Watchword for the Week

And when they looked up, they saw no one

except Jesus himself alone. (Matthew 17:8)

(Moravian Daily Texts 2016)

ORGAN PRELUDE

WELCOME and OPENING RESPONSES

(Verses from Psalm 99 – The Message translation)

GOD rules. On your toes, everybody!

He rules from his angel throne – take notice!

GOD looms majestic in Zion, he towers in

splendor over all the big names.

Great and terrible your beauty:

let everyone praise you!

Strong King, lover of justice,

You laid things out fair and square;

You set down the foundations in Jacob,

foundation stones of just and right ways.

Honor GOD, our God; worship his rule!

Moses and Aaron were his priests,

Samuel among those who prayed to him.

They prayed to GOD and he answered them.

He spoke from the pillar of cloud.

And they did what he said;

they kept the law he gave them

Lift high GOD, our God;

worship at his holy mountain.

Hymn 152 * Praise the Lord, his glories show

People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)

PRAYER of APPROACH

God of life, you are the source of all goodness

and the satisfaction of our desires.

Our understanding of you is small: increase it.

Our desire to do your will is weak: enliven it.

The seed you have planted has yet to bear fruit:

ripen it.

But first, create in us clean hearts as, in your

sight, we unburden ourselves of guilt, of anger,

of fear, of pride, of hardness of heart, of

weakness of intention.

Jesus, Son of Mary, have mercy upon us.

Jesus, Saviour of the World,

make peace within us.

Christ, King of Glory, be with us and for us,

wherever life takes us.

In the common path of our calling,

whether it be easy or uneasy to tread,

whether it be bright or dark to follow,

let your perfect guidance protect us.

Be a shield against all that might deceive us,

be a healer for all that might harm us,

be a witness of all that might trouble us,

be a friend to all who are dear to us,

this day and until we meet in glory. Amen.

WORDS of ASSURANCE

On mountaintops and in deep valleys, in times

of hope and in times of despair, God’s presence

is always with us. God calls us and equips us,

and God is glorified when we are fully alive!

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Hymn 354 1+5+6 O Love, how deep…

(Hymn of the Month, February 2016)

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Exodus 34:29-35 OT p. 93 (92)

St. Luke 9:28-36 NT p. 89

People may stand for the Gospel reading.

The word of God: Thanks be to God!

Hymn 132 * Immortal, invisible, God only wise

SERMON Rev. James Brown

Hymn 448 * Shine, Jesus, shine

(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)

AFFIRMATION of FAITH

We believe in a bright and amazing God,

who has been to the depths of despair

on our behalf;

who has risen in splendour and majesty;

who decorates the universe with sparkling

water, clear white light, twinkling stars and

sharp colours, over and over again.

We believe that Jesus is the Light of the

World; that God believes in us, and trusts us,

even though we make the same mistakes

over and over again.

We commit ourselves to Jesus,

to one another as brothers and sisters,

and to the Maker’s business in the world.

God said: Let there be light. Amen.

PRAYERS for OTHERS

Response: Hear our prayer, O God: Hymn 784

Come light, light of God, give light to creation,

enlighten our hearts and remain with your world.

PASSING the PEACE

COMMUNION PRAYER

God be with you, and also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to God.

Let us give thanks to God Most High.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

…With the faithful in every place and time, we

praise with joy your holy name:

Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty,

the whole universe speaks of your glory,

O God Most High.

… we may continue faithful in all things. In the

strength Christ gives us, we offer ourselves

to you, eternal God, and give thanks that you

have called us to serve you. Amen.

BREAKING of BREAD

The LORD’S PRAYER

SHARING the ELEMENTS

(please come forward for communion)

NOTICES and THANKSGIVING

Hymn 170 Praise and thanksgiving

BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)

ORGAN POSTLUDE