A Just Peace Church
An Open and Affirming Church
A Creation Justice Church
February 19, 2023
10:30 am
TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Sally Purvis, Liturgist
Deep peace, pure white of the moon to you.
Deep peace, pure black of the night to you.
Deep peace, pure green of the grass to you.
Deep peace, pure brown of the earth to you.
Deep peace, pure grey of the dew to you.
Deep peace, pure blue of the sky to you.
Deep peace, of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace, of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace, of the Son of Peace to you.
Fiona Macleod, 1855-1905, adapted
PRELUDE Fairest Lord Jesus arr. by Wilda Jackson Auld
*OPENING SENTENCES A Carthusian
Mysteries are not dark shadows, before which we must shut our eyes and be silent. On the contrary, they are dazzling splendours, with which we ought to sate our gaze.
* HYMN Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise 1
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Let us prepare ourselves for the word of God as it comes to us in the reading of Holy Scripture. Our hearts and minds are open.
Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
Matthew 5: 38-48
“You’ve heard the commandment, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist an evil person.
When someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn and offer the other.
If anyone wants to sue you for your shirt, hand over your coat as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go two miles.
Give to those who beg from you.
And don’t turn your back on those who want to borrow from you.
“You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor — but hate your enemy.’
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for your persecutors. This will prove that you are children of God.
For God makes the sun rise on bad and good alike; God’s rain falls on the just and the unjust.
If you love those who love you, what merit is there in that? Don’t tax collectors do as much?
And if you greet only your sisters and brothers, what is so praiseworthy about that? Don’t Gentiles do as much?
Therefore, just as Abba God is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.
Matthew 17:1-9
For the word of God in scripture, for the word of God among us, for the word of God within us. Thanks be to God!
*HYMN Hark! the Herald Angels Sing 160
SERMON Glory! Rev. Kim P. Wells
UNISON READING Martin Luther 1483-1546 Who then can comprehend the riches and the glory of the Christian life? It can do all things and has all things and lacks nothing. . . Surely we are named after Christ, not because he is absent from us, but because he dwells in us, that is, because we believe in him and are Christs to one another and do to our neighbors as Christ does to us.
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBER
Introduction
* Affirmation of Faith United Church of Christ Statement of Faith 885
Vows for New Member and Sponsor
Signing the Church Registry
Prayer
Extending the Right Hand of Fellowship
* Congregational Response
We welcome you with joy as a partner in the common life of this church. We promise you our continuing friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of the church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, together may we continue to grow in the knowledge of God and of God’s love, and be witnesses of Jesus Christ.
* Hymn Blessed Be the Tie That Binds (vs. 1 & 3) 393
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal is to:
- Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives & in our world.
- Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people.
- Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.
MORNING OFFERING
Morning offerings may be brought forward and placed in the plates on the altar. You are invited to write your prayer requests on the sheets provided in the bulletin and bring them forward and place them in the basket on the altar. If you would like assistance, please turn to someone seated near you.
Offertory The Beautiful Garden of Prayer arr. by Wilda Jackson Auld
* Time of Dedication Ruth Burrows
If I let God take hold of me more and more; possess me, as fire possesses the burning log, then I give off light and heat to the whole world even though the influence be completely hidden.
* PREPARATION FOR PRAYER O Savior, Let Me Walk with You 503
MORNING PRAYERS – SAVIOR’S PRAYER
Our Father-Mother, who is in the heavens, may your name be made holy. May your dominion come, may your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us today, the bread we need; and forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors; and do not put us to the test, but rescue us from evil. For yours is the dominion, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
* HYMN This Little Light of Mine 524
* BENEDICTION
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (please form a circle)
Lead Us From Death to Life 581
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth,
from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace;
let peace fill our hearts, let peace fill our world, let peace fill our universe.
*POSTLUDE The Heavens Declare His Glory L. van Beethoven
Lakewood United Church of Christ 2601 54th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-867-7961 lakewooducc@gmail.com lakewooducc.org
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Lakewood United Church of Christ 