Transfiguration Sunday - February 14, 2021

February 14, 2021
                            Transfiguration Sunday
                             Thought for the Week
                  “Where woundedness can be refined into beauty
                     a wonderful transfiguration takes place.”
                               ― John O'Donohue

                         ~~Gathering and Welcome~~

Sharing Joys and Concerns

Call to Worship
LThe Lord has called you here this day.
P: Lord, reveal to us your purposes for us.
L: Open your hearts to receive God’s good news.
P: Lord, make us ready to serve you.
L: Come, let us worship God!
P: Let us sing our praises to the Almighty One. Amen.

Music     Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies #173      (words on pg. 3)

Opening Prayer
The darkness of winter has been our companion, Lord. Now the days are
lengthening. Bring your light to us, that we might see your glory and may work for
you, offering hope and peace to this world. We ask this, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
Patient Lord, you know how accustomed we are to “magic” tricks. Our spirits
and our senses get fooled easily. We would be just like the disciples, at
first not believing what we were seeing and then wanting to make a
monument to the event. Thank you for being so patient with us. Forgive us
when we get so wrapped up in the moment that we don’t take time enough to
understand its significance. Help us pause, reflect, think, and thank you for
the blessings of unexpected revelations. Give us wisdom and strength to be
your disciples, proclaiming your transforming love to all people. AMEN.

Assurance of Pardon

Responsorial Psalm 50:1-6
L: The Mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the
sun to its setting.
P: Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
L: Our God comes, and does not keep silence, before whom is a devouring fire, round
about whom is a mighty storm.
P: God calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that the people may be judge:
L: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
P: The heavens declare God’s righteousness, but God alone is judge!

                     ~~The Church Proclaims the Word~~

Scripture Reading   2 Kings 2:1-12; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9
      Reader: The Word of God for the People of God
      Response: Thanks be to God

Message                 Coming Attractions            Pastor Dianne Carpenter

Music         Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory      #2102       (words on pg. 3)

                         ~~Response to the Word~~

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer

Prayer for the Giving of our Tithes and Offerings
Lord Jesus, all that we have is yours, and all that we are is yours. In offering
these tokens of our lives, may all that we do serve you to the glory of God. Amen.

                          ~~The Church Goes Forth~~

Final Hymn               Shine, Jesus Shine       #2173       (words on pg. 3)

Benediction

“God Be With You”

                              Liturgist: Mary Dulemba

Christ, Whose Glory Fills The Skies      #173
Christ, whose glory fills the skies, Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise, triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high be near; Day-star, in my heart appear.

Dark and cheerless is the morn unaccompanied by Thee;
joyless is the day’s return, till thy mercy’s beams I see;
till they inward light impart, cheer my eyes, and warm my heart.

Visit then this soul of mine; pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy divine, scatter all my unbelief;
more and more thyself display, shining to the perfect day.

Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory     #2102
Swiftly pass the clouds of glory, heaven's voice, the dazzling light;
Moses and Elijah vanish; Christ alone commands the height!
Peter, James, and John fall silent, turning from the summit's rise
downward toward the shadowed valley where their Lord has fixed His eyes.

Glimpsed and gone the revelation, they shall gain and keep its truth,
not by building on the mountain any shrine or sacred booth,
but by following the Savior through the valley to the cross
and by testing faith's resilience through betrayal, pain, and loss.

Lord, transfigure our perception with the purest light that shines,
and recast our life's intentions to the shape of your designs,
till we seek no other glory than what lies past Calvary's hill
And our living and our dying and our rising by Your will.

Shine, Jesus Shine               #2173
Refrain: Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory
blaze, Spirit, blaze ,set our hearts on fire;
flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy,
send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.

Lord, the light of your love is shining in the midst of the darkness, shining;
Jesus, Light of the world shine upon us, set us free by the truth you now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.     Refrain

Lord, I come to your awesome presence from the shadows into your radiance;
by the blood I may enter your brightness, search me, try me, consume all my
darkness. Shine on me, shine on me.    Refrain

February 21, 2021: Scripture Passage
                               Matthew 8: 1-4; 16-17

                                  Announcements
Wednesday, February 17: Ash Wednesday Zoom Service at 6pm.
Beginning with the Ash Wednesday service, we will be thinking about the fact that we
are Holy Vessels. The main metaphor is shards of beach glass. In preparation for
the Ritual Activity in worship and for your personal use, I invite you to create a
"worship area" with a few items including a candle, a bowl with some sand or dirt in
it, and a bit of water. Of course if you have "beach glass" you can include some of
these... A Bible & a cross are always appropriate ...

Thursday, February 18th: Zoom Lenten Study will begin at 6pm.
https://youtu.be/J6IMHZ_hs_U is Session 1 of the Bible Study video. If possible,
please watch it before our meeting. Books are available in Fellowship Hall. If you
are unable to pick up your copy, please call Pastor Dianne at the church. She will
be able to deliver it Sunday afternoon or Monday.

Sunday, February 21: Administrative Council will meet after church.
Beginning this month, the Council will meet on the 3rd Sunday of each month.

Lenten Conference Offerings:

   (1)   You are invited into a simple, meditative prayer service with Taizé chants
         as part of your Lenten journey. These pre-recorded services will be
         available at neumc.org each Wednesday from Feb. 24 to March 31, 2021.
         Author, educator and spiritual director Kate Young Wilder will be our
         host. Click the link to read more about her.

   (2)   Online Reflection on Gorman Poem. Monday, Febrauary 15
         At President Biden’s inauguration, Amanda Gorman captured the attention
         of our nation and inspired us to walk together in unity through her poem,
         "The Hill We Climb." We invite you to join us on Presidents’ Day,
         Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, as we dream a new dream for our country
         together. Using the spiritual practice of lectio divina, we will
         contemplatively reflect and share how Gorman's powerful words give us
         new vision for the new year, as we come together to overcome the
         pandemic, the divisions, and the "isms" that seek to tear us apart as a
         nation. Even as we hurt, we will heal.

         https://www.rollingridge.org/event/even-as-we-hurt-we-hope-
         14962452 If you are interested, you must register to receive the zoom
         link. Free,

HUMC’s United Methodist Women are holding our church family in their prayers;

                                      Prayer Concerns
Our Thrift Shop volunteers as they prepare to re-open on March 4th;
Healing: John Albee (post-surgery), Janet Purdy (post-surgery), Claire and family
(COVID);
Those who grieve;
The rapid spread of COVID-19, its new variants, and the availability of a vaccine;
President Biden and Vice-President Harris;
Our polarized nation in need of healing;
Caregivers;
Those who work for justice and mercy;
Grandparents raising grandchildren;
Continued prayers for: Joan Stevens, Mary (Lil Murphy’s sister), Pauline Doliber,
Dan Murphy, Sandra & Mark Loefler, Jason Narkon, Dan Carrol, Jackie Winne,
Declan Smith, Jane Schneeloch, Drew Mielke, Bruce Zeller, Ruth Crocker, Michael
Chatham, Pierre Bonin, Greg Legeyt, Fred Buess;
Pastor Dianne Carpenter and HUMC.

         You are welcome here. No matter who you are. No matter what.

                           1 Church Street East Harwich, MA 02645
                               Church Office: (508) 432-3734
       Email: HarwichUMC@gmail.com      Website: www.harwichunitedmethodistchurch.org

                            Thrift Shop: (508) 432-7322 footprints
                                    Pastor Dianne ES Carpenter
            Pastor’s Email: pastordianne@verizon.net      Pastor’s Cell: 774-212-0520

                                 Marisha Dubiel, Music Director