* Denotes all are invited to stand.
Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

March 2, 2025
Transfiguration of the Lord

Music for Gathering:
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome & Announcements:
Rev. Aaron J. White, Pastor

The grace and mercy of the Blessed Trinity, One God, maker, redeemer, and sustainer of all things, be with you all.
And also with you.

Minute for Mission:
Susie Hollman,
Food of the Month

Call to Worship:
God of the mountaintop, you call us to journey with you.
Shine upon us; grant us sacred illumination; dazzle us with your beauty and glory.
In the midst of our weary souls and exhausted bodies,
Transfigure our imaginations and reveal to us what is possible.
In the face of unceasing violence and endless wars,
Transfigure our imaginations and reveal to us what is possible.
In the midst of crushing disasters, natural and humanmade,
Transfigure our imaginations and reveal to us what is possible.
Move us from scarcity and cynicism and transfigure our lowly visions to reveal the abundant life of your realm.
Help us to keep watch so that we might leave the mountaintop inspired to do your work of transformation in the valley below. Amen.

* Hymn 191 “We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Confession of Sin:
Michael Osborn, Worship Leader
Holy Lord, we confess that we do not always seek the light of your way. We are satisfied to dwell in darkness, holding fast to the comforts of material fortune. We ignore the needs of others, and selfishly look the other way when our neighbors are oppressed. In your merciful way, help us to establish your equity in the world. Move us to protect creation and ensure equality, that all of our siblings may have a share of your abundance and the safety of your peace, and that the light of your face may shine upon all creation.

Silence for personal confession

Assurance of Pardon
The Lord our God answers our prayers. The Holy One forgives us of our sin.
Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
Thanks be to God.

Song of Praise:
“All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord”

All praise to our redeeming Lord, Who joins us by his grace
And bids us, each to each restored, Together seek His face.
He bids us build each other up; And gathered into one,
To our high calling’s glorious hope, We hand in hand go on.

* Passing the Peace
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

Prayer for Illumination:
Michael Osborn, Worship Leader

First Reading:
Luke 9:28-43a
²⁸ About eight days after saying this, Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up onto a mountain to pray.
²⁹ While Jesus was praying, his face changed in appearance and the clothes he wore became dazzlingly white.
³⁰ Suddenly two people were there talking with Jesus—Moses and Elijah.
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’s set up three tents, 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 the disciples grew fearful as the others entered it.
³⁵ Then from the cloud came a voice which said, “This is my Own, my Chosen One. Listen to him!”
³⁶ When the voice finished speaking, they saw no one but Jesus standing there. The disciples kept quiet, telling nothing of what they had seen at that time to anyone.
³⁷ The following day, when they came down the mountain, a large crowd awaited him.
³⁸ A man stepped out of the crowd and said, “Teacher, please come and look at my son, my only child.
³⁹ A demon seizes him and he screams, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth. It releases the boy only with difficulty, and when it does, he is exhausted.
⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they couldn’t.”
⁴¹ Jesus said in reply, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be among you and put up with you? Bring the child to me.”
⁴² As the boy approached, the demon dashed the child to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus reprimanded the unclean spirit, healed the child and returned him to his father.
^43a All present were awestruck at the greatness of God.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Anthem:
PCM Chancel Choir

Second Scripture:
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
⁵¹ I will share with you a mystery: we are not all going to die, but we will be changed.
⁵² It will be instantaneous, in the twinkling of an eye — when the last trumpet sounds. It will sound, and the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we will be changed, too.
⁵³ For our present perishable nature must put on imperishability, and our mortal nature must put on immortality.
⁵⁴ When this perishable nature has put on imperishability, and when this mortal body has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true:
⁵⁵ “Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?”
⁵⁶ Now the sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the Law —
⁵⁷ but thank God for giving us the victory through our Savior Jesus Christ!
⁵⁸ Be steadfast and persevering, my beloved [siblings], fully engaged in the work of Jesus. You know that your toil is not in vain when it is done in Christ.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Time for Children:
Rev. Aaron J. White

Sermon:
Rev. Aaron J. White

* Hymn #193 “Jesus, Take Us to the Mountain”
Please see screens for lyrics.

Pastoral Prayer:
Congregation Response:  Bless us with peace.

Invitation to Discipleship

The Lord’s Supper:
Invitation
Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. 
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. 
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…Therefore we praise you, joining the song of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
…great is the mystery of faith: 
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
…God of glory, now and forever.
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 sins as we forgive those who sin 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. Amen.

The Bread is Broken and the Cup is Filled.
The Communion of the People.
The Prayer After Communion.

* Hymn #192  “Lord, the Light of Your Love Is Shining”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Charge & Blessing