United Congregational Church of Tolland

United Church of Christ

P.O. Box 160, Tolland, CT 06084
(860) 875-4160 www.ucctolland.org

TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY
March 2, 2014
9:30 A.M.
SUGGESTED READINGS FROM PEW BIBLES: Exodus 24: 12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Ps. 99
THE APPROACH TO GOD

Martin

*CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor: The God of the mountains and valleys invites us to new heights.
People: To see the morning star rise in our hearts.
Pastor: Sometimes in dazzling light, sometimes in a quiet word.
People: Let us see and hear what God has in store for us.
*HYMN Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
(Prayer request cards will be collected during the singing of this hymn)

SPECIAL MUSIC This Little Light of Mine

Carole Frassinelli, alto

J. Raney

CHILDRENS MESSAGE Go, My Children, With My Blessing (vs 1,3)

#7

*INVOCATION
People: Surprising God, whose love leads us to new experiences, help us to be open
to your appearance among us and within. Let us sense your glory in the
sights and sounds of this day. Confront us with your law and the prophets
word, that our lives may more fully reflect your purposes. May your Spirit
move us to speak of the light that you reveal. Amen.
*HYMN Now Let Every Tongue Adore Thee

SILENT CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Rise and have no fear. We are beloved by God, who brings new dawns to our
lives. Accept the forgiveness God offers and participate in the light God sends.

GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES AND PRELUDE Poor Wayfaring Stranger

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
People: We confess, welcoming God that we have cast you in our own image and
been impatient at your silence. We have missed the awe and mystery
because we cannot be quiet long enough to encounter a transcendent vision.
We climb without pausing to appreciate the new vistas you reveal. We raise
the wrong questions and ask for things to benefit ourselves. Then we do
not wait for your answers, or resist them when they come. Forgive us, and
stir up a new responsiveness in us. Amen.

#24

CALL TO CONFESSION
Pastor: What have we missed because we closed our eyes to what was happening
around us? Who has cried for our help and we have not heard? Where has God
sought to lead us, while we turned in another direction? When has the vision
been lost because we were preoccupied with our own agendas? Let us examine
ourselves and confess our waywardness.

Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.

Waking sleeping, I am with you; you are my own.
In my loves baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
Go my children, with my blessing- you are my own.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me;
grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirits power filled you; here his tender comfort
stilled you. Go my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.
THE SERVICE OF THE WORD
PRAYER OF PREPARATION (unison)
Eternal God, in the reading of the scripture, may Your Word be heard; in the
meditations of our hearts, may Your Word be known; and in the faithfulness of our
lives, may Your Word be shown. Amen
THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Matthew 17:1-9
HOMEGROWN Testimony
MOMENT OF REFLECTION

NT P. 18
Tonja Kelly

OFFERTORY Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Glenn MacDonald, tenor

L. Larson

*DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORDS SUPPER
THE INVITATION
Pastor: Luke the evangelist wrote of our risen Savior, who at the table with two of the
disciples, took bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes
were opened, and they recognized the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread.
People: In company with all believers in every time and beyond time, we come to this
table to know the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread.
Pastor: Brothers and sisters in Christ

Pastor:

Gracious God, we ask you to bless this bread and cup and all of us with the
outpouring of your Holy Spirit. Through this meal, make us the body of Christ,
the church, your servant people, that we may be salt, and light, and leaven for the
furtherance of your will in all the world. Amen.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND POURING OF THE CUP

SHARING OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP (all partake together)
Pastor: Take and eat, the body of Christ broken for you.
Pastor: Take and drink, the cup of the new covenant, poured out.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (unison)
We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us
the presence of your son, Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one
another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power
of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Savior.
*HYMN Christ Whose Glory Fills the Sky

#43

THE COMMUNION HYMN (see front of Hymnal)

*THE BENEDICTION

THE CALL TO PRAYER

Pastor: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift your hearts.
People: We lift them to God.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to God Most High.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE & TAKING THE LIGHT INTO THE WORLD

THE COMMUNION PRAYER & LORDS PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever. Amen.
THE SANCTUS
All:
Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty,
the whole universe speaks of your glory,
O God Most High.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God!
Hosanna in the highest!
THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

POSTLUDE Every Time I Feel the Spirit

#60 vs 2

A. Giamanco

* The congregation may stand.

All who are earnestly seeking Christ are invited to come to this table.
At the discretion of the parents, children before confirmation age may partake.
Communion bread and grape juice are gluten-free, so those with gluten allergies may partake of
the Lords Supper with all of us.
Ministers to the World: The whole congregation
Pastors to the congregation: Rev. Ineke K. Mitchell, Interim Senior Pastor
Rev. Judith C. Medeiros, Associate Pastor
Steven C. Lowry, Minister of Music
Tonya Lyon, Interim Financial Secretary
Stephanie Howard, Secretary
Amie Giguere, Director of Christian Education
John Frassinelli and Gary Lotreck, Co-Directors of Youth Fellowships
Elizabeth Thornton, Director, Tolland Green Learning Center
Rev. Donald G. Miller, Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Hannah Howe, Pastor Emerita
Rev. Dr. Robert J. Wright, Jr., Pastor Emeritus