Transfiguration

When faced
with Divinity
We find
your Equity
it has
ranges
upon ranges
like mountains
covering all
heights
and elevations-
and yet somehow
accessible to all

Confession:
Your Justice
contains
so much Mercy
It cuts
into me
with a Deepness
that I
cannot
comprehend it

There is no word
For your
Kind of Love
It Overshadows
all else

Sometimes I feel like
I need protection
From
the holiness
That I will
be blotted out
in your Presence

Glory
Spills out
and Touches me

And
I am
in Awe

And Realize
all
the Systems
of Injustice
and Hopelessness
that surround me

And I know
In that
Deepness
of My
Very Self
That I cannot Touch you

Without being
Tranformed
Transfigured

Changed

(And God do you know
how much we humans
Love change?
Not much)

But then..
You come
and protect
me
From your own Glory

And Divinity
With ..

Your very Self
Offering Divine

Shadow

Protection

Shade

A moment to collect
and Be
My
Self

And whilst
You Shadow
me
From You

I can see
God’s Loving-Kindness-Mercy-CovenantalParentalLoveFromtheWomb
And
the Whisper Comes
All Will Be Well
Listen
AllWillBeWell

Based on Psalm 36 and Luke 9

Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

image

Haloed Jesus in a white outfit surrounded by Haloed two figures in Red robes, with three kneeling disciples. All Figures are brown skinned, the painting rendered is older and somewhat chipped. It is credited to Solomon Raj in India and can be found here https://globalworship.tumblr.com/post/110604805435/transfiguration-global-art

Transfiguration

Selah,
God
We confess
We confess that
we do not know what to say
or to do
in Light (get it)
of the Transfiguration
We would rather just sit
and bask in it
Or build a monument to it
Or somehow or another
Find a way to stay.

But then the cloud comes
And gifts us
with the relief
the contrast
the much needed
less mind shattering
shadows of shade
Because when God is too much
for us–God shades, Godself from us.
Selah.

And reminds us that
sometimes all we have to do
Is sit still
And be present
And listen

And we think
Maybe
Perhaps
We can go down the mountain after all
(Especially if we aren’t doing it alone)

So here we go God
Down the mountain
Changed
From human
to human
Shaded from God, by God
Still not knowing what Selah means
But feeling it in our very souls
as we inhale the Holy Spirit
and exhale the Holy Spirit
Selah!

Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

Transfiguration, Feb 19

February 19
Transfiguration:
Matthew 16:24-17:8
Psalm 41:7-10
Suggested Micah 6:8 (again)
Psalm 46:10
The Kingdom of Heaven is Like God Shading Godself, for humans to perceive

Call to Worship
God calls us, the deep from the deep
God your magnificence is too great for us
God you are changed from glory, into glory
So you come to us, human, and walk with us
Teach us again, today
Come let us walk with God

Call to Confession: What is confession, but walking with God? Why don’t we let ourselves walk with God here. 

Confession: God we confess that we are overwhelmed by being human. How is it then can we take in your glory of divinity? We feel like we should respond. We feel like we need to do things or say things. And yet, sometimes, stillness is grace. Sometimes we need to just sit with our own humanity. Sometimes its ok to just try to get to know ourselves better, and to remind ourselves that getting to know ourselves is to get to know you. Let us allow ourselves to do that we pray. Amen. 

Assurance of Pardon: Be still, and know God is with your, today, tomorrow, everyday, and feel the good news: In Jesus Christ you are forgiven. 

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: May we walk into the world shaded by God, so that we might better be able to hear and understand the Good News God has for us today. Amen. 

light human figure shining down with glares and a dark cloud slightly obscuring it, giving the eyes some relief

Narrative Lectionary Transfiguration Seeds of Prayer

Psalm 27

Mark 8:27-9:8

Call to Worship

The Lord is my light and my salvation

Whom should I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom should I be afraid?

Only you God, are worthy of praise, let us praise the Lord.

Prayer of Confession Lord, I am so fixated on making my life profitable. I want to be famous, or rich, or well liked. I do not want to take up my cross and follow, the world’s easy ways tempt me. Remind me of your kingdom and power forever I pray. Amen

Prayer of Confession: God I don’t want to know that you are going to die for me. It makes me feel weak, worthless, angry and sad all at the same time. Who am I that you are going to die for me. Remind me who I am in your eyes I pray. 

Prayer of Confession: (unison) Help us to wait for you, O Lord. Be strong and take heart, you say. Give us the courage as we wait for the Lord. Send us forth believing that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God gave us his beloved son so we might hear and know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. 

Assurance of Pardon: God is our shelter from sin, his grace covers me so I know the truth. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: One thing I ask, O Lord, that I may live in your house all the days of my life. Shelter me so that I might live in the shadow of your love today and everyday I pray. Amen

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Help us to wait for you, O Lord. Be strong and take heart, you say. Give us the courage as we wait for the Lord we pray. Amen.

Hymns: Lift High the Cross, I want To Be a Christian in My Heart, Somebody’s Knocking at your Door, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, Lift Up the Gates Eternal, Called to Partners in Christ’s Service, God is My Strong Salvation, Take My Life, Jesus on the Mountain Peak, O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair, Be Thou My Vision

With Children: Books Red, I Don’t Want to be a Frog, Transmorgificaion (Calvin and Hobbes box have them walk thru to be more themselves, Play with White Clay (Talk about how clay is always clay but dry/fired clay is different than wet clay)

 

Image result for Take up your cross

Image here

Narrative Lectionary Prayer Resource, ordinary time, Year 2 Mark

Jan 12: Jesus Heals and Teachers-Mark 2:1-22, Psalm 103:6-14

Jan 19: Parables in Mark-Mark 4:1-34, Psalm 126

Jan 26: Jesus and the Gerasene Demon– Mark 5:1-20, Psalm 89:1-4

Feb 2: Jairus’ Daughter Healed-Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 131

Feb 9: Death of John the Baptist-Mark 6:1-29, Psalm 122

Feb 16th: What Defiles-Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 51:1-3, 6-7

Feb 23: Transfiguration-Mark 8:27-9:8, Psalm 27:1-4

Feb 26 Ash Weds Passion Prediction Mark: 9:30-37, Psalm 32:1-5 (order of worship/bulletin)