SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Transfiguration Sunday
February 19, 2023 Ten Thirty in the morning
Ministers: Rev. Aaron Ochart
Liturgist: Caroline Kothari
Please silence all cell phones.
Face masks are encouraged for all participants unless leading worship.
Bold face indicates congregational participation.
Please stand, in body or spirit
THE PEOPLE ARE GATHERED IN
PRELUDE Vision Etude L.M. Gottschalk
PROCESSIONAL HYMN [BLUE#263*] [GTG#12]
Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise ST. DENIO
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.
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!
WORDS OF WELCOME
MINUTE FOR MISSION Evergreen Ministries
LITANY FOR TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
ONE: Blessed is the Lord our God,
who revealed the law to Moses.
MANY:The Lord our God is holy!
ONE: Blessed is the Lord our God,
who has spoken through the prophets.
MANY: The Lord our God is holy!
ONE: Blessed is the Lord our God,
who came to us in Jesus Christ.
MANY: The Lord our God is holy!
ONE: The one who spoke and called light out of darkness
now shines in our hearts.
MANY: The Lord our God is holy!
ONE: The one who comes and does not keep silence
now speaks in our midst.
MANY: The Lord our God is holy!
ONE: Now we have seen the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
MANY: The Lord our God is holy!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Great God of dazzling beauty and overshadowing majesty, in Jesus Christ, your beloved, we glimpse the image of your glory. Teach us to listen to him so that we may hear your voice and follow your holy way; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
HYMN [BLUE#73*] [GTG#190] “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.
- 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
REFRAIN [As Children Exit] [GTG192]
“Lord The Light of Your Love is Shining ”
Shine, Jesus, shine; fill this land with the Father’s glory.
Blaze, Spirit, blaze; set our hearts on fire
REPENTANCE
CALL TO CONFESSION
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
GLORIA PATRI #579
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, Amen.
THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED
SCRIPTURE Matthew 16:24-17:8
Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘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 will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself.
ONE: The Word of the Lord
MANY: Thanks be to God
SERMON “Mountaintop” Rev. Aaron Ochart
RESPONSE
CELEBRATION of the SACRAMENT of BAPTISM
Corinne Marie Kawaguchi
Child of: Nicole Gordy and Neil Kawaguchi
Grandchild of: Amy and Jeffrey Cardinale
Godparents: Eva Mace and Conner Stevens
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Scots Confession
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 [God’s] inscrutable providence for such end as [God’s] eternal wisdom, goodness, and justice have appointed, and to the manifestation of [God’s] own glory.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY “O Worship The King” arr. Victor Labenske
DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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#411*] [GTG #744] “Arise, Your Light has Come!”
FESTAL SONG
1 Arise, your light has come! The Spirit’s call obey;
show forth the glory of your God which shines on you today.
2 Arise, your light has come! Fling wide the prison door;
proclaim the captives liberty, good tidings to the poor.
3 Arise, your light has come! All you in sorrow born,
bind up the brokenhearted ones and comfort those who mourn.
4 Arise, your light has come! The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing, God’s power will make us strong.
PARTING PRAYER
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 cloud you foreshadowed our adoption as your children. Make us, with Christ, heirs of your glory; and send us from the mountaintop of your experienced presence to the valleys of our lives bearing your light with us everywhere we go. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
RESPONSE [GTG#747] “The Lord Now Sends Us Forth”
The Lord now sends us forth with hands to serve and give,
to make of all the earth a better place to live.
The angels are not sent into our world of pain
to do what we were meant to do in Jesus’ name;
that falls to you and me and all who are made free.
Help us, O Lord, we pray, to do your will today.
POSTLUDE excerpts from Sonata No. 3 Felix Mendelssohn
The flowers in the sanctuary were given by Evelyn Tobey in loving memory of Bob Tobey.
*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly.
Participating in today’s service are Rev. Aaron Ochart, Pastor; Louise Ochart, CE Leader; Sam Garnett, Music Director; and Kelly Cuppett, Assistant Music Director. Appreciation to Dennis Lauland. Mike Fortin, and David Garland for the video production of today’s service.
The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.
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STAFF |
Church Office 504.888.1375
Playschool Office 504.888.1378
The Reverend Aaron Ochart – Head of Staff
Louise Ochart – Christian Education Leader
Sam Garnett – Music Director
Kelly Cuppett – Assistant Music Director
Lauren Oufnac – Playschool Director
Stephanie Galliano – Playschool Admin. Asst.
For more information, visit our website at www.JohnCalvinChurch.org
or find us @JohnCalvinMetairie on
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JCPC Prayer Team You may write your prayer request on one of the forms, located in the pew rack in front of you, and place it in the offering plate. You may also enter prayer requests on-line at www.johncalvinchurch.org, just click “Prayer Request.” |