St. Matthew Lutheran Church

Sunday, February 14, 2021 – website

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Prelude: Meditation on “Eventide”  

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Hymn: “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” LBW # 526, vs 1 - 4

Confession & Forgiveness

Greeting & Kyrie

Canticle of Praise: “Glory to God…”

Prayer of the Day

First Reading, Exodus 34:29-35

Psalm # 50:1-6

Second Reading, 2 Corinthians 3:12-13, 4:1-6

Holy Gospel, Mark 9:2-9

Sermon

Hymn of the Day: “Jesus, the Very Thought of You” – LBW # 316, vs 1 - 4

Nicene Creed

Prayers of the Church

The Lord’s Prayer

Blessing

Dismissal

Sending Hymn: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” - LBW # 315, vs 1 - 4

Postlude: Voluntary on “Grosser Gott”

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Service Supplement

(Congregational responses are in bold print)

The community of faith comes together in worship to praise God and be nurtured by His Word and Sacrament. As the prelude begins, prepare to worship, use opportunities during the service to practice silence, to focus upon God, and to offer prayer.

 

Prelude  Meditation on “Eventide”     Mark Hurley

 

Welcome and Announcements           Pastor John

 

Gathering Hymn “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”   LBW # 526, vs 1 - 4

Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise!

 

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might; Thy justice like mountains high soaring above Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

 

To all, life thou givest, to both great and small; In all life thou livest, the true life of all; We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, And wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.

 

Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light; Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight; All laud we would render; oh, help us to see 'Tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!

 

Confession & Forgiveness                 (Pastor)      

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who spoke light into creation, who calls us to listen and follow, who sends us to shine like stars. Amen.

 

Let us come before God, confessing our sin…

 

Holy and merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against our sisters and brothers and against you. We cherish the values of this world. We cause others to stumble. The earth is wounded by our excess. Have mercy, O God. Forgive us, renew us, and raise us up on eagle’s wings, that we may do your will with courage and delight. Amen.

 

Hear the voice from heaven: “You are my own, my beloved.” God gives power to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Be cleansed, be healed, for in the name of Jesus Christ, I declare to you the forgiveness of your sins and the revealing of God’s reign. Amen.

 

Greeting                                            (Pastor)               

The grace of Jesus Christ, the mercy of the Holy One, and the Spirit of the living God be with you all. And also with you.

 

Kyrie                                                (Worship Assistant)

In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. 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, have mercy. For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.

 

Canticle of Praise  “Glory to God…” (Worship Assistant)        

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

Prayer of the Day                               (Pastor)

Let us pray…O God, at the glorious transfiguration of your only Son, you confirmed the mystery of our faith by the witness of the disciples and by your own voice from the cloud. Mercifully complete our adoption as your children, and give us, with our King, an inheritance of his glory. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35              (Worship Assistant)

As Moses descended Mount Sinai with the second set of stone tablets, his face was shining like the sun so that all were afraid to approach him. As Moses instructed the leaders of Israel to follow the Lord’s commands that were given on top of the mountain, he covered his face with a veil so they wouldn’t be blinded.

 

29When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him. This is the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

 

Psalm: Psalm #50:1-6 - read responsively (Worship Assistant)

God shines forth over the whole creation, said the psalmist. It is he alone who judges the people because he is the one who put the sun in the sky and the heavens above the earth. He calls to the faithful to gather before him.

 

The Lord, the God of gods, has spoken; he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, God reveals himself in glory.

Our God will come and will not keep silence; before him there is a consuming flame, and round about him a raging storm.

He calls the heavens and the earth from above to witness the judgment of his people.

“Gather before me my loyal followers, those who have made a covenant with me and sealed it with sacrifice.”

Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; for God himself is judge.

 

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-13, 4:1-6     (Worship Assistant)  

Paul told the church in Corinth that in the days of Christ, the veil has been lifted for those who are ministers of the new covenant. The Israelites, he proclaimed, were looking at that which faded away rather than that which in Christ is now permanent. The Gospel is only veiled to those who are perishing.

 

12Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.

 

1Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In 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. 5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. This is the Word of God, word of life, thanks be to God.

 

Holy Gospel: Mark 9:2-9                    (Pastor)

The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 9th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.

 

Jesus took John, James, and Peter to a high mountain where his face changed to a bright, shining visage. His clothing also changed in appearance, becoming brighter white than any bleach can manage. Elijah and Moses appeared to the four men, which spurred Peter to suggest the idea of building tents on the mountaintop. At that moment, a voice from the heavens reiterated the words from Jesus’ baptism.

 

2After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. 9And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. This is the gospel of the Lord, praise to you, O Christ.

 

Sermon                                             Pastor John

 

Hymn of the Day  “Jesus, the Very Thought of You” LBW # 316, vs 1 - 4

Jesus, the very thought of you Fills us with sweet delight; But sweeter far your face to view And rest within your light.

 

No voice can sing, no heart can frame, Nor can the mind recall A sweeter sound than your blest name, O Savior of us all!

 

O Hope of ev'ry contrite soul, O Joy of all the meek, How kind you are to those who fall! How good to those who seek!

 

O Jesus, be our joy today; Help us to prize your love; Grant us at last to hear you say: "Come, share my home above."

 

Nicene Creed                                     (Pastor)      

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; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. 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. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He 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 the Church                        (Pastor & WA)

(P): As God’s beloved people, made radiant by the light of Christ, let us pray for the church, the whole human family, and God’s good creation. A brief silence.

(W): Gracious God, we thank you for instituting the covenant of marriage and the blessing of families. We pray that these gifts would be cherished within our households and honored in our society. May we, as Christians, bear witness to your love that sustains us through Jesus Christ. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Almighty God and Heavenly Father, you have revealed the divine purity and nature of Jesus’ death and resurrection for your people. We pray that through your Holy Word, we may fully come to understand the breadth of your gift to us through Jesus’ transfiguration. We pray that we are a church that is faithful in seeking God’s truth, so we may lead others to you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Merciful Lord, we pray for those who have authority over us at the local, state, and federal level. Pour out your blessings upon them as they administer laws for the betterment of our communities and our country; may they be people who seek wise and Godly counsel. Bless our armed forces, that they would also serve with honor and integrity. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Heavenly Father, we praise your Holy name and thank you for providing all we need in sickness and in health. We pray for those who are in the healing process and for those just beginning their journey to wellness. May your Holy Spirit guide them and sustain them both now and forever. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(P): Holy God, we lift our prayers to you in hope, entrusting all for whom we pray to your great goodness and mercy, made known to us in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer                              (Pastor)

Let us pray the prayer our Savior taught us…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.

 

Blessing                                            (Pastor)

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.

 

Dismissal                                          (Worship Assistant)

Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.

 

Sending Hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” LBW # 315, vs 1 - 4

Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heav'n, to earth come down! Fix in us thy humble dwelling, All thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion, Pure, unbounded love thou art; Visit us with thy salvation, Enter ev'ry trembling heart.

 

Breathe, oh, breathe thy loving Spirit Into ev'ry troubled breast; Let us all in thee inherit; Let us find thy promised rest. Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith, as its beginning, Set our hearts at liberty.

 

Come, Almighty, to deliver; Let us all thy life receive; Suddenly return, and never, Nevermore thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, Serve thee as thy hosts above, Pray, and praise thee without ceasing, Glory in thy perfect love.

 

Finish then thy new creation, Pure and spotless let us be; Let us see thy great salvation Perfectly restored in thee! Changed from glory into glory, Till in heav'n we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

 

Postlude  Voluntary on “Grosser Gott”              Mark Hurley