The Service in PDF format is at: February 14, 2021 Service
Video of service is at: Facebook Video
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
February 13, 2021 (online service)
THEME: Today is a special opportunity to consider the brightness of Jesus. As Jesus went up on the Mount of Transfiguration, his brightness shined upon the disciples. Jesus’ transfiguration reminds us of the blessing we hear every week at the end of worship in the Benediction for the Lord’s face to shine upon us. God’s face certainly shines on us today. We look forward to the day when Jesus comes again in glory to permanently shine His face upon us.
Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS
Leader: Today we celebrate the transfiguration of Jesus. We hear the voice of our heavenly Father saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” Yet, as we follow Jesus, we have often failed to listen to His words. We have chosen to listen to the voice of the world rather than the voice of our transfigured Lord. So now, we come before our heavenly Father to ask for His forgiveness.
~Silence for reflection~
Leader: Most merciful God,
People: We confess that we have not listened to You or Your Son. We have ignored His voice and plugged our ears to His words of mercy. Forgive our sins and open our ears to Your voice once again.
Leader: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen. God’s face has shined upon us.
PRAISE SONG: “Shine, Jesus, Shine”
recorded by congregation on September 10, 2017
Leader: Let us pray.
Leader: Heavenly Father, in the transfiguration of Your Son You have shined grace and glory upon the world, and by Your own testimony we hear that Jesus is indeed Your beloved Son. Help us to heed Your voice and bask in the light of Your grace; through Jesus Christ, our transfigured Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament Deuteronomy 34:1-12
The Death of Moses
Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. And the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring. ‘I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Jesus is transfigured on a high mountaintop.
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
SERMON “Transformed for what?”
Leader: In the First Article of the Creed, our confession is focused on God, our Creator, from whom our divine Savior Jesus Christ has proceeded. It is the voice of God the Father that we hear on the Mount of Transfiguration, acclaiming His Son, Jesus, and directing His disciples to listen to Him. As we declare our faith in God the Father, we affirm our trust in His plan for us as His children to grant us life and to place us into position through which we can serve Him and our neighbors. We speak the words of this article of the Apostles’ Creed followed by the explanation.
People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
Leader: What does this mean?
People: I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.
He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.
He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.
Leader: Let us pray together in Christ Jesus for all people according to their needs.
Leader: God of love, living on our own terms, our lives have become unmanageable. Grant that by Your Word and Spirit we continually be transformed, trusting in Jesus who was transfigured in the sight of Peter, James, and John. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: God of love, Your people often are under the weight of feeling unloved. Jesus has come that all people come to know and believe how much You love all of us—from the least to the greatest. Grant that our elected and appointed officials be persuaded by Your love to govern wisely that all people on earth dwell in peace. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: God of love, Your people are torn to pieces by many dangers, toils, and snares. Our attentions are divided, and our words and actions are motivated by the cares, griefs, and pains of our lives. We cause one another much pain and so get in the way of Your love for all people in Christ Jesus flowing through us to all people in our communities and societies. Grant that we turn to You embracing our identity as vessels of Your mercy in a way that overflows to the people around us. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: God of love, there are many who are weak and sick among us and in our circles of family and friends. Remember for good all people who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit, [especially . . .]. Grant them both inward and outward healing according to Your will, helping them to trust Your goodness in all things. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Into Your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG: “One Day at a Time”
recorded with Rick and Callie on January 16, 2021
DISMISSAL
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!