As we gather, we recognize that we
live, work, pray, and play in the traditional,
unceded lands of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves to
the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.     

Call to Worship:

This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him. 

Matthew 17. 5

O, Come.   Let Us Worship.

Gathering:

Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known,  and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts  by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you,  and worthily magnify your holy name;  through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Today: 

Almighty God: 
On the holy mount, you revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured: deliver us from the darkness of this world, and change us into his likeness, from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:
Mark 9.2-9 

Sermon:  The Ven.  Brian Evans

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord.  Amen.

“This Is My Son ”

Early each week, I have a quick review of the Lectionary for the coming Sunday, and then decide on a title to my remarks. I then send this off to Tina, and from that moment it is like as if it is written in stone. Or, as Pontius Pilate responded, after nailing the sign at the top of Jesus’ cross. “I have written, what I have written.” 

In some ways, it is also kind of like the tablets: Ten Commandments, and Moses coming down from the mountain, as they too are written in stone! Stone, figuratively, and stone spiritually, for our hearts.

On this day of my writing day, my question is, “What do we do with mountain top experiences in our lives?”         

In life, we all experience mountain top moments, one of which I have, but have not known, is of from people (here in the Valley). Over the generations from the earliest of our peoples to those today, the experience is up on top of Mount Prevost. A few years ago, there was a great documentary created here in the Valley of the First Peoples, and the place of 'the mountain', and the place of 'holy spaces' here in this Cowichan Valley. 

In the documentary, there were many moments of references to these holy spaces, to these moments, the moments of finding God or finding the Spirit, the Creator, in their lives.           

From my point of view, I can only imagine, because I have never been to the Mountain. 

From the viewpoint of the many generations before me, time has given them a window to see beyond, to see beyond the moment. Time to translate the vision to experience, and to have it speak to the generations following.          

I want to share with you today from Forward Movement’s ‘Day by Day.’ For today, the writer Julia Harris, who is president of the House of Deputies in the Episcopal Church of the US, writes as she talks about Jesus’ transfiguration as described in Mark 9.2b-3.  

And it says, ‘This passage is one of the times that the disciples have unquestioning proof that Jesus is God’s Son. God provides data that the disciples will understand: the linear progression from Moses to Elijah to Jesus. Even before God speaks to them from the cloud, the disciples react with terror. Peter, in particular, resorts to good-intentioned babbling about 'tents and rest'. God explains what they are seeing, then Jesus tells them 'to tell no one—to tell no one until after the resurrection'.

Now from Ms. Harris’ personal observations.

She writes:  “How can these disciples keep such a transformative experience bottled up? It seems to me that if this happened today, it would be best to make the transfiguration story ‘go viral’ to create new followers of Jesus. But God’s timing is different—viral videos vs. delayed gratification, sensational gossip vs. steadfast faith. Peter, James, and John aren’t really ready to tell the story yet, because they haven’t experienced the resurrection of Christ. They are not yet the seasoned disciples we see in the book of Acts.” 

One of the questions that Day by Day and Forward Movement often asks says:
Moving Forward - Imagine a social media post about the Transfiguration. What would it say?

Each time I read the scriptures dealing with the Transfiguration of Our Lord, I presume (as most, I think) how would I be able to keep this secret? How could I resist, in today’s electronic world, of not running home to my computer and immediately typing out and sharing just what had happened? 

How could I keep the secret? This is a stellar moment in the life of Jesus.          

Upon reflection though, I find myself of the many “mountain top” experiences and thinking about them that I have related to congregations over more than 30 years of peaching. Thankfully, you have all been very kind and listened attentively! Even at the 2^nd and 3^rd hearing.          

My personal observations of my own experiences have been how these moments have developed over the years. No, they do not become like the size of the great fish I caught many years ago and how it continues to grow with each telling. 

It is at the same time, a growing depth within of the experience in my personal life. And we all have those moments. With the help of Ms. Harris, I now have a greater understanding of Jesus’ request for Peter, James, and John, ‘to take time to understand this phenomenal experience.’          

These previous two weeks in the Parish, I have spoken/written at length about taking time with God. Taking time to appreciate and learn from the experience--to take time for God, and with God. This is called the practice of meditation.          

From the beginning of time, God has given us the ability to experience the reality of God. Throughout life, we have witnesses of these events from a variety of people.

From the scriptures we have:

• Moses beaming with excitement, coming down from the mountain, carrying the Tablets.

• We have Jacob’s stairway to heaven. I love that image of angels ascending and descending and the messages going up and coming back from God.

• We have Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road. Another one of those significant moments.

• One of my favorites is Thomas’ encountering the risen Lord in the upper room, and his response—'My Lord! My God!’ 

These are those moments when God comes into our presence with unexpected glory, to fill our lives with the real presence of His being real. 

In some ways, it is like William Shatner, Captain Kirk on Star Trek, who we all knew from his Hollywood experience ‘of going where no person had ever gone before’, to his real experience at 90 years of age, and looking for the first time from a spaceship back at the world that Hollywood had attempted to create so many years ago through the imagination of the artistic, trying to and attempting to portray the real.

One of Shatner’s comments upon his return from his voyage is, and I quote from an article in the Guardian:

‘Shatner’s emotional rollercoaster continued upon landing. He broke down in tears, describing the experience as “the most profound” that he could imagine. However, a year later, he realized that the true beauty lies not in space, but right here on Earth. Leaving the vastness of space behind made his connection to our tiny planet even more profound.  

He expressed hope that humanity would recommit to our planet, each other, and the love that surrounds us . In Shatner’s words, “It felt like a funeral,” but ultimately, it led him to appreciate the preciousness of our home planet and the collective human experience .         

And so, for myself, this is how I believe Jesus wants us to live the moments of the Transfiguration in our lives.         

In ‘the here and now’ to understand that Jesus is ‘now’. For all to hear God’s voice: “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to Him!”          

The question from Forward Movement:
Moving Forward: 
How would I imagine my moment? How do we imagine our moment in today’s world? How do we keep that moment within us, until maybe the world is prepared to hear it?  What would I say?          

And so, as we move towards Lent, from this Transfiguration Sunday to Ash Wednesday, may we all take time to connect with God in an intimate, powerful, and transcendent way. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let us confess the faith of our baptism as we say,
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and buried. He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

Let Us Pray

As we celebrate Christ embodied in human form, we pray for God’s blessing on the church, the world, and all of creation.

Silence

We pray for the church, that the transformational power of God enters the hearts of all people. May its leaders serve as examples of your grace and healing across time and space.

God of grace, receive our prayer.

We pray for the creation, that we will humbly observe the swirl of wind and the heat of the bright sun. Teach us to honour all you have made and to care for the animals, plants, air, and bodies of water on this planet.

God of grace, receive our prayer.

We pray for those charged with leadership, lawmaking, and governance of our towns, cities, provinces, and country, that they will strive for goodness and justice all the days of their lives and callings.

God of grace, receive our prayer.

We pray for any who are sick and suffering. Guide us to offer hospitality, shelter, friendship, and care to any in need. In our Parish we continue to pray for: Gail; John; Pat; Sue; Sheila; and Wareenee.

God of grace, receive our prayer.

We pray for this congregation and its ministry in the wider community. May we share the transforming beauty and love of God in ways that honour the dignity of all whom we encounter.

God of grace, receive our prayer.

Trusting that all the saints, prophets, and those who die in faith are held in your care, we remember in thanksgiving those who have died. Grant us your gift of salvation as we await your coming again in glory.

God of grace, receive our prayer.

Knowing the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, we offer these prayers, and the silent prayers of our hearts, in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.    

As our saviour taught us to pray, we say:

Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us fom evil.   For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.  Amen.

Almighty God,
May we see your glory as we look in the face of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. May we see your glory as we will come to Your table and receive your sacrament given to us, and for us. And may all the world may know Your power to make change and to bring salvation.

And the Peace of God, 
which passes all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge
of the love of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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