Dear Kris,

Last week in worship, Pastor Rich asked us to take the work of being a neighbor seriously. How can we be the kind of people, for others, that we want others to be for us?

This week, on Transfiguration Sunday, we’re going to reflect on the story of the time that some of the disciples got to see Jesus’ divine nature revealed to them. As we do so, I’m going to ask us to continue thinking about the ideas of neighborliness and the community around us. What might an experience of the divine have to do with living in the very worldly places we find ourselves in, day to day?

I hope you’ll come and continue to celebrate with us in worship, and to be a part of our ongoing conversations about what our faith and church community might have to do with the things we’re experiencing in the rest of our lives.

Peace,

Hardy

Please join us immediately following the Sunday service for our Coffee Hour

(in-person in Trinity Court or online via Zoom).

bit.ly/SVPCCoffeeHour

Theme for Sunday

“This question of what we can create together is at the intersection of possibility and accountability. Possibility without accountability results in a wishful thinking. Accountability without possibility creates despair, for even if we know we are creating the world we exist in, we cannot imagine its beings any different from the past that got us here.”

Peter Block, Community: The Structure of Belonging

• Is there are place or group or organization that felt like a perfect (or close to it) experience of community for you?

• How do you feel about the community you find yourself in now? Are there things you would definitely want to have stay the same? Are there things you would change?

Luke 9:28-43

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking about his exodus, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, but as they awoke they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not realizing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” While he was being brought forward, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.