From the Mountain to the Marketplace: Shining Light in the Dark

[00:07:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:07:59] Good morning everyone and welcome. Welcome to worship live from the sanctuary of North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church. For those of you who are here in the building, we're glad that you are here. And those of you tuning in from home, we're glad that you're with us as well. It's good to be together this day.
[00:08:16] And today is Transfiguration Sunday. It's the Sunday when we read the story, when we remember and reflect upon Jesus taking his closest friends up onto a mountain and was transfigured before them, shining in dazzling white robes, bright faces. But we know that what goes up a mountain
[00:08:38] must come down a mountain, that those who went up came down to do the work of Christ in and among the people. So we celebrate that today, and we remember that we too are called
[00:08:50] to leave this place to love and serve God and God's people. I have several announcements for you all this morning, more than normal because there's a lot going on these days. First and foremost, if you're currently one of our currently sitting and serving ruling elders, our February
[00:09:08] stated session meeting is today following this service we'll gather in the fellowship hall at 12 15 to begin our meeting or if you need to join virtually that information was sent out just a couple of days ago so we hope that you'll join us because it's transfiguration sunday it
[00:09:27] means that lent is just around the corner so we are going to gather together this tuesday for a for dinner pancake dinner at 530 we'll gather in the fellowship hall as we some of us eat our final sweet treats before we fast for the season of Lent so come
[00:09:51] and join us Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner 530 in our fellowship hall Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday so I hope that you'll come and join us for a service of prayer and reflection as we dedicate and commit ourselves to the
[00:10:08] discipline of Lent throughout the season. We'll gather in Wilkesboro Presbyterian Chapel at 630 for that service, so we hope that you'll join us there. And that also kicks off an entire season of prayer and fasting, of commitment and dedication. So there are several offerings that I want to make
[00:10:28] you aware of. First and foremost, our Faith Formation Committee has chosen Pause, Spending Lent with the Psalms by Elizabeth Caldwell. That's our Lenten devotional for the season.
[00:10:44] So if you'd like a copy of that, you can pick one up in the church office. We have several available or let us know and we'll make sure that you get one in your hands. Join us as we read and as we
[00:10:57] pray together through this offering. During the Sundays of Lent, starting next week, 5 p.m. down in our library, just down in our education wing, our Lenten small discussion group will gather to think through and pray through and reflect with one another about
[00:11:17] pause, spending Lent with the Psalms. You don't have to have read. If you have, that's great. If you have not, simply come and join the conversation every Sunday in the season of Lent, 5 p.m. down in
[00:11:31] the church library. And finally, Lent is a season, we think of it most often as a season of prayer and fasting when we give things up, but Lent can also be a time where we take on disciplines as
[00:11:45] well. We hope that you will take on the discipline of gathering items as a congregation for the Catherine H. Barber Memorial Homeless Shelter, for Wilkes Recovery Revolutions, R3 Center, and for our own little free pantry here as well as we seek to take on the discipline of loving
[00:12:05] and caring for the most vulnerable among us. You can check our weekly newsletter for those items that we are collecting. We hope that you will do so and do so generously. This Thursday is our,
[00:12:19] it's a third Thursday, it is our week to serve at St. Paul's Crisis Assistance Ministry.
[00:12:24] if you'd like to serve or if you'd like to donate lunch items you can click the link in our weekly newsletter to sign up to bring a soup or sandwich making stuff or if you'd like to volunteer as well
[00:12:38] we hope that you'll join us this thursday at saint paul's and finally our our earth care team is meeting this upcoming saturday at 11 a.m down in our church library thinking through how it is we
[00:12:51] as a congregation might continue to grow in our care for and our love of this little corner of the planet that's been entrusted to us. So if you'd like to join that team and join the conversation
[00:13:02] 11 a.m. this Saturday. Our church nominating committee is continuing to accept nominations for ruling elder class of 2028. We will do so all throughout the month of February.
[00:13:20] those nomination forms will be open. We hope that you'll consider either completing that paper ballot that was mailed out last week, or you can always click the link in our weekly newsletter to submit your nominations virtually. We hope that you'll do that prayerfully as you consider who
[00:13:39] you'd like to serve this congregation for the next term. And finally, finally, finally, today if you haven't noticed is also Scout Sunday we have a long history with the Scouts and I'd like to welcome Daniel Roth and the Scouts of Troop 336

[00:14:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:14:00] to open us up this morning we're gonna start the opening with our Scout oath Please, please stand up. Scouts please stand up. Just Scouts.

[00:14:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:14:36] On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to guard my country, to obey the Scout law, to help other people all the time, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

[00:14:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:14:55] I just wanted to first give thanks to the church.
[00:15:06] It's a blessing to be able to meet here every Monday, to be able to use the church band and everything that you guys are providing us.
[00:15:15] I want to thank the congregation as well, again, for giving us this facility and supporting us throughout these years.
[00:15:22] I also want to thank the pastor and everybody that's serving here.
[00:15:27] You guys are much appreciated.
[00:15:30] and thank you for that.
[00:15:34] The Scout Oath is what we always open up with after the Pledge of Allegiance.
[00:15:39] We start the Scout Oath because it resembles a lot to the scouting community.
[00:15:45] It starts off with, On my honor, I will do my best.
[00:15:48] Our honor is our quality we possess because of our dignity as human beings and children of God.
[00:15:54] Our best means to give all we have.
[00:15:57] It means to keep striving to do what we know is right.
[00:15:59] and in the oath it means we will try to be good scouts by fulfilling our scout duties as expressed in the scout laws to do my duty to God in my country and to bathe the scout law our duty to God and country means chiefly two things
[00:16:16] obedience and loyalty the duties we owed to the church to our country to parents to one another and to ourselves come from the Word of God the scout law sums up all those qualities a scout should have and without which he cannot be a good scout
[00:16:35] to help other people at all times jesus told us the first and most important law is to love the lord with all our hearts the second is to love your neighbor as yourself christians were known
[00:16:49] by the love they had for one another christian charity or love prompts us to want to help each other and yesterday part of our weekend was we did scouting for food and I'm proud to announce that these scouts right here met at food line on 18 and
[00:17:06] was able to collect 265 pounds of food to donate to different food pantries to keep myself physically strong mentally awake and morally straight through our regular scouting activities we have many opportunities to grow physically to be
[00:17:26] alert and ready means that we have to give special care to the two gifts of soul and will make us more like God morally straight means we trust to know what is right and true and to love what is good and choose it and now I want to
[00:17:42] show that these Scouts live morally and by the Scout laws so we're going to tell you guys the Scout laws. So Scouts please stand. A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Thank you again.

[00:18:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:18:12] Thank you indeed for your good work in our community. Thank you for being here every Monday to learn and grow and develop as wonderful kids and human beings. Thank you for your commitment and your dedication and for sharing that with us. We are glad to be with you as partners
[00:18:42] in your work. There is a lot that's going on, as evidenced by the bazillion announcements for today.
[00:18:51] There's a lot going on in the world. There's a lot going on in the country. There's a lot going on in our community, there's a lot going on in our hearts as well. So we gather together to pause,
[00:19:03] to give thanks for the week that has gone by, that we trust we've done good work, and we gather so that we might prepare for the week ahead, remembering that God has called us and commissioned
[00:19:16] us for service. So let us do what we've come here to do. Let us gather, let us join our hearts and minds, and let us worship God. Would you join me as we call one another to praise? Our God is holy
[00:19:33] and mighty, a leader who loves justice, who established honesty, justice, and righteousness.
[00:19:42] God has done this. We exalt you, O God. We worship at your footstool. You are holy.
[00:19:50] Miriam, Moses, and Aaron were among them And Samuel, too, was among those who invoked the name They called on God, and God answered them We exalt you, O Lord our God And we worship you at your holy mountain
[00:20:11] For you, O God, are holy

[00:20:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:20:14] Trusting in God's steadfast love

[00:22:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:22:52] let us take a moment now to confess our sin and the sin of the world that we live in, using the words printed in our bulletin first, followed by silent time of prayer.
[00:23:06] So let's pray together.
[00:23:09] God of radiant light, we confess that we are a people who are sometimes too comfortable dwelling in darkness.
[00:23:18] We say we want things to change, that we do not accept the way things are, but in reality we want someone else to take care of the changing.
[00:23:31] We resist transformation and sometimes do not even believe it is possible.
[00:23:38] Forget our unbelief. Soften our hearts toward one another and ourselves.

[00:23:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:23:46] May your spirit move through and among us.

[00:23:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:23:50] Make us light bearers for your sake and for the sake of your people.
[00:24:37] Whether we are high on the mountaintop or deep in the deepest valley, God is with us.
[00:24:50] So let us assure one another.
[00:24:52] The good news is this. While we do not always, or perhaps often, get it right, God is faithful.
[00:25:03] God keeps God's promises. Let this truth deep down seep into your weary bones.
[00:25:11] In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free for life in God's Spirit.
[00:25:18] Thanks be to God.
[00:25:21] Thanks be to God indeed.
[00:25:23] We are set free to live life in God's spirit.
[00:25:27] And inspired by that, let us turn now to one another and share a sign of Christ's peace.
[00:25:34] We may do so in whatever way feels right and sensible to you.
[00:25:37] You can shake hands or fist bump.
[00:25:40] You can simply share a kind word or a peace sign.
[00:25:43] You can hug.
[00:25:44] If you'd like to share the peace without physical touch, you may place your hands in front of you and extend the peace in this way.
[00:25:52] May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

[00:25:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:25:54] And also with you.

[00:29:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:29:09] Now let us join our hearts and our voices together as we sing our prayer of illumination.
[00:29:15] Our first lesson for this morning comes from Exodus chapter 24, verses 12 through 18.
[00:29:59] So let's listen for what the Holy Spirit is telling God's people.
[00:30:05] The Lord said to Moses, come up to me on the mountain and wait there.
[00:30:11] I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.
[00:30:22] So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up onto the mountain of God.
[00:30:30] To the elders he had said, wait here for us until we come back to you.
[00:30:37] Look, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute may go to them.
[00:30:44] Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
[00:30:49] The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days.
[00:30:57] On the seventh day, he called to Moses out of the cloud.
[00:31:02] Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the Israelites.
[00:31:13] Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain.
[00:31:18] Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
[00:31:22] Holy wisdom, holy word.
[00:31:25] Thanks be to God.

[00:36:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:36:28] Our second lesson for this morning comes from the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 17, verses 1 through 9.
[00:36:37] So let us listen once more for the word of God made new for us today.
[00:36:44] Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
[00:36:55] And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light.
[00:37:05] Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him.
[00:37:12] Then Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here.
[00:37:16] If you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
[00:37:24] While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my son, the beloved.
[00:37:37] With him I am well pleased. Listen to him.
[00:37:41] When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.
[00:37:50] But Jesus came and touched them, saying, Get up, and do not be afraid.
[00:37:57] And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
[00:38:04] As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.
[00:38:17] Holy wisdom, holy word.
[00:38:21] Thanks be to God.
[00:38:25] Back in October, this past fall, I was invited to lead a small retreat that was hosted by one of my good friends from my seminary days.
[00:38:36] His name was Will. His name is Will still.
[00:38:40] um will's a campus minister uh he works in an ecumenical ministry uh off the campus of the university of georgia and he contacted me seemingly out of the blue um to see if i'd be available and
[00:38:56] interested in guiding a group of his students in what he called an empire summit he thought about me immediately when he when he was putting this retreat together because this was part of my interest in my seminary days it's a it was a look it was supposed to be a look at the the kind of
[00:39:18] biblical story how the bible unfolds particularly for the nation of israel and its people and for early christ followers as they dealt with imperial relationships it was a great group of students this, at this retreat. They were, they were thoughtful and engaged. They were creative and
[00:39:38] curious in every way. They had wonderful conversations, great questions, and it was a really good, good experience. The whole experience was, was moving and, and energizing. At least it was, it was for me. I hope it was for those young folks, but it was really good for me.
[00:39:57] and of course like when you have the opportunity to connect or reconnect with an old friend that is really good that was good for me to be able to be there with will in between our sessions we would
[00:40:11] we would spend time walking around the retreat center grounds and we would reminisce about the good old days gone by and we'd catch up we spent lots of time catching up on all of the life that
[00:40:24] had been happening for us between then and now. All the good things and the things that were challenging for us. It's times like these that remind me that we really do need each other.
[00:40:41] We're meant to be together. We're meant to be in relationship with one another. We need good friends around us to support with our love. And we need good friends because they also need to be
[00:40:56] supported by our love. Nonetheless, this retreat was held at this wonderful retreat center. It was called the Mountain Retreat and Learning Center. It's just west of Asheville, not too far away from Asheville. And it was just a remarkable place, really, really beautiful, as many retreat
[00:41:16] centers are and it was especially pretty because we were meeting there in October so as you might imagine the fall scenery was in full swing we were we were likely there maybe a week or two
[00:41:29] past the kind of prime leaf looking season but but there were still plenty of colors by which to be amazed plenty of leaves to gawk at it's just it's just something about these types of settings that
[00:41:45] that seem to draw me into the presence of the divine. And I recognize, I recognize that the divine is anywhere and everywhere all the time. And I know, I know that times and places like this,
[00:42:01] they provide this seemingly distraction-free opportunity to encounter God. Or maybe if I think about it a little bit differently, I should really say that times and places like this, they they afford me the time to stop and to pause long enough to connect with God, the same God who
[00:42:25] tries to chase me down in and out every day, tries to get my attention. I find also that on retreats like this, I rest really deeply. I rest really well. I go to bed a little bit earlier
[00:42:42] than I usually do. And even though the beds are almost always those kind of plasticky mattresses, I tend to sleep really, really deeply. And I get up a little bit earlier than I usually do.
[00:42:58] But I get up like rested and rejuvenated, refreshed for the time. And that was the case here as well. That was the case on this retreat. After a night of deep sleep, I woke up early on
[00:43:11] a Saturday morning, in part because that's just how I operate. It's just how I roll. I get up a little bit early every single day. But in part, it was because I heard that there was an incredible
[00:43:26] deck at this place. It was an east-facing deck, and you could sit there and you could watch the sun rise over the mountains. And so that's what I did. I got up early on Saturday morning
[00:43:39] while it was still dark the fall mountain air was cool and crisp that day there was no light pollution so the pathways to get to this this little viewing deck off the main lodge it was
[00:43:53] impenetrably dark and i made my way over to this to this place it was right off the main lodge and there was another group that was staying there but but they were a great a great group of folks
[00:44:05] they welcomed us to sit with them and to watch the day burst to life and i'll tell you burst to life it did it was absolutely incredible maybe the most single uh powerful and moving sunrise i've never
[00:44:20] seen anything like it before even i've told you about times that we've seen these over the atlantic ocean but this was something else just as the sun kind of peeked its head over the mountains
[00:44:32] it's shown this just intense beam of light that shot straight up into the clouds illuminating everything with this power and this purity like i had never seen before devoured all sense of darkness and created the most vivid of oranges and pinks and purples that i had ever seen that
[00:44:56] you can possibly imagine. It was not only breathtakingly beautiful, like remarkably beautiful, but I think it was also this divine moment, this divinely directive moment.
[00:45:14] Because I sat there watching this creational marvel unfold, and I could not help but to be paralyzed paralyzed with purpose I think because I knew stuff in that moment as I watched that Sun peak up over the mountains I knew in that moment that
[00:45:35] that is where I needed to be I knew that I needed to be at that retreat I knew I needed to be with those particular students I knew that I needed to be with Will, my old friend. I knew I needed to be there then, then and there. But I also knew that when
[00:45:58] it was all said and done, I knew that I needed to come down off the mountain. I knew that I needed to come home. I knew I would be refreshed and re-energized, restored, so that I could come here
[00:46:12] and do what God was asking me to do, what God was asking us to do together here in this particular place. I confess that I am surely, surely no Moses. That is for sure. But I wonder, I wonder if that's
[00:46:32] what Moses might have felt like on that mountain as the devouring fire of God's glory covered over its peak. I wonder if he sat there in this moment paralyzed with purpose at the power and the purity of God's holy light, God's glory. And I wonder if that's how Peter and
[00:46:57] James and John, I wonder if even Jesus himself might have felt this way on their own mountain as the devouring light of God shone around them and shone in them, shone through them.
[00:47:11] up on that mountain I wonder if they sat there paralyzed in their own amazement marveling at the beauty and the wonder of it all but but also sensing deep down that there was something bigger
[00:47:26] something better something more important for them up ahead this this devouring light eating up the darkness with its brilliant beauty and shining a way forward for them with power purpose because in the end that's that's really what transfiguration and transfiguration sunday
[00:47:49] is all about it's not about what happens up on that mountain it's not about jesus being transfigured before them it's not about his face shining and his clothes becoming dazzlingly bright it's not about moses and elijah vision visiting them it's not about bright clouds that cover
[00:48:10] over mountaintops in glory, it's not about any of that deep down. It's about what happens next.
[00:48:20] It's about what they do with this experience, what we do with this moment of empowerment.
[00:48:29] While Moses could have stayed, he could have ended up staying on Mount Sinai with God forever, seemingly. But after 40 days, he came down to guide the people with the law of love, the very law of God. It was his purpose, the purpose that God had given to him.
[00:48:52] And while Peter and James and John, they could have stayed up there on that mountain forever, seemingly. And in fact, Peter himself wants to do that, says, why don't we build some huts for us
[00:49:03] all. But after it was all over, they too came down off the mountain to learn the ways of Christ's love so that they might come to lead people in sharing the ways of Christ's love. It was their
[00:49:20] purpose, their God-given purpose. And you know, Jesus could have stayed on that mountain forever as well. But he came down so that he might give himself up for love of the world, even though later he would ask that that cup would be taken from him but it was his purpose
[00:49:41] his God-given purpose and God knows I could have stayed on that deck and the power and the purity of that morning light maybe forever but my purpose is not up there it's here with you my family
[00:50:00] my family of faith. So what about you? What about us together? What is God's light and God's love expecting of us, asking of us, calling us to do? The light that devours all darkness and the love
[00:50:23] that is meant to be given to anyone and everyone, anywhere and everywhere. What is God's light and love calling us to do or to be. Friends, I stand here before you to say the same thing that Jesus
[00:50:42] told us last week, the same thing that Jesus tells us every week. Friends, you, we are God's devouring light, and so let us go. Let us go and shine light into the darkness so that anyone and everyone
[00:51:02] can see, because that is our purpose. Amen. Friends, with the word of God still ringing in

[00:51:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:51:25] our ears and echoing in our hearts, let us rise in body or in spirit and say what we believe as the church. Today, our affirmation of faith comes from the Nicene Creed. We believe in one God,
[00:51:44] the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
[00:51:52] We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from
[00:52:19] heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again
[00:52:43] in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who from the
[00:53:00] Father, and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
[00:53:07] We believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church.
[00:53:12] We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
[00:53:17] We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

[00:53:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:53:26] Friends, each week we go to God in prayer, and today we do the same,

[00:56:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:56:11] asking God to intervene in our world, to bring and shine God's light, and reminding ourselves and each other that that's our job as well. So let us go to God in prayer. O Sovereign God,
[00:56:27] you revealed your love and guidance for us on Mount Sinai and on the Mount of Transfiguration, giving us a vision of how to live in equity and in peace. So trusting in your care for us,
[00:56:43] we bring to you our prayers.
[00:56:47] We pray, O God, for your church.
[00:56:49] We pray that it may be the light of love for all people and may it begin here with us, those gathered in this place, whether in person or virtually.
[00:57:02] We ask that you would move in and among us, sending us out so that your light and love might ripple from this place, from this people, touching anyone and everyone.
[00:57:13] in its wake. We pray, O God, for the nations of the world. We pray that their governors may be wise and filled with compassion. We pray this for our local officials, those in our state, in our nation,
[00:57:32] and those around the world. We ask that you would infuse them with your ways so that they might work to create a world, so that we might all work to create a world in which nobody goes without
[00:57:45] and all people are touched by your goodness and grace. We pray, O God, for those who suffer illness or oppression of any kind. We pray that our care for them may bring your healing, your liberation. We lift up to you this day, especially those close to us. We name them aloud
[00:58:09] in this time. We place before you Anna Jo, Karen, Chris, Susan, Martha, Kathy, Evelyn, Ward, Ed, Angela, Cade, Richard, Michael, William, Betty, Debbie, Joelle, Barbara, Cole, Leslie, and so many others, O God, those in the depths of our hearts and those who have no one for whom to
[00:58:48] pray those who are waiting in nursing homes or in hospitals feeling lost and isolated and alone we ask oh god that you would surround them with your care that you would make your presence known
[00:59:03] to each of them and that you would use your people here and there and everywhere to bring about your healing and wholeness as we can and for those who are suffering the grief of loss
[00:59:17] those who are mourning loved ones gone by we ask oh god that you would make your presence known to them and you would use us to bring comfort as we can we pray especially for the family of laura
[00:59:31] bouchard the family of lucille johnson sister of our own gerald lankford and for the family of Mary Frances Galifianakis. God, we pray for your creation. We ask that we may be your wise and obedient stewards, the ones you intended us to be at the dawn of time when you entrusted this place
[00:59:58] to our care. We ask, O God, that we would continue to learn how to care for her so that she might continue to care for us as well. And we pray for all those this day who are in search of you,
[01:00:13] that they may walk by your lamp the lamp of your spirit and that they might be at peace in your light both now and forever more and use us O God those gathered here in this place to be your light to shine your light anywhere and everywhere
[01:00:32] so that we might light the way forward join together in Christ in the unity of of the Holy Spirit, all majesty and honor are yours, O Holy One, now and forevermore.
[01:00:48] And to that end, O God, we join our voices with disciples of every time and every place, every land and every race, praying together the prayer that Jesus has taught us all to pray, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
[01:01:11] on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[01:01:25] For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

[01:01:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[01:01:39] We are created in the image of a generous God, and we participate in God's generosity when we share what we have with one another.
[01:01:51] We do this not because we have to, but because we want to out of gratitude for what we ourselves have received.
[01:01:59] So you may wish to give an offering by placing something in the offering plate as you leave or in the little white church in the narthex.
[01:02:07] Maybe you want to scan the QR code and learn how to give online or mail something into our church office.
[01:02:14] But we have been given so much more than the money in our pocket or in our bank accounts.
[01:02:20] And so maybe as Lent approaches, you want to commit yourself to giving items that we are collecting to support organizations who help our neighbors who are hungry and in need of safe places to lay
[01:02:34] their heads. As Pastor R.C. already mentioned in our announcements, the items that we collect during Lent will go to the Catherine H. Barber Memorial Center, to Wilkes Recovery Revolution, and to our own free little pantry, which we keep stocked. Maybe you'd like to give your time by
[01:02:54] joining a committee of our church. Maybe you want to join the earth care team meeting this coming Saturday. There are so many ways that we can give and give generously to share in the generosity
[01:03:05] with God so that all may know it far and wide. At this time, during this time of musical reflection, let us all commit our gifts to God and then we'll offer them together in prayer. Let's pray together.
[01:05:41] Gracious and holy God, we give you thanks for the many gifts in our lives.
[01:05:47] We are well and truly blessed.
[01:05:51] We dedicate these offerings to you.
[01:05:54] Multiply them beyond our imagining.
[01:05:57] That others might experience your love and grace, your mercy and justice.
[01:06:04] May we come to know a world where each person is enough and is enough.
[01:06:10] These things we ask boldly in Christ's name. Amen.

[01:06:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[01:06:17] We go out from this place into the world that God so dearly loved, for that is why we came.
[01:09:51] We did not come so that we might stay here forever.
[01:09:56] We came so that we might go.
[01:09:58] So that we might go refreshed, renewed, re-energized for service in God's kingdom.
[01:10:04] so go go and shine the light of Christ for that is what you were meant to do that is what we were meant to do as we go to do that good work I pray we all go with this blessing
[01:10:16] may the grace of our Lord Jesus the Christ may the love of God our creator and may the partnership of the Holy Spirit the Lord and giver of life may that God go with you and with me
[01:10:30] with us together this day and forevermore.
[01:10:36] Alleluia. Amen.