# Transfiguration Sunday *Please stand in body or in spirit* ## Gathering Song - "This is the Day" ## Unison Welcome - "No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here" ## This Week at St. John's ### Sunday, March 2, 2025 - Susquehanna University Choir Concert, 3 pm, Sanctuary ### Monday, March 3 - 10:00 am: Meditation Class – Parlor Room 104 - 1:30 pm: "Jesus is the Question" Book Study – Conference Room 111 ### Tuesday, March 4 - 5:30 pm: Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner - Fellowship Hall - 6:00 pm: Ladies Bible Study – Zoom - 6:45 pm: Amistad Praise Band Rehearsal – Sanctuary ### Wednesday, March 5 - 6:30 pm: Ash Wednesday Worship – Sanctuary ### Thursday, March 6 - 6:00 pm: Bell Choir – Choir Room 103 - 7:15 pm: Choir Rehearsal – Choir Room 103 ### Friday, March 7 - 5:00 pm: Ballroom Dancing – Fellowship Hall ### Saturday, March 8 - 5:00 pm: Saturday Night Worship – Fellowship Hall ### Sunday, March 9 - 8:45 am: Godly Play Class – Room 119 - 8:45 am: Spark Elementary Church School Class – Room 115 - 8:45 am: Teen Discussion Class – Youth Room 206 - 8:45 am: Wired Word Church School Class – Room 116 - 10:00 am: Sunday Service – Sanctuary ## Announcements ### Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner Join us on Tuesday, March 4 at 5:30 pm for our annual Lenten tradition: the Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner! We will have dine-in and take-out options. $15 for adults, $5 for kids (6-12), free for kids under 6. Our new dishwasher will get its first use, too! ### Nursery School Chicken BBQ Fundraiser With Smith’s Chicken will be on Saturday, March 22, 10 am to 1:30 pm. Tickets are $16. NS Ministry members will be selling tickets before and after church on Sunday, March 2 and Sunday, March 9. Thank you for your support of SJNS! ### Outreach Opportunity: NETWORK Ministries You have heard "community engagement" as one of SJUCC’s strategic goals. While St. John’s has supported NETWORK Ministries financially for several years, we desire to learn more about their program. Men Rabe will join the Wired Word class on Sunday, March 16, 8:45 am in Room 116 to share more about this valued youth ministry program. We hope you will join the conversation to learn more! ### March/April Upper Room Devotionals Now available at the Welcome Center. We suggest a donation of $1 for small print/$2 for large print copies. If you would like to have a copy mailed to you, please contact the church office. ### Jesus is the Question Book Study Continues on Mondays at 1:30 pm in the Conference Room 111. Our next session on 3/3 will focus on chapter 7. All are welcome. ### Want to Stay in Touch? Contact the Church Office to be added to our email list! You can sign up to receive our regular weekly emails, Diana’s Devotionals, and/or be part of the Prayer Chain. ### Lenten Projects Throughout the months of March and April, we will be collecting funds for the organizations designated for Lenten Projects. Please see the Spirit for more details. ### Join us for Life Talk What's on your mind? Something that concerns or worries you? Do you need to vent? Just want to talk with other adults for a bit? Don't want to share in front of the entire congregation? Or you don't think it really needs to be a prayer request? Grab your snack and coffee, and meet in the parlor after services on Sunday mornings for about 15 to 20 minutes. Anyone and everyone is welcome. ### Shared Lenten Midweek Worship We will join with other churches in the Conococheague Mission Cooperative (CMC) for Wednesday night worship services during Lent. Each church will hold their own Ash Wednesday worship and then come together for shared services. St. John’s will host the service on March 12 at 7 pm. Check the Spirit for the full listing of dates/locations. ### 2024 Year End Giving Statements Are available by request. Please call the church office if you would like to receive yours and indicate if you would prefer this to be mailed or emailed. ### Bible and a Beer Is an opportunity to talk about our faith in public. Join us on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Trojan Diner at 6:30 pm. Our next gathering will be March 17. ## Mission Moment ## Passing of the Peace - "The peace of Christ be with you" - "And also with you" ## Chiming of the Trinity ## Prelude ## Call to Worship We come together, a community of faith. We have gathered to talk and listen to our God. Our God has invited us to this moment of meeting. We share in a new covenant of promise and hope. Our spirits have been set free for worship and praise. We come with boldness to encounter our Creator. We assemble here, eager to be changed by God. Our fears melt into awe and wonder before God. Our failures become opportunities for learning. Let us praise God’s holy name in chorus. Let us share in the glory of life. What a gift! ## When Morning Gilds the Skies Hymn #345 1. When morning gilds the skies, My heart awakening cries: May Jesus Christ be praised! Alike at work and prayer To Jesus I repair: May Jesus Christ be praised! 2. Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find: May Jesus Christ be praised! Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this: May Jesus Christ be praised! 3. The night becomes as day, When from the heart we say: May Jesus Christ be praised! The powers of darkness fear, When this sweet chant they hear: May Jesus Christ be praised! 4. In heaven’s eternal bliss The loveliest strain is this: May Jesus Christ be praised! Let earth, and sea, and sky From depth to height reply: May Jesus Christ be praised! 5. Be this, while life is mine, My canticle divine: May Jesus Christ be praised! Be this th'eternal song Through all the ages long: May Jesus Christ be praised! ## Prayer of the Day *from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion* - Holy God, present in our midst yet beyond all comprehension, by your light, we see light; by your healing, we are made whole; by your mercy, we know your greatness. Turn your gaze upon our weakness and show us the way of your love that we may live with unveiled faces, through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. ## Collect *adapted from Gathered by Love* - Transforming Spirit, who awakened Jesus’ disciples on the mountaintop, awaken us here that we may discern the vision you place before us. We listen for the Word Christ has for us amid the perils of our day. We dare to question our call and examine ourselves, for we want to share your truth with the world. Amen. ## Scripture Reading - Exodus 34:29-35 > [!bible]+ [Exodus 34:29-35 - NRSVCE](https://bolls.life/NRSVCE/2/34/) > 29. Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. > 30. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. > 31. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. > 32. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. > 33. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; > 34. but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, > 35. the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him. %% #Exodus34 %% ## Responsive Reading - "Find the Light" by Bobby Jo Valentine ## Anthem - "Alleluia" by Frederick Sixten - Performed by Susquehanna University Choir ## Children's Message - Children’s Corner will be offered following the Children’s Message ## Scripture Reading - Luke 9:28-43a > [!bible]+ [Luke 9:28-43 - NRSVCE](https://bolls.life/NRSVCE/42/9/) > 28. Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. > 29. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. > 30. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. > 31. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. > 32. 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. > 33. 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. > 34. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. > 35. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” > 36. 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. > 37. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. > 38. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. > 39. 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. > 40. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” > 41. Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” > 42. 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. > 43. And all were astounded at the greatness of God. <b>Jesus Again Foretells His Death</b> While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, %% #Luke9 %% ## Sermon - Rev. Caroline E. Saxton ## Reaffirmation of Covenant of Welcome and Affirmation - Displayed on screen ## Sharing of Joys and Concerns ## Prayers of the People and The Lord's Prayer - DEBTS ## Invitation to Giving ## Offertory ## Offertory Response #706 - "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" ## Prayer of Dedication - Thank you, God, for choosing us to speak for you and to act on your behalf. If is an honor to share with others what you have entrusted to us. Our offerings represent ourselves and the depth of our commitment. We rededicate to you the talents, abilities, and resources you have placed in our hands. Use us, and these our gifts, in your service, to establish justice, righteousness, and equity, all for the good of your eternal realm. Amen. ## We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding *Hymn #182* - "We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding" 1. We have come at Christ's own bidding To this high and holy place, Where we wait with hope and longing For some token of God's grace. Here we pray for new assurance That our faith is not in vain, Searching like those first disciples For a sign both clear and plain. 2. Light breaks in upon our darkness; Splendor bathes the flesh-joined Word, Moses and Elijah marvel As the heavenly voice is heard. Eyes and hearts behold with wonder How the Law and Prophets meet: Christ, with garments drenched in brightness, Stands transfigured and complete. 3. Strengthened by this glimpse of glory, Fearful lest our faith decline, We like Peter, find it tempting To remain and build a shrine. But true worship gives us courage To proclaim what we profess, That our daily lives may prove us People of the God we bless. ## Commission & Benediction ## Postlude - "Inkosi Namandla" arr. Michael Barrett --- ## Additional Information ### Welcome to Susquehanna University Choir Singers! - They will give a concert this afternoon at 3 pm. ### Birthdays This Week - 3/3 Skip Elliott; 3/5 Rebecca Pound ### Worship Participants - Pastor: Rev. Caroline E. Saxton - Organist: Barbara Motichka - Deacon in Charge: Allen Frantz - Lector: Diana Kongkeattikul - Children’s Corner: Diana and Swann Kongkeattikul - Media Coordinators: Calvin Frantz and Ginny Cairns - Bulletin Cover: Jesus MAFA, "Transfiguration", from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library ### The Flowers at the Foot of the Cross - Given in loving memory of William L. Powell and Mary L. Powell by their sons Lee and Bob. ### St. John's Vision - We are called to love, to learn, to worship and to witness in Christ as a congregation that welcomes everyone, and seeks service that will advance God’s realm on earth. ### St. John's Mission - To grow in love of God and neighbor.