THE TRANSFIGURATION of OUR LORD
February 19th, 2023
The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, Pastor
WELCOME
A warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Today we gather around Word and Sacrament through which God equips, directs, and supports his people in the mission and ministry of his Kingdom. All that God has promised in his Son, Jesus Christ, comes together by the power of the Spirit as we worship. Guests and visitors, please honor us by signing our Guest Book in the entrance hall of the church as you leave this morning’s worship. If you have no church home of your own, we invite you to make Grace Lutheran Church the center of your worship, learning, fellowship, and service. After this morning’s worship, join us for a cup of coffee and let us become better acquainted with you as you get to know us better. Come to worship with us again and often!
AS WE GATHER Sacred Space
Scriptures mention many spaces and places that the people of God held sacred: in particular the Tabernacle and the Holy of Holies in the Temple. We also remember Mt. Horeb where God spoke to Moses in the burning bush, and Mount Sinai where, in today’s Old Testament lesson, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Today, Peter, James, and John are taken to another sacred space—a high mountain—to witness Christ’s glory in his transfiguration. Today, we gather also in our own sacred space to receive God’s Word and Sacraments in preparation for the Lenten journey that lies ahead.
PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
Lord God, overtake our weakness with your power so that we may proclaim the saving Gospel to all nations. Remove from us all doubt and fear, and move us toward those who have not heard the story of your love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC.
CHIMES
WELCOME
ORDER OF CONFESSION
In the Name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Jesus Christ is the light of the world; the light no darkness can overcome.
If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.
As we approach the mystery of God, let us confess our sins to God Almighty, trusting the love of Christ crucified and risen.
+ A Brief Silence for Reflection & Self-examination +
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in our thinking, in our speaking, and in our doing. We deserve your wrath and punishment. For the sake of Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our redemption, we beg your forgiveness, and seek the power to become more faithful servants of Christ the King. Amen
You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your minds on what is in heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Rejoice in the Lord, your sins are forgiven in the Name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Forgiven and reconciled by God, let us be reconciled with one another and share the peace of the Lord as we greet each other.
THE PASSING OF PEACE
[The congregation is encouraged to share the peace of Christ and greet one another with the words: “The Lord’s peace be with you.” The response: “And also with you.”]
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also, with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, in the transfiguration of your Son you confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the witness of Moses and Elijah, and in the voice from the bright cloud declaring Jesus your beloved Son, you foreshadowed our adoption as your children. Make us heirs with Christ of your glory, and bring us to enjoy its fullness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
FIRST LESSON Exodus 24:12-18
[At Mount Sinai, Moses experienced the presence of God for forty days and forty nights. The “glory of the LORD” settled on the mountain, and on the seventh day God called out to Moses. On the mountain God gave Moses the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments.]
The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So, Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let them go to them.”
Then Moses went up on the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SECOND LESSON 2 Peter 1:16-21
[At the Transfiguration, God’s voice was heard declaring Jesus to be the beloved Son. By the activity of the Holy Spirit, God’s voice continues to be heard through the word of Scripture.]
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received the honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we- have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture come from someone’s interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 17:1-9
The gospel according to Matthew, the 17th chapter.
[Shortly before he enters Jerusalem, where he will be crucified, Jesus is revealed to Peter, James, and John in a mountaintop experience of divine glory called the Transfiguration.]
After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one of Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON “Listen Up.” Pr. Josh Text: The Gospel Lesson
APOSTOLIC CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life ☩ everlasting. Amen
PRAYERS of THE CHURCH
OFFERINGS are brought forward
OFFERING PRAYER
God of our salvation, all that we have comes from your hand. We bring what you have already given us bread and wine for your table, and the gifts of all that we are and have for the work of your Kingdom. Most of all we give you thanks for your greatest gift to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING (sing responsively)
The Lord be with you.
And also, with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We will lift them up to Him.
Let us give thanks always to the Lord our God.
It is right, it is just, it is well.
Father, it is our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Holy, holy, holy, Lord.
For our sake He opened His arms on the cross, He put an end to death and revealed the resurrection,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord.
In this He fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people. And so, we join the angels and the saints in proclaiming your glory as we sing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord,
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
WORDS of INSTITUTION
PAX DOMINI
The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also, with you.
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
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen
AGNUS DEI
[We come to The Sacrament sincerely believing in the real presence of Christ and that in the eating and drinking of the bread and wine of The Sacrament we receive the true body and blood of our Lord for our forgiveness, salvation, and strength for Christian life and witness.]
DISTRIBUTION
DISMISSAL
May the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you steadfast in the true faith to life everlasting. Peace be with you. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We thank you, O God, that you have strengthened our hearts through this feast of
life and salvation. Be the light for our path, that we may do justice, love kindness,
and walk humbly with you, now and forever. Amen
BLESSING
SILENT PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
With Great Joy … Tell Everyone What He Has Done!
Grace Notes
THE PRESENCE of CHRIST is celebrated in The Lord’s Supper. He comes to us in a real and present way with his life-giving body and blood in the bread and wine of The Sacrament to assure us of our forgiveness and to strengthen us in faith and service. All who trust and believe the words “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” are welcome. Come, receive Christ’s presence in the meal prepared for you. Enjoy his presence. Children are encouraged to come forward with their parents and/or grandparents and receive a blessing.
TODAY IS MITE BOX SUNDAY — Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on" (Mark 12:41–43) Based on the Biblical account of the widow's mite, the Mite Box is intended for regular contributions of "mites" — offerings above and beyond the support given to congregations and the LCMS. Mite Box contributions amount to millions of dollars that fund district and national mission grants and implement the LWML program.
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY — The seven signs in John’s Gospel — Join us for a discussion on Christ’s seven signs beginning with a wedding feast in Cana and ending with the resurrection of Lazarus. Throughout this trip, we will see the incredible events of water turned into wine, a sick boy restored, a lame man brought to his feet, thousands fed, a storm silenced, a blind man gaining sight, and a dead man coming forth from his tomb.
THE SEVEN SIGNS
Changing water into wine (John 2:1–11)
Healing the royal official’s son (John 4:46–54)
Healing the paralyzed man (John 5:1–15)
Feeding the five thousand (John 6:5–14)
Walking on water (John 6:16–21)
Healing the man born blind (John 9)
Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1–45)
Hope to see you Sunday mornings beginning at 9:00.
LENT BEGINS THIS WEEK — LENT begins February, 22nd with Ash Wednesday Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes at 12 Noon. Be sure to set the time aside now to join in the worship and celebration of The Sacrament. Each Wednesday at noon throughout March, you are invited to attend Midweek of Lenten Devotions. The topic for the week will be identified in our Worship folder under, This Week at Grace. Lent Devotionals are out now and can be found on the back table.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY TEMPORARY DATE CHANGES — Beginning this week, the Women’s Bible Study will temporarily move from Tuesdays to Wednesdays at 10:00 AM. This change will be in effect throughout Lent.
SOUPER SUNDAY — The ladies of LWML will continue collecting non-perishable food items through the end of February. All collected items will benefit the Ashland Food Bank. Each Sunday in February, a much-needed food item will be requested. To find out what next Sunday’s food donation item will be, look at - This Week at Grace.
GIFT OF SUPPORT — Igor and Liliia Kopylov along with their 6-year-old daughter fled war torn Ukraine, arriving in America just before Thanksgiving. If you are able to provide a gift of support to assist them, please leave your monetary donation in the offering plate located on the back table f the sanctuary. Identify your gift with “Ukraine Family” written in the memo section of your check or paperclipped to your cash. This will ensure all funds collected will go to the family.
This Week at Grace
February 20th- 26th, 2023
MONDAY, the 20th |
President’s Day
WEDNESDAY, the 22nd
Women’s Bible Study
Ash Wednesday Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 AM
Noon
7:00 PM
THURSDAY, the
23rd
Cub Scouts
3:00 PM
SATURDAY, the 25th
Oregon Music Teachers Association – Open Piano Lessons
Dr. Alexander Tutunov, SOU
10:00 AM
SUNDAY, the 26th
Bible Study (New Start Time)
Sunday School
Worship
Coffee Fellowship
Sunday’s food donation item: Canned Meat
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM