Resources For Transfiguration Sunday

The last Sunday before Ash Wednesday is traditionally a season in which the church remembers the transfiguration of Jesus as recorded in the gospels. This article introduces you to this day and provides resources for worship planning.

The Eastern church has always regarded the Transfiguration with higher respect than has the Western. This may be because of their theology of "divination," which promises that human persons will become full of the glory of God. It is here, in the Transfiguration, where the greater glory of God in the man Jesus is manifest to Peter, James, and John. Here we see a more full expression of the deity of Christ and the glory he has with his Father. And we gain a glimpse of the glory he will share with us as his children! The Transfiguration is well situated in the last Sunday after Epiphany, for it is a final Epiphany of Christ and it is also well suited to the pilgrimage we are about to take during Lent, for during Lent we prepare to suffer with him so that we might also be raised with him into the newness of life he brings. So the Epiphany of our Lord is a significant link from his manifestation as the Savior of the world at the end of the Christmas season to his manifestation as the Savior of the world at his resurrection. Ideas for Transfiguration Sunday (1) Farewell to the Alleluias. Transfiguration Sunday is the last Sunday before the beginning of Lent. Traditionally during Lent the Alleluias are not sung because of the season's penitential nature. Some churches festoon Transfiguration Sunday with a plethora of Alleluias as a way of extolling the transfiguration of Christ and as a way of saying good-bye to the Alleluias for the Lenten season (Alleluias not to be sung until the Easter announcement "He is risen from the dead"). Lace various Alleluias into the service (at the Entrance hymn, Psalms, reading of New Testament, Communion song), and at the end of the service have the choir sing a number of Alleluias and designate these as the "good-bye to Alleluia" songs. (2) In worship use some or all of the ideas for services that appear in the following paragraphs. An Entrance Rite for Transfiguration Sunday The minister, choir, banner carriers, and other participants gather in the back of the sanctuary. After a period of silence the minister or other reader begins with the words of the opening Transfiguration litany. Loving Father, you transfigured your beloved Son and revealed the Holy Spirit in the bright cloud: Enable us to hear the Word of Christ with faithful hearts. Kyrie eleison. Loving Father, you made light to rise in the darkness, and you have shone in our hearts, to make known your glory in the face of Jesus Christ: Revive in us the spirit of contemplation. Kyrie eleison. O Christ, you took your friends with you and led them to a high mountain: May your church stay close to you, in the peace and hope of your glory. Kyrie eleison. O Christ, by your Transfiguration you revealed the Resurrection to your disciples before your Passion began; we pray for the church in all the difficulties of this world; in our trials may we be transfigured by the joy of your victory. Kyrie eleison. O Christ, you led Peter, James, and John down from the mountain and into the suffering world; when our hearts crave permanence, may we know the permanence of your love as you take us with you on your way. Kyrie eleison. O Christ, you will transfigure our poor bodies and conform them to your glorious body; we pray to you for our brothers and sisters who are dying; may they be changed into your likeness, from glory to glory. Kyrie eleison. The Lord be with you, And also with you. Let us pray. Silence O God, whose face we cannot see, you have made known your love by the lives of faithful witnesses. We give you thanks for the revelation of your glory in the face of our Lord Jesus Christ, for your confirmation of his disciples and for the promise of his victory. May the light of your presence shine on your people, that all may see the fulfillment of their hopes in the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen Lord Jesus Christ, light shining in our darkness, have mercy on our tired and doubting hearts. Renew in us the courage we need, that we may bring to completion the work your calling has begun in us. Freely you gave your life on the Cross, freely you took it again in your Resurrection, for you live and reign now and for ever. Amen. (from Praise God: Common Prayer at Taizé) Greeting and Call to Worship Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Leader: O Christ, you who were transfigured on Mt. Tabor, come and transfigure us into your glory as we sing to you. People: Alleluia. Entrance Hymn Traditional "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus" "Christ Whose Glory Fills The Skies" "O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair" Contemporary "Let There Be Glory and Honor and Praise" "O The Glory of Your Presence" "May the Fragrance of Jesus Fill This Place" The Confession of Sin Commentary: On Transfiguration Sunday it is appropriate to use a confession of sin in the Entrance. The Gloria/Act of Praise Commentary: Sing the "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" or some other suitable song of praise. The Opening Prayer Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Leader: Let us pray. All: Almighty God, Today the whole of human nature glitters in the divine Transfiguration. May we your servants receive the Holy Light and be transfigured by the power of your Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ who lives with you and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving for Transfiguration Sunday

Minister: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Minister: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them to the Lord. Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Minister: It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, eternal God our Creator. You brought light out of darkness and set the sun to brighten the day and the moon and stars to illumine the night. Your glory blinds the eyes of our sin, while your radiance warms our needy hearts. You lead us by the light of your truth into the way of righteousness and peace. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with the heavenly choirs and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name: (The people may sing or say:) 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. (The minister continues:) You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. On a lonely mountain his body was transfigured by your divine splendor. In his face, we have glimpsed your glory. In his life, we see your love. For your image is untarnished in him, and the burden of human sorrow and suffering could not diminish his reflection of your holiness. The world was dark at his death, but the light of his life could not be extinguished. From the grave he rose like the sun, with blinding power and radiant peace.

(If they have not already been said, the words of institution may be said here, or in relation to the breaking of the bread.)

Minister: We give you thanks that the Lord Jesus, on the night before he died, took bread, and after giving thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way he took the cup, saying: This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me. Remembering your gracious acts in Jesus Christ, we take from your creation this bread and this wine and joyfully celebrate his dying and rising as we await the day of his coming. With thanksgiving we offer our very selves to you to be a living and holy sacrifice, dedicated to your service.

(The people may sing or say one of the following:)

1 Minister: Great is the mystery of faith: People: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. 2 Minister: Praise to you, Lord Jesus: People: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory. 3 Minister: According to his commandment: People: We remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection, we await his coming in glory. 4 Minister: Christ is the bread of life: People: When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory. (The minister continues:) Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, that we may be one with all who share this feast, united in ministry in every place. As this bread is Christ's body for us, send us out to be the body of Christ in the world.

(Intercessions for the church and the world may be included here.)

Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine,

that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, that we may be one with all who share this feast, united in ministry in every place. As this bread is Christ's body for us, send us out to be the body of Christ in the world. (Intercessions for the church and the world may be included here.) Illumine our lives, O God, with the radiance of Christ's love, and inspire us to shine in faith and witness as his holy disciples. Transform us into his likeness that we may live for you, as he lived, and love others, as he loved them. Give us strength to serve you faithfully until the promised day of resurrection, when with the redeemed of all ages we will feast with you at your table in glory. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory an honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. People: Amen. Book of Common Worship