The Last Sunday after the Epiphany Transfiguration Sunday St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI March 2, 2025

 
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Transfiguration Sunday
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI
March 2, 2025 @ 10:00 a.m.
 
Preludes: Adagio William Goodwin; Aria G.F. Handel; Voluntary in G John James
 
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.
 
The Collect for Purity
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.
 
645 Come Down, O Love Divine
 
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 10 Commandments
Hear these commandments which God has given to his people, and examine your hearts.
I am the Lord your God: you shall have no other gods but me.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
You shall not make for yourself any idol.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
You shall not dishonour the name of the Lord your God.
You shall worship him with awe and reverence.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Christ is risen from the dead: set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Honour your father and mother.
Live as servants of God; let us work for the good of all, especially members of the household of faith.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
You shall not commit murder.
Live peaceably with all; overcome evil with good.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
You shall not commit adultery.
Know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
You shall not steal.
Be honest in all that you do, and care for those in need.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
You shall not be a false witness.
Let everyone speak the truth.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
You shall not covet anything which belongs to your neighbour.
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Love your neighbour as yourself, for love is the fulfilling of the law.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
Psalm 99
The Lord is king; let the people tremble; he is enthroned upon the Cherubim; let the earth shake. The Lord is great in Zion; he is high above all peoples. Let them confess his name, which is great and awesome; he is the Holy One.
The Lord our God is the Holy One.
"O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob." Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool; he is the Holy One.
The Lord our God is the Holy One.
Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his name, they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
The Lord our God is the Holy One.
"O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds." Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; for the Lord our God is the Holy One.
The Lord our God is the Holy One.
 
169 Jesus, on the Mountain Peak
 
The Holy Gospel: Luke 9:28-43A
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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 dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, 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 make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah " - not knowing what he said. 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. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Anthem: Grace (Mark Hayes)
 
Sermon
 
An Affirmation of Faith (Colossians 3.10-16)
We affirm our faith in a compassionate God,
We clothe ourselves with the new self, according to the image of God our creator. We clothe ourselves without distinction of race, Creed or colour, we are one humanity; but Christ is all and in all! We clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 
 
We clothe ourselves with forgiveness; just as the Lord has forgiven us, so we also will forgive. We clothe ourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. We clothe ourselves with the peace of Christ in our hearts. We clothe ourselves with gratitude for all wisdom and praise. Amen.
 
Prayers of the People
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, by with all bishops, priests, deacons and people to courageously live by faith. 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, help us proclaim your love and justice in all that we do. May your whole Church be renewed 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; so that a spirit of respect and reconciliation may grow among nations and peoples. May all people 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. We pray for those we know who are ill at home or in the hospital, especially…
-
…and for others, we may name out loud or in our hearts…
-
May the day break and Christ the Morning Star bring them the light of his presence. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for those who have died in your peace, especially…
-
…and we pray for comfort and peace to all those who mourn. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
According to your promise bring all Christ’s siblings to see him with their own eyes in majesty and to 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.
 
And now we give you thanks because the divine glory of the incarnate Word shone forth upon the holy mountain before the chosen witnesses of his majesty; and your own voice from heaven proclaimed your beloved Son.
 
Therefore with angels and archangels we raise our voices in joyful praise to proclaim the glory of your name.
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.
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
 
Lamb of God
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.
 
Hymns-during-communion
PB 229 Open Our Eyes (repeat)
PB 139 Hide Me in Your Holiness (repeat)
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 139 Hide Me in Your Holiness (repeat)
 
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 of the Father and the image of his being,
draw you to himself
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.
 
393 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.