Sunday, February 27, 2022

The Last Sunday After Epiphany The Transfiguration of the Christ Quinquagesima Sunday—5 Weeks / 50 Days Before Easter From the Gelasian Sacramentary (7th Century) A Liturgy For Worship HYMN OF PRAISE—When Morning Gilds the Skies (Click Here For Music) 1 When morning gilds the sky, our hearts awaking cry: May Jesus Christ be praised! in all our work and prayer we ask his loving care: May Jesus Christ be praised! 2 To God, the Word on high, the hosts of angels cry: May Jesus Christ be praised! Let mortals too upraise their voices in hymns of praise: May Jesus Christ be praised! 3 Let earth's wide circle round in joyful notes resound: May Jesus Christ be praised! Let air and sea and sky from depth to height reply: May Jesus Christ be praised! 4 Be this, when day is past, of all our thoughts the last: May Jesus Christ be praised! The night becomes as day when from the heart we say: May Jesus Christ be praised! 5 Then let us join to sing to Christ, our loving King: May Jesus Christ be praised! Be this the eternal song through all the ages long: May Jesus Christ be praised! COLLECT FOR WORSHIP Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, alldesires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy Name. Amen. TRISAGION Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: To you be all glory, honor, and praise. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: All the heavenly host proclaim the glory of your Name. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: Peace and goodwill be to all on earth. PRAYER FOR THE DAY O God, You call us to go to the mountain top with Jesus And we follow, not quite sure of what is to happen, but we like mountain tops, we like the view from up here, we like mountain top experiences. O God, sometimes we need mountain top experiences with you when our days are dark and dreary, when our hearts, are heavy, when the valleys seem more depressing than ever. O God, may this mountain top experience fill our hearts with your light, may we be filled with your love, may we be filled with hope. O God, just as Moses, Elijah and your disciples were changed by their experiences we too are changed and transformed into the image of the Christ by your mercy. O God, may we have unveiled faces that reflect your love, your hope, and your light. —adapted from Rev Abi (RevGalBlogPals) http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca PSALMODY Psalm 43 2 You are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off? Why must I walk about mournfully because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God. HYMN—Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies (Click Here For Music) 1 Christ, whose glory fills the skies, Christ, the true, the only Light, Sun of Righteousness, arise, Triumph o’er the shades of night; Dayspring from on high, be near; Day-star, in my heart appear. 2 Dark and cheerless is the morn Unaccompanied by Thee; Joyless is the day’s return Till Thy mercy’s beams I see, Till they inward light impart, Cheer my eyes and warm my heart. 3 Visit then this soul of mine; Pierce the gloom of sin and grief; Fill me, Radiancy divine; Scatter all my unbelief; More and more Thyself display, Shining to the perfect day. GOSPEL READING Luke 9:28-43 28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two people, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and spoke of the prophecy that Jesus was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and the others had already fallen into a deep sleep, but awakening, they saw Jesus’ glory—and the two people who were standing next to him. 33 When the two were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, how good it is for us to be here! let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—Peter didn’t really know what he was saying. 34 While Peter was speaking, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Own, my Beloved, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. SCRIPTURE PRAYER Eternal God, you revealed to the disciples the everlasting glory of only Begotten, Beloved One. Grant us, who have not seen and yet believe, the gift of your Holy Spirit, that we may boldly live the gospel of your Anointed One and shine with your transforming glory, as people changed and changing unto to the likeness of the Christ in glory. Amen. —adapted from https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu HYMN—Be Thou My Vision (Click Here For Music) 1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. 2 Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word; I ever with thee, and thou with me, Lord. Born of thy love, thy child may I be, thou in me dwelling and I one with thee. 3 Be thou my buckler, my sword for the fight. Be thou my dignity, thou my delight, thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tow’r. Raise thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r. 4 Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise; thou mine inheritance, now and always. Thou and thou only, first in my heart, Ruler of heaven, my treasure thou art. 5 "True Light of heaven, when vict’ry is won may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’n’s Sun! Heart of my heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all. MEDITATION Before we enter the dark days of Lent, we are given a view of resurrection light. Upon the mountaintop, Jesus is experienced—along with the prophets of old—as being glorfied by God. The God who led the people of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness as a cloud by day and a fire by night, leads the followers of Jesus into the new reality of resurrected love. Out of a cloud the Voice comes upon the shinning radiance that filled the air: this is my Beloved, my Chosen One, the Word to whom you are to listen. Within the distrations of noise, the voices of earyday life, there is a Voice to which we are to be attentive—listening, hearing, digesting, following, obeying, being. In a time when the scream of pandemic fills the world . . . as the shriek of war's probability bellows over the possibility of peace . . . when the cackle of blight and economic suffering weighs brutaly heavy upon so many lives . . . in the screech of Earth's warning cry that creation is burdened beneath the hand of human greed and foolish exploitation . . . by the ravenous howl of politics that rent division and name the enemy that is we ourselves . . . a voice speaks life. Life is proclaimed in the very places where justice and peace are most threatened. The Light of Life is most radiant in the shadows of brokenness and pain. The Luminous Love of God is eternal Splendor transforming life's thick places into thin places where the Holy flows in and through and of. The Life that is revealed on this mountaintop is no different than the life that became when God spoke, saying, "let there be light." The Life is the same that Moses expereinced in the burning bush who uttered the Holy Name that is beyond human speech. The Life is the same that Elijah discovered in the still, small voice that we not in the storm or the devastation. The Life is the same as the angelic spoke to Mary announcing the birth of One who will be justice and peace. Yes, the Life—like all life—comes through the labor of pregnancy's pangs. In a few days we will enter the cloud of Lent. The shadows will grow dreary . . . the light will seem absent. And, through those forty days of the soul's dark night, we will emerge from the other side transformed. The night does not last forever. The night is not a bottomless sink hole. the night is not an all encompassing presence that fills even to the core. No, the bleak absence of light may be a crucible, but it changes us from the inside out to live as children of Light. Our journey in those days of Lent lead us to an empty tomb. The tomb, however, is the result of a cross . . . a crucifixion . . . a death. It is Jesus being the scapegoat for all that is wrong with humankind that makes the tomb a womb. The tomb is not the last word. In the face of suffering and death, God speaks Life. What comes forth from death-night's tomb is the brilliance of Life-Light that will never be overcome by even our worst ways of being conformed to the means and ways of the world's undoing. In God's Wisdom, the Church lends us Lent that we may be the Easter of a New Morn. Amen. CONFESSION We are drawn to you, O God, like those being drawn from the night into sunlight. Yet there are times when we are drawn away from your light. We may feel inadequate, unworthy, or less than perfect. We forget that we are your children, your beloved creations, and that you reach out for us even when we turn away from you. Forgive us, O God. The night is gone and the day has come. Christ, the Light of the World, born in the person of Jesus, reminds us that God’s light and love are for all of us— no matter who we are and no matter what we have done. We are loved and forgiven. —adapted from Worship Ways, https://www.ucc.org/worship-way PRAYER OF INTERCESSION O God, as Jesus drew apart to be in prayer with you, we offer our prayers for the transformation of the world and the church: For the Church: that the wisdom of God may enlighten our words and actions so that our deepest identity as children of God may be manifest . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For the grace of discernment: that the Spirit will help us recognize what motivates us and inspire us to choose those actions that lead to fuller life . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For freedom from self-deception: that God will heal our narrowness of mind and blindness to the truth proclaimed in the Gospel . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For the grace to be single-hearted: that God will cleanse us of hypocrisy and help us to live fully what we profess . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For a re-centering of our lives during the coming Lenten season: that God’s grace will guide us to love God more fully and to love our neighbors as we do ourselves so that we may live forever Christ’s new resurrected life . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For refugees and displaced persons: that God will protect them from harm and mistreatment, guide them to places of safety, and help them find acceptance in new communities . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For all who are burdened by lack of education: that God will open new doors for them to learn, help them recognize their gifts and find new ways to put them into practice for the good of others . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For all catechumens who are preparing for the Rite of Election: that God will strengthen them, free their hearts to surrender more fully to God, and help them to grow in their discipleship . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For all who are ill: that the Spirit will bring healing to all burdened with illness, restore them to their activities and responsibilities, and help them to be strengthened through the care and companionship of family and friends . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For all struggling with addictions: that God will free them from all that holds them bound and help them find the resources that will help them restore their life . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For a healing of the wounds of racism and discrimination: that God will heal those who have been wounded by racism and open new opportunities for them to share their gifts and enrich society . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For greater stewardship of fresh water: that we may wisely use water and work to share this valuable resource with all who have limited access to it . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For the safety of schools: that God will watch over and protect all young people in school, protect them from violence, and help them grow in knowledge and maturity . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For Peace: that God will guide world leaders in diffusing international tensions and help them to work together to end famine, disease, and lack of educational opportunities . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For all who have died: that they may share in Christ’s defeat of death and be clothed in the new life of the resurrection . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. You revealed your glory and presence in your Beloved One. In receiving our prayers, reveal the glory and presence of your Spirit alive in the world today, free us from all doubts, and empower us to act as a transfigured people. Amen. —adapted from Joe Milner, https://liturgy.sluhostedsites.org/ THE PRAYER OF JESUS Holy One, our Mother and Father Let your name be revered. Let your kin-dom come, Let your will be done on earth as it is in the heavens. Give us today the bread we need for today. And forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, And deliver us from evil. For yours is the Kin-Dom, the power, and the glory Now and forever. Amen. —from https://davebarnhart.wordpress.com/ HYMN—O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair (Click Here For Music) 1 O wondrous type! O vision fair of glory that the Church may share, which Christ upon the mountain shows, where brighter than the sun he glows! 2 With Moses and Elijah nigh th'incarnate Lord holds converse high, and from the cloud the Holy One bears record to the only Son. 3 With shining face and bright array Christ deigns to manifest today what glory shall be theirs above who joy in God with perfect love. 4 And faithful hearts are raised on high by this great vision's mystery, for which in joyful strains we raise the voice of prayer, the hymn of praise. 5 O Father, with th'eternal Son and Holy Spirit ever one, we pray you, bring us by your grace to see your glory face to face. DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING May God bless you and keep you; may God's face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; may God's countenance be lifted upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Sunday, February 20, 2022

THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY THE SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME ——————————— Sexagesima Sunday—8 Weeks / 60 Days Before Easter From the Gelasian Sacramentary (7th Century)

A LITURGY FOR WORSHIP Together In Love, Compassion, and Mercy CENTERING Beathe. Breathe intentionally. Breath in. Breathe out. Breath in slowly. Breathe out slowly. Breathe in slowly with the words: "God is here." Breathe out slowly with the words: "In God we are." Continue until you feel relaxed and a sense of sacred peace and calm is found. Let us pray: We wait upon you, O God, in meekness, in trust, in delighted anticipation. We would commit our ways unto you, O God, knowing you will act. We wait. We patiently wait. As we wait, O God, inspire us with your goodness to seek, to desire, and to do what is right. —Slemmons, Timothy Matthew. The Joyful Feast: Liturgical Elements for Reformed Worship. SONG OF PRAISE—Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (Click Here For Music) 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. Great Father of glory, pure Mother of light, thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight; all praise we would render, O help us to see 'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee. COLLECT FOR WORSHIP Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your Holy Name. Amen. —adapted from the Book of Common Prayer THE GLORIA—Contemporqary and Inclusive Language Honor and glory to the holy and undivided Trinity, God who creates, redeems, and inspires: One in Three and Three in One, for ever and ever. Amen. —Supplemental Liturgical Texts, Prayer Book Studies 30, Church Hymnal Corporation, New York, 1989 PRAYER FOR THE DAY Perfect Light of revelation, Wisdom beyond brilliance, Truth surpassing radiance: as you shone in the life of Jesus, whose epiphany we celebrate, so shine in us and through us, that we may become beacons of mercy and compassion, enlightening all creation with deeds of kindness, gentleness, and humbleness. Amen. PSALMODY [The responses are added.] Psalm 37. 1-11, 39-40 1 Don’t be vexed by evildoers, and don’t be envious of the corrupt! 2 They’ll soon fade like the grass, and wither away like unwatered plants. 3 Trust in God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, and do good, and you’ll dwell in the land and enjoy security. 4 Delight in God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, and you’ll be given the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, and trust in God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts; God will take action, 6 making your vindication as sure as the dawn and your integrity as bright as noonday. Response: O God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, who createa, redeems, and makes all things perfect, you are our keeper and our strength. 7 Be still before God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, and wait patiently; don’t fret about those who amass great fortunes and carry out their schemes unchallenged. 8 Let go of your anger, and leave resentment behind. And stop worrying! It produces nothing but evil, 9 and evildoers will be cut off. But those who put their hope in God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts— they will inherit the land. Response: O God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, who createa, redeems, and makes all things perfect, you are our keeper and our strength. 10 A little while longer, and the violent will be no more; no matter how hard you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the gentle will inherit the land, and will enjoy abundant peace . . . 39 The safety of the just is from God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, their refuge when trouble comes. 40 God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, helps them and rescues them— rescues them from the violent and saves them, because they take refuge in God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts. Response: O God Most High, the Holy One of Hosts, who createa, redeems, and makes all things perfect, you are our keeper and our strength. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. PSALM PRAYER O God, you are the blessing of the righteous. You do not forsake your people or abandon them in time of trouble. Defend us with your right hand and quickly stretch it out for those who need your help. —from the Sarum Rite (13th Century) GOSPEL READING Luke 6. 27-38 27 “To you who hear me, I say: love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. 29 When they slap you on one cheek, turn and give them the other; when they take your coat, let them have your shirt as well. 30 Give to all who beg from you. When someone takes what is yours, don’t demand it back. 31 “Do to others what you would have them do to you. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit does that do you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. 33 If you do good only to those who do good to you, what credit does that do you? Even ‘sinners’ do as much. 34 If you lend to those you expect to repay you, what credit does that do you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to other ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35 Love your enemies and do good to them. Lend without expecting repayment, and your reward will be great. You’ll rightly be called children of the Most High, since God is good even to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 “Be compassionate, as your loving God is compassionate. 37 Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Pardon, and you’ll be pardoned. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: a full measure—packed down, shaken together and running over—will be poured into your lap. For the amount you measure out is the amount you’ll be given back.” —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. A BRIEF MEDITATION The world we live in can be filled with good and beautiful things. There are so many blessings to be thankful for. Yet, the same world can be a challenge, especially in times like these. So many things seem to be different, and not in a good way. With the major issues that we face today — climate change with global warming, the threat of war, and the ongoing pandemic with multiple strains of covid-19 — our daily life has been within an array of new and increasing problems. There is anger. There is exhaustion. There are short tempers. We are tired beyond tiredness. There are so many ways to bump into situations and others that are piqued with intensity. Gun violence is running rampant. Political extremists are at a fevered pitch. Road rage is in the daily news. Suicides are on the increase. Hospitals have overflowed with very ill people. Retail outlets are without employees. There are all kind of shortages. People are being affected economically. Race relations are more fragile in heightened ways. Acceptance of people different than we ourselves is more difficult when there are so many changes happening. The teaching of Jesus seems to come at a time when we really need to hear those words. In the context which in we live, being a people of patience, forbearance, gentleness, mercy, compassion, and love sounds like an even bigger challenge. It is, however, the very things that needed. Loving others as we wish to be loved. Loving others as God has loved us. Doing good even to those who are not good to us. Doing good with not looking to get something for ourselves out of it. Being compassionate because compassion is of God. Judging not as to not be judged. Forgiving, ourselves and one another. All these things are critical in times as these. If there is ever a time to love kindness, to do justice, and to walk humbly with God, the time is now. So, let us follow in the way of Jesus. Let us be a people who seek and find ways to transform these days into a time where life is blessed in the way we come together and work as a community. Let us be a people who seek and find new ways to be gentle and uplifting toward one another. Loving God, give us the heart of your Spirit which was in Jesus. Help us to find the ways that make life better for everyone we meet. May our bumping into another be thing of grace that results in justice and peace. Amen. GOSPEL PRAYER O God of all mercy compassion: you are our divine teacher, and you have taught us the divine way of love and forgiveness. Pour out your love on us and empower us to overcome selfishness and anger, and to love others as you have loved us; for you live and reign as the Blessed and Holy Trinity, now and forevermore. Amen. CONFESSION OF BROKENNESS Holy One, we encounter you in our lives and try to follow faithfully, but so often we get lost or turn away. We try to love our neighbors and ourselves, and even, by your grace, to love our enemies, but we fail. We take the wrong path and stray from the way of your love. Forgive us, O God, and guide us back to you. As we turn to you, God of Love, help us to trust your grace. Enable us to accept your pardon. And grant to us the gift of a new path that follows in the way of Jesus. Amen. INTERCESSION For the many who stand in the lines of soup kitchens and food banks, feeling demeaned like beggars, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For those on the long waiting list for surgery, or other therapy, in public hospitals, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For children who go to school hungry because parents gamble their family benefits, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For refugees who are locked in detention camps, waiting for their cases to be processed, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For the job seekers who long for interviews, as they compete for too few vacancies, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For the mentally ill who, denied adequate medical care, have become homeless, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For those who against their will, or willingly as a means of survival, are shamefully abused in the sex trade, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For frail folk who live alone, without neighbors who care whether that are alive or dead, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For bruised souls once hurt by religion, and who now do not know where to turn for succour, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. For the host of ordinary citizens, who give their best without ever being noticed or thanked, we pray to the God of hope. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. God hope, God of justice, God of mercy, disturb the peace of those comfortable people whose labor is small and whose burden is light. Loving Spirit, reinforce our prayers with appropriate actions. May each of us do whatever we can to bring others in from the edges of life, that all may find healing for body, mind and spirit. Amen. —adapted from Bruce Prewer (http://www.bruceprewer.com/) THE PRAYER OF JESUS—Contemporary and inclusive language Eternal Spirit, Earth-Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver Source of all that is and all that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by people of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hopes and come on earth. With bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. May it be so. Amen. —adapted from the New Zealand Prayer Book GOING FORTH Loving God, in whom we live and move and have our being: as you have given us life, so surround our days with strong visions, worthy work, reconciliations, and the strength to persevere, in your Blessed and Most Sacred Name, O Father and Mother of us all. Amen. SONG OF DEDICATION—Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Click Here For Music) 1. 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. 2. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into ev’ry troubled breast. Let us all in thee inherit, let us find the promised rest. Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be. End of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty. 3. Come, Almighty, to deliver, let us all thy life receive. Suddenly return, and never, nevermore they 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. 4. Finish, then, thy new creation; true 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.