GATHERING
GREETING
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
From everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Transfiguration Sunday/Lent begins Ash Wed.
PRELUDE Patty Bell
*PRAISE MUSIC: “Praise To The Lord, The Almighty” UMH 139
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
People: And God saw that the light was good.
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
People: The Lord is our light and our salvation.
All: Let us praise the Lord!
OPENING PRAYER
Magnificent God, we long to be people who live and walk in the light of your glory, but sometimes we find ourselves shrouded in the darkness of fear, loneliness or despair. In our anguish, we cannot always find you. Help us trust that you will lead us out of the shadows and back into your radiant presence. Fill us with your light so we are able to chase away the demons that taunt us in the dark. Let your light shine in us so that our
faces reflect your light and love to all those who don’t yet know your saving grace. Amen.
HYMN: Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days” UMH 269
TIME WITH THE YOUTH
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 17:1-9 PB, pg. 17NT
THE MESSAGE: Pastor Vicki Lerdahl
*HYMN RESPONSE: “Take Our Bread” UMH 640
PRAYERS AND OFFERING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Joys and Concerns
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
RECEIVING OUR OFFERING
* PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING
“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” UMH 349
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
COMMUNION AND SENDING FORTH
CALL TO RECONCILIATION
Sometime it seems that we wait for God to astound us with might wonders, while God knows that we need is grace. God waits to forgive us, so let us hold nothing back, but trust in the One who listens to our prayers and answers us with mercy.
CONFESSION
God of mountaintops, the noise of the world can harden our hearts to your word. We watch news, reality television, silly sitcoms, and yet have trouble bearing witness to your presence in our lives. Our faith is placed in those who fail us; our trust is given to those who misplace it.
Forgive us, Revealer of Mystery. You offer mercy to us, that we might hear your call to discipleship. You whisper our names, that we might know how loved we are. Caught by the surprise of your never-ending love for us, how can we not follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, onto the mountaintops of worship and into the valleys of sacrifice and service?
Silence is kept for personal confessions
PARDON
One: On the mountaintops and in the valleys, in our homes and in our hearts, God knows us better than we know ourselves, and God forgives us when we cannot forgive ourselves.
All: By God’s mercy, we are forgiven.
By God’s mercy, we are made whole.
By God’s mercy, we are equipped to serve others.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING UMH 13
RECEIVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
*CIRCLE SONG: “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” UMH 672
God be with you till we meet again; by His counsels guide, uphold you, with His sheep securely fold you; God be with you till we meet again.
*BLESSING