COLOR: White
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-6; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9

CALLS TO WORSHIP

Call to Worship #1:
L: The Lord has called you here this day.
P: Lord, reveal to us your purposes for us.
L: Open your hearts to receive God’s good news.
P: Lord, make us ready to serve you.
L: Come, let us worship God!
P: Let us sing our praises to the Almighty One. AMEN.

Call to Worship #2:
L: Life can seem shrouded in mystery.
P: O Lord, lift the veil of our misunderstanding that we may see your Light.
L: We are eager to serve.
P: O Lord, calm our spirits and patiently prepare us for service.
L: Look to the Lord for mercy and comfort.
P: We look to the Lord for healing and hope. AMEN.

Call to Worship #3:
[Using THE FAITH WE SING, p. 2173, “Shine, Jesus, Shine.” offer the following call to worship as directed.]

 L: In the midst of our darkness, Jesus brings holy light!
P: Pierce our darkness; scatter the shadows of doubt and fear! Bring us your light, O Lord.

Choir: singing refrain and verse 1 of “Shine, Jesus, Shine”

 L: We seek the light but have long lived in the darkness. Bring your light, O Lord.
P: Help us be ready to receive that light!

Choir: singing refrain and verse 1 of “Shine, Jesus, Shine”

 L: Come to the shining presence of Jesus. Receive healing and hope.
P: Lord, our lives are ablaze with your love and healing power. Praise be to you, O Christ! AMEN.

Call to Worship #4:
L: Get ready! A miraculous thing is about to happen!
P: What is this!
L: The powerful light of Jesus will transform your lives!
P: But we are unworthy to receive this light.
L: Jesus himself has proclaimed you worthy and beloved. Come, and live in the light.
P: Praise be to God and to Jesus Christ who has healed and redeemed us. AMEN.

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PRAYERS, READING, BENEDICTION

Opening Prayer
The darkness of winter has been our companion, Lord. Now the days are lengthening. Bring your light to us, that we might see your glory and may work for you, offering hope and peace to this world. We ask this, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Prayer of Confession
Patient Lord, you know how accustomed we are to “magic” tricks. Our spirits and our senses get fooled easily. We would be just like the disciples, at first not believing what we were seeing and then wanting to make a monument to the event. Thank you for being so patient with us. Forgive us when we get so wrapped up in the moment that we don’t take time enough to understand its significance. Help us pause, reflect, think, and thank you for the blessings of unexpected revelations. Give us wisdom and strength to be your disciples, proclaiming your transforming love to all people. AMEN.

Words of Assurance
To you the light of love and ministry has been revealed. Rejoice! You have been blessed by God to be witnesses; to proclaim God’s love to all. Be at peace! AMEN.

Pastoral Prayer
Lord of infinite mercy, we would make a Broadway production of this Transfiguration event because we would not take the time to understand its significance for our lives. We are in such a hurry to memorialize everything that the power and meaning of the event become pale or altered in our memories. Help us look at Jesus with new eyes, those eyes that see him in light of the witness of the ages; that see Jesus as the One who comes to set people free, to heal, to bring hope and peace. Make us ready to become faithful disciples, rather than remaining dazzled by the mountaintop experience. Give us strength and courage this day to witness to Jesus’ love by the many deeds of mercy and justice we can offer in his name. For we offer ourselves, imperfect, but willing, to serve. AMEN.

Reading

Peter:
What’s going to happen on the mountain, Jesus?

Jesus:
Peter, just trust in me. There is something that you and James and John need to know and understand in order to deal with the times that are coming. Just be patient. All will be revealed to you.

Narrator:
And as they stood there, on that mountaintop, “Jesus was transfigured before them. His clothes became a dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared with him Moses and Elijah,” each conversing with him.

Peter:
Master, it is good that we were here with you. It would be an appropriate thing if we built a dwelling for each of you; one for Moses; one for Elijah, and, of course, one for you.

Narrator:
A cloud overshadowed the disciples and obscured the vision of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him!” And when the cloud had lifted the disciples looked around and saw only Jesus.

They were stunned. They didn’t know what to say. And Jesus took them down the mountainside, back to their work among the towns and villages.

Jesus:
I know that you are confused about what you have seen and heard. You will have to be patient. Meanwhile, please listen to me. All will be revealed to you in time, but you must not go telling everyone about what you have seen until “after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Narrator:
Even now, thousands of years later, we are still confused about this Transfiguration. We want to know the whole story. Listen. Wait. All will be revealed. Trust in the Beloved One of God.

Benediction
Get ready to serve the Lord. Go in peace and joy, sharing the good news of Jesus’ transforming love and power for all. AMEN.

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ARTISTIC ELEMENTS

The traditional color for this Sunday is: WHITE

[This is a representational piece for the Transfiguration--the three large candles representing Jesus, Moses, and Elijah; the three smaller pillar candles representing Peter, James, and John; and the votive candles representing the remaining disciples. The fabric should be billowed to represent clouds, but be careful of the lighted candles near the fabric. Make sure you place something under each of the candles to avoid getting wax on the fabric.]

SURFACE:
Place three 10” risers on the center back of the worship table, Place a riser in front of the worship table, about 6” lower than the surface of the worship table.

FABRIC:
Cover the entire worship center with green fabric, and then cover it again with white netting or gauze-like fabric, making sure that it billows around the three risers and cascades down the front of the worship center, billowing on the floor. Give it a cloud-like appearance.

CANDLES:
On the three risers place white pillar candles as follows: one 8”, one 10”, and one 8”. Place three 3” white pillar candles on the center of the table. Place nine white votive candles on the riser in front of the worship table.

FLOWERS/FOLIAGE:
No flowers or foliage necessary for this setting.

ROCKS/WOOD:
Place some clusters of rocks near the nine candles on the riser and the three 3” white pillar candles on the worship center.

OTHER:
Nothing else is needed.