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The Transfiguration of Our Lord

February 23, 2019

Let there be light: Light at our disposal

elcome! Thank you for joining us for worship this morning. We gather for worship so

that we can receive from God the good news of what Jesus has done for us. Jesus is at

the center of our faith and our lives. Without him we have nothing. With him we have

everything.

Restrooms are located in the entryway.

Two Nursery-Rooms are available in the entryway for parents with small children.

PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP

Transfigured Lord, may your glory brighten our

lives. May your brilliance bring us joy. And may

your light remind us that you truly are the

beloved Son of God. In your name, O Jesus, I

pray. Amen.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Flowers adorning our altar this morning are

given to the glory of God by David

Stepanovich praising Jesus, he is our life.

Minister: Pastor Daniel Schroeder

Organist: Nancy Miller

The following were reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-706579: Psalm 148. J. Robert Carroll © 1986 GIA Publications Inc. Chicago, IL.

All rights reserved. Used by permission. Oh, Taste and See, Verse. © Kermit Moldenhauer. Used by permission.

Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NIV, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan

Publishing House.

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3461 Merle Ave

Modesto, CA 95355

(209) 551-0563

www.stpetermodesto.org

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PREPARING FOR WORSHIP

When God speaks, he does more than convey information. He changes reality. That was true when he

pierced the world’s natural darkness with light in the beginning. It remains true as he speaks to us the

good news about Jesus, the light of the world. Through that message he brings us light and enables us

to see life as he sees it. This week we see God gives us a glimpse of Jesus' glory on a mountain. We

see Jesus is the truly God and hear the Father speaking words of approval about his Son. At our

disposal is Jesus the light of the world. We don’t need to hide from our God, and we can bring Jesus

the light to others.

OPENING HYMN How Lovely Shines the Morning Star

Christian Worship: #79 (st. 1-3)

CALL TO WORSHIP

Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the

Holy Spirit be with you.

Congregation: And also with you.

CONFESSION OF SINS

M: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear

children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let

us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.

C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have

sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my

Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my

sin, and take away my guilt.

ABSOLUTION

M: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our

Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give

you strength to live according to his will.

C: Amen.

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PRAYER AND PRAISE

M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord:

PRAYER OF THE DAY

It seems that this particular Prayer of the Day has been prayed by Christians on this Sunday

observing the Transfiguration of Jesus since 1456, for almost 570 years.

M: Let us pray. Lord God, before the suffering and death of your one and only Son, you revealed his glory on the

holy mountain. Grant that we who bear his cross on earth may behold by faith the light of his

heavenly glory and so be changed into his likeness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and

reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

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THE WORD OF GOD

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Children are invited to come forward for a message directed at them.

FIRST LESSON Exodus 24:9-18

The glory of the Lord settles on Mt. Sinai.

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10and saw

the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as

bright blue as the sky. 11But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the

Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

12The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will

give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their

instruction.”

13Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are

with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”

15When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16and the glory of the

LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the

seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17To the Israelites the glory

of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18Then Moses entered

the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and

forty nights. (NIV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

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PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 148 The Psalm will be sung in unison

The Lord’s goodness and glory fills all the earth with praise and thanksgiving.

Praise the LORD from the heavens,

praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels,

praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon,

praise him, all you shining stars.

Refrain

Praise the LORD from the earth,

lightning and hail, stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all rulers on earth,

young men and maidens, old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Refrain

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SECOND LESSON 2 Peter 1:16-21

The glory of the Lord is present in his Word.

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our

Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17

He received honor

and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory,

saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18

We ourselves heard

this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

19We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do

well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the

morning star rises in your hearts. 20

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of

Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21

For prophecy never

had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were

carried along by the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

M: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

VERSE OF THE DAY Mark 9:7b

Sung to the tune of CW 89

Hear God’s own voice from heav’n above:

“This is my Son, the one I love.

To all his words now listen well,

His death, your life they do foretell.”

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GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus reveals his glory as the Son of God.

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led

them up a high mountain by themselves. 2There he was transfigured before them. His face

shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3Just then there appeared

before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three

shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said,

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

7But Jesus came

and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8When they looked up, they saw no

one except Jesus.

9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what

you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (NIV)

M: This is the gospel of the Lord.

HYMN OF THE DAY Down from the Mount of Glory

Christian Worship #97

This hymn was first published in 1968 in the Wisconsin Synod’s Northwestern Lutheran (which

became Forward in Christ magazine). The author of the hymn takes us on a journey from

Jesus’ glory as God on the Mount of Transfiguration, to Mount Calvary where we see Jesus on

the cross as the one paying the ransom price to free us from our sins, our Redeemer.

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SERMON Matthew 17:1-9

What Do You See in the Face of Jesus?

MY CHRISTIAN LIFE - LIGHT AT OUR DISPOSAL //

With eyes of faith, I’ve seen Jesus’ glory at his Transfiguration. That means this week I can live my Christian faith

and ...

Confess to my Savior before I go to sleep what I’ve been trying to hide that day. Then remember the

Father’s words about Jesus, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.”

Look for ways God hides himself in my life and blesses me. Perhaps it’s someone he uses to bring me

blessings, an everyday provision, a person’s words that bring joy or comfort, etc.

Put up a reminder that I want to be thinking of eternity, not just here and now. Remind myself that heaven is

mine through Jesus, and I don’t just live in the immediate.

Other: ___________________________________________

CONFESSION OF FAITH

from Article VIII of the Formula of Concord, one of the confessions of the Lutheran church

We believe, teach and confess that God’s Son from eternity

has been a particular, distinct, entire, divine person.

Yet He is true, essential, perfect God with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

In the fullness of time He received also the human nature into the unity of His person.

He did not do this in such a way that there are now two persons or two Christs.

Christ Jesus is now in one person at the same time, eternal God,

born of the Father from eternity,

and a true man, born of the most blessed Virgin Mary.

We believe, teach, and confess that now, in this one undivided person of Christ,

there are two distinct natures:

the divine, which is from eternity,

and the human, which in time was received into the unity of the person of God’s Son.

These two natures in the person of Christ are never

either separated from or mingled with each other.

Nor are they changed into each other.

Christ is and remains to all eternity God and man in one undivided person.

Next to the Holy Trinity, this is the highest mystery,

upon which our only consolation, life, and salvation depends.

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THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER

The members of St. Peter congregation have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this community

and around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports

our ministry.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH & LORD’S PRAYER

M: We praise you, O Father, for the precious gift of your Son and for his glorious transfiguration on

the holy mountain.

C: Give us the firm resolve to listen to your Son, the eager readiness to believe his promises,

and the joyful willingness to heed his commandments.

M: By the appearance Moses and Elijah show us that blessed are the dead who die in faith,

C: for they shall know the power of Christ’s resurrection and shall be “changed from glory

into glory.”

M: O God and Father, let your Holy Spirit find a dwelling in our poor bodies and transform our

weak, sinful lives into radiance of goodness, purity, and righteousness. Transform our minds, our

understanding, our judgments, yes, our whole persons to reflect the mind of Christ.

C: Take our sickness and pain, our disappointments and despair, our sorrows and mourning,

our pride and anger, our selfishness and envy, our hate and fear; take all these, O Father,

and transform them by the healing touch of Jesus into noble impulses, pure motives, kind

thoughts, constructive deeds, high courage, and true faith.

Special prayers and intercessions may follow.

M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.

Silent prayer.

M: Look on your church, O Lord, here and in every place, and bless us and all who bear the name of

Christ that we may daily offer up to you the acceptable sacrifices of repentance, thanksgiving,

and loving obedience.

C: Hear our prayer, and by your mercy grant our petitions for Christ’s sake. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

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HYMN How Good, Lord, to Be Here

Christian Worship #95

PRAYER AND BLESSING

M: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by

your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in

holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with

gladness.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

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CLOSING HYMN Alleluia, Song of Gladness

It is an ancient custom in the Christian church, dating back at least to the fifth century, that

“alleluia” be omitted during the season of Lent. The custom of bidding “Farewell to Alleluia”

on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday developed in the middle ages. Our closing hymn contains

a translation of an 11th century Latin text that compares an alleluia-less Lent to the exile of

the Israelites in Babylon. The text then anticipates the joy of Easter when glad alleluias will

return in all their heavenly splendor. “Alleluia” will not be spoken or sung in the church from

Ash Wednesday until Easter symbolizing our voluntary restraint of praise during the

penitential season of Lent.