We gather this Sunday for worship as we we prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies for the season of Lent. All the words that we’ll be using for worship are below. Or, you can download and print a copy here.

Prelude                              “The Gift of Love”

Call to Worship – Psalm 121

Praise the Lord!
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
   from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
   who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
   he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
   the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
   nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
   he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
   your going out and your coming in
   from this time on and for evermore.

 Song – And Can It Be #695

Prayer of Confession

Most High and holy God, mountain top experiences fill us with awe and remind us of your majesty. Your good news of life comforts us like a warm blanket on a cool night. But, you have called us to bring your majesty into the valley. You have called us, not to take up our comforter, but a cross. It’s this calling that we resist. We admit it and we confess our need for your help. This week leads us into the season of Lent. Bless us with your Holy Spirit to renew our commitment and find new courage in the call to follow Christ. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Song – You Are My King #360

Words of Assurance

Jesus said, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily follow me.

For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.

Anthem – How He Loves

Scripture – Luke 9:28-48

The Transfiguration

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, ‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.’ But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.’

Sermon

Song – They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love  #256

Prayers w/ 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.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

Offertory – Reckless Love

Benediction

Sending Song – I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me  #854