GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

Prelude

"And Are We Yet Alive"

UMH #553

   Welcome and Sharing of Announcements



A Time to Make Connections

Introit

      “Surely the Presence of the Lord”

  by Lanny Wolfe 

Adult Choir

Centering Words:

“Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:7, 14) The mighty one speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. God calls to the heavens and to the earth, “Gather to me my faithful ones.”

Call to Worship

Liturgist: The world is changing rapidly before us;

People: God’s love endures forever.

Liturgist: Our ways of understanding have been challenged and stretched;

People: God’s love endures forever.

Liturgist: What we once knew has passed away, and we do not know what lies before us.

People: God’s love endures forever.

Liturgist: May we move forward as the body of Christ, assured of God’s presence;

People: May we embrace the future with hope. May we know God’s love endures forever

 Opening Prayer

Holy One, when the world is full of confusion and your message is hard to perceive, still, we can see you. Still, your presence shines—a light to illuminate the shadows.

When we cannot find a way to speak your story, let your being shine in us and through us, that we may reflect your glory, and your grace. Amen.

Opening Hymn

   “Christ Beside Me”   

 TFWS #2166

Message in Music

 “Sanctuary”  

arr. Lloyd Larson

Adult Choir (in-person service only)

Children's Time

Bev Welsh

Joys and Concerns

(In-person Only)

Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer

Prayer Response

 “Lord, Be Glorified” 

  TFWS #2150 (2 times)

ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD



Scripture Readings

 2 Corinthians 4:3-7

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing clearly the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’s sake. 6 For it is the God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

 Mark 9:2-9

2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling bright, such as no one[b] on earth could brighten them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved;[c] listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Liturgist:   The word of God for the people of God.

People: Thanks be to God.

Message

   “Transfigured by Christ’s Love and Suffering” 

Pastor Seok-Hwan

 We Respond

Offering

“Into My Heart”

 TFWS #2160  

Doxology

UMH #95

 Offertory Prayer

Gracious God, you have given us a double share of your Spirit . . . and even more . . .more than we could ask for or ever repay. You have blessed us with your love and filled our lives with your grace. Take now this offering of our hearts and our lives, that they may be instruments of your love and your mercy, your justice and your grace. Amen.

Closing Hymn

 “Shine, Jesus, Shine” 

  TFWS #2173

Based on 2 Corinthians 4:6    

The Blessing and Sending Forth

People of God, God has shined life into you. You have seen it. Now go and let your lives shine. Amen.

Benediction Response

  “A Choral Benediction” 

 by Don Besig

Adult Choir

Postlude

 "Prelude in D"

  Dietrich Buxtehude

(Worship material comes from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2024)