Year C – Epiphany

Epiphany falls on Wednesday the 6th of January this year. For those who celebrate it on this day, the first Sunday in January would be Christmas 2C. However, for many churches, the Epiphany celebration will be held on Sunday January 3rd, and it is with this in mind that I have prepared these resources. If you need resources for Christmas 2, I’m afraid I won’t be able to provide any here, but there is a really good list of links at The Text This Week. I hope this will meet your needs.

The focus of Epiphany, as usual, is the visit of the Magi. The other readings, though, add some wonderful nuances and textures to this story, emphasising the inclusivity of Christ and the priority of God for justice and for defending the least. In a world where faith is often used to exclude and exploit, and with the tough conflicts and divisions across our planet, the Epiphany message is a timely word.

READINGS:  
Isaiah 60:1-6: The light of God’s glory and God’s goodness shines on God’s people.

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14: A prayer for God’s love of justice to fill God’s king, who will then defend the poor and rescue the oppressed.

Ephesians 3:1-12: In Christ both Jews & Gentiles enjoy the riches of God’s blessings.

Matthew 2:1-12: Wise men from the East arrive, worship the Christ-Child and present him with fine gifts.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:    
The Festival of Epiphany reveals to us who this Christ is that has incarnated himself among us. There are two clear revelations that would have been startling for the first readers of Matthew’s Gospel. The first is that the Messiah has come inclusively – for all people: Jew AND Gentile, Wealthy AND Poor, Oppressed AND Oppressor. This inclusivity is a significant aspect of the scandal of the Gospel. The second revelation is the mind-bending truth that has traditionally been seen as reflected in the Wise Men’s gifts: This Child is Royalty (gold), Divinity (frankincense), and yet, also, self-giving Sacrifice (myrrh). All of these passages call us into praise for God’s inclusive incarnation!

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: Defensiveness and otherness are two of the main characteristics of today’s political, social, economic and relational world. In the quest for self-development, human beings have increasingly seen their individual selves as distinct from and “other than” other people. Businesses work hard to “distinguish” themselves form their competitors and even nations work hard to identify themselves, drawing boundaries, naming enemies and allies, and putting huge investments into defending what is “uniquely theirs”. Epiphany, scandalously reveals that Christ crosses all of these boundaries, refusing to be defensive or self-protective, and refusing to draw lines separation. This incarnate Messiah draws all creation together into one, and gives up his own safety, security and comfort in order to do it.

LOCAL APPLICATION: Every church community, and every person, longs for the light of God’s glory and blessing to shine on them. This longing often leads us into trying to earn God’s blessing through legalism, doctrinal purity or separation from those who are considered “unrighteous”. Too often faith becomes something exclusive, something to defend against others who see things differently. Epiphany reveals an alternative view of God’s glory – that in Christ’s incarnation God’s glory and blessing are already ours – not something to earn; and that the experience of God’s glory is found in connection and sharing with others, while protecting and defending the least. It is a good discipline to ask: “Who needs to be included in our community right now?” and “Who needs to be protected?” – two questions that necessarily call us to emulate Christ’s self-sacrifice in our own lives.

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
About The Light
Light And Glory
Who Are You, Jesus?

Hymns: 
What Child Is This?
We Three Kings
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Christ From Whom All Blessings Flow
Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken
Marvelous Light (Listen to preview here)
Shine Jesus Shine (Link to YouTube video)
Here I Am To Worship (Link to YouTube video)
How Great Is Our God (Link to New Song Cafe’ YouTube video)
Open Our Eyes, Lord (Link to YouTube video)
Open The Eyes Of My Heart, Lord (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy: 
A Liturgy For The Breaking Of Bread

Video:
Psalm 72 (From TheWorkOfThePeople.com)
To Know The Creator (From WorshipHouseMedia.com)

Images:
Word And Table – Epiphany PowerPoint
Word And Table – Another Epiphany PowerPoint 
Wise Men And Star Still (From WorshipHouseMedia.com)

Year C – Epiphany 1 / The Baptism of Jesus

The first Sunday after Epiphany gives us a “God’s-eye-view” of Jesus. We get a sense of the person and calling of Jesus from a divine perspective, and the message is clear, in Christ God partners with us, and invites us to partner with God. The possibilities that this theme presents for worship are very exciting.

READINGS:
Isaiah 43:1-17: A prophecy of God’s rescue of Israel that was predicted and fulfilled, and that reveals that God is Israel’s true Saviour.

Psalm 29: A song in praise of God and God’s mighty voice.

Acts 8:14-17: The Samaritan believers receive the Holy Spirit at the apostle’s laying on of hands.

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22: John predicts the coming of the One who will baptise in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is baptised and God’s voice proclaims his divine Sonship.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
The readings this week speak two profound and transformational truths: 1. God is actively involved in the world, and in the lives of people, to save and empower; 2. Even as God enters our experience, God also transforms it by offering us the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. As a result of these two actions of God, we know that God partners with us in our struggles and God invites us to partner with God in the work of salvation and liberation.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: This era in history finds the world facing huge, inter-related crises. Symptomatic or one-dimensional approaches have been shown and recognised to be ineffectual and the need for inter-disciplinary, systemic and collaborative approaches is clear. Increasingly, though, people of all disciplines are recognising that there is also a need for Divine partnership – an active drawing on God’s creative, inspiring and empowering Spirit – to address the challenges we face. The celebration of the Baptism of Jesus is an ideal opportunity to open ourselves to the Spirit that Jesus offers, and to reaffirm our commitment to God’s call to be participants in God’s saving work.

LOCAL APPLICATION: In every community, in every life, there is a need for resources that are beyond our human capacity. Maintaining faithful marriages, keeping families strong, resisting the siren call of greed, addiction, immediate gratification, expediency and personal satisfaction, and making a contribution to the needy around us, all require more of us than we are capable of giving on our own. However, even as God calls us to live with integrity and wholeness, God enters our world and gives us God’s Spirit to help us to do it. Jesus’ act of being baptised is the assurance of his commitment to partner with us, and is the invitation for us to participate in the work of God’s reign.

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
God Speaks
Partnering With God
God’s Ability

Hymns:
To God Be The Glory
A Charge To Keep I Have
Come Holy Ghost Our Hearts Inspire
Holy Spirit, Truth Divine
May The Words Of My Mouth (Link to YouTube video)
More Love, More Power (Link to YouTube video)
Spirit Of The Living God (Link to YouTube video)
Breathe (Link to YouTube video)

Video:
The Baptism Of Our Lord (From TheWorkOfThePeople.com)

Images:
Here’s a list of links to images from The Text This Week

Year C – Epiphany 2

This week has been rather hectic! Apart from planning and leading worship in our Christmas services in our new church (Sea Point Methodist in Cape Town), my HP laptop has really given me trouble. The sound card has been dead for a few weeks now, but after waiting two weeks for the technicians to get the replacement main board to fix it, the wrong part was delivered! And then, the board they found to try and make it work anyway has left me without access to my hard drive. As a result, I decided to go ahead and take a plunge I’ve been contemplating for a long time – I replaced my old and dying laptop with a Macbook. This is my first post using this strange, but beautiful new machine.

The readings for this week in the Lectionary (Epiphany 2 – January 17) carry themes of love, caring, marriage, and the gifts that are always given when love is present. The possibilities for exploring how Jesus is revealed in love, and in us when we love, are very exciting. I offer just a few here.

READINGS:
Isaiah 62:1-5: Isaiah’s prayer for Jerusalem, and prophecy that God will restore her to be a place that people celebrate – even as bride and groom celebrate each other.

Psalm 36:5-10: A song of celebration for God’s unfailing love and care which includes all humanity and all of creation.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11: Paul’s teaching about spiritual gifts.

John 2:1-11: Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding in Cana.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
God’s love for God’s people, and God’s commitment to care for all of humanity are described and celebrated throughout the Scriptures. Many of the readings for this week draw on the wedding metaphor – the celebration of Jerusalem like a groom who rejoices over his bride; the song of a God who loves unfailingly; the first sign of John’s Gospel, performed at the wedding feast. In the midst of all of these images is the truth that Paul describes in his letter to Corinthians – love always delights to give gifts to its beloved. As has been famously stated: “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” What this week in Epiphany seeks to show us is the complete, unconditional, self-giving love of God revealed in Jesus, but also the warning – the extent of our following Christ in the way of love is revealed by the extent of our giving. No giving, no love!

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: The central culture in the world of human affairs has evolved as one of getting and consuming. Of course, as will have recently been preached around the world, Christmas reveals this clearly and disturbingly. And the cost we have paid has been deeply felt in the last year. However, as Christ revealed in his life and teachings, the ‘culture’ of God’s reign is one of giving, sharing and preserving. Only by allowing this ‘Christ-culture’ to permeate our lives and world can we ever hope to address the great crises of our time – poverty, human trafficking, dread diseases, terrorism and war, and climate change. Imagine the difference if nations sought ways to give to one another, rather than exploit; if organisations sought to do well only by doing good; and if individuals learned that love for our neighbours is expressed through giving of time, resources, compassion and energy.

LOCAL APPLICATION: Every week in our churches an offering is received “for the work of God”. The Gospel question that we must face is this: How much of this offering is used to give to those who most need it – to uplift the surrounding community or to make some small contribution toward addressing the world’s crises – and how much is used to benefit only the church which receives it? All too often the message we send as Church is that our giving to God is much like paying taxes – not a gift of love, but a burden to be avoided or at least mitigated, as much as possible. Yet, as we allow the season of Epiphany to reveal to us again the Christ who died for love of us, we cannot help but recognise that our poverty in giving is a reflection of the poverty of our love. May the revealed Christ teach us to love truly – practically, sacrificially, generously, extravagantly.

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
Extravagant Love
Water To Wine
Where Is The Love?

Hymns:
This Is My Father’s World
The Church’s One Foundation
In Christ There Is No East Nor West
Come And Let Us Sweetly Join
Best For Last (New Hymn)
I Stand In Awe
Unfailing Love
However (Free download from the link on the right of this page)
May The Words Of My Mouth

Liturgies:
A Liturgy for Communion
A Liturgy for the Eucharist

Video:
Water To Wine
What Does Love Sound Like?
I Love My Wife

Images:
Cross Heart

Year C – Epiphany 3

This last week (as I write this) has seen the last days of 2009 go by, and the first days of 2010 arrive. A new year always holds new possibilities and hopes, and so it is for Sacredise. There are many hopes and dreams for this year, but all of them include bringing you the best in worship ideas, resources and reflections to help you and your congregations to encounter God in transforming ways each week. Please continue to pray for this work, and feel free to offer any suggestions or critiques that can help me to improve this ministry.

This week we explore Epiphany 3 (January 24) – a wonderful set of readings that remind us of the purpose of God in Christ, and of our role, as Christ’s body, in continuing Christ’s liberating work.

READINGS:
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10: Ezra reads the book of the law to the people. They respond in remorse, but Nehemiah encourages them to be joyful and to celebrate.

Psalm 19: A celebration of God’s word spoken through creation, and bringing great benefit to those who listen and obey it.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a: Paul teaches that the Christian community is like a body with many parts. Each has a gift, and each must use their unique gift for the benefit of the body. The Body of Christ.

Luke 4:14-21: Jesus reads from Isaiah’s scroll about God’s anointing for ministry, and God’s liberating work through God’s anointed. Then, he claims this prophecy for himself.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
In a world that can sometimes seem so random, this week in Epiphany gives us a vision of purpose. God’s purpose – God’s message – spoken to God’s people in the book of the law, and through all of creation – was the guiding force in Jesus’ ministry. As he began his work, he proclaimed as his mandate the words of Isaiah’s prophecy – God’s saving and liberating “Jubilee” purpose. Now, as those who follow Christ, we are called, individually and together, to fulfil Christ’s purpose, in our world and in our time. To do this, God has gifted each of us, and called us to work together as one Body.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: The idea of having a sense of purpose – of calling – is one with a chequered history in the global community. Too many corrupt and tyrannical leaders have become so because they felt that they were somehow given a special purpose by God, and that God was on their side, and against their enemies. The time for this kind of “destiny” talk is over. However, the purpose of Christ, revealed in the Isaiah prophecy, is one that God calls us all to participate in. This liberating, compassionate, transforming vision is one that impacts every thing we do, and is one to which we can hold our leaders accountable. As we face global economic, climatological and other challenges this year, let’s allow a renewed vision of Christ, and of Christ’s purpose, to guide our social conscience and activism.

LOCAL APPLICATION: In every community are those who need liberation – the poor who need good news, the physically, psychologically or spiritually blind who need sight, the prisoners who need to be freed. Who are these people in your church and in your community? The purpose of Christ is both an invitation to life for all the broken and lost ones (including us), but also a challenge to participate in the work of liberation for those who choose to follow Jesus. How can you work within your world to commit to Christ’s purpose so that to those among you, you may also say (collectively) “today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”?

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
The Way Forward
The Way

Hymn Suggestions:
Jesus, Joy Of Our Desiring
Now Thank We All Our God
Christ Whose Glory Fills The Sky
All Ears (New Hymn.com)
Jubilee
Beautiful News
You Do All Things Well
Take It To The Streets
God Of Justice
I Will Follow Him (Sister Act)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet (Relates well to the theme of hope and the purpose that flows from it)

Video Suggestions:
Body of Christ
Plass on Being Part of the Community
What Is Your Purpose
Missing Purpose

Image Suggestions:
All of these images focus on paths or roads and can be used to evoke the idea of Jesus’ mission/purpose as the “way” we are called to follow.
Forest Path
Road
Forest Bridge

Year C – Epiphany 4

The year has well and truly begun, and routines are almost all completely in place. I, and my family, have settled well into our new home, and are growing more and more excited by the possibilities and potential of the ministry we will be able to exercise here in Cape Town. And it doesn’t hurt to live under the shadow of Table Mountain! My prayer for us (meaning the Sacredise cyber-community) is that our worship will continue to grow deeper and more challenging throughout the year, and that our churches will become stronger reflections of the grace, compassion, challenge and reign of Christ as a result.

Epiphany 4 on January 31st is a week that can really challenge us about our views and practice of grace. What has struck me as I have reflected on this week’s readings is that grace is not just a “yes” to love and compassion and acceptance and forgiveness. Grace is also a “no” to hatred and apathy and condemnation and exclusion. The “yes” is often easy to speak and to receive, but the “no” is much harder, much more painful, and can lead us into confrontation and even conflict. Yet, the “no” is as important as the “yes”, for without either one, grace is not really grace at all.

READINGS:
Jeremiah 1:4-10: Jeremiah is called to be a prophet, and God explains God’s knowledge of Jeremiah from his conception, and God’s message for Jeremiah to preach. Note both the “yes” and the “no” in the message Jeremiah is given.

Psalm 71:1-6: A prayer for God to protect and be a refuge from one who has trusted and praised God since the womb.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13: The noble and godly characteristics of love, which lasts forever, and is the greatest of all things. Again note the “yes” (love is…) and the “no” (love is not…).

Luke 4:21-30: After reading the “yes” in Isaiah’s scroll (last week) the “no” to the people of Nazareth in Jesus’ teaching offends them, and they attempt to kill him.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
The two major themes in this week’s reading stand out in clear relief:
1. God’s grace is not always a comfortable and gentle thing to experience. Integral to God’s grace is the work of justice which distresses the comfortable and self-assured (the “no”) even as it comforts the distressed (the “yes”). Jeremiah is told that his message will not only build up but break down; The psalmist reflects on his vulnerability and the threat of evil in spite of his long life of relationship with God; The love that Paul speaks about is not an easy or comfortable way to follow, but challenges our self-centredness and lethargy toward others; and finally, Jesus makes it clear that his ministry is not “friendly” and non-disruptive, but  a life-changing, all-inclusive confrontation of self-righteousness and injustice.
2. As with Jesus’ near execution in Luke, those who choose to follow Christ in his liberating work, must expect that they will find themselves in confrontation with injustice and those who propagate it. This will inevitably lead to great sacrifice and suffering.

The work of grace is not all acceptance and healing. Sometimes it is a wounding battle – not least because we are called to love even those we challenge.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
“One day, he’s here, and the next he’s not, but you mustn’t press him, after all, he’s not a tame lion.” Mr. Tumnus, speaking of Aslan in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

GLOBAL APPLICATION: Like the people of Nazareth, there are still those who seek to “own” Jesus for themselves. By domesticating Jesus, and editing his message to fit our national, corporate or religious agendas, we tame the Gospel, and make it palatable, with little cost. But, as the people of Nazareth discovered, Jesus will not be tamed, and his grace, while offered to all, also challenges of all that resists grace. As Matthew Fox explains, following Jesus means embracing biophilia – loving life and all that supports it and provides joy and enjoyment – and resisting necrophilia – standing against all that robs life, oppresses and abuses. This dual-character of grace is what is revealed this week in Epiphany, and calls us to stand against any attempt to domesticate and “use” Jesus in our world – as Wilberforce, Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. all did.

LOCAL APPLICATION: As preachers, worship leaders and even Christ-followers, it is all too easy to seek to bring Jesus and his Gospel into service of our own desires and agendas. It is easy to accept grace for ourselves, but deny it to others – even in Jesus’ name. It is easy to remain silent when Jesus is used as justification for abuse, oppression, greed, hatred or arrogance. But, grace does not call us to silence, or to compliance with that which hurts and destroys. The strength of grace is to resist what keeps others from grace – defending the powerless, speaking for the voiceless and lifting up the downtrodden – all while still seeking to love those against whom we stand. Inevitably, this just (justice-focused) grace, will bring us into situations of confrontation and conflict, but they can be navigated with both strength and compassion, if we will learn from Jesus. Who, in your community, needs just grace to defend and heal them (the “yes”)? Who needs just grace to confront and disturb them (the “no”)? And where, in our own hearts, do we need grace to confront and disturb us?

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
Wild God
Just Grace

Hymn Suggestions:
Christ For The World We Sing
Ah, Holy Jesus
O Young And Fearless Prophet
Stop The Clanging
The Church’s One Foundation
You Are (Link to YouTube video. Or download the mp3 & chord chart free from here)
History Maker (Link to YouTube video)
God Of This City (Link to YouTube video)
Everlasting God (Link to YouTube video)
Living For Your Glory (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Celebration of Sacrifice (Calls us to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and to embrace the suffering and struggle of following Christ)

Video Suggestions:
Disrupt With Mercy
Justice And The Kingdom Of God (This is different from the Brian McLaren video that I’ve featured before)
Spoken Word – His Grace
MLK – Faith Is Taking The First Step

Year C – Epiphany 5

Remember the bad old days when we used to pick teams on the school playground? Were you one of those who was chosen or not? Do you know what it feels like to be chosen last – or not at all? Well, this week in Epiphany (Week 5 – 7 February), that’s what all the people in the readings would have expected. David, aware of his weakness and need of God’s care; Isaiah, with sinful lips and from a people of sinful lips; Paul, the unworthy apostle and Simon Peter, the rough fisherman – all would have expected God to pass them by, and yet, God chose them unexpectedly. What a joyful, inspirational and challenging message this sends us. Can we be those who choose the unexpected the way God does?

May God bless you as you prepare this week.

READINGS:
Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13): Isaiah is called to speak God’s hard message of judgement and coming destruction to God’s people. Yet hope remains like the stump of fallen tree.

Psalm 138: David’s song of thanks for the God who is both glorious and worthy, and who cares for the lowly. David’s confidence in God’s plans and God’s care for him.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11: Paul’s “summary” of the Gospel message, and acknowledgement of his own unworthiness to be an apostle of this Gospel.

Luke 5:1-11: Jesus takes Peter out in Peter’s boat and they catch a huge catch of fish. In spite of Peter’s protestation of sinfulness, Jesus calls him to be a disciple.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
This week in Epiphany, the focus shifts, a little, away from Jesus himself. All of the readings turn our gaze to those whom God chooses, and particular to their weakness, sinfulness and unworthiness to be chosen. Isaiah, when faced with god, immediately recognises his, and his people’s, unworthiness. David recognises his weakness and need of God’s care and protection. Paul, rejoicing in the resurrection appearances of Jesus, also protest that he is unworthy to be called an apostle. And Peter, faced with Jesus presence and power, after the great catch, confesses his sinfulness. Yet, each of these people ultimately responded to God’s call, and were used by God in significant ways. When God calls our human standards of eligibility don’t apply, and often the ones called are the ones we would least expect.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: In a world where “might is right”, where “money talks” and where “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”, it is tempting to shun and ignore the weak, the poor and the marginalised. Yet, as Christ is revealed through the season of Epiphany, we discover a God who chooses the very ones that would fail to qualify in human terms. What does this say to us as followers of Christ in a meritocratic world system? How do we ‘choose’ those who are most hurt by natural disasters, economic collapse and the consequences of climate change (food shortages etc.) And how do we use whatever influence or resources we may have to change this elitist system from within?

LOCAL APPLICATION: Every day we make choices about people – who we will connect with, who we will listen to, who we will value, who we will ignore or reject. Every day we subtly assess the people we encounter making judgements about them and their value to us or to the world. And every day we do the same as we evaluate ourselves – often causing us to push ourselves harder than we should, or making us defensive and threatened in the presence of those we consider “better” than ourselves. How might our daily living and interacting change if we were to take God’s “choosing” seriously. If we were to realise that God does not evaluate as we do, nor does God consider our worthiness as we do. Who might we choose if we were to choose as God does? How differently might we behave if we accepted our own choosing as an accomplished fact? Who are the people in your community who most need you to choose them today?

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
Chosen
Choosing Differently

Hymn Suggestions:
Come Let Us Sing Of A Wonderful Love
Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Hallelujah! What A Saviour (Man Of Sorrows)
Holy Holy Holy
To God Be The Glory
Indescribable (Link to YouTube video)
Majesty And Mystery (Awesome God) (Link to Vicky Beeching’s MySpace page – Scroll down in the media player to find & listen to the song)
Love Enough (Link to YouTube video – a good song for youth)
Everyone Belongs (Link to Amazon.com Mp3 page – there is a preview option here)
Wonderful Love (Link to Amazon.com Mp3 page – there is a preview option here)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for Communion

Video Suggestions:
Woe To Me

Year C – Epiphany 6 / Transfiguration

As Epiphany draws to a close the Scriptures turn, as usual, to the Transfiguration of Jesus. There are so many ways to approach this mysterious and wondrous narrative, but I would like to focus on the power of the transfiguration to give Jesus the hope and courage to face the cross, and to draw us into our own personal and communal transfiguration as we seek to follow Jesus. True transformation is never easy, but the alternatives – quick fixes and easy answers – are ultimately even more painful and damaging.

May you discover a new vision of Christ as you prepare, and as you worship, this week.

READINGS:
Exodus 34:29-35: After bringing the tablets of the law down the mountain, Moses’ face shines. And every time after speaking with God in the Tent of Meeting, he addresses the people with a shining face, after which he covers his face with a veil.

Psalm 99: A psalm of praise for God’s holiness and glory, for God’s love of justice, and for God’s guidance and discipline of God’s people.

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2: In Christ believer’s hearts are unveiled to receive the truth, and we are able to reflect God’s glory, being change to be more and more like Christ.

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43): Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain where his face is transfigured, his clothes shine white, and the disciples, who had fallen asleep, wake up to find Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
There are two main facets to the Scriptures this week. The most obvious one is that of Jesus’ own transfiguration, which reveals his glory as Messiah, but which also points to the cross – the ultimate glory of Christ. The truth of what the Messianic age means – the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, and the establishment of God’s reign among people – is reflected and proclaimed here. The second facet is the transformation of those who encounter God – Moses, Jesus, and then those who believe in Christ. The week then, is a celebration of Christ’s transfiguration, but also of ours. And like Christ, our true transformation comes by embracing the way of the cross.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: There are many voices in western culture that promise quick and easy transformation. Yet as our systems strain under increasing complexity, the transformation we need will require a slow, thorough and sacrificial process. For this we need a hope adequate to the task. In the transfiguration we have this hope – the hope of a clear vision of God – glorious, but also present and accessible. We also have the hope of the glory to which God calls us, and which, by God’s Spirit we can achieve. With this hope in our hearts, the challenges of poverty & economic breakdown, of climate change and creation care, of conflict and disease, can be embraced with courage, and with a commitment to the hard, system-changing changes that must be made.

LOCAL APPLICATION: In every life and in every community we face challenges and struggles that threaten to overwhelm us. Sometimes our response is that of the disciples – to fall asleep, or to check out of life in order to avoid the pain. The transfiguration is a call, though. First, we are invited to encounter God anew, and be filled with hope and courage as we meditate on the glory of the incarnate Christ. Second we are invited to open ourselves to our own transfiguration – to be transformed and to begin to reflect God’s glory ourselves. Of course, as with Christ, embracing God’s glory is also embracing the cross – the suffering of staying awake, and meeting our challenges head on. As we encounter the transfigured Christ again this week, may we refuse the false comfort of quick fixes, and set our minds toward the tough journey of real transformation – in our relationships, our finances, our health, our community’s upliftment, and the trajectories of our nation and our world.

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
The One We Worship
Whole-y God
Tough Transformation

Hymn Suggestions:
O Jesus I Have Promised
Christ Is Made The Sure Foundation
I Know Whom I Have Believed
The Mountain
Lord, Reign In Me (Link to YouTube video)
We Bow Down Before You (Link to Sacredise music page – scroll down for links to mp3 & chord chart)
Above All (Link to YouTube video)
How Great Is Our God (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Sacrament

Video Suggestions:
Transfiguration (The Work Of The People)
Transfiguration (SermonSpice – a historical view of the transfiguration event)

Image Suggestion:
Skylight