Transfiguration: Mystagogy, Language and Light

Last Epiphany B February 11, 2024
1 Kg 19:9-18 Psalm 50:1-6
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9

Lectionary Link

People who often are referred to as "fundamentalists," are people who prefer a particular form of interpretation of the texts of Scriptures.  But such fundamentalists are selective in applying their method of interpretation, and they would say that they are not totally locked into one form of interpretation.  For example, when the words attributed to Jesus indicate that he is light, life, resurrection, shepherd, door, gate, way, vine, bread of heaven, or the words about him such as lamb of God, fundamentalist interpreters would says that such uses of words are metaphorical and figurative, but not literal.  By not being literal, it would mean that Jesus could not be empirically verified to be actual light, life, shepherd, lamb of God, door, gate, vine or bread from heaven.  Fundamentalists, then are not people who interpret everything in the Bible as though they are events that have to be able to be empirically verified to be meaningfully true.  But they will then regard events presented by biblical writers which truly defy natural law and the laws of science as being empirically verified.    Such things like biological actual virgin birth, chariots carrying people into heaven, walking on water, and other impossible natural events which are done by Jesus and the biblical heroes, are not seen as figurative, teaching, visionary events, but as events which were empirically verified.

What is lost in such inconsistencies in biblical interpretation is the nature and purpose of the biblical writers and how the nature and purpose of the writers chose to present their sublime message within the style of their preaching and writing.

What governed the writings of the writers of the New Testament?  It was the mystical experience of the Risen Christ.  Jesus who was dead and gone, was being experienced in a different way by many people, and the people who had these experiences joined together and invited others to be facilitated into this experience of the Risen Christ.  Experiences of the Risen Christ were different for different people, and so they could not be related in the way which science replicates the experiments of natural science.

The biblical writers were pushed into the moving language of aesthetics to try to express the sublime experiences of their lives.  Sharing these experience were less like boiling water in beakers in a laboratory with fellow lab mates, but more like being with a group of concert goers in being moved by the sublime presentation in a work of art.  Literal language of science is too drab to express the sublime experiences which happen because of art, the experience of being loved, the experiences of seeing justice realized, and the mystical experiences of a human superlative which gets confessed poetically as God and Son of God.

The very practical, didactic and very poetic tradition of St. Paul, and the Pauline traditions, pre-date the writings of the Gospel.  The mystagogy or instructions in the spiritual mysteries of the Risen Christ came to different presentation in the Gospel form of writing which came to promulgation after the writings of St. Paul.

The Gospels are a different kind of mystagogy than the writings of St. Paul.  They re-present the experience of the Risen Christ within a narrative of Jesus as parable, a figurative writing encoding the mystical practices of the church.

By taking the narratives of Jesus and reading them as empirically verified, historical eye-witness accounts, reader miss the important spiritual practice of the early communities of people who confessed and shared this experience of identity with the Risen Christ.  This identity was stated by Paul, as "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

The transfiguration, which literally, means metamorphosis, is part of the presentation of a spiritual parable of Jesus, as the Risen Christ who is given a visualized Jesus narrative as a way of inspiring the imagination of how Christ is in us.

Mystagogy is language used in a way so that it can bear witness to experience of the sublime.  The Gospel writer of Mark knew the body of symbolism found in the Hebrew Scripture.  The Gospel preacher believed/knew that Jesus was in succession with the great heroes of the past, with Moses and Elijah.  Their reputation was such that in the literature of time of Jesus, they were regarded to be time-space travelers.  They could and would be apparitional figures who would reappear to mark new paradigms of spiritual advance.

So, we have the parable of the transfigured Jesus.  Jesus takes his disciples up a mountain alone, into the clouds and he becomes the filament for an event of light.  And the apparitional Moses and Elijah appear with him to affirm him as the logical succession of their mission, and such event happens on behalf of the disciples in this event of Mystery and Light, in knowing Jesus in a very special way.

In two events in the Gospel of Mark, God the Father, declares with an audible voice to Jesus in the presence of others, "You are my beloved Son."  There is another declaration of Jesus as Son of God in the Gospel of Mark, and that is at the death of Jesus on the cross, when the Roman centurion declares, "Truly this is God's Son."

Mystagogy is teaching about the interior event when Christ in us is the hope of glory, the hope of having esteem and worth in our lives. We can appreciate the figurative audience positions of the identity of Christ as Son of God.   One is at the Jordan with John and the crowds there, the other is with James, John, and Peter in the encounter with Jesus, Elijah and Moses, and the other is the outsider, the Roman Centurion, who was able to recognize the sublime even being such an outsider.  We have our own "audience" position in knowing the Risen Christ, within us as Son of God, helping us to realize ourselves as child of God.

The Gospel of Mark encodes in a parable of Jesus the mystical experience of the people who know that the Risen Christ in within themselves and as he is glorified in being manifest as God's unique Son, so too we are invited to know ourselves as sons and daughters of God.

And in this path of mystagogy, we are invited to the being made Christ-like metamorphoses of spiritual growth.  Yes, we may prefer the mountain top and butterfly events, but they accentuate sublime points in the continuous metamorphosis that we are called to in ever become more Christ-like.

Let us embrace the metamorphosis in becoming more Christ-like, which the event of the transfiguration invites us to.  Amen.

Sunday School, February 11, 2024 The Last Sunday after the Epiphany B

  Sunday School, February 11, 2024   The Last Sunday after the Epiphany B

Theme:

The last Sunday that we use the word “Alleluia” until Easter Sunday.

Activity: Do something to “hide” alleluia from your vocabulary.  You can write “alleluia” on a piece of paper and then hide it in a special place.  A fast is when you give up eating certain food.  After Sunday, we begin an “alleluia” fast until Easter.  We take a fast from “alleluia” because it is such a special word of praise that we stop saying it for while to reserve it to welcome the celebration of Easter, the greatest event in the church because it is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ.

The Last Sunday after the Epiphany theme is always the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ.  We read the Gospel story of when Jesus was on a mountain with his friends, Peter, James and John and it suddenly got cloudy and in a sort of dream-like experience, Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with Jesus.  The face of Jesus got really shiny just like the face of Moses had become after he went up Mt. Sinai and received the famous Laws.  Elijah was a great prophet who was known for riding a chariot of fire into heaven.

These two great heroes appeared with Jesus as a way of saying that they supported Jesus as the new light of the world to show people a new way to live.

When the face of Jesus shone brightly, the voice of God the Father was heard and God the Father said about Jesus, “This is my Son, the beloved, listen to him.”

When we understand something for the first time, sometimes we say, “the light came on.”  Light is a symbol for understanding.  Darkness is a symbol for ignorance or not being able to understand something.

Epiphany season which ends before the season of Lent, is a season about how Jesus is the Light of the World.

Exercise:

What does light mean to us?

What does darkness mean to us?

How do you think that Jesus could be called the light of the world?

How do you think that you can be a light of the world?

Sermon:

  Today we read a story about Jesus.  The friends of Jesus were Peter, James and John.  And they had a vision of Jesus being with them on a mountain.

  And the mountain was covered with clouds.  And two famous people appeared within the cloud:  Moses and Elijah.

  And when they looked at Jesus, they saw that his face was shining very brightly.  And the friends of Jesus knew that he was a very special person.  He came to show this world who God is.

  That is why we call Jesus the Light of the world. 

  And did you know that Jesus also told us that we are to lights of the world too.

  How many of you like light?  What does light do for us?  It helps us see while we work and play.  When it is very dark we can’t do much.  We trip and fall.

  Jesus is the light of the world because he showed us how to live in the best way.

 We are to be lights in the world, because we’re supposed to live in such a good way, that we help other people live good lives too.

  Jesus is the Light of the world.  And we, too are lights in the world because we are helping to show people how to live good lives.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

February 11, 2024: The Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Gathering Songs:    Shine, Jesus, Shine; Majesty, The Lord Is My Light; I’ll Be a Sunbeam  

Procession Song: Shine, Jesus Shine    (Renew!  # 247)

Refrain: Shine, Jesus shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory, blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire; Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy, send forth your word and let there be light.

1.   Lord, the light of your love is shining in the midst of the darkness shining; Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us, set us free by the truth you now bring us.  Shine on me, shine on me. Refrain

2.   Lord, I come to your awesome presence from the shadows into your radiance; by the blood I may enter your brightness, search me, try me, consume all my darkness Shine on me, shine on me.  Refrain

Liturgist:         Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People:            And Blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Liturgis:           The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

Liturgist:   A reading from the Second letter of Paul to the Corinthians

Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus

Christ.Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 50

The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken; * he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, * God reveals himself in glory.

  

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Liturgist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Liturgist:         The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:            And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering.

Offertory Song: Majesty, (Renew # 63)

Majesty, worship His majesty.  Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise. 

Majesty, kingdom authority flow from His throne unto His own;

His anthem raise.  So, exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus. 

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King. 

Majesty, worship His Majesty; Jesus who died,

now glorified, King of all kings.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of God.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of our birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All may gather around the altar)

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

 the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

 this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbors.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: The Lord Is My Light  (Renew! # 102)

The Lord is my light, my light and salvation; in him I trust, in him I trust.  The Lord is my light, my light and salvation: in him I trust, in him I trust.

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: I’ll Be a Sunbeam (Christian Children’s Songbook  # 112)

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, to shine for him each day; in every way try to please him, at home, at school, at play. 

Refrain: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.  A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him.

I’ll be a sunbeam for Jesus, I can if I but try; serving him moment by moment, then live with him on high.  Refrain

Dismissal   

Liturgist:    Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.

People:      Thanks be to God! 

Are You in Spiritual Metamorphosis?

 Last Epiphany B      February 11, 2018
1 Kg 19:9-18      Psalm 50:1-6
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9
Lectionary Link

Have you ever said or heard some one say, "I'm high as a kite?"  I'm not asking anyone to confess their hippie pasts.  What I am trying to elicit is how we use elevation as a metaphor of what we might call unique and sublime experiences.

Before we had space travel and before we had air travel, what would be the available metaphors for height?  Bird flight.  Biblical writers spoke of mounting up on wings of an eagle as a poetic way of speaking about attaining panoramic view of the world below.

But in biblical geography, high and holy events happen on the highest places in the landscape, on mountains.  Mountains are metaphors for the places where the earth meets the heavens.  It no surprise about the metaphorical status of mountains in biblical "God events."  Mount Sinai, Mt. Carmel, The Mount of Olives, Mount Zion, the holiest place in Jerusalem, Mount Nebo, Mt. Gerazim for the Samaritans, The unnamed mount where the famous beatitudes of Jesus took place, and Mt. Tabor, the assumed Mount of the Transfiguration.

The Mount of the Transfiguration is presented as an update on the events on Mount Sinai and Mount Carmel.  On Mount Sinai, the Torah was given by God to Moses and the face of Moses shone.  On Mount Carmel,  Elijah called down fire from heaven to challenge the priests of Baal with the might act of the God of Israel. Elijah also was directly assumed into heaven on the chariot of fire.  And on the Mountain of Transfiguration, a new living Torah in the person of Jesus was being revealed to his followers.  And the inner space time travelers ,Moses and Elijah appeared to witness as they affirmed the surpassing greatness of Jesus.  And the voice of God declared the identity of Jesus as God's beloved Son who was to be listened to.  You might say that the disciples Peter, James and John were high as a kite in this event of the Transfiguration.

The word transfiguration in the Greek language is the word from which we get the English word metamorphosis.    One could say that Gospel writers presented the life of Jesus as a process of metamorphosis.  Not as the cycles of the life of a butterfly, but a very special metamorphosis.

God as Word was made flesh; became a baby, was known to be a prodigy child, conformed to the rite of baptism by John, ministered with wisdom, whispered people from the grips of dark inner forces, healed and brought the ostracized back to community,  went to extreme suffering and death on the Cross, and in the butterfly of butterflies moment, he rose from the dead.

Jesus lived the profound spiritually transformative life of transfiguration and metamorphosis.  Jesus instituted metamorphosis as the spiritual process for his movement; and for you and me.

The Mount of the Transfiguration event was a butterfly moment in the metamorphosis of the life of Jesus.  It was a pre-figuring of the eventual resurrection, ascension and glorification of Christ.

And do you know what?  Jesus left with his followers the process of spiritual metamorphosis to be the continuing spiral of spiritual advance both in us as individuals and in the churches as communities of the spiritual metamorphosis of the continuing life of the Risen Christ.

What do the phases of the metamorphosis present?  They present contrasts.  Eggs are tiny, larva immobile, caterpillars can be fuzzy and cute pests on plants, cocoons seem lifeless, but then the glorious butterfly is born.  But the butterfly eventually dies after laying eggs to begin the cycle again.

Perhaps all of us prefer the butterfly phase, and even wish that there should only be the butterfly phase.  In spiritual topography,  we all would like to live in mountaintop experiences forever, being perpetually high as a kite.  We perhaps wish our spiritual life could be the life of being perpetually in the butterfly phase.

What does transfiguration and metamorphosis that derived of the life of Jesus teach us?  It teaches that we live a life of spiritual metamorphosis.  We spiral upward going through the various phases, even phases of doubt and dark nights of the soul, but each phase is only a prelude to the next phase, the next advance.

Peter, James and John witnessed the spiritual mountaintop experience of the Transfiguration.  And then they witnessed the horrifying events of the trial, the flogging, and the crucifixion of the previously transfigured Jesus.  What was real for them?  Was the glowing Son of God real for them?  Or was the dying man on the Cross real for them?  Well, both.  But the post-resurrection appearances of Christ and the experience of the Holy Spirit showed them the purpose of the cycle of metamorphosis of the life of Christ.

And Peter, James and John went forth to tell all their listeners about this wonderful spiritual and transformative metamorphosis which was given to us by Jesus Christ.

You and I are invited today to continue within this process of spiritual metamorphosis.  We are to called to trust the creative advance of this spiritual process.  And if your experience seems to be like nearly invisible tiny eggs; hold on, there's a larva coming.  And if your experience seems so undeveloped and immature; hold on, there's a curious fuzzy little caterpillar phase coming, a phase when you might wear yourself out with growth, even to the point of needing a long phase of "rest."  A cocoon phase, when it might even seem like a hibernation with no end; but hold on, there is a glorious butterfly waiting to be born.  The long trip from the valley to the summit can suddenly pay off with a new incredible view in seeing things in completely new ways.

The life of Jesus was a life of unique spiritual metamorphosis.  And the Risen Christ has left the Holy Spirit life process of metamorphosis for us to live out in our lives today.

Today, no matter where we are in our life experience, can you and I embrace our lives as being proof of the spiritual metamorphosis, the spiritual transfiguration of the Risen Christ in our lives.

Let us today, allow the face of the transfigured Christ shine again through us as we are animated by the same Holy Spirit that animated the life of Jesus Christ.

My friends, let us on this Transfiguration Sunday, accept our lives in the continual process of spiritual metamorphosis, because the Spirit of God who was in Jesus, is the Spirit of God in us.  Amen

Sunday School, February 14, 2021 The Last Sunday after the Epiphany B

 Sunday School, February 14, 2021   The Last Sunday after the Epiphany B

Theme:

The last Sunday that we use the word “Alleluia” until Easter Sunday.

Activity: Do something to “hide” alleluia from your vocabulary.  You can write “alleluia” on a piece of paper and then hide it in a special place.  A fast is when you give up eating certain food.  After Sunday, we begin an “alleluia” fast until Easter.  We take a fast from “alleluia” because it is such a special word of praise that we stop saying it for while to reserve it to welcome the celebration of Easter, the greatest event in the church because it is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ.

The Last Sunday after the Epiphany theme is always the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ.  We read the Gospel story of when Jesus was on a mountain with his friends, Peter, James and John and it suddenly got cloudy and in a sort of dream-like experience, Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with Jesus.  The face of Jesus got really shiny just like the face of Moses had become after he went up Mt. Sinai and received the famous Laws.  Elijah was a great prophet who was known for riding a chariot of fire into heaven.

These two great heroes appeared with Jesus as a way of saying that they supported Jesus as the new light of the world to show people a new way to live.

When the face of Jesus shone brightly, the voice of God the Father was heard and God the Father said about Jesus, “This is my Son, the beloved, listen to him.”

When we understand something for the first time, sometimes we say, “the light came on.”  Light is a symbol for understanding.  Darkness is a symbol for ignorance or not being able to understand something.

Epiphany season which ends before the season of Lent, is a season about how Jesus is the Light of the World.

Exercise:

What does light mean to us?

What does darkness mean to us?

How do you think that Jesus could be called the light of the world?

How do you think that you can be a light of the world?

Sermon:

  Today we read a story about Jesus.  The friends of Jesus were Peter, James and John.  And they had a vision of Jesus being with them on a mountain.

  And the mountain was covered with clouds.  And two famous people appeared within the cloud:  Moses and Elijah.

  And when they looked at Jesus, they saw that his face was shining very brightly.  And the friends of Jesus knew that he was a very special person.  He came to show this world who God is.

  That is why we call Jesus the Light of the world. 

  And did you know that Jesus also told us that we are to lights of the world too.

  How many of you like light?  What does light do for us?  It helps us see while we work and play.  When it is very dark we can’t do much.  We trip and fall.

  Jesus is the light of the world because he showed us how to live in the best way.

 We are to be lights in the world, because we’re supposed to live in such a good way, that we help other people live good lives too.

  Jesus is the Light of the world.  And we, too are lights in the world because we are helping to show people how to live good lives.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

February 14, 2021: The Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Gathering Songs:    Shine, Jesus, Shine; Majesty, The Lord Is My Light; I’ll Be a Sunbeam  

Procession Song: Shine, Jesus Shine    (Renew!  # 247)

Refrain: Shine, Jesus shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory, blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire; Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy, send forth your word and let there be light.

1.   Lord, the light of your love is shining in the midst of the darkness shining; Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us, set us free by the truth you now bring us.  Shine on me, shine on me. Refrain

2.   Lord, I come to your awesome presence from the shadows into your radiance; by the blood I may enter your brightness, search me, try me, consume all my darkness Shine on me, shine on me.  Refrain

Liturgist:         Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People:            And Blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Liturgis:           The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

Liturgist:   A reading from the Second letter of Paul to the Corinthians

Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus

Christ.Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 50

The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken; * he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, * God reveals himself in glory.

  

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Liturgist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Liturgist:         The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:            And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering.

Offertory Song: Majesty, (Renew # 63)

Majesty, worship His majesty.  Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise. 

Majesty, kingdom authority flow from His throne unto His own;

His anthem raise.  So, exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus. 

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King. 

Majesty, worship His Majesty; Jesus who died,

now glorified, King of all kings.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of God.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of our birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All may gather around the altar)

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

 the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

 this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbors.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: The Lord Is My Light  (Renew! # 102)

The Lord is my light, my light and salvation; in him I trust, in him I trust.  The Lord is my light, my light and salvation: in him I trust, in him I trust.

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: I’ll Be a Sunbeam (Christian Children’s Songbook  # 112)

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, to shine for him each day; in every way try to please him, at home, at school, at play. 

Refrain: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.  A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him.

I’ll be a sunbeam for Jesus, I can if I but try; serving him moment by moment, then live with him on high.  Refrain

Dismissal   

Liturgist:    Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.

People:      Thanks be to God!