The Indescribable Radiance of Love
Service Prayers for the Festival of Transfiguration

Call to Worship

 One:               Something drew us together this morning

 All:                 Something we can’t name but which we experience in worship

 One:               Some holy mystery we call God

 All:                 Some sacred calling we hear in the life of Jesus

 One:               Some indescribable hope we feel when we gather in the Spirit

 All:                 May our experience of the Divine transform our

                       doubts and fears and prepare us to love the world.

Invocation

 One:               O God, you are beyond words and description,

                        your love is beyond knowledge and explanation. 

                        Make our hearts ready to receive you. 

                        Change us, we pray, that our lives may reflect the

                        glory of your transfiguration. 

                        We rejoice in the power of your Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Call to Confession

 One:               Peter, James, and John went up on the side of a mountain with Jesus

                        and experienced glory. 

                        But then Peter wanted to stay.  “It’s good for us to be here. 

                        Let’s get comfortable.”                          

                       We are also often tempted to keep the experience of the Divine to ourselves,

                        to enjoy the company of the saints instead of going back down the mountain

                        to continue the work of the Kingdom of God. 

                        God knows this temptation of our hearts, so let us confess

                        and pray for forgiveness.

All:                  God of glory and light, forgive us when we are

                        complacent and comfortable

                        with keeping the riches of your love to ourselves. 

                        Keep calling us down from our mountains of privilege. 

                        Keep expecting more of us as your disciples. 

                        Keep reminding us to listen to your Son,

                        in whose name we pray.  Amen.

Assurance of Grace

 One:               Whether we hear a voice from the heavens or a still

                        small voice in our hearts,

                        listen carefully for the love of God. 

                        Believe and accept God’s love and live in God’s freedom.

 All:                 We believe!  Thanks be to God!

Invitation to Share Our Tithes and Offerings

 One:               The needs of our world are too numerous to name. 

                        Shelter, food, clean air and water... 

                        Our gifts touch these needs,

                        but the biggest gift we can give is to love the world

                        so much that we give of ourselves. 

                        Nothing will transform need more than sacrificial love. 

                        So as you place money in the offering (plate, basket, etc.) today,

                        don’t let your giving be done. 

                        Start planning to go deeper. 

                        May God now bless our hopes and dreams.

Offering Prayer

 One:               Bless these gifts, we pray. 

                        May they represent just the beginning of our journey

                        to show forth your glory to the world.  Amen.

Benediction

 One:               May God now send us back down the mountain of our worship. 

                        We have been changed. 

                        We can’t be silent anymore. 

                        We have seen the Light of the World. 

                        Go and share the radiance of love!

“The Indescribable Radiance of Love”, Service Prayers for Transfiguration Sunday, was written by the Rev. Dr. David Bahr, pastor of Park Hill Congregational United Church of Christ in Denver, Colorado.   

Copyright 2010 Local Church Ministries, Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.