Seeing God

Seeing God is our worship theme for Transfiguration Sunday, February 19, 2012. Our focus scriptures are Daniel 7:9-14 and Mark 9:2-9.

In a night vision, the prophet Daniel sees the court of the Ancient One come to order and enact judgment against an arrogant and monstrous beast, which may represent the Roman Empire. Then a human being – a son of man – comes with the clouds of heaven and is given dominion over the whole world to rule in an eternal kingdom.

In a day vision recorded by Mark, Jesus’ disciples Peter, James, and John see Jesus transfigured and talking with Elijah and Moses. As they consider trying to enshrine the moment by setting up shelters, they are suddenly surrounded by the cloud of God’s presence. Terrified, they hear God’s voice tell them that Jesus is God’s Son, the Beloved, and that they should listen to him (instead of trying to turn him back from his arrest, torture, and death as Peter has just tried to do).

In our service we will reflect on the meaning of these Biblical visions and ask, “What is our vision of God’s presence and action in our world today?”

Here are two possible Calls to Worship, one based on the account of the Transfiguration, and one based on Daniel’s vision. As always, please feel free to use or adapt anything in this post that is helpful to you.

**Call to Worship  

          L: Sisters and brothers, we’re almost there!

               A few more steps up this mountain and...

P: Now we see him! It’s Jesus praying.

               But look! He’s changing!

               His face... his robe... they’re dazzling white!

               They’re shining like the sun!

          L: And see! There’s Elijah... and Moses!

               They’re talking to Jesus... talking about his exodus...

                beginning at Jerusalem???

          P: This is amazing! We could stay here forever!

               Maybe we could make a shrine for the three of them.

          L: I don’t think so. The weather’s changing!

               Look at that cloud coming fast! It’s swallowing us!

               Now everything’s dark and scary!

          P: Is that thunder? Shhh... Let’s be quiet and see what we hear!

          L: Wow! Everything’s changed again.

               Now look: there’s only Jesus...

          P: There’s only Jesus...

               and we’re supposed to listen to him...

       All:  Let us worship God in Christ!

Call to Worship   (from Daniel 7:9-14)

L: As we celebrate the disciple’s vision of Jesus, let us recall Daniel’s vision:

     As I watched in the night, thrones were set in place.

P: An Ancient One took his throne to rule.

     His robes were white as snow. His hair was white like wool.

     He sat on a flaming throne, its wheels blazing fire.

     A river of fire poured from his presence.

L:  A million angels served him. Many millions stood at attention.

     Then he called his court to order and the books were opened.

P: I kept watching. The voice of an arrogant nation was speaking loudly.

     But then that monster was put to death and cremated in the fire.

     Three other beasts symbolizing other nations were also judged.

     Their power was impounded; their lives spared for a season and a time.

L:  Then as I watched in night visions, I saw a human being,

one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven.

P: He was presented to the Ancient One, who gave him dominion, glory, and kingship. People of all nations, races, and languages will obey him.

 All: His rule will be forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

        Praise God! Let us worship God.

Skin in the Game

Skin in the Game is our worship theme for the sixth Sunday after Epiphany, February 12, 2012. Our focus scriptures are 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Mark 1:40-45. Both passages describe a healing of leprosy. In 2 Kings the prophet Elisha heals the Aramean General Naaman of a leprous spot. And in Mark Jesus goes through Galilee on a very early healing mission when a leper comes to him seeking a cure.

Leprosy was a terrible disease in Biblical times. It could actually be any of a number of skin diseases, but all had the same result: sufferers became outcasts and could not live with family or even enjoy ordinary interchanges with members of the community. Instead, they had to keep by themselves or with fellow sufferers and had to announce their condition so that no unsuspecting healthy person would touch them. So they were affected physically, emotionally, and even spiritually since they were often seen as having committed some sin that provoked God to send their illness. In 2 Kings the healing is a demonstration that God’s power is far greater even than that of the General of a strong army. In Mark it is a sign that the kingdom of God is coming near in the ministry of Jesus.

In our service we will explore God’s loving power to heal us at a level far more than just skin deep. After all, in Jesus God puts God’s own skin in the game.

Our Call to Worship is based on the Psalm for the day, Psalm 30. Please feel free to use or adapt anything in this post that you find useful.

**Call to Worship (from Psalm 30)

          L: Let us praise God, who lifts us up when we are down!

          P: O Lord our God, we cried to you and you healed us!

          L: You refused to let us go to hell! You gave us life!

          P: We rejoice in your holy name!

          L: You vex us for a moment, but your faithful love is for a lifetime.

          P: Weeping may spend the night, but joy comes in the morning!

          L: In our pride, we believed ourselves invincible.

          P: Apart from your Spirit, we learned the truth.

          L: Yet you turned our sad rags into glad rags!

          P: You slipped us into dancing shoes!

        All: O Lord our God, we praise you!

               We give thanks to you forever!

On Eagle's Wings

On Eagle's Wings is our worship theme for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, February 5, 2012. Our focus scriptures are Isaiah 40:21-31 and Mark 2:1-12. Isaiah's wonderful poem proclaims the eternal power of God to help us soar like eagles. And Mark tells of Jesus using that power to forgive the sins of a paralyzed man so that he rises up from his stretcher and walks home. 

In our service we will explore how God empowers us. What happens when, like the rulers of this world, we put our confidence in our own abilities to succeed? What does it mean for us to trust in God instead? How is forgiveness our bridge to God? And when we live each day in relationship to God, what energy does God give us? How do we rise up and soar?

Our Call to Worship will be based on the passage from Isaiah. As usual, please feel free to use or adapt anything in this post which is helpful to you.

Call to Worship   (from Isaiah 40:21-31)

         

L:  Do you not know? Have you not heard?

P: God sits above the orb of the earth so high the people look like ants.

L:  God unfurls the heavens like a starry canvass.

P: Kings and rulers are nothing compared to God.

L:  Their years pass, their breath fades, they vanish with the wind.

P: But God’s power is eternal.

L:  Night after night God musters the stars in a divine roll call.

P: Not one is ever lost.

L:  Did you never get word? Do you not understand?

P: God is everlasting; the Creator of the whole earth.

L:  God never tires or runs out of power. God sees into the heart of everything.

P: God empowers the weak.

L:  Even young people lose energy. Even athletes drop out of the race.

P: But those who trust in God receive new strength.

L:  They soar on wings like eagles!

P: They run and never wear out. They walk and never faint.

All: Alleluia! Let us worship God!