Cruden Parish Church

‘Thunder on the mountainside - the transfiguration of Jesus’

10.00am

10am, Sunday 14th February 2021

The Transfiguration of Christ (Titian)

Welcome & Call to Worship

Father God, you once spoke to your people in the pillar of cloud
as they journeyed together in the wilderness.

Speak to us through your Word today,
that we may hear you calling us
out of the wilderness places in our lives
and into new places you have promised to show us.

Let us worship God

Hymn 485 Dear Lord and Father of mankind

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways;
reclothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard
beside the Syrian sea
the gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word,
rise up and follow thee.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee,
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee
the silence of eternity,
interpreted by love!
With that deep hush subduing all
our words and works that drown
the tender whisper of thy call
as noiseless let thy blessing fall
as fell thy manna down.
Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.

Prayers of Approach

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
you 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 forever.
Amen

The Lord’s prayer

Bible Readings

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Mark 9:2-9 The Transfiguration

And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

Sermon ‘Thunder on the mountainside – the transfiguration of Jesus!’

Church News (At the end of the Order of Service)

Prayers of Intercession

Hymn 465 Be thou my vision

Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art;
thou my best thought, in the day or the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my Wisdom, be thou my true Word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father: thine own I would be;
thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my dignity, and thou my delight;
thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tower:
raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor earth's empty praise,
thou mine Inheritance, now and always;
thou and thou only, the first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of Heaven, after victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

A blessing for transfiguration Sunday

Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
fill you with radiance
and scatter the darkness from your path.
Amen.

Christ, the Sun of Righteousness,
gladden your eyes and warm your heart.
Amen.

Christ, the Dayspring from on high,
draw near to guide your feet into the way of peace.
Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

Time for coffee…

CHURCH NEWS

Due to the latest lockdown caused by Covid-19 the church is closed for Sunday Worship until further notice. Our Sunday morning services will now be broadcast live via Zoom at 10.00 am every Sunday morning. For a copy of the link please contact Robert or Sean. (07791 755976)

Recording of Services
As we are now using Zoom the service can no longer be relayed live via Facebook. However, from this Sunday onwards, we will be recording the service which will be made available via the church website. If you do not wish your name or face displayed on the recording, please switch off your camera or change your name you use for the broadcast.

Pastoral Care
Please advise the minister if you know of anybody would appreciate a pastoral phone call. Sean can be contacted on 07791 755976 or sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk

Coffee & Chat
Takes place at the end of the service. Please stay online if you wish to participate.

Lent & Easter 2021
Reflections for Lent – each day of Lent (beginning on Wednesday 17th February) there will be a reflection posted on the church Facebook Page. Contributions from friends and members would be appreciated! For me details contact Sean.
Holy Week Reflections- For each day of Holy Week (Palm Sunday - 28th March to Holy Saturday - 3rd April) there will be a video reflection, seeking to link the story of Jesus’ final week with places in and around the Parish of Cruden.
Holy Week Services – more details soon.

Lent Discussion Group
Our 'online' Lent discussion group begins at 7.00 pm, Sunday 21st February, 2021.
We will be exploring the theme of God's help in times of crisis through selected readings from the Old Testament book of Isaiah.
Everybody welcome - no previous Bible knowledge expected or required!
Members of other churches which may be currently shut due to the pandemic are respectfully invited to join the group.
Our discussions will be based on the book 'A way through the wilderness - experiencing God's help in times of crisis' by Paula Gooder. As the book is out of print a study guide will be provided.
More information, please contact Sean @ sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk tel. 07791 755976