Transfiguration of Our Lord A Reconciling in Christ Congregation February 26, 2017 9:30 a.m. All Are Welcome Here! Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church proclaims that the Gospel is God s gift to all people, to be shared unconditionally. We rejoice in the manner in which diversity has enriched, nurtured and challenged the life and ministry we share in Christ. We know that the world is often an unloving place and that the experience of alienation is all too common. Because Christ reconciles us, we welcome people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, physical and mental abilities, educational levels, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We strive to be an evermore welcoming community. Following the example of Christ, we extend a most heartfelt welcome to all. Our Congregation s Vision Statement God in Christ loves us; therefore, through the Holy Spirit we will: Do justice We hope for our community and all of God s creation We feed the poor and comfort the afflicted We welcome and respect our neighbor and the stranger Love kindness We love and care for our congregation and our community We practice forgiveness locally and globally We strive for compassion and acceptance Walk humbly with our God We find joy in creation We desire to grow in spirituality We delight in liturgical worship and creative expression We are all children of God. Jesus calls us by name. With the Holy Spirit, we seek to live out God s grace. Welcome to Gustavus Adolphus! GA is a diverse community of faith. We celebrate that diversity in our worship, using a variety of traditional, contemporary, and multicultural styles. Part of the diversity we celebrate is welcoming people of all ages in worship. Activity bags for children are available from the ushers. We invite you to remain after worship for fellowship and treats. Please power off all cell phones as they sometimes cause interference with our sound system.
+ Please stand as you are able. Gathering PRELUDE Setting by David Johnson O Wondrous Type, O Vision Fair + CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who stretches out the heavens, who sends light to the nations, who gives breath to us all. Worship Notes Numbers marked with the word page are found in the front portion of ELW (the red hardcover hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship) at the bottom left and right corners of the page. P P C P C Let us be bold and confess our sins, for God is gracious and always ready to forgive. Loving God, we confess that we have turned from your way to follow our own ways. Forgive us for the times we have spoken or acted too quickly; we have not spoken or acted at all; we have hurt those closest to us; we have hurt those we have yet to know; we have thought more about ourselves than others; we have thought less of ourselves than we ought. Turn us around, and give us a fresh start, so that we can live again as your children. Amen. Even when we have done wrong, God makes us right. Even when we have messed up, God puts us together. God s love never runs out. God never tires of calling us beloved children. Hear God say to you now: Your sins are forgiven, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. Numbers marked with the word Hymn are found in the back portion of ELW in the upper left and right corners of the page. + GATHERING SONG ELW Hymn 315 How Good, Lord, to Be Here! 2
+ GREETING P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C And also with you. + PRAYER OF THE DAY P Let us pray. God of majesty and might, you have blessed us with revelations of your glory. Give us the gift of faith, that we may hear your voice for ourselves and see Jesus Christ revealed to us that we may stand on our own without fear. Word FIRST READING Exodus 24:12 18 12The LORD said to Moses, Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction. 13 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 To the elders he had said, Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them. 15Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. Introduction to the Day Today s festival is a bridge between the Advent- Christmas-Epiphany cycle that comes to a close today and the Lent-Easter cycle that begins in several days. On the mount of transfiguration Jesus is revealed as God s beloved Son, echoing the words at his baptism. This vision of glory sustains us as Jesus faces his impending death in Jerusalem. We turn this week to Ash Wednesday and our yearly baptismal journey from Lent to Easter. We will put aside the alleluia at the conclusion of today's liturgy. This word of joy will be omitted during the penitential season of Lent and will be sung again at Easter. P Word of God. Word of life. C Thanks be to God. SECOND READING 2 Peter 1:16 21 16For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. P Word of God. Word of life. C Thanks be to God. 3
+ GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Sung by the GA Choristers Jesus on the Mountain Peak Mark Sedio Jesus on the mountain peak stands alone in glory blazing; let us, if we dare to speak, join the saints and angels praising. Alleluia, alleluia. This is God s beloved Son! Law and prophet sing fore him, first and last and only One. All creation shall adore him! Alleluia, alleluia. + GOSPEL Matthew 17:1 9 P The Holy Gospel according to Matthew, the 17 th chapter. C Glory to you, O Lord. Shortly before he enters Jerusalem, where he will be crucified, Jesus is revealed to his disciples in a mountaintop experience of divine glory called the transfiguration. 1Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him! 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, Get up and do not be afraid. 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead. P The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ. CHILDREN S SERMON I NOTICE, I WONDER SERMON I HEAR + HYMN OF THE DAY ELW Hymn 318 Alleluia, Song of Gladness 4 + PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION A Sovereign God, you revealed your love and guidance for us on Mount Sinai and the Mount of Transfiguration, giving us a vision of how to live in equity and peace. Trusting in your care for us, we bring to you our prayers.
Petitions follow. Each petition ends A Lord, in your mercy, C hear our prayer. After the final petition P These prayers we offer through Christ by the power of your Holy Spirit. + PEACE P The peace of Christ be with you always. C And also with you. OFFERING OFFERTORY ANTHEM Jesus, Child of God Meal GA Choristers Ray Makeever + OFFERTORY ELW HYMN 194 Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful + OFFERING PRAYER P Merciful God, receive the gifts we bring, our selves, our time, and our possessions. Through this meal unite us as your body, shining with the light of your justice and mercy; for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. + GREAT THANKSGIVING P The Lord be with you. C And also with you. P Lift up your hearts. C We lift them to the Lord. P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give our thanks and praise. P It is indeed right, our duty and our joy... join their unending hymn Continuing Prayer Concerns Sundra Arvidson; Maxine Ahrens; Sharon & Paul Banitt; Charline Burns; Kris Campbell; Jean Clausen; Shirley Cropper; Vi Dorumsgaard; Lisa Doyen; Katie Falang; Ed Femrite; Joann Femrite; Ted Femrite; Renae Frasee; Kara Fraser; Kimberly Garner; Alison Gulbrandson; Dawn Jackson; Eileen Kopp; Matthew Kroschel; Jim Lind; Warren Maki; Irene Mattson; Lloyd Marengo; Connie McCormick; Jeff McQuarrie; June Mondeng; Jesse Moody & family; James Ott; Karl Pope; Evie Ramin; Cory Saba; Ward Saba; Marlene Schimmel; Imogene & Walt Schopf; Lois Setterholm; Arden & Joyce Swanson; Vi Tefft; Stephanie Vavrichek; Marion White; Andrew; Sveah; Gretchen; those who are homebound or in nursing homes or care centers. We extend Christian sympathy to the family and friends of Ardyce Titus who died on February 14. Our continual prayers are offered for peace. We pray for the all of the world s governments, leaders, and peoples, especially for those who work toward peace. To have someone s name added to or removed from this list, contact Phil Holzman. 5
Please join us for The Lord s Supper All are invited to join us in the Lord s Supper. We believe that Christ is present in the bread and wine and that we receive God s grace and forgiveness through this meal. Those adults and children not communing with us are invited to come forward to receive a blessing. There are gluten-free wafers available for those who need them. Simply indicate this to the communion server. + WORDS OF INSTITUTION + LORD S PRAYER C 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 and ever. Amen. INVITATION AND DISTRIBUTION We serve communion by intinction. Receive a wafer and dip it into the larger chalice containing wine or into the smaller chalice containing grape juice. HYMNS DURING DISTRIBUTION Lamb of God 6
Beautiful Savior ELW HYMN 838 + PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION A O Morning Star, fair and bright, you have refreshed us again with heavenly food. You are our dearest treasure. Go with us now today, tomorrow, every day that we tell the story of your never-ending love and sing your praise both now and forever. Sending + BLESSING + SENDING SONG ELW Hymn 834 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise + DISMISSAL P Go in peace. Be the light of Christ. C Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE Fanfare Jacques Lemmens You are always invited to remain and share in the postlude. On today s festival Sunday, we conclude with a very lively French piece. The music during the weeks of Lent will take on a more subdued nature. Liturgical Materials from Sundaysand Seasons.com. Copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. And reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. Copyright 2013. Liturgical music reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23346. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 7
Our Core Values at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church love joy hope compassion spirituality forgiveness acceptance respect Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church 1509 27th Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418 Website: www.gachurchmpls.org Email: info@gachurchmpls.org Church Phone: 612-789-7256 Church Staff The Rev. Jo Bauman Johnson, Pastor (Ext. 10) pastorjo@gachurchmpls.org Cell phone: 952-285-6945 Phil Holzman, Associate in Ministry (Ext. 11) Worship & Music, Parish Administration philh@gachurchmpls.org Allan Dahl, Faith Community Nurse nurse@gachurchmpls.org Dan Hager, Finance Manager (Ext. 14) danh@gachurchmpls.org Joel Lurvey, Contemporary Choir Director joel.lurvey@gmail.com Every monetary donation given to GA truly makes a difference in our church, in our community of NE Minneapolis, and in the world. Please consider donating any amount to support this good work. Please also consider including GA in your will. Use the code below to access our online giving option. God s Mission for Gustavus Adolphus Church Ministers Presiding Minister & Preacher Assisting Minister Minister of Worship & Music Sacristan Lector Transportation Ushers To build community where God is at the center. Serving Today The Baptized people of GA Church Pastor Jo Bauman Johnson Carlotta Rosebrock Phil Holzman, Associate in Ministry Kathy Schuette Lynette Paulson Brian Hendrickson Mike Madden, Lon Rosebrock, Kathy & Dave Schuette