Blessings and grace to you as we finish Valentine’s Day week. We had a wonderful week and have celebrated the return of an almost-full pond by the church. Lots of new life around the banks as we begin our season of preparation before Easter. We had a joyful time during Epiphany season discussing the books of Ruth and Esther – if you’ve never read them, you really should. We will, sadly, miss celebrating Shrove Tuesday this year, not enough able bodies to make and serve pancakes. We are already planning for next year. May you have a good week as we pass through Ash Wednesday and into our Lenten journey.

In worship, the theme was the Transfiguration (not the Feast of the Transfiguration but reading about the Transfiguration). Our collect reminds us that we (humanity) have been shown the light of Christ on the mountain. But that wasn’t something that happened in isolation, but as a means to prepare us to carry our cross as witness to God’s love. In the Hebrew scripture reading from Exodus we heard the story of Moses’ first time onto the mountain to receive the laws and commandments. Moses was changed after his interaction with God’s presence and was prepared to lead Israel into their future. Our Psalmist responded with the reminder of God’s providence and deliverance from our oppressors. We also heard the foundation of the pronouncement of “you are my, my beloved…” Peter’s second letter recounts his exposure to the Transfigured Christ on the mountain. In that reading, we are reminded that the witness is not something magical but something we can relate in everyday words. Our gospel was Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration. In this we hear Peter make rash statements and promises, only to be befuddled by what he saw and heard.

Our sermon today focused on our growing awareness of our ongoing transformation (akin to Moses’ transformation) and how understanding we are being transformed is important. Our transformation changes what we were (not because it was bad – just incomplete) into a closer example of what God created us to be. How are you transformed into a better image of what God made you to be?

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9

Listen at: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-1/song/last-sunday-after-epiphany-sermon

Video of worship: https://youtu.be/my3sza-0NQk

Video of sermon: https://youtu.be/FHlD89tJdWw