Transfiguration Sunday (3)

Welcome

Call to worship

Come, if your hearts are full of hope,

and know God’s affirming love.

Come, if your hearts are full of tears,

and be touched by God’s healing love.

Come, whether it is your first or your hundredth time,

and be filled to overflowing with God’s generous love.

Come and see God’s glory.

Amen

Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty 183

A gathering prayer

Living God,

when your majesty is beyond words – receive our awe;

when your glory is beyond our imagining – receive our wonder;

when your power makes us afraid – bless us with understanding;

when your acceptance is beyond our believing – bless us with faith;

and at all times, through the highs and the lows of life,

speak to us and hear us – in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

A prayer of approach

Glorious God,

our earthly pilgrimage has brought us to this place today.

We have taken different routes, seen different sights,

but together we bring our hearts’ desires to you

for you to transfigure and bless –

in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

A prayer of confession

Lord Jesus,

when your love is too much for us and we turn away:

help and forgive us.

When fear not faith fills our hearts:

help and forgive us.

When we miss the glimpses of your glory

and the blessings they would bring:

help and forgive us.

When we are mistrustful of mystery

and want only absolutes:

help and forgive us.

Forgiven and loved,

may we serve you with confidence

and journey in hope.

Amen.

A prayer of adoration and praise

For the wonderful mystery at the heart of faith:

For the glimpses of your glory that break through into our lives:

For the ways you affirm us and touch us with your love:

For the mountain-top moments and your presence day by day:

With all our heart and mind and strength:

we praise you, amazing God. Amen.

How lovely on the mountains 192

Readings

Exodus 34:29–35 ESV

When 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. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever 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, the 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.

Mark 9:2–9 ESV

And after 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, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And 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.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. And 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.

Meekness and majesty

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SERMON

Some time ago I was with a friend, and I brought up the subject of holidays, I was due to have a week’s break, and as Karon and I were looking for where we might go, we talked about Scotland as an option.

My friend told me he and his wife had been up to Scotland to climb Ben Nevis; in fact, they had already done Snowdon and Scar-fell Pike. I went up Snowdon some years ago, he told me Ben Nevis was a lot easier than Snowdon but so much longer.

He had gone up with someone who had been there before on reaching the summit their friend said,” Your lucky. I’ve been up here several times but only one other time have I got to see this view.” Because it was such a clear day that you could see for miles in every direction: normally when you reach the summit you are literally in the clouds. Myself, I don’t know which view I would prefer.

It’s great to look down from a high advantage point. Karon and I used to do a lot of walking, and it’s surprising how quickly the cars down below seem like little toys. We never really ventured up mountains, but I think that being in the clouds would be amazing.

Both the readings this morning both speak about mountains.

In Exodus, we meet Moses as he is returning from the mountain after spending time in God’s presence. At which time he had received God’s commandments for the people. When he came down his it is said that his face was so shiny, if fact so bright was his face he had to wear a vale.

Sometimes we to can shine after spending time with God, people can recognise a change in our appearance, we may not shine like Moses, but communing with God influences our faces.

Nicky Gumbel tells of a time before he became a Christian, says that he met someone in his first week at university and how he would “cross the road to avoid him”why was this? He had a shiny, smiley face. Later he noticed other had this same appearance. It was not until he himself encountered Jesus himself that he understood that the reason for this was they had been spending time with Jesus.

During the life of Moses he had several mountain top meetings with God. From the time he was called into God’s service by means of the burning bush, to being called to heaven.

Moses spent many times meeting God as it says. “speaking with God Face to face like friends”

Like friends.

How amazing that is to speak to God as a friend. But also, how unworthy we are. To meet face to face with our creator. But this intimacy is available to each and every one of us here and to everyone we meet.

How is this possible?

We can have this amazing gift through Jesus Christ

We do need to spend time in prayer and reading Gods word, listening as well a speaking, allowing this time to be a two-way conversation.

If we do not spend time with a friend how will we truly get to know them?

As we move onto the Gospel reading:

Jesus has recently told his disciples that he is going to die, which has left them feeling upset and confused. He then takes some of his closest disciples away to pray with him, where they share a ‘mountaintop’ experience as Jesus’ face and clothes change to become a dazzling white! The disciples are frightened but hear a heavenly voice telling them to listen to Jesus.

Peter says a strange thing. "LORD, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

Was it he had no other words to express what he felt, or was it that he wanted that moment to last?

Then as they came down the mountain the most difficult part.

Jesus said. "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

How can you keep that a secret?

Especially from the other disciples?

We often hear about the person sworn to secrecy but tells someone else in confidence.

Who tells someone else in confidence?

Next thing everyone knows.

Could you hold back telling what you saw on the mountainside if you had been there?

it’s not that easy. Certainly, after the amazing thing they had witnessed.

There are moments in our lives when we may reminisce on our lives, you will have done it, or seen it, as the speaker recalls the memory their whole-body changes, maybe a smile or the tone of their voice alters.

Peter speaks about this experience in one of his letters Peter as he tells of the time Jesus took him and two others disciples, onto the mountain side.

2 Peter: 16-18 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

He is recounting his experience, as he witnessed the time, he was with Jesus on the mountain side.

And heard the voice of God and saw the man he knew transformed right there in front of him. This event may have happened many years before his letter was written but the image was impressed in his memory, and I am sure he would have been reliving this as he wrote his letter.

I bet he had a smile on his face.

We have talked a lot about mountaintops

today, but do you need to be on a mountain to have a mountain top experience.

If the experience we are talking about is meeting Jesus, then the answer is no you don’t.

No, we can experience this meeting with Jesus, anywhere and at any time, that’s the amazing thing about faith, and the goodness of God.

The readings today reminded me a little of when I first really encountered God, I suppose I had for a long-time been asking questions. but when he finally came into my life, or should I say he burst into my life, it was like nothing I had ever felt. I had this amazing mountaintop experience.

I felt touched by this invisible God. who spoke directly to me?

For many people their faith and realisation that God is real, grows within them over many years.

Some like myself needed a big push and believe me it was a great big push; I was with a Christian friend at the time, and I remember talking nonstop all the way home, I was filled to overflowing.

I had allowed the Holy Spirit in, and the feeling was amazing, I can’t remember when this subsided, but what I did know was two things my life had been changed, transformed, and I knew that I could not maintain this heightened level of existence. Even though I desperately wanted to I would have burnt myself out.

Jesus had taken up residence within me, and he would guide me gently, teaching, correcting. Forgiving me time and time again, bringing me back when I stray.

I hope I now have a deeper relationship with my creator, by meeting him each morning and evening. Or a quick chat throughout the day. Feeling the assurity that the promise Jesus gave is as real today as it ever was.

If you have never felt the overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit. Then I earnestly pray for you right now, that you open yourself. Don’t be afraid, God is good.

Each one of us is called to pass on this amazing gift, freely given to me and to you, the only part we are asked to do is pass it on.

This gift that keeps on giving. This spiritual gift is unlike an earthly gift that when you give it to someone else it is no longer yours.

No, the more you give out the more you will receive.

Trust in the God who desires to take up residence with you.

Be Still for the presence of the Lord. 40

Prayers of intercession

O God of healing and holiness,

we bring before you the leaders of our world in need, and ask that they would have the discernment to listen to each other and to you, that there may be justice and peace.

We bring to you the situation in the Ukraine he the decisions made are the right ones for all the people concerned.

We bring to you the leaders of the Church and other religious organisations and communities, and ask that they would have the discernment to listen to each other and to you, that there may be vision and unity.

We bring to you those with responsibility for health care – doctors, nurses, administrators, ancillary workers and more – and pray that they may be strengthened and encouraged by encountering you in their work.

We bring to you those with healing needs (especially…),

and pray that they will hear you and feel peace; that they will encounter you and feel healed; that they will know you and feel loved.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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, the power, and the glory,

For ever and ever Amen.

Collection

Lord the light of your love is shining

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A sending out prayer

May you glimpse the glory of God as you journey through this week.

May you experience the mystery of God as you live out your faith this week.

May you know the blessing of God as you fulfil your responsibilities this week.

And may you believe that you are loved by God at all times this week.

Amen.