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Government Street Presbyterian Church Sunday, February 14, 2021 | 10am Transfiguration of the Lord

Gathering Art: The Transfiguration of Christ; by Albrecht Altdorfer, Regensburg, Germany, ca. 1513. Woodcut medium. The Met Collections, Fifth Avenue, New York.

Scripture and Hymn settings can be found on pages 4-8 of the bulletin. We invite you to reflect on the hymn texts as they are sung, and the Scriptures as they are read.

Prelude

"Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness" BWV 654

J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Chiming of the Hour

WESTMINSTER

Welcome

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

Call to Worship

from Isaiah 40

The glory of God shines like a consuming fire. We have seen the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. God calls the faithful to worship with gladness and serve with joy. Let us praise the Lord!

Hymn 645 Hymn 645—The regal divine imagery here will not be new to most singers, but some may not expect the third stanza’s image of God as mother. Yet it is part of God’s selfdescription in Isaiah 66:13. This Bohemian Brethren tune resembles both Genevan psalm tunes and French folk songs.

Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above

MIT FREUDEN ZART

Prayer of Confession unison God of all glory, we have tried to hide from you; yet we have never hidden your love from us. We have tried to search for you; yet you have already revealed yourself to us in the face of Jesus Christ. Forgive us for the ways we fall short.

Renew us so that our lives may shine brightly with the grace of our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Response | Hymn 581

Glory Be to the Father GLORIA PATRI

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.

P roclaiming the Word Prayer for Illumination In the Prayer for Illumination, we ask the Holy Spirit to be present with us as we hear God’s word read and preached. We seek to better understand God’s will so that we can follow Christ more faithfully.

Jasper Reaves

First Reading

Isaiah 40:21-31

Children’s Sermon

Rev. Alexandra Hutson

The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven,

The Children’s Worship Bulletin may be found on pages 9-10 .

as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come,

but deliver us from evil.

thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

For thine is the kingdom,

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts,

and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Second Reading Sermon

Mark 9:2-9

“Listen to Him”

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

Thanksgiving Hymn 739 Hymn 739— Merely longing for a restored relationship with God is not enough; real repentance requires amendment of life (stanza 3). The similarity of stanzas one and four suggests both continuity and improvement. This tune was one of the new common tunes in the Scottish Psalter of 1635.

O for a Closer Walk with God CAITHNESS

Affirmation of Faith unison

Rev. Alexandra Hutson

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 2

born of the Virgin Mary,

Confessions define what we as a community believe, affirming our beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and about humanity, the church and the world. The Apostles’ Creed affirms the historical nature of Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ and confirms the Trinitarian nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; The fourth century word “Doxology” is comprised of the Greek words doxa and logos. Doxa means splendor, or grandeur while the word logos means word or speaking. Doxologies are short hymns of expression of praise to God and are often sung or chanted. Since the early church, doxologies have been a way for Christians to express their love and thankfulness for what God has done in their lives.

the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Doxology | Hymn 607

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow OLD HUNDREDTH

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye Heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!

Hymn 190—The first two stanzas of this 20th-century Transfiguration hymn guide singers through a contemplation of the disciples’ experience of that event. The final stanza becomes a corporate prayer for enlightenment and for a renewed sense of commitment to doing God’s will. At the conclusion of the service, please leave in a distanced fashion without standing in or blocking the aisles.

Offertory Prayer of Intercession & Thanksgiving

Sending Hymn 190 Benediction Postlude

Celebrating in Worship Sami Anselmo Jacob Mohr

Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory GENEVA

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar Psalm XIX: “The Heavens declare”

Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739)

II Kings 2:1-12

stood at some distance from them, as

2 Now when the Lord was about to take

they

Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah

Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and

and Elisha were on their way from

rolled it up, and struck the water; the

Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here;

water was parted to the one side and to

for the Lord has sent me as far as

the other, until the two of them crossed

Bethel.”

on dry ground.

But

Elisha

said,

“As

both

were

standing

the

the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to

will not leave you.” So they went down to

Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you,

Bethel. 3 The company of prophets who

before I am taken from you.” Elisha said,

were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and

“Please let me inherit a double share of

said to him, “Do you know that today

your spirit.” 10 He responded, “You have

the Lord will take your master away from

asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I

you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep

am being taken from you, it will be

silent.”

granted you; if not, it will not.” 11 As they

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for

continued walking and talking, a chariot

the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he

of fire and horses of fire separated the

said, “As the Lord lives, and as you

two of them, and Elijah ascended in a

yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they

whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha kept

came to Jericho. 5 The company of

watching and crying out, “Father, father!

prophets who were at Jericho drew near

The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”

to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know

But when he could no longer see him, he

that today the Lord will take your master

grasped his own clothes and tore them in

away from you?” And he answered, “Yes,

two pieces.

I know; be silent.” 6 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. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and 4

Mark 9:2-9 2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And

was

transfigured

before

them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 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.” 6 He did

not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. 9 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 Sanctuary Flowers are given by Tom & Ceil McGehee to the glory of God and in loving memory of Gloria Crichton McGehee, on the occasion of her one-hundredth birthday. 300 Government Street Mobile, Alabama 36602 251.432.1749 | gspcmobile.org Member PC(USA)

 Staff REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR Pastor & Head of Staff rebekah@gspcmobile.org REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON Associate Pastor alexandra@gspcmobile.org TOMMY WATTS Director of Music & Organist Communications tommy@gspcmobile.org SAMANTHA ANSELMO Children’s Choir Director

KATY PARTRIDGE Office & Property Manager katy@gspcmobile.org

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Women’s Bible Study Tuesdays at 10AM via Zoom Contact: Laurie Shorter or Mary Elizabeth Perry Sunday Book Study Group Sundays at 12PM via Zoom Contact: Laurie Shorter Monday Book Study Group Mondays 2:30 p.m.– 3:30 (February 8—April 12) Contact: Laurie Shorter Presbyterian Women P.W. Circle & Bible Study Second Monday night of each month via Zoom (3/8, 4/12, 5/10) Contact: Bligh Jones

DAWN HEARN Bookkeeper dawn@gspcmobile.org BARBARA WILLIAMS Hostess barbara@gspcmobile.org SHELIA SMITH Director of Food Services MARILYN MILLS Sexton ARTHUR LEWIS Sexton 

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