Transfiguration of our Lord

February 14, 2010

1. Drawn to the light of Christ, made bold in the waters of our baptism, and touched by the spirit of God, we lift up our prayers in confidence that God listens to our prayers.

"Lord, in your love," you are invited to respond, "HEAR OUR

PRAYER."

(Congregation may be invited to be seated for prayer.)

A brief silence

2. We pray for the church and all its members, that together they might reflect the glory of God through lives of patience with one another, and lives of caring for even those who are difficult to love.

Lord, in your love: HEAR OUR PRAYER.

3. We pray for this congregation, for the people who live in this community, and for the people who go past our doors wishing that they knew you, but who seem afraid to enter our doors.

Lord, in your love: HEAR OUR PRAYER.

4. Lord we pray your guiding Spirit on our neighboring congregations and on our sister congregations. In particular this morning we pray for St Paul's Lutheran Church in Maple Ridge and their pastor, Robert Goos; for Matsui Lutheran Church in Matsqui and their Anglican Pastor, Charlie Lenz; and we pray for all institutions that care for the elderly-the nurses, the aides, the custodians, the volunteers and those who prepare and deliver the food. Fill all your faithful servants with an awareness that their various ministries reflect the God who came to earth to serve.

Lord, in your love: HEAR OUR PRAYER.

5. We pray for the nations of the world: for their leaders and their use of power that they would seek to ensure that their economies are such as to serve all people, especially those who are poor, hungry and vulnerable. And we pray for all those in need, for families and relationship in crisis, for those who struggle to pay their bills, for those addicted, for those abused and for those we know who are sick and dying, especially those we name aloud or quietly in our heart at this time …

Sustain all in whatever they or their loved ones are facing at this time, and may we encourage and help to sustain them in this coming week.

Lord, in your love

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

6. We give you thanks for all your blessings both earthly and spiritual that you give daily to all people.

- We thank you for all who have the gift of another birthday or another anniversary, and for those who have known the gift of new life;

- we thank you for giving us the glimpse of your glory in the life of our Saviour and in the lives of people around us;

- we thank you for how you continue to call us to serve our church and our community;

- we name our special, personal reasons for thankfulness aloud or quietly in our heart at this time…

Lord God, continue to help us hear and respond to your call to serve in the church, the community, and beyond our community and our church.

Lord, in your love:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

7. We pray in thanksgiving for the blessed dead, those who died as martyrs, those who died at peace, those who died at the hands of others, those who died too young, those who died alone, those who died serving you, and those who died through horrendous natural causes which test our faith. Continue to sustain our faith and our desire to serve as we await that day when we will be reunited with them at your heavenly feast.

Lord, in your love

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

Good and gracious God, we ask all these things and whatever else you see that we need with a sure and certain hope in your goodness and your love. AMEN.

1 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future-all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they should be found trustworthy.

Luke 9:28-36, 37-43

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 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. 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. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 'This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!' 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.