Transfiguration of Our Lord Last Sunday after the Epiphany Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Perspective

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1 An Open and Affirming Beloved Faith Community Welcoming and Inclusive Theologically Progressive x Transfiguration of Our Lord Last Sunday after the Epiphany Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Perspective

2 The Lord's Day Transfiguration of Our Lord Last Sunday after the Epiphany Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Perspective Ten O'clock in the Morning The Worship of God THE SERVICE OF PREPARATION Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by God's holiness; the nourishment of the mind with God's truth; the purifying of the imagination by God's beauty; the opening of the heart to God's love; the surrender of the will to God's purpose and all of this gathered up in adoration. Prologue The Gathering Music The Call to Worship and Welcome The Spirit of the still speaking God be with you! And also with you. ~ William Temple There is an old adage, "Where you sit or stand determines what you see." How very true is this sage statement, offering a word of profound wisdom to all of us as we interpret our reality in real time. Perspective is a valuable gift in life, a wonderful thing enabling us to sort out the complexities that often confound and confuse us. Today, we read again the strangely compelling story of Jesus' Transfiguration, a witness to the transformational power of God. As with many biblical theophanies, revelations of God's presence in the human drama, this sacred moment takes place on a mountaintop. A view from on high always gives us a different experience, everything we expect from a breath-taking vista. Ah, if only all our attempts to worship could be like that of the mountaintop, full of awe and transcendence, the essence of mystery and wonder. Indeed, it is a lofty goal when we gather for this weekly dance with the Divine. The Music for Organ Song of the Transfiguration arr. David Haas The Lighting of the Altar Candles The Opening of the Lectern Bible The Gathering Keep silence before the Holy all you faithful! Listen for the voice of the Divine in these sacred moments together. We long for a double portion of God s Spirit, transfiguring us with the light of glory. May the light of the Holy shine forth in the darkness, transforming us this day with the righteousness of God. It is good for us to be here! May the Holy One be revealed in our midst as we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving. Let us worship God!

3 The Introit DEO GRACIAS The Collect Transformational God, we have gathered as Your faithful to give glory to the One whose light shines in the darkness, to proclaim your transforming power in all the earth, to celebrate Transfiguration in all its many manifestations; as we listen for your voice in our midst, remove the veils that cloud our vision of the Holy and shine forth among us; like Elisha who prayed of old, may we too inherit a double portion of Your Spirit; we give You thanks for the many ways You transform our lives; all this we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the holy and still speaking Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair Chancel Choir O wondrous sight, O vision fair of glory that the church shall share, which Christ upon the mountain shows, where brighter than the sun, Christ glows! From age to age the tale declare, how with the three disciples there, where Moses and Elijah meet, they with the Christ God's future greet. The law and prophets there have place, two chosen witnesses of grace; the voice of God out from the cloud proclaims the human One aloud. With shining face and bright array, Christ deigns to manifest today what glory shall be theirs beyond, who live within God's loving bond. And faithful hearts are raised on high by this great vision's mystery, for which in joyful strains we raise the voice of prayer, the hymn of praise. t The Processional Hymn THE SERVICE OF PRAISE Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies DIX 2

4 t The Litany of Praise God speaks a word, summoning the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. The Holy One shines forth in the perfect beauty of God's creation. Never silent, God comes to us in myriad ways, sometimes appearing as a devouring fire, like a mighty tempest upon the earth. like a mighty tempest upon the earth. The Holy One calls to the heavens above and to the earth below, equitably judging all people with righteousness and justice. God gathers the faithful and makes a lasting covenant with all people. The heavens declare God's righteousness, a holy judge in the midst of the people. Praise the Lord! t The Gloria GREATOREX The Silent Confession The Corporate Confession 2 THE SERVICE OF CONFESSION The Call to Confession 1 The whirlwind pace of our lives becomes so all-consuming that it is easy to forget our origins as the created image of God. Our busyness separates us from knowledge of God's glory in the face of Christ. Now in these quiet moments apart from our everyday distractions, we seek to renew our relationship with God and with our neighbor, and be restored to wholeness. In the silence and stillness of these moments, let us confess before the Holy. Let us pray to the Lord: When the gospel is veiled from us, transfiguring God, we feel alone. How convenient it is to lose our direction and go the wrong way! At times, we feel as if we are perishing under the demands of our day, unable to see clearly what is 3

5 most important in our lives. It is easy to become enslaved to our routines and enticed by shallow distractions. We tend to fill our hours with doing, so there is little time left for reflection and prayer. Forgive us and restore the equilibrium to our often unbalanced lives. The Kyrie arr. David N. Johnson The Assurance of Pardon Beloved faith community, hear the good news of Transfiguration! God promises light for our nighttime and guidance on our way. In Christ, God lifts the veil allowing us to catch a glimpse of glory. There is peace to be found in the midst of turmoil. There is freedom and quiet even amid our busyness. We are released from our slavery to things and lifted up beyond the limitations of our habits. God forgives us and offers new meaning to our lives. Thanks be to God. THE SERVICE OF THE WORD The Witness from the Hebrew Scriptures II KINGS 2:12 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah 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. The 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." Elijah 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. The 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." Then 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. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then 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. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for 4

6 struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. When 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." He 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." As 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. Elisha 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. Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Thanks be to God! The Response, PSALM 50 The Mighty One, the Lord of Hosts ELLACOMB The Witness from the Epistles II CORINTHIANS 4:3-6 And 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 5

7 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. Listen to what the Spirit of the still speaking God is saying. Thanks be to God! t The Sequence Hymn Jesus on the Mountain Peak MOWSLEY There will be a break between verses two and three for the reading of the first Gospel. The reading of the Gospel is read in the midst of the beloved faith community, reminding the congregation that the gospel is for all people, and that our call is to carry out its witness in the world. At this high point in the liturgy, the Gospel is not worshipped, but rather is reverenced with respect as it proclaims the ministry and mission of Jesus, represented in words attributed to Jesus. t The Witness from the Gospels MARK 9:9:2-9 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. The Gospel for today. Thanks be to God! The Sermon A Bird's Eye View! 6 Timothy W. Shirley

8 THE SERVICE OF COMMITMENT t The Hymn of Commitment Brightest and Best MORNING STAR t The Peace The peace of Christ always be with you. And also with you. The Concerns of the Church Jo Prater, Moderator The Pastoral Prayer The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. The Receiving of Our Gifts The Offertory Jesus, Take Us to the Mountain Chancel Choir Carl Schalk Jesus, take us to the mountain, where, with Peter, James, and John, we are dazzled by Your glory, light as blinding as the sun. There prepare us for the night by the vision of that sight. What do You want us to see there, that Your close companions saw? Your divinity revealed there fills us with the self-same awe. Clothed in flesh like ours You go matched to meet our deadliest foe. What do You want us to hear there, that Your dear disciples heard? Once again the voice from heaven says of the Incarnate word: "Listen, listen, everyone, this is My beloved Son!" Take us to that other mountain where we see You glorified, where You shouted, "It is finished!" where for 7

9 mountain where we see You glorified, where You shouted, "It is finished!" where for all the world You died. Hear the stunned centurion: "Truly this was God's own Son!" We who have beheld Your glory, risen and ascended Lord, cannot help but tell the story, all that we have seen and heard; say with Peter, John: "You are God's beloved Son!" t The Doxology OLD HUNDREDTH t The Presentation of Our Gifts t The Prayer of Thanksgiving THE SERVICE OF DISCIPLESHIP t The Processional Hymn O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair WINCHESTER NEW t The Benediction The Closing of the Lectern Bible 8

10 The Extinguishing of the Altar Candles The Music for Organ Down from the Mount of Glory t Those who are able are invited to stand. Michael Korien The Worship of God concludes with The Music for Organ. We invite you to be seated and reflect on today s service, preparing to process into the world, sharing the love of Jesus and the "extravagant welcome" of SouthShore United Church of Christ with everyone you meet. The congregation processes into the world to share the love of Christ and the "extravagant welcome" of SouthShore United Church of Christ with all persons everywhere. Worship Notes: The theme for today's worship service is Perspective. * Scripture readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) unless otherwise noted. Music Copyright Information: The color for Transfiguration is White, symbolizing purity and reflecting the themes of light, faith, innocence, and glory. Ordinary Time refers to that part of the Church Year that does not fall within one of the major seasons and does not observe any specific aspect of the Mystery of Christ. In actuality, Ordinary Time refers to the way that these Sundays are counted and consists of thirty-four Sundays in the liturgical year counted backwards from Reign of Christ (last Sunday before Advent). It emphasizes personal faith development and nurture, and the growth and enhancement of the Church and the churches. Praise to the Lord, For It Is Good from The Psalter for Christian Worship, Witherspoon Press. Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us. Text 1974 and 1992, Presbyterian Publishing/Westminster John Knox/Geneva Press. Jesus on the Mountain Peak. Text 1977; Music 1985 by Hope Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Used by permission. CCLI License # Patty Brandt An Invitation to Our Guests: Please join us for refreshments at Coffee Hour in Hospitality Hall following Morning Worship. SUNDAY ~ FEBRUARY 11, 2018 LITURGIST ~ David Lickfeldt LECTOR ~ Paula Lickfeldt GOSPELER ~ Timothy W. Shirley ORGANIST ~ Jo-Anne Winslow HOSTS ~ Betsy Hinderliter, Coordinator Karl Buffington Jeanne Domonkos Don Hinderliter Larry Piechoski Bob Reter DEACONS ~ Marcia Crispino, Chair USHERS ~ Carolyn Gordon, Captain Mary Houston Grace Kelver Marvin Lewis Paula Lickfeldt Beverly Majewski SOUND AND LIGHTING ~ Patrick Czeck I

11 MONDAY ~ February 12, 2018 COLLEGE CLASSES BEGIN WEEKLY CALENDAR 9:00 a.m. ~ AARP Tax Preparation. Richardson RM 9:00 a.m. ~ AARP Tax Preparation. Richardson RM 6:00 p.m. ~ Staff Meeting Office 10:00 a.m. ~ Emmaus Group Chapel 7:00 p.m. ~ Band Rehearsal.... Hospitality Hall 2:30 p.m. ~ College Board..... Conference RM TUESDAY ~ February 13, 2018 FRIDAY ~ February 16, :00 a.m. ~ AARP Tax Preparation. Richardson RM 9:00 a.m. ~ AARP Tax Preparation. Richardson RM 9:00 a.m. ~ W. F. Circle Meetings... Deming Home 2:00 p.m. ~ Board of Ministry Robing RM SATURDAY ~ February 17, :00 a.m. ~ Chancel Choir Sanctuary WEDNESDAY ~ February 14, :00 Noon ~ SSSO Rehearsal Sanctuary ASH WEDNESDAY 4:00 p.m. ~ Memorial SVC: Jean Mitchell Sanctuary 9:00 a.m. ~ AARP Tax Preparation. Richardson RM 9:00 a.m. ~ Prayer Group Chapel SUNDAY ~ February 18, :00 Noon ~ Ash Wednesday Service... Chapel First Sunday in Lent 7:00 p.m. ~ SSSO Rehearsal Sanctuary Timothy Shirley, Preaching 8:30 a.m. ~ Chapel Communion Chapel 10:00 a.m. ~ Morning Worship Sanctuary 2:00 p.m. ~ SSSO Concert Sanctuary SERVICE INFORMATION The Memorial Service for Jean Mitchell will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2018, in the Sanctuary. MISSION OF THE MONTH: UCC Disaster Ministries In the parable of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25: 31-40), Jesus tells us that when we care for those who are hungry, thirsty, lack adequate clothing and shelter, those who are sick or imprisoned, we are caring for Him. I I THURSDAY ~ February 15, 2018 NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE FEBRUARY 4, 2018: ATTENDANCE ~ 109 FAITH GIVING ~ $6,310 ALTAR FLOWERS The Altar flowers today are given by: Dee Kelly in memory of her parents, Phil and Irene Lange, along with those who have been loved and loving. WE REMEMBER The members of SouthShore United Church of Christ join in sympathy with the families and friends of Betty Schermesser who died on January 26, No services are planned. Zelda "Dusty" Held died on December 31, No other information is available.

12 CONTRIBUTION ENVELOPES STILL AVAILABLE The 2018 contribution envelope boxes are located in Hospitality Hall on the large table by the light booth. PLEASE REMEMBER: IF YOU REQUESTED A POWER CHURCH NUMBER YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE BOXED ENVELOPES. If anyone wishes to have boxed envelopes instead, please contact Jo Winslow in the church office ( ). FLOWER CALENDAR The Flower Calendar is located in the receptionist's office on the wall to the right of the desk. Please consider sponsoring one or two bouquets of flowers for our Sunday worship service. AARP TAX PREPARATION In partnership with The AARP, Inc., free tax assistance will be offered here at SouthShore Church throughout tax season. Assistance will be available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. from now through April 17. Staffed by trained volunteers, the AARP Foundation Tax- Aide program offers free, individualized tax assistance for low- to moderate-income taxpayers. Their telephone number is: Call for an appointment, or just walk in and wait. SOUTHSHORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT February 18, 2018 ~ 2:00 p.m. ~ Sanctuary The SouthShore Symphony will present their February concert, "Romance in the Air" in our Sanctuary on February 18 at 2:00 p.m. The concert, under the baton of Dr. June Hammond, will include selections from the following: Rossini's Barber of Seville; Massenet's Meditation from Thaïs; Glinka's Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla; Albinoni-Giazotto's Adagio in G minor; Sibelius' Finlandia; and Beethoven's Pathétique (movement 2) featuring guest artist, Linnea Norsworthy. Tickets are $15 per person and may be purchased at the door. Please remember, your support of them also supports your church. WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP Both the Naomi and Rachel Circles of the Women's Fellowship will meet together on Tuesday, February 13 at 9:00 a.m. at the church. They will then carpool to Freedom Plaza and meet at Carolyn Deming's apartment (740). Rev. Dr. Timothy W. Shirley, Senior Minister Mr. Thomas Desmond, Director of Music Dr. Jo-Anne Winslow, Secretary and Interim Organist Mrs. Jo Prater, Moderator 1501 La Jolla Avenue ~ Sun City Center, Florida Phone: (813) Fax: (813) Dr. Shirley timwshirley@gmail.com Mr. Desmond southshoreuccmusic@gmail.com Mrs. Prater southshoreucc@aol.com Church uccscc1@gmail.com Church Website: Church College communitychurchcollege@gmail.com. Church College Website: February 11, 2018