Worship Preview for 2.15.26 "Walk This Way: Transfiguration"

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY: 10:30am.“Walk this Way: Transfiguration” 

Scriptures: Mathew 17:1-9, Psalm 99, Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:3-19 .  Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching.

On Wednesday we’ll begin the season of Lent with a special Ash Wednesday service – open to all, we’ll gather for music, prayer, and the imposition of ashes at 7pm, Wednesday, Feb. 18^th. You are invited! This ancient Christian tradition opens a season of intention and preparation. Sometimes Christians “give up” something for Lent – some of us prefer to “take on” some special focus on piety or service – or both. This season at First UMC we will begin a series on “The Way” of Jesus drawing from Scripture and the idea of pilgrimage as illustrated by a 2010 a movie titled “The Way” about walking the Camino de Santiago or “Way of St. James, a traditional pilgrimage route in France, Portugal and Spain. It will build on our recent focus on the full range of human emotions.

Before we get to Lent, though, we have one last Sunday in the season of Epiphany and we’ll celebrate at 10:30am. Bring a friend! Traditionally this last Sunday before Lent begins is known as Transfiguration Sunday and we tell the story of Jesus taking Peter, James, and John up the mountain, where they see him as light, in conversation with Moses and Elijah (representing the law and the prophets). They encounter here, the fullness of God’s presence. They hear a voice, much like the occurrence at Jesus’ baptism, that says ““This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Then, as suddenly as it starts, the experience ends and Jesus, returned to normal human appearance, says to then “Get up, do not be afraid” and leads them back down the mountain into the ebbs and flows of normal life.

As we explore this, we’ll hear a brief story of the giving of the law to Moses from Exodus and from Psalm 99, which caps a series of “enthronement Psalms” celebrating God’s sovereignty and responding to a series of laments in earlier Psalms. The emphasis is on God’s gift of the law and encourages faithful response. We’ll also hear from the New Testament letter 2^nd Peter. There is a traditional reading in the lectionary that pairs with the Transfiguration story, but we’ll start a few verses earlier, with a passage of encouragement and exhortation about our own response to God. “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It’s ultimately about to whom and what we give authority in our lives and how that changes us. As we celebrate the conclusion of the season of Epiphany and turn towards Lent, we will rededicate ourselves to following Christ, the Word become flesh, who reveals the fullness of God. Let this change us. Let this help us see with new perspectives. Let us walk in the way of Christ! Amen!

No matter where you are on your faith journey, we invite you to experience the love and laughter of Christ, together with us at 10:30am each Sunday and explore your next steps! 301 S. National here in Fort Scott.  Find your path, share your journey!

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEEDING FAMILIES IN HIS NAME: Wednesday, February 18 - A free, no obligation meal is served “to-go” style from underneath our portico from 5:15 to 6:15pm each Wednesday (note our new official start and end times), prepared each week by our members as well as several area churches and community groups. We aim to provide 400 meals per week. If you would like to support this ministry feeding our neighbors, you can make donations online at: www.firstumcfortscott.org/feedingfamiliesdonation. Thank you.

ASH WEDNESDAY – 7pm WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18th. Lent begins with a traditional imposition of ashes and an introduction to our Lenten sermon series “The Way.” The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith. You are invited, therefore, in the name of Christ, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word as we journey together.

FELLOWSHIP SOUP LUNCH: 11:30am Friday, February 27^th Soup, Chilli and Dessert for a freewill offering to benefit First UMC Ministries. Bring a friend!