Lessons: Matt 17:1-9
Message: Transfiguration
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Ash Wednesday is in just one week! Ash Wednesday is when Christians mark the first day of our season of atonement, reflection, and renewal. On this day we recall that we are mortal objects made of the earth for the purpose of grounding us in a humble place for this journey toward Easter. Lent is 40 days long (not counting Sundays during which we are called always to celebrate the risen Christ!) and so we often will take on a practice for these 40 days that draws our minds and hearts towards the Divine. As a church we hope to engage together several times in various spiritual practices of art, prayer, and even walking! I hope you’ll join us on Wednesday, Feb. 22nd to start this beautiful and grounding season from within the UPA community.
Sunday, then, is our last Sunday before we begin our Lenten Season. It holds a special place in the church’s liturgical year as it is the day we reconsider and celebrate Jesus’ transfiguration. If you’re unfamiliar with the scriptural story of the transfiguration, you’re probably wondering why we would celebrate a story about Jesus’ face changing shape! Certainly the word “transfiguration,” especially when applied to a person, sounds odd. By definition, however, to be transfigured simply means, a complete change of form or appearance to something more beautiful or elevated. This Sunday we will learn that, while Jesus was certainly transfigured before Peter, James, and John, the real story was and is the transfiguration – or transformation – of these 3 disciples on that mountain. We will ask, what does it take to see not just the man that Jesus was, doing good and teaching a message of love, but also the divine, incarnate Christ who changed EVERYTHING by winning victory over death!
See you Sunday!
Peace,
Cheryl
Music:
Prelude: “Fix Me, Jesus” African Am. spiritual
Anthem: “Asikhatali” South African freedom
Meditation: “Soon and Very Soon” Andraé Crouch Sung by: Cheryl Kerr and Linda Wood-Boyle
Postlude: “Total Praise” Richard Smallwood
Live Stream InformationWe will continue streaming our worship on both Zoom and Facebook Live. Please share these links with your friends. Bear in mind that we cannot share the Zoom links publicly (to keep from being Zoom bombed), so please share it person to person rather than posting it on Facebook/Twitter, or other public social media. It’s fine to share the Facebook link broadly and publicly. For Zoom login information please reach out to Pastor Cheryl at cheryl@newtonchurch.org
Note: that we continue to work on streaming as we make improvements to the sanctuary sound system.
Zoom Link: UPA Sunday Morning Worship
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81334929545?pwd=S1lsRlRmSnlkTUE0cHRlWWQwWUJndz09
Facebook Livestream Link: https://www.facebook.com/upanewtonma/live
Children and Youth
Dear friends,
Here’s what’s happening this Sunday February 19:
Pei will be teaching a lesson during church for Grades 6 and under about the Transfiguration story.
On Tuesday evening, February 21st, the grades 7-12 youth group will be having a “Shrove Tuesday” meal and event at Yasmin Dalton’s house from 7:30-8:30pm. More details to come and will be sent via email soon to the UPA Youth Group. We’ll be meeting at 74 W Pine st, Auburndale, MA 02466.
Peace and thanks to you all for your welcome and support as I start my ministry here at UPA!
Matt