Transfiguration
The Last S Sunday after the Epiphany
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI
February 19, 2023, 10:00 am
 
The Gathering of the Community
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
And also with you.
 
Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
167 Tis Good Lord To Be Here
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Almighty God, on the holy mount you revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured: mercifully deliver us from the darkness of this world, and change us into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Exodus 24:12-18
A Reading From The Book Of Exodus
The 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." So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To 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." Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The 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. Now 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. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
 
Psalm 99
1 The Lord is king; let the people tremble; *
he is enthroned upon the Cherubim; let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion; *
he is high above all peoples.
3 Let them confess his name, which is great and awesome; *
he is the Holy One.
4 “O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; *
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”
5 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool; *
he is the Holy One.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his name, *
they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
8 “O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *
you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds.”
9 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; *
for the Lord our God is the Holy One.
Psalm Prayer
Let us pray
Lord our God, ruler of the universe, you love what is right. Lead us in your righteousness, that we may live to praise you, through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
61 As We Gather At Your Table
 
The Holy Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then 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." While 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!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As 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."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
The Prayers of the Community
In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to God, our creator saying, hear our prayer.
 
Lord of glory, it is good that we are here. In peace we make our prayer to you. In trust we confirm our faith in you, that this Parish of St. Paul’s may shine before others as a beacon of love and justice and give you glory. Help us to set our faces steadfastly to where you would have us go. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Lord of glory, look with favour on your Church, proclaiming your beloved Son to the world and listening to the promptings of his Spirit. We pray for Linda our Primate, Sandra our bishop and all who minister in your name, may your Spirit renew us in holiness that we may reflect your glory. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Lord of glory, look with favour on the nations of the world, scarred by hatred, strife and war. May world leaders be inspired to seek peace and mercy. We pray for peace in eastern Europe and all places of war and violence. May we all be healed by the touch of your hand. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Lord of glory, look with favour on those in need and distress, suffering as your Son has suffered and waiting for the salvation you promise. May we know the power of reconciliation. Wherever there is division between us and others, because of our race or ethnicity, we pray that we may all be led to reconciliation. We pray for all who work to bring communities together in ways that are just and equal for all. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Lord of glory, be with us as we welcome people for the Canada Winter Games – may the Games be played with fairness and in safety. We give thanks for all who work and volunteer. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Lord of glory, look with favour on all who are ill, at home or in hospital, and those in need of our prayers, remembering especially,
- 
And others we may name aloud or in our hearts.
-
that they may know the peace and hope of abundant life in Christ. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Lord of glory, look with favour on all who have died, remembering especially,
-
that they may be raised with Christ; and we pray for all who mourn, that they may be strengthened in their faith. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
According to your promise help us see Christ in all his majesty with our own eyes and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory. To him be praise, dominion and worship now and for all eternity. Amen.
 
Confession and Absolution
Let us confess our sins,
confident in God’s forgiveness.
 
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
 
Almighty God have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
 
Announcements
 
460 Shine Jesus Shine
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Holy God, receive all we offer you this day, and bring us to that radiant glory which we see in the transfigured face of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
 
Eucharistic Prayer 3
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
 
It is indeed right and good, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. For on this day he revealed his glory before his chosen witnesses and filled with divine splendour the human flesh in which he is one with us. So he prepared his disciples to bear the scandal of the cross and showed that in the Church, his body, the same glory would be fulfilled that shone forth from him, its head.
 
And so with joyful hearts we echo on earth the song of heaven, praising your glory without end:
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.
 
We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
 
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
Therefore, Father, according to his command,
we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
 
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
 
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
 
In the fullness of time, reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation;
 
by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
 
Breaking of the Bread
“I am the bread which has come down from
heaven,” says the Lord.
Give us this bread for ever.
 “I am the vine, you are the branches.”
May we dwell in him, as he lives in us.
 
Lamb of God [sung]
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
grant us your peace.
 
Giving of Communion
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
 
Hymns-during-communion
457 Alleluia Glory To God (All Verses)
84 Lord Enthroned In Heavenly Splendour
61 As We Gather At Your Table
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Holy God, we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. May we who are partakers of his table reflect his life in word and deed, that all the world may know his power to change and save. We ask this in his name. Amen.
 
The doxology
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever. Amen.
 
The Blessing
May Christ Jesus, the splendour and the image of God,
draw you into deeper relationship with him
that you may live in his light and share his glory;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
425 Joyful, Joyful
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.