Call to Worship

(inspired by Mark 9:2-9, Matthew 17:1-9)

God,
we come to the mountaintop to be covered in your presence.
We are comforted by your holiness and your glow;
we are comforted by the hope of the mountain top,
where you are so close, so accessible,
where there is no doubt of your glory

The mountain top reminds us why we worship you.
We witness your bright power,
and your plan for the nations of the earth.

As we prepare for worship,
God bring us to the mountain top;
bring us to the mountain top
so that we may be inspired to do your work
in the valley below.

General Commission on the Status and Role of Women of the United Methodist Church. http://www.gcsrw.org/Portals/4/WHM.worship%20March%202.pdf. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2015/02/call-to-worship-for-transfiguration.html.

Call to Prayer

(Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36)

Let’s go up the mountain.
Let’s go up to the place where the land meets the sky
where the earth touches the heavens,
to the place of meeting,
to the place of mists,
to the place of voices and conversations,
to the place of listening.

Prayer

O God,
We open our eyes and we see Jesus,
the months of ministry transfigured to a beam of light,
the light of the world,
your light.
May your light shine upon us.

We open our eyes and we see Moses and Elijah,
your word restoring us, showing us the way,
telling a story,
your story, his story, our story.
May your word speak to us.

We open our eyes and we see mist,
the cloud of your presence
which assures us of all we do not know
and that we do not need to fear that.
Teach us to trust.

We open our eyes and we see Peter’s constructions,
his best plans, our best plans,
our missing the point,
our missing the way.
Forgive our foolishness and sin

We open our eyes and we see Jesus,
not casting us off,
but leading us down, leading us out -
to ministry, to people.
Your love endures forever.

We open our ears and we hear your voice,
‘This is my beloved Son, listen to him!’
And we give you thanks.
Amen

Written by William Loader (2/2001) and posted on Bill Loader’s Home Page. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/01/prayer-for-transfiguration-sunday_29.html.

Transfiguration Prayer

Holy One,
We come before you,
many of us feeling like we have climbed just a part of the mountain,
and there is so much more of a climb left to even get to point
to dream that we might be dazzled by what is Divine.

Our loads are heavy,
with worry, with regret,
with fatigue, with illness,
with despair for all in the world
that is hurting, in danger, in bondage and more.

We trudge ahead, following you,
stumbling, hoping, praying...
breathing hard, hearts pounding, and yes,
even some of us are nimble and skipping.

Lead us Lord,
to the top of that mountain,
where we might be dazzled by your Light,
lifted by what is Divine,
filled by the sheer delight
of what is numinous and ethereal and grounded and real.

We pray this,
for ourselves, for one another,
and for the worlds in which we live in.
Amen.

Written by rev karla and posted on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2016/01/sunday-prayer-transfiguration.html.

Benediction

May the Creator who brings light from darkness,
The Spirit who transfigures our torments,
And the Christ who lifts up valleys and brings the mountain’s glory down to earth, make the rough places plain before you and bless you this day and always.
Go forth, sisters. Go forth, brothers. Do not be afraid.

Heidi Neumark, The Abingdon Women’s Preaching Annual, Series 2, Year A (Abingdon Press, 2001), 65.