Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
February 22, 2009
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

Transfiguration Sunday

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude                            "Shepherd’s Sunday Song"                        Kreutzer

*Call to Worship

*Praise Song                          "Shine, Jesus, Shine"                  (insert/overhead)

*Opening Prayer

  Apostle’s Creed                                                                                        712

  Reading Scripture with Children                    2 Kings 2:1-12

  Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise
                                 (please be brief, and aware of God’s listening presence)

  Hymn                                    "God sent his Son"                                       345

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                2 Corinthians 4:3-6

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory                                      "Andante"                                          Grieg
                                        (Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

  Hymn                          "Christ upon the mountain peak"                            232

  Scripture                                     Mark 9:2-9

  Message                        "But we don’t live there" (mp3)

*Song of faith                         "Go light your world"                  (insert/overhead)

*Sending Out

*Postlude

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

Two weeks from today we will reset our clocks to fit in with Daylight Saving Time. Today, however, we are about a different kind of re-setting. This is the Sunday before the beginning of Lent, what we might call “People Saving Time.” During this season of the Christian year we intentionally turn our lives toward the cross. Think of it as “re-setting” our lives to God’s time. On this day the season of Epiphany draws to a close, but before we intentionally head down the path toward the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord, we pause at a remembered highpoint, a mountaintop experience. This is “Transfiguration Sunday.”

read Psalm 50:1-6
 

Opening Prayer

            The darkness of winter has been our companion, Lord. Now the days are lengthening. Bring your light to us, that we might see your glory and may work for you, offering hope and peace to this world. We ask this, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

from Worship Connection  written by the Rev. Nancy Townley.
  

Apostle’s Creed

            Please be seated.  We turn now to one of the oldest affirmations of the Christian faith. While, as Brethren, we ascribe only to the New Testament as our “Creed,” our “rule of faith and practice,” we can affirm the basic statements of the larger church of Jesus Christ. Looking to either the overhead screen or #712 in your hymnal, let’s recall the core of the faith by repeating the ancient words of this “Apostle’s Creed.”

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
         creator of heaven and earth
I believe in Jesus, God's only Son, our Lord,
         who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
                  born of the Virgin Mary.
                  suffered under Pontius Pilate.
                  was crucified, died, and buried;
         he descended to the dead.
         On the third day, he rose again;
         he ascended into heaven,
         he is seated at the right hand of the Father
                  and he will come again 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.

* universal

Hymnal #713, English translation of The Apostle's Creed,
prepared by the English Language Liturgical Consultation ELLC, © 1988.
       

Reading Scripture with Children
2 Kings 2:1-14

Objects: flash cards with different emotions (eg smily face, sad face etc) on them, one for each child

Let me tell you a Bible story this morning. It’s a story about two prophets in the Old Testament. The name of one was Elijah. The other was named Elisha. Elijah was like a teacher. Elisha was like a student. Elisha looked up to Elijah, like a boy would look up to his father. Both of them loved God. God spoke to the Hebrew people through Elijah. But it was soon time for God to speak through Elisha. A change was going to happen. God was going to take Elijah to heaven, and Elisha would take his place. That’s the Bible story I want to tell you.
  

I need your help to tell it. I have made some cards with faces on them. Let me give you each one of them. Look at your card. One card has a happy face on it. Which one? Another is a sad face. There is a mad face. What else?  As I tell the story, I will stop and ask you what face you think the person I mention is feeling. Then we’ll all make that face. Even the grown-ups. Okay?

Elijah and Elisha were leaving a place called “Gilgal.” Elijah said to Elisha, "The LORD wants me to go to Bethel, but you must stay here." Elisha replied, "No, I will stay with you no matter what!"  (How do you think Elisha felt?)

They went to Bethel. A group of prophets who lived there asked Elisha, "Do you know that today the LORD is going to take away your master?" "Yes, I do," Elisha answered. "But don't remind me of it." (How do you think Elisha felt?)

Elijah then said, "Elisha, now the LORD wants me to go to Jericho, but you must stay here." Elisha replied, "No, I will stay with you no matter what!" (How do you think Elisha felt?)

They went to Jericho. A group of prophets who lived there asked Elisha, "Do you know that today the LORD is going to take away your master?" "Yes, I do," Elisha answered. "But don't remind me of it." (How do you think Elisha felt?)

Elijah then said to Elisha, "Now the LORD wants me to go to the Jordan River, but you must stay here." (some things happen again and again in this story, don’t they?) Elisha replied, "No, I will never leave you!" So the two of them walked on together. (I won’t ask you this time)

Fifty prophets followed Elijah and Elisha from Jericho, then stood at a distance and watched as the two men walked toward the river. When they got there, Elijah took off his coat, then he rolled it up and struck the water with it. At once a path opened up through the river, and the two of them walked across on dry ground. (How do you think Elisha felt now?)

After they had reached the other side, Elijah said, "Elisha, the LORD will soon take me away.  What can I do for you before that happens?" (How do you think Elisha felt?)

Elisha answered, "Please give me twice as much of your power as you give the other prophets, so I can be the one who takes your place as their leader." "It won't be easy," Elijah answered. "It can happen only if you see me as I am being taken away." (How do you think Elisha felt?)

Elijah and Elisha were walking along and talking, when suddenly there appeared between them a flaming chariot pulled by fiery horses. Right away, a strong wind took Elijah up into heaven. Elisha saw this and shouted, "Israel's cavalry and chariots have taken my master away!" (How do you think Elisha felt?)

After Elijah had gone, Elisha tore his clothes in sorrow. Elijah's coat had fallen off, so Elisha picked it up and walked back to the Jordan River. He struck the water with the coat and wondered, "Will the LORD perform miracles for me as he did for Elijah?" (How do you think Elisha felt?)

As soon as Elisha did this, a dry path opened up through the water, and he walked across. (How do you think Elisha felt now?)

Well, that’s the end of this story. Of course, it’s only the beginning of another story. Thank you for helping me to tell it.

idea borrowed from Mustard Seeds,
a lectionary-based ideas resource by Ann Scull of Gippsland, Australia.
Scripture text is adapted from the Contemporary English Version,
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society.
  

Pastoral Prayer

written closer to the time (if not at the moment)

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

            Holy One, we seek your wisdom and guidance. Many people face growing economic uncertainty. The realities of the recession close in on our lives. We experience realities such as job loss, deflated investment accounts, increased grocery prices, delayed retirement plans, and mounting debt. Lift us from the depth of self-pity and despair. Save us from overwhelming fear and anger. Free us from the bondage of money. We place this money upon your altar as a gesture of our trust in you. Despite challenging financial times, we give out of our love and gratitude for your kingdom. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

from Offertory Prayers for February 2009,
Copyright 2009 David S. Bell,
former Director of Stewardship with GBOD.
He currently serves as Vice-President of Stewardship
with the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan.
  

Sending Out

Go on your way with quiet confidence in the transfiguring light of Christ.
Amen!
It is the same God who at the beginning said: “Let there be light,”
who has shone in our hearts with an understanding
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Amen!
The love of God encircle you,
the grace of Christ enthrall you,
the friendship of the Spirit enliven you,
now and evermore.
Yes, now and evermore.
Amen!

by Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church in Australia