16A - Epiphany 8A — 18A - Ash Wednesday
 
See also my post from 2014 here …
 
PSALM 2
Why are the nations restless?
Why do they number off their armies?
Why do their rulers and leaders collude
against the LORD and the LORD’s anointed one?
“Let’s break all of our obligations to them;
let’s throw off everything which ties us to them!”
But God laughs;
the LORD mocks them.
Then God speaks to them in anger
– anger which terrifies them
I have been appointed God’s king on Zion,
the LORD’s holy mountain.
I will make known God’s decree.
The LORD said to me:
“My son, today I have brought you forth.
Ask, and I will give it, the nations are your heritage,
and your possession to the ends of the earth.
You will break them with a rod of iron;
smash them like a piece of pottery.
So now kings, understand;
listen to reason, rulers of the earth;
serve the LORD with holy awe,
and live in trembling
Give due honour to the son lest he be angry
and you perish in the way
for his anger will quickly blaze up.
Blessed are all those who seek refuge in him.

An alternate psalm in some lectionaries:

PSALM 99 (a new translation)
The LORD reigns:
let all peoples, and all the earth tremble in holy awe.
The LORD is great, exalted over all the nations.
Let all peoples praise the great name of the LORD,
the one name to be held in holy awe.
The LORD, our God is holy.
Indeed, mighty king, loving justice, you have established order;
in Jacob you brought about your justice and actions which put things right.
Exalt the LORD, and bow down at the footstool of our God.
Holy is the LORD.
Moses and Aaron were among God’s priests,
and Samuel was among those who called on the name of the LORD.
They cried to the LORD and the LORD God answered them.
The LORD God spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud;
they kept the testimonies of the LORD
and the decree that the LORD gave them.
O LORD, our God, you answered them,
you were a forgiving God to them,
but punishing their wrongdoing.
Exalt the LORD, and bow down at the holy mountain of our God,
for the LORD, our God, is holy.

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD (From Psalm 99:1-3)
The LORD reigns:
let all peoples, and all the earth tremble in holy awe.
The LORD is great, exalted over all the nations.
Let all peoples praise the great name of the LORD,
the one name to be held in holy awe.
Holy is the LORD, our God.
       ;(A time of silence)
Almighty God, on the mountain you showed your glory
in the transfiguration of your Son.
Give us the vision to see beyond the turmoil of our world,
to see the king in all his glory;
and seeing his glory
be strengthened for the journey,
and changed into his likeness,
from glory into glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OFFERING
May our lives and our gifts
be used to reveal your glory, O God,
in ways which proclaim Jesus
as your chosen and beloved One,
and in ways which show
we have listened to him. Amen

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000, 2014.

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A CREATIVE MOMENT – Matthew 17:1-9
Using a felt-tipped pen and a length of newsprint (e.g. 1.5 metres) create an banner bearing the words, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”
At the bottom left add small a sketches of two tablets of stone (Moses – Torah).
At the bottom right sketch some locusts and honeycomb (Elijah – prophets)”

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THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer, usually with connection to one or more of the lections for the day, to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession. Sometimes this prayer also borrows lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)

Deepest mystery of grace,
beneath, above, around and within;
on the mountain you showed your glory.
As your Spirit invites us
into new, even daring ways,
of following Jesus,
may our lives be parables
of your love, justice and freedom
in every gesture and deed …
         (The Prayers of the People continue)

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Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening’s Sing the Psalms

HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY
An upper room did our Lord prepare	TIS 536	AHB 453
Christ is the world’s true light	TIS 238	AHB 179
Christ whose glory fills the skies	TIS 212	AHB 140
Crown him with many crowns	TIS 228	AHB 163
Fairest Lord Jesus	TIS 203	AHB 131
Forth in thy name O Lord I go	TIS 571	AHB 480
God your are clothed with light	TIS 193	AHB 423
How good, Lord, to be here	TIS 234	AHB 390
It passeth knowledge,that dear love of thine	TIS 230	AHB 172
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed	TIS 51	AHB 99
This, this is the God we adore	TIS 220	AHB 153
We praise, we worship thee, O God,	TIS 98	AHB 1
Exodus 24: 12-18
Glorious things of you are spoken	TIS 446	AHB 374
Guide me, 0 thou great Redeemer	TIS 569	AHB 478
Lord, you are the light of life to me	TIS 261
The God ofAbraham praise	TIS 125	AHB 53
Psalm 2
Of the Father’s love begotten ere the worlds	TIS 290	AHB 215
Praise to the Lord the Almighty	TIS 111	AHB 28
Ride on, ride on, in majesty	TIS 348	AHB 264
Psalm 99 (Alternative)
Praise the Lord, ye heavens adore him;	TIS 93	AHB 58
2 Peter 1:16-21
Author of faith, eternal Word	TIS 565	AHB 473
Christ is the world’s true light	TIS 238	AHB 179
Christ whose glory fills the skies	TIS 212	AHB 140
Come Spirit blest, our hearts inspire	TIS 425	AHB 331
Hark! a herald voice is calling	TIS 264	AHB 192
I want to walk as a child of the light	TIS 643
O come! O come, Emmanuel	TIS 265	AHB 193
O day of God, draw nigh	TIS 616	AHB 547
Spirit of truth, essential God	TIS 426	AHB 332
We limit not the truth of God	TIS 453	AHB 235
Matthew 17: 1-9
Christ upon the mountain peak	TIS 243	SA 19
Christ whose glory fills the skies	TIS 212	AHB 140
How good, Lord, to be here	TIS 234	AHB 390
The Son of God proclaim	TIS 528	SA 84

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