SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Transfiguration of the Lord
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
February 14, 2021 Ten Thirty in the morning
Minister: The Reverend Aaron Ochart
Liturgist: Ron Palmisano
Bold face indicates congregational participation.
GATHERING
WORDS OF WELCOME
PRELUDE 7 pieces in C major and C minor – I C. Franck
ADORATION
CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) Matt. 17:1–2, 5
On a high mountain, Jesus was transfigured,
and God said: This is my Beloved Son.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Dazzling Lord, In blinding light you showed your disciples a hint of your power and purpose. Reveal yourself to us today. Show us what you desire of us and how to broadcast your love to the world, for the sake of the one who keeps company with the prophets Moses and Elijah, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN 73 “Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory”
- 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.
- 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.
CONFESSION
CALL TO CONFESSION
SILENT CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our failure to be what you created us to be. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. By your loving mercy, help us to live in your light and abide in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
GLORIA PATRI 579
PROCLAMATION
FIRST LESSON Colossians 1:15-23
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.
MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN
ANTHEM
“I Want To Walk As A Child of the Light” Kathleen Thomerson
Flute solo: Linda Lowry
I want to walk as a child of the light, I want to follow Jesus.
God sent the Son to be Light to the world. The star of my life is Jesus.
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.
I want to see the brightness of God. I want to look at Jesus.
Clear Son of Righteousness shine on my path, and show me the way to the Father
The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
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.
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.
SECOND LESSON Luke 9:28-45
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
L: The Word of the Lord.
P: Thanks be to God.
SERMON “Highs and Lows” Rev. Aaron Ochart
RESPONSE
THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Scots Confession 3.01
God We confess and acknowledge one God alone, to whom alone we must cleave, whom alone we must serve, whom only we must worship, and in whom alone we put our trust. Who is eternal, infinite, immeasurable, incomprehensible, omnipotent, invisible; one in substance and yet distinct in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. By whom we confess and believe all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, to have been created, to be retained in their being, and to be ruled and guided by his inscrutable providence for such end as his eternal wisdom, goodness, and justice have appointed, and to the manifestation of his own glory.
HYMN 142 “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!”
1 All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all!
Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all!
2 Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of all!
Hail Him who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of all!
PARTING PRAYER Dionysius of Alexandria
God, good beyond all that is good, fair beyond all that is fair, in you is calmness, peace, and concord. Heal the dissensions that divide us from one another and bring us back to a unity of love bearing some likeness to your divine nature. Through the embrace of love and the bonds of godly affection, make us one in the Spirit by your peace which makes all things peaceful. We ask this through the grace, mercy, and tenderness of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Sortie in F Major by Franck