Wilbraham United Church 500 Main Street Wilbraham MA 01095 Phone: 596-2511 x 100 Fax: 596-2512 Email: admin@wilbrahamunitedchurch.org Website: www.wilbrahamunitedchurch.org March 3, 2019 TRANSFIGURATION 10:00A.M GATHERING MUSIC WELCOMING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST CALL TO WORSHIP Deb Trimble All: Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. SPOKEN: One: The foundations of God s throne are justice and equity. All: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord our God! All: Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. SPOKEN: One: The foundations of God s throne are love and mercy, All: The Lord reigns over all people and all creation. All: Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. SPOKEN: One: The foundation of God s throne is wisdom. All: Come, let us worship our God, and give thanks and praise. All: Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. **GATHERING HYMN Shine, Jesus, Shine #2173 FWS(small black book) PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND THE LORD S PRAYER (unison) Almighty God, we confess that we often wish to spend all of our time with you on the mountain top, where we are sure of your presence, where we feel connected to you. We confess that when we come down from the mountain, we often fail to go back into the world to be your hands and feet. We struggle to see you in the faces of our neighbor and we are overwhelmed by the brokenness we see in the world. Forgive us, O God, when our vision is limited and our actions do not live out our faith. Strengthen us with your Spirit and guide us in your paths, following Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray: 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass 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. ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS PSALTER Psalm 99 page 819 (red hymnal) SUNG RESPONSE #2040 FWS (small black book) Our God is an awesome God; He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power and love. Our God is an awesome God. (repeat) Our God is an awesome God. Our God is an awesome God PASSING OF THE PEACE
GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Please remember to wear your name tags. If anyone would like a new one, please notify the office! PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer Sung Response O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer. When I call answer me. O Lord, hear my prayer O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me. OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS AND OURSELVES Invitation to Give Offertory Anthem Hear Ye Him Hughes **Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God the source of all our gifts. Praise Jesus Christ, whose power up lifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! SCRIPTURE LESSON 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since it is by God s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. GOSPEL LESSON Luke 9:28-36 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him! When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. SERMON One: Our God is still speaking. All: Thanks be to God! Pastor Chip COMMUNION HYMN Alleluia, Alleluia #162 (red hymnal)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION Invitation to the Table The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving Minister: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Minister: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them to the Lord. Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Words of Institution Sharing of the Meal Prayer of Thanksgiving: We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table, by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. **PARTING HYMN Alleluia, Song of Gladness *see last page **BENEDICTION - BURYING THE ALLELUIA **SUNG RESPONSE FOLLOWING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD MUSIC FOR SENDING FORTH ** All who are able to stand, may do so. There are two altar flower arrangements this morning. One is given to the glory of God, in memory of Pat Diamond from her girls Connie, Katie and Monica. And, the other is given In Memory of Alan Burch with Love from your family. Welcome Visitors! Is this your first visit to United Church? Please sign our Guest Pad located in the Narthex. Immediately after the service, we invite you to continue down the central hallway and join us for Friendship and Refreshment in our Fellowship Hall. MINISTERING TO YOU TODAY Pastor/Preacher: The Rev. Wallace A Hurd IV Director of Music: Mark Jacobson Director of Family Ministries/Faith Formation: Paul Nesbit Head Usher: Bill Lynch Ushers: Deacons Greeters: Janet Vitkus Nursery Care: Kim Driscoll & Janet Carlyle PLEASE REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR CELL PHONE OFF BEFORE THE SERVICE. FIRST 6 PEWS, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PULPIT, ARE A SCENT FREE ZONE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, PLEASE FOLLOW USHER S DIRECTIONS TO EXIT THE SANCTUARY Please Pray For: Shey McAbee, Sharon McAbee, Nancy Schenk, Pam Burch, Gloria Russell, Patti Keiser, Sue Pereira Natalie True, Bev Sawyer, Kathie Birkhaeuser, The victims of violence and their families in our country. Our troops, our country and our worl
Wilbraham United Church, UCC & UMC News for the Pews for the Week of March 3, 2019 ~On March 6 at 7pm, we will celebrate Ash Wednesday in our Sanctuary worshiping with Christ- the- King/ Epiphany Church. ~Called to Care will NOT be meeting on March 6, as that is Ash Wednesday. ~ Volunteer Opportunities Available Looking to donate your time? Looking for volunteer opportunities? Right now the Center is looking for volunteers willing to pick up food donations from area grocery and convenience stores during early morning hours, 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Obviously, a vehicle is necessary and volunteers must be able to lift boxes and totes weighing up to 20lbs. Volunteers are also needed for the Donation Room to sort and hang clothing and to help welcome the donors. Shifts are two hours each week, every other week, or even each month and we can work with your schedule. All positions require standing and some lifting. Visit our web site, www.communitysurvivalcenter.org for our volunteer application. Return it in person or email it to thecsc@aol.com. This Week at Wilbraham United Church To find the most up to date schedule throughout the week, go to our church s website and click on EVENTS www.wilbrahamunitedchurch.org Today 3/3/2019 1PM WUP-FH 6PM Al Anon Monday 3/4/2019 9:15am Yoga 7pm WUP- FH Tuesday 3/5/2019 5PM Girl Scouts- HR 6pm Brownies- HR 7pm WUP- FH 7PM Outreach- library Wednesday 3/6/2019 ASH WEDNESDAY 3:30pm Girl Scouts 6pm Al Anon- YR 7pm WUP- FH Thursday 3/7/2019 4PM Prayer Study- library 5pm HRC- lib 6:30 Al Anon- YR 7pm Handbells- choir room 7:45 Adult Choir- choir room Friday 3/8/2019 9:30AM-12:30PM Thrift Shop Saturday3/9/2019 9:30-12:30 Thrift Shop 9AM WUP- FH