Transfiguration Sunday
Organ Prelude “Offertoire” (T. Dubois)
Congregational Welcome
Choral Introit
Call to Worship
*Opening Hymn (insert) We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding
*Prayer of Transfiguration and Light
One Voice: Psalm 50 begins this way: “The mighty one, God our creator, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and does not keep silence (calling) to the heavens above, and to the earth.” Let us rejoice that the God who speaks, and who calls to the earth, also hears our words, and tends to this creation. Let us pray:
All: God of light and life and liberation, today you invite us to a level of illumination that can change our world. Today you reveal transfiguration, and the promise that divinity is involved with humanity, through such great love that we rise above ourselves, and lift up your creation. So be with us this hour. Strengthen our eyes, open our hearts, and let us hear your prayers for this world, your summons to beauty, and your words of hope, even in our own songs and meditations, our own moment in history, our own quest for healing. Be with us now as we unite in Jesus’ name, Amen.
*Assurance of Grace
*Sung Response in Praise (Hymn #229, vs. 1)
From all that dwell below the skies, Let the Creator’s Praise arise:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let the redeemer’s name be sung Through every land, in every tongue.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
*Sharing of Peace
One Voice: The Peace of Christ be always with you. All: And also with you!
The Gospel Reading Mark 9: 2-9
The Children’s Time Wendy Donnell
Hymn Response #73 Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory
(During the hymn children are invited to Church School)
*Welcome and Reception of New Members
One Voice: Let us, the members of Newton Highlands Congregational Church, express our welcome and affirm our mutual ministry in Christ.
All: We welcome you with joy in the common life of this church.
We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share
the hopes and labors of the church of Jesus Christ. (continued on back)
By the power of the Holy Spirit may we continue to grow together
in God’s knowledge and love and be witnesses of our risen Savior.
The Hebrew Bible 2 Kings 2: 1-12
The Morning Meditation The Rev. Kenneth Baily
The Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
(Our father and mother…trespasses)
Call to Offering
Choral Offering
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Christ the word in flesh born low,
Praise Holy Spirit evermore,
One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
*Prayer of Thanksgiving
*Closing Hymn (insert) For Everyone Born, a Place at the Table
*Assurance and Blessing
*Choral Benediction
Postlude “Toccata” (T. Dubois)
* Those who are able please stand
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New members: Uniting with our parish this morning are Lizzy Simpson, Nancy Bauer,
Christopher “Kippy” Ingram, and Annie Ingram. Please welcome them (and their family members)
and rejoice as we live in God’s way together.
Last call for photos: To be included in NHCC’s new photo directory, please send a labeled high-resolution photo of yourself/your family to [email protected] by Monday, February 12.
Celebrate Music this Month: Bring a friend or a family member to celebrate the completion of our multi-year organ restoration: Saturday February 24th at 7 pm (in the sanctuary!).
The restoration is the gift of many members from our last Capital Campaign, “Opening Doors.”
The concert is free and open to all; meanwhile, because our beloved organist
Yevgenia Semeina-Maroyan has such deep connections to Ukraine — she played her first recital in Kiev — we will organize a fundraiser for ongoing and direct needs there.
Thanks to worship leaders Ken Baily, Wendy Donnell, Jan Zimmerman,
Yevgenia Semeina-Maroyan, Joy Huber, Christian Education, and Misha Hill.
NHCC is an Open and Affirming, Still Speaking congregation where all are welcome regardless of the divisions or separations that some in society would impose:
whoever you are, you are welcome in God’s house. “In Christ we are a new creation,”
so we are blessed to be together in Christ’s name.