The Transfiguration Of Our Lord (Last Sunday After Epiphany)
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook, Series IV, Cycle C
Soul Motion
Object:
A single song is being inflected through all the colorations of the human choir.
The way to become human is to recognize the lineaments of God in all the wonderful modulations of the face [of humankind].
-- Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces
Call To Worship
Leader: Greetings, this last Sunday in Epiphany!
People: The calendar says we celebrate "transfiguration" today.
Leader: "Transfiguration" -- what does such an idea mean to you and me?
People: Something about "dazzling light" or "brilliant aura"!
Leader: The story says that Jesus radiated divine energy and the disciples with him on the mountain were impressed!
People: Just as the Hebrews in the wilderness were awed when they saw Moses with the Decalogue!
Leader: We, too, want an experience with the Holy so we are enlightened and can be illuminating!
People: Let's ask for that to happen:
All: Holy Spirit -- we are captivated by the idea that you satisfy our minds and our souls! We know that Moses and Elijah and Jesus kindled the imaginations of their companions. Ignite us so we glisten with your presence. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
Consider your body language and facial expression.
What does it say about your interior self? Take a moment to notice what is going on in your psyche and body.
Let's pray together and then continue our conversations with the Holy Mystery in silence.
Community Confession (Unison)
Light Divine -- we want to reflect your creativity and hospitality in our daily activities but our minds get blurred.
Transfigure our world weariness to spirited gentleness, work, and play.
Transform our dullness into dynamic brightness.
Translate our worn images into vibrant symbols of your presence.
Transpose our habitual attitudes into harmonious lyrics and rhythms to give us and others pleasure.
Transfer our self-absorption to respect for the planet and all its creatures. Amen.
Sermon Idea
Lay the lectionary texts beside each other. All speak of an external something that people identified as holy.
Not then and not now can light, auras, and energy fields be boxed, "templed" or "museumed." They are temporary, ephemeral, transient, unstable, and unpredictable.
Yet, we long for radiance to engulf us. And when we have such an experience, we seek it again. Perhaps we can describe the experience as "being in the heart of God." Hildegard of Bingen and all the mystics wrote about being encompassed by Holy light, by the heart of God.
What images today convey the idea and the experience of an ecstatic experience with The Holy?
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
God is creative Energy at work throughout the cosmos.
Jesus was unified with God and radiated divine love.
Christ-light motivates us to shine goodness into moral darkness, cynicism, and poverty.
Holy Spirit keeps the light bright in us, coaxing us to be gentle, patient, kind, respectful, humble, joyful, and self-controlled.
As a community of seekers, we support each other on this journey called "Life."
Offertory Statement (Leader)
We have enough of everything to share.
Doxology
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow, tune: OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below.
Praise God above, you heavenly hosts.
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Unison)
Great Mystery -- thank you for light that dazzles us unexpectedly.
Thank you for the insight to make decisions in keeping with our own integrity and sense of your presence.
Thank you for all the resources that enhance daily living.
Use us and our gifts as needed to make your love present in this world. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
Fascinating God -- when darkness threatens, radiate your light among us. Where darkness invades streets with harmful substances and terror, glimmer hope through living wages and empowering relationships. Where past interpretations of scriptures betray your lively grace, sparkle varied images for living faithfully today. Where dogmatic attitudes circumscribe your creative imagination, shine through cracks till no rigid corners are left in any religion or in any family or in any culture.
Mesmerizing God -- we long to be at rest with your contemporary Spirit! Heal our hurts; soothe our pain, comfort us in lonely hours. Help us and our children learn what is necessary to thrive in this world; integrate technology, expanding truth, and awareness of suffering into our experience with your grace. Help us look again at the teachings of Jesus and his choice to die. Give us insight for modern times and for our individual lives. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
Our time of sanctuary is ended.
It's time to go into our worlds with the insights we've received.
Go, as collaborators, radiating the light of Holiness.
Let your aura shine so you and others have a clear path for the next day's journey!
Hallelujah!
Music
Every Time I Feel The Spirit
Words: African-American spiritual
Music: African-American spiritual; adapt. and arr. William Farley Smith, 1986
PENTECOST
Jesus On The Mountain Peak
Words: Brian Wren, 1962, 1988
Music: Cyril Vincent Taylor, b. 1907
MOWSLEY
O Come And Dwell In Me
Words: Charles Wesley, 1762
Music: Genevan Psalter, 1551; adapt. William Crotch, 1836
ST. MICHAEL
O Holy Spirit, Root Of Life
Words: Jean Janzen, 1991, based on the writings of Hildegard of Bingen (12th century)
Music: Trier manuscript (15th century); adapt. Michael Praetorius, 1609; harm. George R. Woodward, 1904
PUER NOBIS NASCITUR
O Wondrous Sight! O Vision Fair
Words: Sarum Brevary, 1495; trans. John Mason Neale, 1851
Music: William Knapp, 1738; harm. from Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1874
WAREHAM
Swiftly Pass The Clouds Of Glory
Words: Thomas H. Troeger, 1985
Music: George Henry Day, 1940
GENEVA
Transform Us
Words: Sylvia Dunstan, 1989
Music: Traditional French melody (17th century); harm. The English Hymnal, 1906
PICARDY
Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow
Words: Thomas H. Troeger, 1983
Music: Joseph Parry, 1879
ABERYSTWYTH
The way to become human is to recognize the lineaments of God in all the wonderful modulations of the face [of humankind].
-- Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces
Call To Worship
Leader: Greetings, this last Sunday in Epiphany!
People: The calendar says we celebrate "transfiguration" today.
Leader: "Transfiguration" -- what does such an idea mean to you and me?
People: Something about "dazzling light" or "brilliant aura"!
Leader: The story says that Jesus radiated divine energy and the disciples with him on the mountain were impressed!
People: Just as the Hebrews in the wilderness were awed when they saw Moses with the Decalogue!
Leader: We, too, want an experience with the Holy so we are enlightened and can be illuminating!
People: Let's ask for that to happen:
All: Holy Spirit -- we are captivated by the idea that you satisfy our minds and our souls! We know that Moses and Elijah and Jesus kindled the imaginations of their companions. Ignite us so we glisten with your presence. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
Consider your body language and facial expression.
What does it say about your interior self? Take a moment to notice what is going on in your psyche and body.
Let's pray together and then continue our conversations with the Holy Mystery in silence.
Community Confession (Unison)
Light Divine -- we want to reflect your creativity and hospitality in our daily activities but our minds get blurred.
Transfigure our world weariness to spirited gentleness, work, and play.
Transform our dullness into dynamic brightness.
Translate our worn images into vibrant symbols of your presence.
Transpose our habitual attitudes into harmonious lyrics and rhythms to give us and others pleasure.
Transfer our self-absorption to respect for the planet and all its creatures. Amen.
Sermon Idea
Lay the lectionary texts beside each other. All speak of an external something that people identified as holy.
Not then and not now can light, auras, and energy fields be boxed, "templed" or "museumed." They are temporary, ephemeral, transient, unstable, and unpredictable.
Yet, we long for radiance to engulf us. And when we have such an experience, we seek it again. Perhaps we can describe the experience as "being in the heart of God." Hildegard of Bingen and all the mystics wrote about being encompassed by Holy light, by the heart of God.
What images today convey the idea and the experience of an ecstatic experience with The Holy?
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
God is creative Energy at work throughout the cosmos.
Jesus was unified with God and radiated divine love.
Christ-light motivates us to shine goodness into moral darkness, cynicism, and poverty.
Holy Spirit keeps the light bright in us, coaxing us to be gentle, patient, kind, respectful, humble, joyful, and self-controlled.
As a community of seekers, we support each other on this journey called "Life."
Offertory Statement (Leader)
We have enough of everything to share.
Doxology
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow, tune: OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below.
Praise God above, you heavenly hosts.
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Unison)
Great Mystery -- thank you for light that dazzles us unexpectedly.
Thank you for the insight to make decisions in keeping with our own integrity and sense of your presence.
Thank you for all the resources that enhance daily living.
Use us and our gifts as needed to make your love present in this world. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
Fascinating God -- when darkness threatens, radiate your light among us. Where darkness invades streets with harmful substances and terror, glimmer hope through living wages and empowering relationships. Where past interpretations of scriptures betray your lively grace, sparkle varied images for living faithfully today. Where dogmatic attitudes circumscribe your creative imagination, shine through cracks till no rigid corners are left in any religion or in any family or in any culture.
Mesmerizing God -- we long to be at rest with your contemporary Spirit! Heal our hurts; soothe our pain, comfort us in lonely hours. Help us and our children learn what is necessary to thrive in this world; integrate technology, expanding truth, and awareness of suffering into our experience with your grace. Help us look again at the teachings of Jesus and his choice to die. Give us insight for modern times and for our individual lives. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
Our time of sanctuary is ended.
It's time to go into our worlds with the insights we've received.
Go, as collaborators, radiating the light of Holiness.
Let your aura shine so you and others have a clear path for the next day's journey!
Hallelujah!
Music
Every Time I Feel The Spirit
Words: African-American spiritual
Music: African-American spiritual; adapt. and arr. William Farley Smith, 1986
PENTECOST
Jesus On The Mountain Peak
Words: Brian Wren, 1962, 1988
Music: Cyril Vincent Taylor, b. 1907
MOWSLEY
O Come And Dwell In Me
Words: Charles Wesley, 1762
Music: Genevan Psalter, 1551; adapt. William Crotch, 1836
ST. MICHAEL
O Holy Spirit, Root Of Life
Words: Jean Janzen, 1991, based on the writings of Hildegard of Bingen (12th century)
Music: Trier manuscript (15th century); adapt. Michael Praetorius, 1609; harm. George R. Woodward, 1904
PUER NOBIS NASCITUR
O Wondrous Sight! O Vision Fair
Words: Sarum Brevary, 1495; trans. John Mason Neale, 1851
Music: William Knapp, 1738; harm. from Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1874
WAREHAM
Swiftly Pass The Clouds Of Glory
Words: Thomas H. Troeger, 1985
Music: George Henry Day, 1940
GENEVA
Transform Us
Words: Sylvia Dunstan, 1989
Music: Traditional French melody (17th century); harm. The English Hymnal, 1906
PICARDY
Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow
Words: Thomas H. Troeger, 1983
Music: Joseph Parry, 1879
ABERYSTWYTH