The mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Le Claire is to continue to be a warm and welcoming church that actively shows the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
youtu.be/THeHdck7SaU
Feb. 14, 2021
Mission slide
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Moment of Silence to Prepare Our Hearts for Worship
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O LORD, you know it completely.
We lift our praise to you, O Lord.
God cannot be explained; God is a mystery. Amazingly, God has invited us
into His light. Will we have the courage to accept the invitation?
We Bow Down CCLI 11259100
1 You are Lord of creation
and Lord of my life,
Lord of the land and the sea;
You were Lord of the heavens
before there was time,
And Lord of all lords you will be.
We bow down,
And we worship you, Lord;
We bow down,
And we worship you, Lord;
We bow down,
And we worship you, Lord;
Lord of all lords you will be.
2 You are king of creations
and King of my life,
King of the land and the sea;
You were King of the heavens
before there was time,
And King of all kings you will be.
We bow down,
and we crown you the King;
we bow down,
and we crown you the King;
we bow down,
and we crown you the King;
King of all kings you will be.
Words of Praise
L: God speaks and the earth is created. P: Glory hallelujah!
L: God shines forth with a beauty beyond our comprehension. P: Glory hallelujah!
L: God calls us to be a people of faith. P: Glory hallelujah!
L: It’s a steep climb up the mountain of life. P: God gives us strength for the ascent.
L: The light is shining on the mountain. P: God opens our eyes to holy splendor.
L: We don’t know what to do on the mountain. P: God provides a guide and companions.
L: We are ready to come out of the darkness. P: God calls us to live in the light!
L: Come see the glory of God! P: Come live in the light!
Come Thou Almighty King CCLI 11259100
1 Come, Thou Almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing,
Help us to praise:
Father, all-glorious,
O’er all victorious,
Come, and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
2 Come, Thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword,
Our prayer attend:
Come, and Thy people bless,
And give Thy word success;
Spirit of holiness,
On us descend.
3 Come, Holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour:
Thou who almighty art,
Now rule in every heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power.
4 To Thee, great One in Three,
The highest praises be,
Hence evermore!
Thy sovereign majesty
May we in glory see,
And to eternity
Love and adore.
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Father God, Prince of Peace, Spirit of Love, for the times we choose the veil of darkness over your gospel of light, forgive us, Lord. For the times we choose to proclaim ourselves instead of proclaiming Jesus Christ, forgive us, Lord. For the times we choose mindless action over heartfelt devotion, forgive us, Lord. For the times we choose the bonds of fear over the freedom of your grace, forgive us, Lord. Have mercy on us as we confess our personal sins silently (time for silent prayer). . . Open our eyes, our hearts and our ears, that we might see, know and more closely follow your way. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
L: Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us; Christ rose for us; Christ reigns in power for us; Christ prays for us! In and through Jesus Christ, I proclaim: we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
Gloria patri
Passing of The Peace
L: Freed and forgiven, may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Let us we greet one another with the peace of Jesus.
Children’s Moment
Prayer of Illumination:
M: Let us pray: Dear God, we want to see Jesus. He is our only hope. Still our hearts and minds; let us hear your holy word and see Jesus. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 50
The LORD, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken. God has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets. From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. Our God approaches, and God is not silent. Fire devours everything in God’s way, and a great storm rages around God. He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of his people. “Bring my faithful people to me - those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.” Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge.
Response: L: This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
The Gospel Reading Mark 9:2-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
L: This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Sermon: thin places
Imagine that you are sleeping in a dark room and someone suddenly turns on a very bright light. It’s startling, isn’t it? Bam! Peter, James and John suddenly were experiencing the glory of God. Wow! Surprising! No wonder Peter was confused. No wonder he didn’t seem to know what he was saying. They experienced the glory of God! As they left the mountain, Jesus told them not to say anything to anyone about what happened.
Perhaps that was a good thing – I mean how do you explain or talk about what happened? How could anyone possibly clearly tell about the immense, shining glory of God. Breath-taking! Glorious! Stunning! Beyond description! I imagine that the three men were changed in an instance; moved to be better people. Spellbound by the infinite dazzling glory of God as it shone in and through Jesus. If they had any doubts or questions before this, surely, they did not after this experience. I imagine it warmed their heart and soul every time they thought about what they saw. Jesus, Son of God, Savior of the World, glorified in light and majesty; and speaking with Moses and Elijah. Don’t you imagine it was nearly beyond their belief? As in, “I can’t believe my eyes!” Yet, they did see and experience this transfiguration.
Months and years later, empowered by the Holy Spirit, these three men shared the glory of God and the love of Jesus with many others. They often faced jail, persecution and death threats, as they gave witness to Jesus. In moments of doubt, fear and fatigue, these men could remember the incredible moment of God’s glory, as it shone upon Jesus. They could remember the wonder of seeing Jesus with Moses and Elijah. Do you think they might have returned to that mountain, looking for that sacred place, hoping for a similar experience - to see God’s glory again?
Sacred places are mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. Abraham, Moses and Joshua were among many who took stones and built a small altar, at a sacred place, a place they wanted to mark and remember. Sometimes the stones stayed together simply for a short time; sometimes, it was more permanent Often these sacred places were on a mountain. Abraham’s son, Isaac was saved from becoming a sacrifice, on a mountain. Moses experienced the burning bush on a mountain and later, received the Ten Commandments on a mountain. Other sacred places in the Bible, are at specific rivers, at a certain tree or even in a cave. Today, we might call churches, chapels and church camps sacred places; places where people might experience the presence of God. Sometimes we see memorials at scenes of tragedy or car accidents. Death in an unexpected place sometimes makes that place sacred.
Celtic tradition calls these sacred places, thin places. According to Celtic tradition, time and space are seen more as a spiral; than as a straight line, like the Western Culture does. Celtic literature says that heaven is to next us. Usually we cannot see it, unless we are in a thin place. Then, like the Disciples with Jesus, we might experience a glimpse of God’s glory. A thin place is a place where the boundary between heaven and earth is especially thin. It’s a place where we can sense the divine more readily; a place where God is especially present. Often it is an unusual place that fosters intimacy with God. In thin places, some people have life-transforming experiences through the presence and power of God’s Spirit, just as Peter, James and John did on the mountain.
Thin places are often in the rugged depths of nature or they can be manmade, often with stones or wood. Sometimes, people deliberately go to a thin place to try to experience God face to face. Other times, people accidently find a thin place, when they are sitting quietly, listening, waiting. Have you experienced a thin place at Camp Wyoming or someplace else? Some time we have a desire or a need to go somewhere quiet, away from the noise of daily living. We might sit in a chair in the backyard, or we might go to a favorite park. We might come to church or, we might sit at the kitchen table, to experience a quiet, holy time, a thin place to come face to face with God’s glory. For all the things that the Covid-19 virus took from us, it also has given us greater understanding about worship, about prayer and about being in God’s presence.
Most certainly, we love to go to church; we find comfort in the building, as well as in the people we see. The music, the banners and the cross remind us of past experiences, perhaps times of great fellowship, powerful prayer or even, of experiencing God in and through the Holy Spirit. Now, because we are trying to stay safe, our experience of church has been in front of the computer, or the worship service written on the paper in front of us. We are reminded that finding God is less about the place and more about our heart’s focus. When we earnestly seek and thirst for God, we are more likely to get a glimpse of heaven and God’s glory. It is unlikely to be as dramatic as what the Disciples experienced. The two men who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, and John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, said it was more like a warmth or burning in their heart. It is when we are quiet and focused on the still, small voice, that we might come to know God’s presence in a powerful way. I imagine each person’s experience may be a little different; often, we just don’t have the words to explain what happened. But, when it does happen, it is less about a lit candle and saying the right words and more about sincerity and genuine love.
And yet, sometimes we come to church - and . . . and well, nothing happens. I mean, we don’t see Jesus; we don’t feel anything. We go home, content. We’ve seen our friends, we had a nice time but quite honestly, our thirst for Jesus has not been quenched. Nothing fantastic -super - awesome! has happened. And we wonder as we leave: “Is it me? Is it God? Am I doing something wrong or did I forget to do something?” Yes! The answer is yes, it’s probably you; it’s probably us. We are like Peter and the others. We come unprepared. We can understand how they might have been totally surprised, frightened and confused. Peter said something without thinking - something crazy about building huts. Peter, James and John had no idea what to do, what was going on or what they should do. Sounds like they just stood there rather stupidly, as a shadow of a cloud passed over them. Then - they received simple instruction that they could follow: Listen to my Beloved Son.
Simple advice for the disciples and for us. LISTEN. We should not come to worship, whether it is in our living room or in the sanctuary, unprepared. Instead, let us come to church, waiting, expecting to feel God’s glory. Most often it is not to being in a specific place. The key is to come with an open mind, ready to worship, ready to listen and ready to experience God.
Maybe some places are thin places, because they make it easier to be quiet, to be still and to listen. Be quiet. . . . . . Be still . . . . Listen. . . . . Worship and church is not a performance. The congregation is not the audience. True worship is when the worship leader leads the congregation and TOGETHER we praise God. We listen and we pray. We wait . . . for God. TOGETHER, we honor God. We give and we wait. . . we listen.
One author says our church time actually starts on Saturday evening or Sunday morning; whenever we begin to make plans to go to church. At that point, we are beginning to gently pull away from the world; we are beginning to get ready to listen. We can help this process by being aware. We can whisper little prayers, like, “help me sleep well tonite so I can full participate in church tomorrow.” Or, like, “Help me calmly, get ready. Help me be thoughtful in preparing for my time of worship.” Rather than hustling because you overslept, try to get up just a little earlier. Rather than arguing about this or that, have a peaceful morning.
Come into your living room or into the sanctuary, with your mind on God. Be in fellowship with each other. Then, when we have a moment of silence, be silent, quiet your mind (and phone) and prepare yourself, open yourself to God. We are about to experience the glory of God! Once we begin worship, it is not about us and what’s for dinner, or some other minor worry. Rather, now, our focus is to be on God. Sounds easy … but sometimes, it’s not. My mind wanders. How about you? I try to be quiet, to be still and listen. But, then, my back aches and I wonder if we have any ibuprofen. Then I think about a grocery list, and oops - no wonder, I haven’t heard anything from God.
So here are some ways to stay focused. Start, with prayer. But, rather than starting with a list of what you want to hear, start by asking God to show you what God has to offer. Not - what can I GET from this quiet time, but - what is God offering to me? Let God lead the discussion. Then consider, reading some scripture or saying a prayer - You could even use a prayer in the bulletin.
Then, sit quietly and listen. Some people like to use prayer beads to help them stay focused. Others silently or quietly say a short phrase, something from the scripture they just read or “Jesus, have mercy on me.” If your mind wanders, take a breath, offer that thought to God and begin listening again. When you are ready, end your quiet time with a prayer.
What will you hear? Often you may hear nothing; but you will come away with a sense of contentment, of peace and joy. You may have a specific answer in mind. Or, you might discover later, that you have insight to a problem. Often you will have depths of patience and confidence and understanding that you didn’t know was possible. You will become an instrument of God’s peace, love and forgiveness.
As we take time to listen to Jesus, we become a thin place to the world. God’s grace and love flow gently out of us; consciously or unconsciously people will begin to notice that we are different. Different in a good way. We are calmer, we are less judgmental.
Thank you for listening, for seeking God’s glory, for being a thin place in the world. I’ve seen God’s glory in you. What a wonderful, amazing thing! So, keep listening, God has great things planned for you.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.
Responsive Reading:
M: On the mountaintop: PM: fresh air, in God’s creation.
M: Gathered with the prophets: PM: holy time, listening.
M: Listening to God’s voice: PM: identity revealed, Light of the World.
M: In the company of Jesus: PM: awesome wonder, praise God!
M: Coming down the mountain: PM: tearful reflection, changed inside and outside.
M: Back to reality: PM: transfigured lives, ready to fully love others.
Shine Jesus Shine CCLI 11259100
1 Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
2 Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
3 As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
*Affirmation of Faith: Apostles’ Creed – Traditional Blue Hymnal pg 14
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offering: Gracious God, you call us to do more than worship, you call us into action as your disciples. Help us to take action, by sharing our gifts and treasure.
Doxology
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
P: Awesome God, experiencing the dazzling light of your glory and the joy of your love, we want to stay on the mountaintop and worship you. Yet, we know we are to follow Jesus. Through these gifts, may we shine the transforming light of your love into all the world. Use our gifts and our lives, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed in Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. On a lonely mountain his human body was transfigured by your divine splendor. In his face, we have glimpsed your glory. In his life, we see your love. For you image is untarnished in him, and the burden of human sorrow and suffering could not diminish his reflection of your holiness. The world was dark at his death, but the light of his life could not be extinguished. From the grave he rose like the sun, with blinding power and radiant peace. We give thanks for Jesus, for his life, death and resurrection.
THE LORD’S PRAYER TRADITIONAL Blue Hymnal pg 16
Spirit of God, Descend Upon my Heart CCLI 11259100
1 Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
2 Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King;
All, all Thine own: soul, heart, and strength and mind?
I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!
3 Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.
4 Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The baptism of the heaven-descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.
CHARGE
Gracious God give us strength to serve you faithfully until the promised day of resurrection, when with the redeemed of all the ages we will feast with you are your table in glory.
AND BENEDICTION
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever.
And all God’s people says alleluia amen.
youtu.be/THeHdck7SaU
Feb. 14, 2021
Mission slide
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Moment of Silence to Prepare Our Hearts for Worship
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O LORD, you know it completely.
We lift our praise to you, O Lord.
God cannot be explained; God is a mystery. Amazingly, God has invited us
into His light. Will we have the courage to accept the invitation?
We Bow Down CCLI 11259100
1 You are Lord of creation
and Lord of my life,
Lord of the land and the sea;
You were Lord of the heavens
before there was time,
And Lord of all lords you will be.
We bow down,
And we worship you, Lord;
We bow down,
And we worship you, Lord;
We bow down,
And we worship you, Lord;
Lord of all lords you will be.
2 You are king of creations
and King of my life,
King of the land and the sea;
You were King of the heavens
before there was time,
And King of all kings you will be.
We bow down,
and we crown you the King;
we bow down,
and we crown you the King;
we bow down,
and we crown you the King;
King of all kings you will be.
Words of Praise
L: God speaks and the earth is created. P: Glory hallelujah!
L: God shines forth with a beauty beyond our comprehension. P: Glory hallelujah!
L: God calls us to be a people of faith. P: Glory hallelujah!
L: It’s a steep climb up the mountain of life. P: God gives us strength for the ascent.
L: The light is shining on the mountain. P: God opens our eyes to holy splendor.
L: We don’t know what to do on the mountain. P: God provides a guide and companions.
L: We are ready to come out of the darkness. P: God calls us to live in the light!
L: Come see the glory of God! P: Come live in the light!
Come Thou Almighty King CCLI 11259100
1 Come, Thou Almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing,
Help us to praise:
Father, all-glorious,
O’er all victorious,
Come, and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
2 Come, Thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword,
Our prayer attend:
Come, and Thy people bless,
And give Thy word success;
Spirit of holiness,
On us descend.
3 Come, Holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour:
Thou who almighty art,
Now rule in every heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power.
4 To Thee, great One in Three,
The highest praises be,
Hence evermore!
Thy sovereign majesty
May we in glory see,
And to eternity
Love and adore.
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Father God, Prince of Peace, Spirit of Love, for the times we choose the veil of darkness over your gospel of light, forgive us, Lord. For the times we choose to proclaim ourselves instead of proclaiming Jesus Christ, forgive us, Lord. For the times we choose mindless action over heartfelt devotion, forgive us, Lord. For the times we choose the bonds of fear over the freedom of your grace, forgive us, Lord. Have mercy on us as we confess our personal sins silently (time for silent prayer). . . Open our eyes, our hearts and our ears, that we might see, know and more closely follow your way. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
L: Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us; Christ rose for us; Christ reigns in power for us; Christ prays for us! In and through Jesus Christ, I proclaim: we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
Gloria patri
Passing of The Peace
L: Freed and forgiven, may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Let us we greet one another with the peace of Jesus.
Children’s Moment
Prayer of Illumination:
M: Let us pray: Dear God, we want to see Jesus. He is our only hope. Still our hearts and minds; let us hear your holy word and see Jesus. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 50
The LORD, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken. God has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets. From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. Our God approaches, and God is not silent. Fire devours everything in God’s way, and a great storm rages around God. He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of his people. “Bring my faithful people to me - those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.” Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge.
Response: L: This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
The Gospel Reading Mark 9:2-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
L: This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Sermon: thin places
Imagine that you are sleeping in a dark room and someone suddenly turns on a very bright light. It’s startling, isn’t it? Bam! Peter, James and John suddenly were experiencing the glory of God. Wow! Surprising! No wonder Peter was confused. No wonder he didn’t seem to know what he was saying. They experienced the glory of God! As they left the mountain, Jesus told them not to say anything to anyone about what happened.
Perhaps that was a good thing – I mean how do you explain or talk about what happened? How could anyone possibly clearly tell about the immense, shining glory of God. Breath-taking! Glorious! Stunning! Beyond description! I imagine that the three men were changed in an instance; moved to be better people. Spellbound by the infinite dazzling glory of God as it shone in and through Jesus. If they had any doubts or questions before this, surely, they did not after this experience. I imagine it warmed their heart and soul every time they thought about what they saw. Jesus, Son of God, Savior of the World, glorified in light and majesty; and speaking with Moses and Elijah. Don’t you imagine it was nearly beyond their belief? As in, “I can’t believe my eyes!” Yet, they did see and experience this transfiguration.
Months and years later, empowered by the Holy Spirit, these three men shared the glory of God and the love of Jesus with many others. They often faced jail, persecution and death threats, as they gave witness to Jesus. In moments of doubt, fear and fatigue, these men could remember the incredible moment of God’s glory, as it shone upon Jesus. They could remember the wonder of seeing Jesus with Moses and Elijah. Do you think they might have returned to that mountain, looking for that sacred place, hoping for a similar experience - to see God’s glory again?
Sacred places are mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. Abraham, Moses and Joshua were among many who took stones and built a small altar, at a sacred place, a place they wanted to mark and remember. Sometimes the stones stayed together simply for a short time; sometimes, it was more permanent Often these sacred places were on a mountain. Abraham’s son, Isaac was saved from becoming a sacrifice, on a mountain. Moses experienced the burning bush on a mountain and later, received the Ten Commandments on a mountain. Other sacred places in the Bible, are at specific rivers, at a certain tree or even in a cave. Today, we might call churches, chapels and church camps sacred places; places where people might experience the presence of God. Sometimes we see memorials at scenes of tragedy or car accidents. Death in an unexpected place sometimes makes that place sacred.
Celtic tradition calls these sacred places, thin places. According to Celtic tradition, time and space are seen more as a spiral; than as a straight line, like the Western Culture does. Celtic literature says that heaven is to next us. Usually we cannot see it, unless we are in a thin place. Then, like the Disciples with Jesus, we might experience a glimpse of God’s glory. A thin place is a place where the boundary between heaven and earth is especially thin. It’s a place where we can sense the divine more readily; a place where God is especially present. Often it is an unusual place that fosters intimacy with God. In thin places, some people have life-transforming experiences through the presence and power of God’s Spirit, just as Peter, James and John did on the mountain.
Thin places are often in the rugged depths of nature or they can be manmade, often with stones or wood. Sometimes, people deliberately go to a thin place to try to experience God face to face. Other times, people accidently find a thin place, when they are sitting quietly, listening, waiting. Have you experienced a thin place at Camp Wyoming or someplace else? Some time we have a desire or a need to go somewhere quiet, away from the noise of daily living. We might sit in a chair in the backyard, or we might go to a favorite park. We might come to church or, we might sit at the kitchen table, to experience a quiet, holy time, a thin place to come face to face with God’s glory. For all the things that the Covid-19 virus took from us, it also has given us greater understanding about worship, about prayer and about being in God’s presence.
Most certainly, we love to go to church; we find comfort in the building, as well as in the people we see. The music, the banners and the cross remind us of past experiences, perhaps times of great fellowship, powerful prayer or even, of experiencing God in and through the Holy Spirit. Now, because we are trying to stay safe, our experience of church has been in front of the computer, or the worship service written on the paper in front of us. We are reminded that finding God is less about the place and more about our heart’s focus. When we earnestly seek and thirst for God, we are more likely to get a glimpse of heaven and God’s glory. It is unlikely to be as dramatic as what the Disciples experienced. The two men who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, and John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, said it was more like a warmth or burning in their heart. It is when we are quiet and focused on the still, small voice, that we might come to know God’s presence in a powerful way. I imagine each person’s experience may be a little different; often, we just don’t have the words to explain what happened. But, when it does happen, it is less about a lit candle and saying the right words and more about sincerity and genuine love.
And yet, sometimes we come to church - and . . . and well, nothing happens. I mean, we don’t see Jesus; we don’t feel anything. We go home, content. We’ve seen our friends, we had a nice time but quite honestly, our thirst for Jesus has not been quenched. Nothing fantastic -super - awesome! has happened. And we wonder as we leave: “Is it me? Is it God? Am I doing something wrong or did I forget to do something?” Yes! The answer is yes, it’s probably you; it’s probably us. We are like Peter and the others. We come unprepared. We can understand how they might have been totally surprised, frightened and confused. Peter said something without thinking - something crazy about building huts. Peter, James and John had no idea what to do, what was going on or what they should do. Sounds like they just stood there rather stupidly, as a shadow of a cloud passed over them. Then - they received simple instruction that they could follow: Listen to my Beloved Son.
Simple advice for the disciples and for us. LISTEN. We should not come to worship, whether it is in our living room or in the sanctuary, unprepared. Instead, let us come to church, waiting, expecting to feel God’s glory. Most often it is not to being in a specific place. The key is to come with an open mind, ready to worship, ready to listen and ready to experience God.
Maybe some places are thin places, because they make it easier to be quiet, to be still and to listen. Be quiet. . . . . . Be still . . . . Listen. . . . . Worship and church is not a performance. The congregation is not the audience. True worship is when the worship leader leads the congregation and TOGETHER we praise God. We listen and we pray. We wait . . . for God. TOGETHER, we honor God. We give and we wait. . . we listen.
One author says our church time actually starts on Saturday evening or Sunday morning; whenever we begin to make plans to go to church. At that point, we are beginning to gently pull away from the world; we are beginning to get ready to listen. We can help this process by being aware. We can whisper little prayers, like, “help me sleep well tonite so I can full participate in church tomorrow.” Or, like, “Help me calmly, get ready. Help me be thoughtful in preparing for my time of worship.” Rather than hustling because you overslept, try to get up just a little earlier. Rather than arguing about this or that, have a peaceful morning.
Come into your living room or into the sanctuary, with your mind on God. Be in fellowship with each other. Then, when we have a moment of silence, be silent, quiet your mind (and phone) and prepare yourself, open yourself to God. We are about to experience the glory of God! Once we begin worship, it is not about us and what’s for dinner, or some other minor worry. Rather, now, our focus is to be on God. Sounds easy … but sometimes, it’s not. My mind wanders. How about you? I try to be quiet, to be still and listen. But, then, my back aches and I wonder if we have any ibuprofen. Then I think about a grocery list, and oops - no wonder, I haven’t heard anything from God.
So here are some ways to stay focused. Start, with prayer. But, rather than starting with a list of what you want to hear, start by asking God to show you what God has to offer. Not - what can I GET from this quiet time, but - what is God offering to me? Let God lead the discussion. Then consider, reading some scripture or saying a prayer - You could even use a prayer in the bulletin.
Then, sit quietly and listen. Some people like to use prayer beads to help them stay focused. Others silently or quietly say a short phrase, something from the scripture they just read or “Jesus, have mercy on me.” If your mind wanders, take a breath, offer that thought to God and begin listening again. When you are ready, end your quiet time with a prayer.
What will you hear? Often you may hear nothing; but you will come away with a sense of contentment, of peace and joy. You may have a specific answer in mind. Or, you might discover later, that you have insight to a problem. Often you will have depths of patience and confidence and understanding that you didn’t know was possible. You will become an instrument of God’s peace, love and forgiveness.
As we take time to listen to Jesus, we become a thin place to the world. God’s grace and love flow gently out of us; consciously or unconsciously people will begin to notice that we are different. Different in a good way. We are calmer, we are less judgmental.
Thank you for listening, for seeking God’s glory, for being a thin place in the world. I’ve seen God’s glory in you. What a wonderful, amazing thing! So, keep listening, God has great things planned for you.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.
Responsive Reading:
M: On the mountaintop: PM: fresh air, in God’s creation.
M: Gathered with the prophets: PM: holy time, listening.
M: Listening to God’s voice: PM: identity revealed, Light of the World.
M: In the company of Jesus: PM: awesome wonder, praise God!
M: Coming down the mountain: PM: tearful reflection, changed inside and outside.
M: Back to reality: PM: transfigured lives, ready to fully love others.
Shine Jesus Shine CCLI 11259100
1 Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
2 Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
3 As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
*Affirmation of Faith: Apostles’ Creed – Traditional Blue Hymnal pg 14
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offering: Gracious God, you call us to do more than worship, you call us into action as your disciples. Help us to take action, by sharing our gifts and treasure.
Doxology
PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
P: Awesome God, experiencing the dazzling light of your glory and the joy of your love, we want to stay on the mountaintop and worship you. Yet, we know we are to follow Jesus. Through these gifts, may we shine the transforming light of your love into all the world. Use our gifts and our lives, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed in Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. On a lonely mountain his human body was transfigured by your divine splendor. In his face, we have glimpsed your glory. In his life, we see your love. For you image is untarnished in him, and the burden of human sorrow and suffering could not diminish his reflection of your holiness. The world was dark at his death, but the light of his life could not be extinguished. From the grave he rose like the sun, with blinding power and radiant peace. We give thanks for Jesus, for his life, death and resurrection.
THE LORD’S PRAYER TRADITIONAL Blue Hymnal pg 16
Spirit of God, Descend Upon my Heart CCLI 11259100
1 Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
2 Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King;
All, all Thine own: soul, heart, and strength and mind?
I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!
3 Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.
4 Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The baptism of the heaven-descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.
CHARGE
Gracious God give us strength to serve you faithfully until the promised day of resurrection, when with the redeemed of all the ages we will feast with you are your table in glory.
AND BENEDICTION
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever.
And all God’s people says alleluia amen.
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