Pilgrim Lutheran Church February 25/26, 2017 Mission Statement Gathering to worship, Growing as Disciples, Loving God s people. Vision Statement We are a people working toward putting Christ first in our life; Being the hands and feet of Jesus in Marysville, and beyond. Transformed to Set Us Free 16 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. Some churches 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.
TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD Transforming Journey Only a week before today s gospel reading begins, Jesus tells his disciples that he must suffer, die, and be raised. Peter is shocked that Jesus would even think something like that. He rebukes Jesus: God forbid it, Lord! Jesus responds to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things (Matt. 16:22-23). Six days later, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain where they encounter God s voice and Jesus transfigured with God s glory. Peter moves from being a stumbling block one week to a witness of Jesus transfiguration the next. Jesus doesn t write Peter off when he doesn t understand the depth of Jesus mission. Instead, Jesus gives Peter an experience of moving from denier to witness from Good Friday to Easter before it actually happens! Later in Matthew s gospel, after Jesus is arrested, Peter three times denies that he even knows Jesus (Matt. 26:69-75). But Jesus doesn t write Peter off. After his resurrection, Jesus will meet Peter and the other disciples in Galilee to entrust his ministry to them. Jesus practices what he preaches forgiveness. Jesus embodies what he preaches as he takes our sin upon himself on the cross in order to free us and raise us up. He is God s beloved Son. We are to listen to him because he is God s I love you in the flesh. Jesus doesn t write you, or anyone else, off either. Jesus still embodies forgiveness in bread, wine, and the words, Given and shed for you. As Jesus took Peter from the Good Friday of his sin to the mountaintop of Easter forgiveness, may Jesus take you from death to life in holy communion today. Kindly remember to silence your cell phone. Prelude Welcome Holy Communion, Setting Six 1993, 1999, 2006: Tillis Butler, d. 2002, Kyrie, Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia), Holy, holy, holy ; James Capers, b. 1948, Glory to God, This is the feast, Lamb of God ; Rawn Harbor, Lenten Acclamation; James Harris, Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia), Holy, holy, holy. Arr. Dennis Friesen-Carper and Joseph Chouinard. Reprinted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, copyright 2006, administered by Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission. 2 15
Communion Pilgrim Lutheran Church celebrates open communion. Any baptized Christian who is seeking the forgiveness of Christ in the bread and wine, the body and blood of our Lord, is welcome to participate in the supper with us. Those who are unable to come forward for communion, please let the usher know if you would like to receive communion. Communion Songs Table Blessing Beautiful Savior ELW 838 Shine, Jesus, Shine ELW 671 The body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen. Prayer After Communion Let us pray...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. Amen Blessing The God of glory dwell in you richly, name you beloved, and shine brightly on your path; and the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen Sending Song I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light ELW 815 Please be seated for announcements. Dismissal Go in peace. Be the light of Christ. Thanks be to God. Postlude 14 Thanksgiving for Baptism Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation. Amen. Dear friends, we give thanks for the gift of baptism as we come before God to make public affirmation of baptism into Christ. We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight. We thank you, O God. Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all. We bless you, O God. We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love. We praise you, O God. Stir up in your people the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. Gathering Song Jesus on the Mountain Peak ELW 317 Stanza 1: ALL Stanza 2: ALL Stanza 3: Choir Stanza 4: ALL Greeting The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. 3
Kyrie In peace, let us pray to the Lord. For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. For the peace of the whole world, for the well being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord s Prayer Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to 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 and ever. Amen. Invitation to Communion We who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Come. Be filled with light and life. Thanks be to God. Lamb of God For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. 4 13
We give you thanks for your dear Son: at the heart of human life; near to those who suffer; beside the sinner; among the poor; with us now. We thank you, O God. Glory to God In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. Remembering his love for us on the way, at the table, and to the end, we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. We pray for the gift of your Spirit: in our gathering; within this meal; among your people; throughout the world. Blessing, praise, and thanks to you, holy God, through Christ Jesus, by your Spirit, in your church, without end. Amen. 12 5
Holy Holy Prayer of Thanksgiving Holy God, you alone are holy, you alone are God. The universe declares your praise: beyond the stars; beneath the sea; within each cell; with every breath. We praise you, O God. Generations bless your faithfulness: through the water; by night and day; across the wilderness; out of exile; into the future. We bless you, O God. Prayer of the Day Let us pray at conclusion Amen. 6 11
Greeting of Peace The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. The ministers and assembly may greet one another in the name of the Lord. Peace of the Lord be with you. Peace be with you also. Presentation of the Gifts The offering is received as the Lord s table is prepared. Offering Prayer Let us pray...merciful God, receive the gifts we bring, ourselves, 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. Amen Great Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ... And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Prayer of the Day Let us pray...at conclusion Amen. Choir Shines the Light by Lee Dengler First Reading Exodus 24:12-18 (page 78) At Mount Sinai, Moses experienced the presence of God for forty days and forty nights. The glory of the Lord settled on the mountain, and on the seventh day God called out to Moses. On the mountain God gave Moses the stone tablets inscribed with the ten commandments. After the reading: Holy wisdom, holy word. Response: Thanks be to God. Psalm 99 (Sunday Only) We Have Seen the Lord ELW 869 Led by Youth & Children s Choirs Second Reading 2 Peter 1:16-21 (page 1204) At the transfiguration, God s voice was heard, declaring Jesus to be the beloved Son. By the activity of the Holy Spirit, God s voice continues to be heard through the word of scripture. After the reading: Holy wisdom, holy word. Response: Thanks be to God. 10 7
Gospel Acclamation Gospel Matthew 17:1-9 (page 973) 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. The holy gospel according to Matthew. The gospel is read. This is the gospel of the Lord. Let the Children Come Glory to you, O Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Pastor John Hitzeroth Sermon Transformed to Set Us Free Pastor John Hitzeroth Hymn of the Day Light Shone in Darkness ELW 307 Nicene Creed With the whole church, let us confess our faith. We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Prayers of Intercession After each petition Lord, in your mercy. The assembly responds hear our prayer. 8 9