ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH THE LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD LITTLETON, COLORADO March 3, :30 a.m. THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD Transfigured for Our Transformation AS WE GATHER Jesus words and actions are for the benefit of all human beings. Isaiah says, He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). What if Jesus was also transfigured for our transformation? In this mysterious encounter, the veil between the seen and the unseen is pulled aside, and Peter, James, and John beheld Jesus, the man, as He is in the brightness of the glory of God. He spoke with Moses and Elijah about His coming Passion in Jerusalem. The Father s blessing echoes the blessing at His Baptism, This is My Son, My Chosen One, listen to Him! (Luke 9:35). This transfiguration began while Jesus was praying. The Divine Service is a weekly event where God serves His people through His Word and Sacraments. People respond with prayers, praise, and thanksgiving. As faith opens us to God s love, this divine conversation powerfully transforms us, changing our ways of thinking, seeing, and living as we are sent out by God each week to love and serve others just as Jesus did.

2 GATHERING SONG HOLY IS THE LORD Tomlin We stand and lift up our hands, For the joy of the Lord is our strength. We bow down and worship Him now. How great, how awesome is He. And together we sing, ev'ry-one sing. Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The earth is filled with His glory. Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The earth is filled with His glory. The earth is filled with His glory. It is rising up all around. It s the anthem of the Lord s renown. It is rising up all around. It s the anthem of the Lord s renown. And together we sing, ev'ry-one sing. Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The earth is filled with His glory. Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The earth is filled with His glory. The earth is filled with His glory. PASTORAL GREETING OPENING SONG PREPARATION OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART/HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Baloche/Dykes CHORUS: Open the eyes of my heart Lord, Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You, I want to see You Open the eyes of my heart Lord, Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You, I want to see You To see You high and lifted up Shining in the light of Your glory Pour out Your power and love As we sing holy holy holy Holy holy holy Holy holy holy Holy holy holy I want to see You

3 INVOCATION In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. OPENING SENTENCES Psalm 99:2 3, 5, 9 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is He! The LORD is great in Zion; He is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name! Holy is He! Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy! CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Loving God, You desire a relationship with all people that is grounded in Your love, nurtured by truthfulness, and experienced as freedom living under Your gracious reign. We admit that we are turned away from Your love, we are at home in dishonesty, and we are enslaved by ways of sin and death. Because of Jesus life, death, and resurrection for us, we ask that You go on forgiving us, transforming us, and healing us according to Your steadfast love, which endures forever. God is gracious and merciful and has come in the person of Jesus giving His life to demonstrate how much He loves you and all people. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Jesus, and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

4 WORD OLD TESTAMENT READING: Deuteronomy 34:1 12 (The death of Moses) Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, `I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it." And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses. Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt--to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. EPISTLE: Hebrews 3:1 6 (Jesus, the Son, is worthy of more glory than Moses.) Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

5 Congregation, please rise for the Gospel. HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 9:28 36 (The transfiguration of Jesus) The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the ninth chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ.

6 CHILDREN S MESSAGE Jenna Lawrenz SONG OF THE DAY Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here LSB 414 SERMON Get Ready Pastor John Larson TEXT: Luke 9:28-36 APOSTLES CREED Text found in the back of the Hymnal. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH THE SHARING OF THE PEACE The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. We share the Lord s peace with one another, saying, Peace be with you. OFFERING ONCE AGAIN (JESUS CHRIST) Matt Redman Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice; You became nothing, poured out to death. Many times, I've wondered at your gift of life, And I'm in that place once again, I'm in that place once again. CHORUS: Once again, I look upon the cross where You died. I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside. Once again I thank You, once again I pour out my life. Now You are exalted to the highest place, King of the Heavens, where one day I'll bow. But for now, I'll marvel at Your saving grace, And I'm full of praise once again, I'm full of praise once again. CHORUS HOLY COMMUNION AT ASCENSION The Lord, our Host, invites to his Supper those who are baptized into the Christian faith, confess him as Savior, have been instructed and have examined themselves, truly repent of sins, believe the Risen Lord is present in the sacrament with his true body and blood, and resolve to live faithfully and obediently. For those with an intolerance to alcohol, the center ring of the tray contains grape juice. Gluten free wafers are available to those with wheat allergies. Children who have not been instructed, yet desire a blessing, are invited to come forward with arms crossed. When receiving the bread and wine, the communicant may respond with Amen!, a word of affirmation and belief.

7 PREFACE SACRAMENT The Lord be with you. 2 Timothy 4:22 And also with you. Lift up your hearts. [Colossians 3:1] We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. [Psalm 136] It is right to give Him thanks and praise. THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matthew 26:26 28; Mark 14:22 24; Luke 22:19 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23 25 Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. LORD S PRAYER (Matthew 6:9 13) Text found in the back of the Hymnal.

8 DISTRIBUTION SONGS WE BELIEVE In this time of desperation When all we know is doubt and fear There is only one foundation We believe we believe In this broken generation When all is dark You help us see There is only one salvation We believe we believe The Newsboys CHORUS: We believe in God the Father We believe in Jesus Christ We believe in the Holy Spirit And He's given us new life We believe in the crucifixion We believe that He conquered death We believe in the resurrection And He's coming back again So let our faith be more than anthems Greater than the songs we sing In our weakness and temptations We believe we believe CHORUS Let the lost be found and the dead be raised In the here and now let love invade Let the church live loud our God we'll say We believe we believe And the gates of hell will not prevail For the pow'r of God has torn the veil Now we know Your love will never fail We believe we believe CHORUS He's coming back again He's coming back again We believe we believe WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NAME Ligertwood/Fielding You were the Word at the beginning One with God the Lord Most High Your hidden glory in creation Now revealed in You our Christ CHORUS: What a beautiful Name it is, What a beautiful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King What a beautiful Name it is, Nothing compares to this What a beautiful Name it is, The Name of Jesus You didn't want heaven without us So Jesus, You brought heaven down My sin was great, Your love was greater What could separate us now CHORUS Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You You silenced the boast, of sin and grave The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory For You are raised to life again You have no rival, You have no equal Now and forever, God you reign Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory Yours is the Name, above all names What a powerful Name it is, What a powerful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King What a powerful Name it is, Nothing can stand against What a powerful Name it is, The Name of Jesus

9 WE FALL DOWN We fall down, we lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus, the greatness of mercy and love at the feet of Jesus. And we cry holy, holy, holy, and we cry holy, holy, holy, and we cry holy, holy, holy is the Lamb. GENERAL COMMUNION BLESSING BENEDICAMUS Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. BENEDICTION The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Numbers 6:24 26 Amen. CLOSING SONG BEAUTIFUL ONE Hughes Wonderful, so wonderful, is Your unfailing love. Your cross has spoken mercy over me. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart could fully know how glorious, how beautiful You are. CHORUS: Beautiful One, I love You, Beautiful One, I adore, Beautiful One, my soul must sing. Powerful, so powerful, Your glory fills the skies, Your mighty works displayed for all to see. The beauty of Your majesty awakes my heart to sing. How marvelous, how wonderful You are. CHORUS CONGREGATIONAL CONCERNS

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12 Serving in Worship OFFICIANT and CELEBRANT DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES CHOIR ACCOMPANIST YOUTH BAND Pastor John Larson Michael Zehnder Diana Gaide Ashley Boeding, Brooke Boeding, Larry Boeding, Lilly Brinkman, Kayden Erling, Will Kopriva ELDER 8:00 Don Loptien 10:30 Roger Gaide LECTOR 8:00 Norm Finfrock 10:30 Jeanette Nelson ACOLYTE 8:00 Ian Avadissian 10:30 Erik Schwerin USHERS 8:00 Hank Peepgrass, Members of the Congregation 10:30 Jason Dierking, Members of the Congregation SERVER 10:30 Jude Donovan ALTAR GUILD Shelia Beu, Judy Peterson, Cathy Utecht, Barb Williams CCLI License #