Wednesday Words for February 25, 2014
From Pastor Carrie Smith
- Be sure to scroll down for the link to your Bethany Weekly Newsletter!
Thought for the Day:
“Jesus showed us all that the very things we often flee – our vulnerability and mortality – can, at any moment, become the place of holy transfiguration, for us and for our world.”
- Henri Nouwen: Writings Selected With An Introduction By Robert A. Jonas
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Sunday at Bethany: What a powerful Sunday of worship this will be! We will be welcoming new members at both services, and will be witnessing the baptisms of Laurel Navta and James Bernhard, who happen to be first cousins, at the 10:30 service! This is the Sunday of the Transfiguration—an important day on the church calendar, even if it happens to be a part of the Jesus story we rarely focus on. The story of the Transfiguration launches us into a new season, Lent, which begins next week with Ash Wednesday.
We will hear how Jesus went up the mountain with a few of the disciples, and how “he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white”. Our music will reflect the story: “Shine, Jesus, Shine”, “O Morning Star”, “Beautiful Savior”, and then “Blessed Assurance” (this one just because it’s on old favorite!) We’ll end the service with “Alleluia, Song of Gladness”, as this Sunday is the last time we sing “alleluia” until Easter Sunday.
Ash Wednesday: Begin your Lenten walk with Jesus by attending worship at 11 am or 7 pm on Wednesday, March 5. We will be distributing ashes and will have confession at both services.
Wednesdays in Lent: Every Wednesday during Lent we will worship at 7 pm using Holden Evening Prayer, which has become a favorite musical setting at Bethany over the years. The Bethany Choir will sing a special selection each evening, accompanied by a dramatic reading. The music and readings come from a cantata called “Whispers of the Passion” by Joseph Martin.
Diaper Drive: Barb Buczek reports that the Sunday School students collected a real mountain of diapers: 1,158 diapers will be donated to the Diaper Bank of McHenry! Great job, everyone!
New overnight parking procedures have been put together by the Property Team. This is to ensure we don’t have unknown vehicles left in the lot which will disrupt snow removal and special events. If you need to park your vehicle overnight in the Bethany lot, you will fill out a form to receive a parking placard in the office. NOTE: The Property Team has made accommodations for Sunday night PADS.
Worship & Education Surveys: Thank you to the 100+ people who completed these surveys. The Transition Team will be analyzing the results and including them in their deliberations. A new worship time proposal will be given to the Council this month. Please pray for the leadership of the church as they discern the best way forward.
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This Week’s Readings: Last Sunday of Epiphany/Transfiguration
Prayer of the Day:
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.
FIRST READING Exodus 24:12–18
At Mount Sinai, Moses experienced the presence of God for forty days and forty nights. The "glory of the Lord" settled on the mountain, and on the seventh day God called out to Moses. On the mountain God gave Moses the stone tablets inscribed with the ten commandments.
12The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction." 13So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them."
15Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
PSALM (ELW) Psalm 2
1Why are the nations | in an uproar?
Why do the peoples mutter | empty threats?
2Why do the kings of the earth rise up in revolt,
and the princes | plot together,
against the LORD and against the | LORD's anointed?
3"Let us break their | yoke," they say;
"let us cast off their | bonds from us."
4God whose throne is in heav- | en is laughing;
the LORD holds them | in derision. R
5Then in wrath God | speaks to them,
and in rage fills | them with terror.
6"As for me, I have anoint- | ed my king
upon Zion, my | holy mountain."
7Let me announce the decree | of the LORD,
who said to me, "You are my son; this day have I be- | gotten you.
8Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for | your inheritance
and the ends of the earth for | your possession. R
9You shall crush them with an | iron rod
and shatter them like a | piece of pottery."
10And now, you | kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers | of the earth.
11Submit to the | LORD with fear,
and with trembling | bow in worship;
12lest the LORD be angry, and you perish in a sudden | blaze of wrath.
Happy are all who take ref- | uge in God! R
SECOND READING 2 Peter 1:16–21
At the transfiguration, God's voice was heard, declaring Jesus to be the beloved Son. By the activity of the Holy Spirit, God's voice continues to be heard through the word of scripture.
16For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 18We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
19So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
GOSPEL Matthew 17:1–9
Shortly before he enters Jerusalem, where he will be crucified, Jesus is revealed to his disciples in a mountaintop experience of divine glory called the transfiguration.
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
Peace,
Pastor Carrie Smith
