Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him to the top of a mountain to pray. As our Lord was praying, he was transfigured – his face shone with heavenly splendor, and his clothing became dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared with splendor and conversed with him of his departure (Greek, exodon, exodus) he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. In his ignorance and shock, Peter suggested they build three shelters – one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. From a cloud which overshadowed them, the frightened apostles heard a voice saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken and the cloud lifted, Jesus was found alone. Indeed, Jesus of Nazareth is the Elect of God, the one anointed by the Lord to redeem and restore creation under God’s reign once more.

Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
O God, in the transfiguration of your Son you confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the witness of Moses and Elijah, and in the voice from the bright cloud declaring Jesus your beloved Son, you foreshadowed our adoption as your children. Make us heirs with Christ of your glory, and bring us to enjoy its fullness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

~ Evangelical Lutheran Worship, in Conference of Bishops, ELCA,
Bread for the Day 2008: Daily Bible Readings and Prayers.
Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2007. p. 41.

Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, amen.

Te Deum Laudamus 
You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).

Prayers of Confession
Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

Assurance of Pardon
Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

~ Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

Doxology (and/or closing song)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Benediction 
O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of Thine only-begotten Son hast confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of the fathers and who, in the voice that came from the bright cloud, didst in a wonderful manner foreshow the adoption of sons, mercifully vouchsafe to make us coheirs with the King of His glory, and bring us to the enjoyment of the same; through the same, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

~ Fred H. Lindemann. The Sermon and the Propers: Volume I, Advent and Epiphany.
St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1958. p 184-185.

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Father’s beloved Son, and we will listen to and obey your voice.

Weekly Reflection on the Priesthood of all Believers
The life of the Christian, therefore, is the life of Christ within us, through the Holy Spirit. It is not a life similar to Christ’s life; it is his life. The New Testament describes this life as “eternal life.” The triune God is the only one in the universe who has eternal life, and the only way he can give it to us is to possess us with his own life, through Christ, by the Holy Spirit. This is part of what Paul meant when he said “To me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). This mystery is too deep for us; we cannot understand it, but we can believe it.

~ Roy J. Fish and J. E. Conant, Every Member Evangelism.
Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1976. p. 21.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
The Chosen One of God, Luke 9.28-36

Book Reading
Carter, Guard the Good Deposit

Special Church Year Service
Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, March 2, 2022