The Lent season begins during this upcoming week with Ash Wednesday as the first day of the new season. It is a day to remember Jesus’ sacrifice as we spend time in repentance and confession of sin.
Today, the last Sunday in Epiphany, brings this season after Christmas to a close. On this Sunday before the start of the Lent season, we are encouraged to celebrate the transfiguration of Jesus. Each Sunday in Epiphany reminded us to look toward the light of Christ, to search for his presence, and to receive from his teaching and healing. Transfiguration Sunday offers us the ultimate revelation of Jesus’ light. We are invited to stand with Peter, James, and John on the mountaintop and witness the full representation of Jesus’ identity as the glory he will receive at the completion of his redemptive work is revealed. We are changed as we watch and welcome these revelations.
Transfiguration Sunday is placed at the beginning of the Lent season for a reason. For Jesus, the transfiguration prepared him for his passion and death. For us, the celebration of the transfiguration prepares us to concentrate on his sufferings and to make our own journey toward the cross and the empty tomb.
We’ve been observing the seasons of the church year since November, a long enough span of time to notice how the structure of the liturgical calendar presents a framework for our own personal growth. How has God revealed himself to you during this season of Epiphany? What aspect of Christ’s identity is new to you that you may not have seen or understood in the past?
The remainder of this blog post is an order of prayers and Scriptures to help us celebrate the transfiguration. Use them in your own devotional time as you prepare for Ash Wednesday and the journey that awaits during the Lent season.
Call to Prayer
God of power and wonder, we are awestruck by the glory of your presence. We rejoice at what we can see; we marvel at what we cannot see. You dazzle us with your brightness; you overshadow us as with a great cloud. Loving, protecting, challenging, nurturing, you strengthen and transform us. May we love and serve you in all that we are an do. Glory be to you. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Most amazing God, the mystery of your radiance surrounds us. Like the disciples of Jesus, we confess our unease with transcendent mystery. We approach you from a world that chooses to walk in darkness, apart from you. Each one of us has ignored and even denied the enlightening power of Jesus Christ. We confess our sins to you, God of power and might. Penetrate our darkness by the power of Christ’s light, that we may live in the joy of knowing and loving you and each other. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. To all who have received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Jubilate
O be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. Be assured that the Lord, he is God; it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name. For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures from generation to generation.
Psalm: Psalm 99
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
Scripture Readings
Old Testament: Exodus 24:12-18
New Testament: Philippians 3:7-14
Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9
Benedictus
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, to set us free from the hands of our enemies. Free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us to shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace.
Intercession
For our Families, Congregations, and Communities
Almighty God, Source of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
Collect
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Benediction
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sources
The Book of Common Prayer. (Huntington Beach, CA: Anglican Liturgy Press, 2019).
The Worship Sourcebook. (Kalamazoo, MI: Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2004).
Worship the Lord, The Liturgy of the Reformed Church in America. (Reformed Church Press, 2005).
