 Welcome, Cheviot churches! We worship together on Transfiguration Sunday.
Notices:
Transcendent God, majestic and bright Shine upon us. Everlasting God, majestic and bright Shine upon us. Let your light be found Reach into us illuminating our souls, as we worship together Hymn SGP 45 – How lovely on the mountains (1,2,4) Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of grace and God of glory, you reveal your presence to the world in radiant glory and gentle whispers, on mountain tops and lowly plains, in classrooms and hospital beds, in homes and churches, in the silence of nature and the sounds of cities. Yours is the presence that pushes past our fears, yours is the touch that transforms our doubts. We come before you to celebrate your goodness, to focus on your light, and offer you all praise, honour and thanksgiving, for you are our God and we are your people, now and always. God of mercy and forgiveness, facing the light of your goodness, we confess all that keeps us from sharing that goodness. We are distracted by the desire to have more than we need. We focus on our own disappointments rather than trust the future you create. We feel discouraged by the pandemic and fail to claim the hope you hold out to us in Christ. Transfigure us by your grace, and shape us into disciples who follow Christ’s leading each day. Do not be afraid. God’s forgiveness shines into the world. The morning star rises in our hearts and we are made new. Know that you are forgiven and forgive one another in Christ’s name. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Exodus 34:29-35 Luke 9:28-36 Hymn 34 – O send thy light forth Weekly Prayer Faithful God, as we enter into your awesome presence, help us to see Jesus only, who has now made it possible for us to worship without any barriers. In the week that lies before us may we reflect your love in the way that we live our lives. May we be seen as followers of Christ and by our words and actions draw others into his loving care. Amen Reflection I received the message on my phone, ‘I have left them at your back door’. It was from a friend who had kindly picked up a box of oranges for me. Now these are no ordinary oranges, but they come from Calabria in Italy, an area where poverty and organised crime are rife, but they come from an organisation, Mediterranean Hope, supported by one of our Church of Scotland mission partners, and they support migrants who work in the fruit industry, trying to break the cycle of exploitation. Often workers can live in poor accommodation with no water or electricity, and they are given poor wages. Mediterranean Hope guarantees workers a decent wage and assures buyers of excellent, fair-trade produce. Some of the profit goes into social projects. The fruit was supposed to arrive before Christmas, but there was so much red-tape, but it has fortuitously arrived now – during Fair-Trade Fortnight. Oranges on a February day – with their bright colour they give us a lift, but the story behind them at least gives hope to the many migrants who have crossed the Mediterranean – the hope of being valued for who they are. Jesus had been telling the disciples of an arduous journey ahead of them to Jerusalem and the need to take up their crosses and follow him. But he then takes three of them, Peter, James and John, up a mountain, and there they have this incredible experience, for Jesus is transfigured. His whole body seems filled with light, and he is radiant. He is flanked on either side by Moses and Elijah. It was an overwhelming experience for the disciples – no wonder they couldn’t speak of it afterwards. Think of another hillside, with Jesus flanked by two people. Except it is Calvary and Jesus is flanked by the two thieves on crosses. It is almost as if the transfiguration is pointing ahead to it. It is almost as if he is predicting his crucifixion. Perhaps here Jesus is taking care of his disciples. They will go through a lot. They will see him sweating blood at Gethsemane; see him arrested; see him die. They will see the worst happen to him, but at the transfiguration they will see a glimpse of the best – a glimpse of what resurrection will look like. The transfiguration is one way God promises that there is always hope, that there will always be a way to start anew. On the mountain top, God gave us a glimpse of how the tragedy of Jesus’ death was going to be transformed, transfigured, into something glorious on Easter morning. If God can do that for his Son, he can do it for all his sons and daughters. God is saying that no matter our suffering, no matter what cross we are carrying, the Almighty can transfigure our dying into glorious rising, can transfigure ugliness into beauty. Just as the ugliness of the exploitation of the migrant fruit-pickers in Calabria has been transformed into the beauty of being given fair wages. There is a challenge there for us. How would the world be changed if we chose to radiate something beautiful in every situation? If we chose to radiate Christ’s beauty, even everyone is filled with anger of judgement; If we chose to radiate Christ’s beauty, even when neighbours are filled with gossip or pettiness; If we chose to radiate Christ’s beauty, even when people speak harshly of the immigrant or pass judgement on the poor; If we chose to radiate Christ’s beauty, even when we people are being negative around us. Jesus took the disciples up the mountain and radiated love, and he continued to radiate God’s love to the sick and the poor and the needy. We are called to radiate that love too and bring something of beauty into our often ugly world. Hymn 356 – Meekness and majesty Prayers of Intercession Gracious God, you have given us life and blessed us in Christ with new life. Bless the gifts we offer today, and bless our lives, so that others may see his grace at work in us. Revealing God, You bless us with your presence and wisdom, and we marvel at the wonders of your love. You created a beautiful world that reveals your majesty. Thank you for opening our eyes to your presence each day. Help us to recognize you not only in mountaintop experiences, but also in everyday tasks and in times of great challenge. God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. Loving God, Much in this world needs the transformation only you can provide. Where there is violence, bring calm; where there is poverty, send sustenance; where there is confusion, bring wisdom; where there is chaos, create order; where minds and hearts are troubled, bring comfort; where pain is crippling, grant release. Move the hearts of the rich to share with those in need; and call the powerful to act with justice for those at risk. Give us all the will to work for the wellbeing of the earth and to live with respect for the fragile balances within your creation. We pray for the situation in Ukraine. We lift up the work of Mediterranean Hope God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. Eternal God, we pray for your church around the world and for our congregation. Give your people the energy to shine wherever there is persecution, despair or discouragement. Bless each congregation with wisdom and vision, as we face the changes in the world caused by the pandemic. Renew our imagination and commitment to develop new forms of ministry and mission for the days ahead. Gather us as a people again after months of distancing, and inspire us with greater delight in your mystery, and greater joy in seeking your presence. God, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. Hear us now in this time of silence as we raise to you the names and situations on our hearts this day: Silence Amen Hymn 458 – At the name of Jesus Benediction God of mountaintop mystery, lead us on our way. God of daily duties, lead us on our way. God of all times and places, lead us from this place and stay with us on our way, and the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you, Amen
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