The Great Vigil of Easter

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

“An Inclusive and Progressive Community of Faith”

The Holy Eucharist

14 February 2021

Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Transfiguration of Jesus

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Announcements & Welcome

We remember and honor the indigenous people of this continent particularly the Suquamish and Coast Salish nations whose land we now occupy. Once this was their home and it was taken from them. We give thanks for them and express gratitude for their witness on how to live honorable and humble lives.  May we always remember that the earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth, and that we are all relatives in this life.  Help us to learn from our past mistakes and thus be instruments of justice and peace for all people in today’s world.

Gather Hymnal #593: “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”

Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People And Blessed be God’s Kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

Hymnal (1982) #421: “Glory Be To God”

CelebrantThe Lord be with you.

And also with you.

CelebrantLet us pray together.

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

2 Kings 2:1-12

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”

Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 50:1-6

1. The Lord, the most mighty God has spoken:and summoned the world,from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2. God shines out from Zion:a city perfect in beauty.

3. Our God is coming, and will not keep silence:before you O God runs a consuming fire,and a mighty tempest rages about you.

4. You call on the heavens above, and on the earth below:to witness the judgment of your people.

5. ‘Gather my people before me:the people who made covenant with me by sacrifice.’

6. The heavens proclaim your justice:for you yourself are judge.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

Thanks be to God.

Gradual Hymn: Gather Hymnal #334: “Celtic Alleluia”

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark 9:2-9

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

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 anymore, 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.

The Gospel of the Lord

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon: The Reverend Don Moon

Affirmation of Faith

As Children of God, we affirm:

That God, who is Love, created all and called it good,

that God is present with all of creation, 

and that in darkness and in light, God is faithful,

therefore, we too, seek to be faithful.

That Jesus came to show us Love with a human face,

that he taught justice and reconciliation and suffered on our behalf, 

and that through his faithful example, he embodies hope;

therefore we, too, seek to be people of justice, reconciliation and hope.

That the Holy Spirit guides and accompanies us,

that this same Spirit offers wisdom and discernment,

and that, when we are open, the Spirit can always find a way;

therefore, we seek to be people filled with God’s Spirit:

discerning, loving and transforming our worlds.  Amen.

The Prayers of the People (from Intercessions for the Christian People)

Let us pray our Vision Statement together:

· O God, help us to be progressive Christians in an open, inclusive and affirming

community of faith.

· O Jesus, guide us in providing a safe harbor for everyone on their spiritual journey.

· O Holy Spirit be with us in our endeavors to bring God’s presence into our world in need.

The word of God calls us to see that all the places and occasions of the world, even places of sorrow and death, are transfigured by the presence of the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Let us now call to mind all who are in any need and commend them to God’s transforming care, saying: O merciful God, hear our prayer.

For those who are alone, for widows and widowers and orphans, and for the divorced, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

For the imprisoned, for those whose only home is the streets, and for those caught by addition, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

For the hungry, for those who cannot feed their children, and for the unemployed, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

For refugees, for the victims of warfare, and for those held in poverty by racial discrimination, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

For the people of our nation, our city, and our community, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

For artists and writers, and for all who think on the edge of society, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

For preachers and teachers of the light-bearing word of Christ, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

For this community, our church and its leaders, formed by the life-giving word of Christ, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

For this assembly, feeding on the word of Christ, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for our President Biden and for our nation. We pray for our for bishops, all clergy, deacons, and all who minister in the church, especially Michael our Presiding Bishop, Greg our Bishop, Kathleen our rector, and Navy Chaplain David, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

We pray for our community, especially parishioners Mike & Katherine Adams, Sue Ahrens, Curtis & Barbara Anderson, Terri Anderson, and Joanna Baas. We also pray for Bishop Rickel and his staff, St. James, Cathlamet, St. Timothy, Chehalis, and The Anglican Church of Canada, O merciful God, hear our prayer.

With Moses and Elijah and all the people of God, with the church throughout the ages bearing witness to the great light of God shining in dark places, we commend to you all for whom we pray, O merciful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession of Sin

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Most merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us;

that we may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The PeaceThe peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

Musical Offering: Gather Hymnal #877: “How Good Lord To Be Here”

(As you are listening this is a good time to do your giving online.)

The Great Thanksgiving: from Eucharistic Prayers

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Lift up your hearts.

People We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Celebrant:Creating and liberating God, you called your people into covenant with you

and sealed your trust with Moses on the mountains;

you called your people back to that covenant through your prophets

and spoke in a still small voice to Elijah on a mountain.

Then, in your Son Jesus, on a mountain you stood between

the Law and the Prophets

and revealed the radiance of your gospel.

On Calvary’s hill your Son redeemed us by the blood of your new covenant,

and on the mountain in Galilee he ascended to your right hand on high.

And so we gladly thank you, celebrating your glory

with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven,

dazzled by your face and singing the hymn of your unending praise.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

The Celebrant continues:

Dazzling God, you set up your tent and make your dwelling among us.

Abide with us now through the power of your Holy Spirit,

that your people may become a temple of your presence,

and these gifts of bread and wine be for us

the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ;

who, at supper with his disciples, took bread, gave you thanks,

broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying,

“Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you;

do this in remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup.

Again he gave you thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying,

“Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant,

which is shed for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Great is the mystery of faith.

Christ has died

Christ is risen

Christ will come again.

Transfiguring God, it is good for us to be here.

Through this holy sacrament make us your sons and daughters,

and be close to all children who have no one

to share your love and mercy with them.

Make us your beloved, and visit all who have no one to call them beloved.

Give us grace to listen to your voice,

and bring to your heart any who have no one to listen to them.

Surround us with your prophetic company

and take us up into the whirlwind of your glory,

until the day comes when the waters of the Jordan are parted

and the heavens are opened

and the chariots bring us home to you,

ever one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray,

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven hallowed be your Name,

your kingdom come your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those

who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

now and forever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.

Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!

Gather Hymnal #878: “Transform Us”

Prayer after Communion: My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

The Blessing

Recessional Hymn: “Shine, Jesus, Shine”

Lord the light of Your love is shining In the midst of the darkness, shiningJesus, Light of the world, shine upon usSet us free by the truth You now bring usShine on me, Shine on meShine, Jesus, shine Fill this land with the Father's gloryBlaze, Spirit, blaze, Set our hearts on fireFlow, river, flowFlood the nations with grace and mercySend forth Your Word, Lord And let there be lightLord, I come into Your awesome presenceFrom the shadows into Your radianceBy the blood I may enter Your brightnessSearch me, try me, consume all my darknessShine on me, Shine on meShine, Jesus, Shine…

The Great Beginning

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

~ St Paul's Episcopal Church ~

700 Callahan Dr

Bremerton, WA 98310-3304

~ 360-377-0106 ~

~ www.stpaulsbremerton.org ~ stpaul700@gmail.com ~

All music used with permission CCLI 11537808, One License A-718300

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