MORRIS-ROSENFELD ECUMENICAL SHARED MINISTRY
ORDER OF SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024
TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD; LAST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2
Due to copyright limitations, we are unable to print the words to many of the songs. However, our musicians have chosen music to fit the scriptures. We invite you to look up the words in your worship book and ponder them. If you do not have a worship book, ponder the words of one of your favourite hymns and listen for God’s voice. Those who have the internet may find the songs on YouTube.
Parts of this service are taken from: Marking the Legacy of Slavery in Canada and the British Commonwealth. Theme: All Are Made in the Image of God —By the Rev. Paul Douglas Walfall, First United Church, Fort Saskatchewan, AB
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The difference between shallow happiness and a deep, sustaining joy is sorrow. Happiness lives where sorrow is not. When sorrow arrives, happiness dies. It can’t stand pain. Joy, on the other hand, rises from sorrow and therefore can withstand all grief. Joy, by the grace of God, is the transfiguration of suffering into endurance, and of endurance into character, and of character into hope–and the hope that has become our joy does not (as happiness must for those who depend up on it) disappoint us.
~Walter Wangerin
BEFORE WE WORSHIP, WE REFLECT…
Imagine what would happen if someone from the days of Jesus were suddenly transported to our present. How would someone accustomed to walking everywhere respond to driving in a car at top speed, let alone flying in a jet? How would someone who spends their life depending on—at best—oil lamps for light respond to electric lights? It is fun to muse at how people might respond, as we reflect on how sophisticated we are.
Now imagine if the scene were reversed. How would someone accustomed to understanding much in the world around them respond to an event as otherworldly as the transfiguration? We understand volcanoes and the northern lights. We can explain lightning and thunder. We know about germs and disease transmission. So what would we do when confronted with something so amazing, awesome, and unexplainable?
The transfiguration is one of those ancient events that still puzzle us. What really happened to Jesus that day? Since we cannot go back to that time, we are left to speculate. We take stabs in the dark and make educated guesses, but at the end of the day we are left with a holy mystery to ponder.
Whatever happened that day, there is a timeless spiritual reality behind the physical details Mark gives us. God sometimes uses extreme and amazing methods to transform us when we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit. God’s spirit transfigured Jesus then. That same Spirit is still transforming people today. We don’t have to explain first-century miracles to trust that God’s transforming Spirit is timeless and at work within each of us today. We do not have to understand everything to see the beauty of God at work in the world, continually transfiguring us into the people we were created to be.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge we gather and worship on Treaty 1 Territory, the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.
Great God, we pause at the beginning of this gathering to praise and acknowledge You as our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. We are grateful for the earth you have created that nourishes us. We are grateful for the responsibility you have given us to tend and care for creation. We acknowledge we are related to the earth and all its many creatures with inseparable lines of connection.
We give thanks to You, God our Creator, for this land, and to those peoples who have stewarded this land for generations. We are grateful for the opportunity to live, work and worship here, as we witness the reconciling movement of the Spirit. We commit to engage in listening, learning and acting to live into right relations with Indigenous peoples and all of creation. Amen.
Bibliography: ‘#878 Land Acknowledgement’. In Voices Together. Harrisonburg, Virginia: MennoMedia, 2020
CALL TO WORSHIP – Written by Pastor Charmain Bailey
Jesus enters our village today to the laughter of our children
The graciousness of our elders
The excitement of our friends
The songs of the people.
He has come to us, to the burdens that we carry,
Bringing the peace that we seek, and the hope that we cling to
Jesus enters our village today, and we receive him gladly.
CHILDREN’S SONG: With One Voice 651 Shine, Jesus, Shine
CENTERING PRAYER
Almighty God, the resplendent light of your truth shines from the mountaintop into our hearts. Transfigure us by your beloved Son, and illumine the world with your image, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
HYMN: VU 506 Take My Life and Let it Be
CANADIAN LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF: YOUR IMPACT IN UKRAINE
CLWR is continuing to raise funds and rush emergency assistance to the 7 million refugees who have fled Ukraine and the 8 million people who are internally displaced.
Our partners in the ACT Alliance are responding in Ukraine and the region to meet immediate humanitarian needs such as food, shelter, emergency supplies and trauma support.
We will also support the vital coordinating work of Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Across Europe, members of LWF are mobilizing to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need and are preparing for a long-term response to help refugee populations in locations throughout Europe.
We’re so grateful that you have been part of this response. Thank you for your kindness and generosity at this crucial time.
HYMN: VU 578 As A Fire Is Meant For Burning
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Guide us, O God, by your Word, and Holy Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover peace; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
READINGS AND PSALM
First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12
Today’s reading centers on the transfer of power and authority from the prophet Elijah to Elisha. Their travels, which retrace the path of Joshua back to Moab (the place where Moses died) and the parting of the waters, demonstrate that Elisha and Elijah are legitimate successors of the great prophet Moses.
1Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”
4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”
6Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
Psalm 50:1-6
Out of Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth in glory. (Ps. 50:2)
1The mighty one, God the Lord, has spoken; calling the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, God shines forth in glory. R
3Our God will come and will not keep silence; with a consuming flame before, and round about a raging
storm.
4God calls the heavens and the earth from above to witness the judgment of the people.
5“Gather before me my loyal followers, those who have made a covenant with me and sealed it with
sacrifice.”
6The heavens declare the rightness of God’s cause, for it is God who is judge. R
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
The spotlight of Christian ministry is not on the people who carry out ministry but on the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as God made light shine at creation, God makes the light of Jesus Christ shine in our lives through Christian ministry.
3Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In 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. 5For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6For 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.
Gospel: Mark 9:2-9
Mark’s gospel presents the transfiguration as a preview of what would become apparent to Jesus’ followers after he rose from the dead. Confused disciples are given a vision of God’s glory manifest in the beloved Son.
2Six 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, 3and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5Then 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.” 6He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
9As 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.
HYMN: VU 103 How Good, Lord, To Be Here
SERMON
Jim was a retired school teacher. He was training to be a lay leader in his congregation and was in the same Clinical Pastoral Education class as I. Jim had a marvelous sense of humour and a very dry wit. We were each assigned a floor of the hospital and were instructed to visit the patients and write verbatims of our visits.
One of the patents Jim visited was a young man of 24. This young man boasted to Jim of all that he had done in life to this point. When he was finished, Jim looked at him and said, “Wow! You sure look good for 85! The young man was taken aback. “What do you mean by that?”, he asked Jim.
“Well,” said Jim, “I am a retired math teacher. As you were telling me about all the jobs you have had and all the trades you can do, I started to add up all the years of education, internships, apprenticeships and upgrading that you would have had to do to achieve all those skills. By my calculations, once you add up the time it took to get where you are now, you would have to be 85! Care to start again at the beginning and just stick with the truth this time?”
That, people of God, is transparency.
I worked at the Urban for two years. The Urban is my Synod’s Lutheran inner-city ministry in Winnipeg. Over the course of the two years, I witnessed people who, having received unconditional love from the folks at the Urban, turned their lives around and chose to get help so that there was healing and joy in their lives. They became brand new people!
That, people of God, is transformation.
Then, along comes Jesus…
Melinda Quivik, Liturgical and Homiletical Scholar in St. Paul, Minnesota, writes the following about transfiguration:
We might use the words “transfigure” and “transform” interchangeably, but there is a helpful distinction to keep in mind. To be transfigured is to be changed in outward form or appearance. Jesus’ transfiguration does not alter who he is but gives to those who see the changed visage a new understanding of him because they see him outwardly in a different light. When we speak of transformation, we tend to mean a complete or essential change in composition or structure. Jesus on the mountain with Moses and Elijah is not transformed (changed inwardly) but transfigured before his disciples (shown to be other than assumed). He is not made to have a new essential self but an appearance that conveys his standing in the company of Israel’s greatest prophets.[1]
I remind you of two facts: 1. The scriptures were meant to be heard corporately, not read individually. 2. The point of the story is the point of the story.
The writers of the gospels were not concerned with historical accuracy or even logic. They were proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. They were proclaiming a mystery, unconditional love, they were proclaiming divine power! One does not explain God. One experiences God!!
The disciples were permitted to see Jesus as he truly was, glowing with divine power! Jesus would need every ounce of that divine power to keep his feet steadily on the path to the cross once he reached the plain. Following Jesus means to also walk the path to the cross. This seems easy to do in a country where we are not inundated with the sound of exploding bombs, the retort of gunfire, the screams and cries of the injured, dying or grieving victims of war and the trails of violence that war leaves in its wake.
For Christians on the front lines, they, too, need every ounce of divine strength that God grants them to get by moment to moment, let alone day by day.
In this transfiguration experience, the disciples hear the voice of God. Wow! This voice declares Jesus as the beloved son. This voice commands the disciples to listen to Jesus.
- Clifton Black, Professor of Biblical Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, writes the following:
Are we listening? Igor Stravinsky said, “To listen is an effort, and just to hear is no merit. A duck hears also.” If this is true of music, how much more does it bear on Jesus’ commands? It is one thing to admire the Messiah; to obey him is something else. “Follow me” (Mark 1:17; 2:14). “Pay attention to what you hear” (4:24). “Do not be afraid, only believe” (5:36; 6:50). “You give them something to eat” (6:37). “It is what comes out of a person that defiles” (7:20). “Deny and take up and follow me” (8:34). “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first” (10:31). “Whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all” (10:44). “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone” (11:25). That’s only from Mark; Matthew, Luke, and John offer more. Anyone who thinks Christian faith is a retreat from reality is clueless.[2]
My guess is that the hardest instruction for the disciples was to say nothing to anyone until Jesus had risen from the dead. After witnessing this divine moment, hearing the voice of God, no less! Seeing Moses and Elijah in the flesh – they were issued a gag order?!! What did they do with all that adrenaline pulsing through their bodies?! You are asking a lot of these rookie disciples, Jesus! Or is he?
Who is Jesus to you, to me, to us? Does he hold any meaning in your life? Is he God’s beloved son, or not? Does Jesus embody divine power, or not? Is Jesus worth following, or not? If the answer is YES! then we, too, are filled with excitement, adrenaline, anticipation at what Jesus can do in our lives and with our lives.
We do not explain God. We experience God.
The Spirit of Christ exists in each one of us. When we allow the Spirit free reign in our lives, we may not be transfigured like Jesus, we are most definitely transformed.
Open yourself to the power, possibilities and passion of our living Christ! Amen.
HOM: MV 71 When The Wind of Winter Blows
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
As we celebrate Christ embodied in human form, we pray for God’s blessing on the church, the world, and all of creation.
We pray for the church, that the transformational power of God enters the hearts of all people. May its leaders serve as examples of your grace and healing across time and space. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
We pray for the creation, that we will humbly observe the swirl of wind and the heat of the bright sun. Teach us to honor all you have made and to care for the animals, plants, air, and bodies of water of this planet. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
We pray for those charged with leadership, lawmaking, and governance of our towns, states, and countries, that they will strive for goodness and justice all the days of their lives and callings. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
We pray for any who are sick and suffering. Guide us to offer hospitality, shelter, friendship, and care to any in need. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
We pray for this congregation and its ministry in the wider community. May we share the transforming beauty and love of God in ways that honor the dignity of all whom we encounter. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
Trusting that all the saints, prophets, and those who die in faith are held in your care, we remember in thanksgiving those who have died. Grant us your gift of salvation as we await your coming again in glory. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
Knowing the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, we offer these prayers and the silent prayers of our hearts in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SENDING SONG: VU 644 Borning Cry
BENEDICTION
In a world where we have, in the past, enslaved and dehumanized others,
we go to treat each person with dignity and respect.
In a world where profit is valued more than human life,
we go to proclaim the priceless worth of each person.
In a world where the ugliness of racism and White supremacy is found,
we go to show that love conquers all social ills.
Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; repay no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour everyone; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.
Copyright © 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS011617.
© 2011 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/byncsa/2.5/ca.
[1]https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/transfiguration-of-our-lord-2/commentary-on-mark-92-9-5
[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/transfiguration-of-our-lord-2/commentary-on-mark-92-9-4