(Image: Transfiguration image, artist unknown)
©Order of Worship for Sunday March 02, 2025
Transfiguration Sunday
For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)
The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am
Prelude……………………………………………………Greg D.
Coming of the Light
Greetings………………………………………….Pastor Steven
Announcements……………………………………….Lorri B.
Call to Worship……………………………………………Elizabeth B.
Disciples of Christ, today your Savior calls you to come up the mountain and pray. Will you come?
We will go wherever Jesus leads us.
Will you follow when Christ’s glory overwhelms your senses, and you sit astounded at God’s greatness?
We will go wherever Jesus leads us.
Will you follow when Jesus won’t let you stay on the mountaintop, insisting that you return to the valley where people are hurting and in need of good news?
We will go wherever Jesus leads us.
Disciples, come! Let us worship God, whose glory shines on the mountaintop and in the eyes of our neighbors.
Come, let us worship God, whose glory shimmers all around us, even now!
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, August 2024.
Opening Prayer………………………………..Elizabeth B.
Lord of the Mountaintop, God of dazzling clothes,
Be with us when we come down from the height of worship
To face a world
That didn’t see what we just saw in you.
Show us what to do.
When demons rage through elementary schools,
Let it not be said that your disciples could not cast the devil out.
When violence threatens to engulf our communities,
Let it not be said that your disciples cowered in fear
Or walked on the other side of the road.
When there is peril or fire or flood,
Let it not be said that your disciples cleared the unwanted junk from their garages
And called it charity…
Lord of the Mountaintop, God of dazzling clothes
Show us how to be.
Change us; transfigure us
So that this world might see what we have just seen, and worship you. Amen.
Written by Safiyah Fosua in The Africana Worship Book, Year C
Opening Hymns………“All Hail King Jesus”……………#2069 TFWS
Words and Music by Dave Moody © 1974 Dayspring Music, Inc.
All hail King Jesus! All hail Emmanuel,
King of kings, Lord of lords,
bright Morning Star.
And throughout eternity,
I’ll sing your praises;
And I’ll reign with you throughout eternity.
“Holy Ground”……………………………………#2272 TFWS
Words and Music: Geron Davis © 1983 Meadowgreen Music Co. /Songchannel Music Co.
We are standing on holy ground, and I know that there
are angels all around; let us praise Jesus now; we are
standing in his presence on holy ground.
We are standing on holy ground, and I know that there
are angels all around; let us praise Jesus now; we are
standing in his presence on holy ground.
We are standing in his presence on holy ground.
Passing of the Peace………………………….Pastor Steven
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
Gloria Patri……..Glory Be to the Father……..#71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Giving of our tithes and offerings……….Pastor Steven
Offertory……………………………………………Greg D.
Avent Ferry Online Giving Link: https://afumc.com/give/
Offertory Response:
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #95 UMH
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674
Music attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551
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.
Prayer After Receiving…………………………Pastor Steven
Prayers of the People………………………….Pastor Steven
Hymn of Preparation:……..“Come Away with Me”……..#2202 TFWS
Words: Mary Nelson Keithahn Music: John D. Horman
© 1997 Abingdon Press, admin. By The Copyright. Co.
1. Come away with me to a quiet place,
apart from the world with its frantic pace,
to pray, reflect, and seek God’s grace.
Come away with me. Come away.
2. Come and pray with me on a gentle sea,
on top of a hill in the Galilee,
in gardens like Gethsemane.
Come away with me. Come away.
3. Come today with thoughts of the countless
ways that God’s steadfast love blesses all
all our days, and join with me in silent praise.
Come away with me. Come away.
4. Come and say, in the words whispered from
your soul, the feelings and actions you can’t
control. Your spirit needs to be made whole.
Come away with me. Come away.
5. Come away with me to a quiet place,
to God’s loving arms waiting to embrace
all those who come in hope of grace.
Come away with me. Come away.
Gospel Lesson:…………….Luke 9: 28 – 36……………………Lusi R.
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking about his exodus, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, but as they awoke they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not realizing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Sermon:………..“What Amazes You About God?”…………..Pastor Steven
Service of Holy Communion:………………Pastor Steven
CONFESSION & PARDON
Pastor Steven: Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All pray in silence.
Pastor Steven: Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: Glory to God. Amen.
THE PEACE
Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.
All, including the pastor, exchange signs and words of God’s peace by crossing hands, wave to one another due to social distancing guidelines.
Pastor Steven: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Pastor Steven: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor Steven: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor Steven: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor Steven: In union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pastor Steven: All honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
All: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn……….“Shine, Jesus, Shine”……….2173 TFWS
Words: Graham Kendrick (2 Cor. 46)
Music: Graham Kendrick; arr. By Jack Schrader, adapt.
© 1987 and this arr. ©1998 Make Way Music, admin. by Music Services in the Western Hemisphere
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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. As we gaze on your kingly brightness,
so our faces display your likeness;
ever changing from glory to glory,
mirrored here may our lives tell your story.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Dismissal with Blessing……………Pastor Steven
Postlude………………………………….Greg
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Services during lent at Avent Ferry:
- Wednesday March 2nd, Impositions of Ashes on Ash Wednesday, available all day at Avent Ferry.
- Wednesday March 2nd, Ash Wednesday Service at Avent Ferry, 6:30pm in the Sanctuary
- Sunday March 9th, First day of Lent
- Sunday April 10th is Palm Sunday Service at Avent Ferry
- Thursday April 17th, Maundy Thursday Service, 6:00pm at Avent Ferry
- Friday April 18th is Good Friday Service at Avent Ferry
- Sunday April 20th, Easter Services at Avent Ferry
The 2025 Avent Ferry Pledge Forms are available. This will be a time to update your contact information with us, Join a Ministry Team and Pledge for 2024! Click here for 2025 Pledge Forms
Sunday March 2nd Worship Service