Ready for church this Last Sunday in  Epiphany (Transfiguration)

 

Here´s an overview of our Divine Service.

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Hymns:

Arise and shine in splendor… (LSB 396,1-3)

Swiftly pass the clouds of glory (LSB 416)

Lift up Your eyes in wonder… (LSB 396,4-6)

 

Watchword: „For, look, darkness covers the earth and deep darkness coversthe nations, but the Lord shines on you; his splendorappears over you.“ (Isaiah 60,2)

 

Lessons for this Sunday

 

Introit – Psalm 97

 

The Lord reigns.
Let the earth be happy.
Let the many coastlands rejoice.
Dark clouds surround him;
equity and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him;
on every side it burns up his enemies.
His lightning bolts light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of the whole earth.
The sky declares his justice,
and all the nations see his splendor.
All who worship idols are ashamed,
those who boast about worthless idols.
All the gods bow down before him.
Zion hears and rejoices,
the townsof Judah are happy,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
For you, O Lord, are the Most Highover the whole earth;
you are elevated high above all gods.
You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his faithful followers;
he delivers them from the powerof the wicked.
The godly bask in the light;
the morally upright experience joy.
You godly ones, rejoice in the Lord.
Give thanks to his holy name.

 

Old Testament reading (Exodus 3,1-15): Now Moseswas shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desertand came to the mountain of God, to Horeb. The angel of the Lord appearedto him in a flame of fire from within a bush. He looked, andthe bush was ablaze with fire, but it was not being consumed! So Moses thought,“I will turn aside to seethis amazingsight. Why does the bush not burn up?” When the Lord saw thathe had turned aside to look, God called to him from within the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Mosessaid, “Here I am.” Godsaid, “Do not approach any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holyground.” He added, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to lookat God. The Lord said, “I have surely seenthe affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. I have come down^] to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a land that is both good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. And now indeed the cryof the Israelites has come to me, and I have also seen how severely the Egyptians oppress them.So now go, and I will send youto Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” Moses said to God,“Who am I that I should goto Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He replied,“Surely I will be with you,^[an] and this will be the signto you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you and they will serve^[ap] God at^[aq] this mountain.”Moses said to God, “IfI go to the Israelites and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’^]—what should I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM that I AM.” And he said, “You must say this^[aw] to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘The Lord- the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my nameforever, and this is my memorial from generation to generation.’

Epistle (2.Corinthians 4,6-10). St. Paul writes: For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visiblein our body.”

The holy Gospel (Matthew 17,1-9): Six days laterJesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain. And he was transfigured before them. Hisface shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. Then Mosesand Elijahalso appeared before them, talking with him. SoPeter saidto Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters^]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, abright cloud overshadowedthem, and a voice from the cloud said,“This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they were overwhelmed with fear and threw themselves down with their faces to the ground. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Do not be afraid.”When ^]they looked up, all they saw was Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them,“Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

 

Sermon outline:

God draws us into his bright sphere: Christmas, Baptism and Easter.

Holy ground (and we are poor, miserable sinners)

Transfiguration: Birth, Baptism and Resurrection.  

 

 

Prayer of the Church (LCMS one year series 2023):  Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

 

Prayer of the Church—Responsive Form

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

29 January 2023

 

Heavenly Father, You revealed Your glory in the transfiguration of Your Son, who tabernacled among us in the flesh. Open our eyes, that by faith we would see Him continuing to tabernacle among us in the Divine Service. Grant that we would heed Your admonition to “listen to Him” as He forgives and preserves us at the font, pulpit and altar. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Holy God, we ask for Your blessing on this congregation, especially for our catechumens. As Moses was changed when he saw Your glory on Mount Sinai, may we who have beheld Your glory in the face of Christ also be transformed and given boldness of spirit to share Your glory abroad. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Almighty God, Moses and Elijah appeared with the Savior in glory, witnessing all that the Law and the prophets speak about Him. Grant wisdom to all pastors and church workers to open Your Scriptures in such a way that everyone would hear the voice of Jesus calling them to life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Heavenly Father, bless the families of Your Church, that parents would teach the faith to their children and that the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in all households. Remember also all expectant mothers, that they and their babies would be kept safe and healthy throughout their pregnancies. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Almighty Father, You alone establish all authority on earth. Bless those entrusted with authority both here and abroad to serve with integrity and honor for the well-being of all. Grant that all division, conflict and strife would give way to unity, peace and quietness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

God of all comfort, You alone bring the peace that passes understanding to troubled hearts. Remember the afflicted, [especially _____________ and those we name in our hearts,] that they would know Your presence, taste Your peace and receive healing according to Your gracious will, ever trusting in the hope of the resurrection. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Gracious Father, look favorably on all who come to the Holy Communion today. Grant them a living faith to find at this table spiritual sustenance for their earthly pilgrimage and a foretaste of the glories to come. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Lord God, Your power is beyond compare and Your glory beyond understanding. Open our hearts to know You through the glory of Your Son, whose saving will and purpose has rescued us from sin and death and made us Your own people by Baptism and faith; for to You, blessed and eternal Father, belong all honor and glory, worship and praise, with Your beloved Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.