WORDS OF WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP Matt. 17:1–2, 5

ONE: On a high mountain, Jesus was transfigured,

MANY: and God said: This is my Beloved Son.

                                                   

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Lord of light, as you were transfigured on the mountain, your followers were given a glimpse of your glory. Shine your light in our lives so that we will know how truly marvelous you are. Amen.

HYMN [BLUE#73][GTG#190] Swiftly Pass The Clouds of Glory

1. Swiftly pass the clouds of glory, heaven’s voice, the dazzling light;

Moses and Elijah vanish; Christ alone commands the height!

Peter, James, and John fall silent, turning from the summit’s rise

downward toward the shadowed valley

where their Lord has fixed His eyes.

1. Glimpsed and gone the revelation,

they shall gain and keep its truth,

not by building on the mountain any shrine or sacred booth,

but by following the Savior through the valley to the cross

and by testing faith’s resilience through betrayal, pain, and loss.

1. Lord, transfigure our perception with the purest light that shines,

and recast our life’s intentions to the shape of your designs,

till we seek no other glory than what lies past Calvary’s hill

and our living and our dying and our rising by your will.

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN                

 RESPONSE HYMN[GTG#458] Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet

1. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 

When I feel afraid, and I think I’ve lost my way, 

still you’re there right beside me. 

Nothing will I fear as long as you are near. 

Please be near me to the end.  

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION     

Jesus said: Nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not come to light.

Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of compassion in Jesus Christ you reveal the light of your glory, but we turn away, distracted by our own plans. We confess that we speak when we should listen, and act when we should wait. Forgive our aimless enthusiasms. Grant us wisdom to live in your light and to follow in the way of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen

ASSURANCE OF PARDON 

The one who calls light out of darkness now shines in our hearts to reveal the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Thanks be to God.

GLORIA PATRI [Blue#579] [GTG581]     

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

SCRIPTURE [Pew Bible NT 41 or 43]     Mark 8:27-9:8

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

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.

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

 

SERMON        “Who Do People Say I Am?”  the Rev. Aaron Ochart

 RESPONSE     

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH         Westminster Shorter Catechism

ONE: What is the main purpose for humanity?

MANY: The main purpose for humanity is to glorify and enjoy God forever.

ONE: What rule has God given to tell us how we may glorify and enjoy God?

MANY: The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is the only rule to tell us how we may glorify and enjoy God.

ONE: What do the Scriptures mainly teach?
MANY: The Scriptures mainly teach what we are to believe about God, and what duty God requires of us.

ONE: How many Persons are there in the Trinity?
MANY: There are three Persons in the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

ONE: What is Sin?

MANY: Sin is any lack of obedience to, or violation of, the law of God.

ONE: Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?
MANY: The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and human, in two distinct natures, and one Person forever.

ONE: How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
MANY:The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY [GTG#192] Shine, Jesus, Shine by Graham Kendrick, 

arr. Jack Schrader

DOXOLOGY [GTG#606]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God, all creatures here below.

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen

HYMN [BLUE#263] [GTG#12] Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might:

thy justice, like mountains high soaring above;

thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

3 To all, life thou givest, to both great and small.

In all life thou livest, the true life of all.

We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,

then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.

4 Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light.

Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight.

All praise we would render; O help us to see

’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!

PARTING PRAYER 

Holy One, as you are well pleased with Christ, help us to live in a way that will be pleasing to you. As you have called us to listen to Christ, help us to always heed his word and seek his will.

These things we pray in the name of Jesus, your beloved Son, our Savior and Lord. Amen.