Transfiguration February 8 & 11 in the year of our Lord 2018

G O O D S H E P H E R D Evangelical Lutheran Church and School , Wisconsin Rapids, WI, USA

A Voice from cloud: “This is 8My&Son, whom love. of Listen Him.” 2018 Mark 9:7b T r ancame s f i gu r athe t i on February 11 in theI year ourtoLord

W ELCOME TO OUR HEAVENLY F ATHER’ S HOUSE OF WORSHIP!  RESTROOMS are located in the entryway and also in the hallway entrance between the Education Wing and the Sanctuary.  P ARENT - ROOM . Need a family quiet-room, one with a large oneway mirror is located off the main worship area. Also we put speakers in all our educational rooms. This provides some privacy (and walk-ability) for those restless times children may have.

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A Voice came from the cloud: “This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him.” Mark 9:7b

Today’s Focus: See! heaven’s Door open: Lent is coming; hold on to His glory that soon will be covered in our shame and God-washed with Jesus’ blood.

The Holy

Welcoming Song:

Beautiful Savior #369cw

Spirit took

me here to be with others to be

blessed

Lea der : In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Dear friends, let us approach God with a true heart and confess our sins, asking Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us. Pe o p l e: God, my Father, I have sinned against You. I have not obeyed Your holy commands and I have left undone the godly things You want me to do. I deserve Your punishment now and forever. Please do not look on my sins. Instead, look at my Savior, Jesus Christ, and forgive me for His sake.

by His Word today.

Lea der : By the perfect death and resurrection of our LORD Jesus

Christ, God has removed your guilt forever. Trust Him and be at peace.


Prayer of the Day Le a de r : Lord God, before the suffering and death of Your one and only Son, You revealed His glory on the holy mountain. Grant that we boldly bear His cross on earth; grant that we see the living Word in His Word;

Pe o p l e : Let us be transformed into His likeness; we ask all of this through Him, Jesus Christ. He is our Lord, and He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Bible Readings 2 Kings 2:1-12a When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah was traveling with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “ Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel. ” But Elisha said, “ As surely as the L ORD

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lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. ” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “ Do you know that today the Lord is taking your master away from you? ” Then he said, “ Yes, I know. Be quiet. ” 4 Then Elijah said to him, “ Elisha, stay here because the Lord has sent me to Jericho. ” But he said, “ As surely as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 5 Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “ Do you know that today the Lord is taking your master away from you? ” He said, “ Yes, I know. Be quiet. ” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “ Stay here because the Lord has sent me to the Jordan. ” But he said, “ As surely as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. ” So the two of them went on. 7 Then fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood and watched them from a distance, while the two of them were standing at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, folded it together, and struck the water. The water divided to the right and to the left. Then the two of them crossed on dry land. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “ Ask me for whatever I can do for you before I am taken from you. ” Then Elisha said, “ Let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 He said, “ You have asked for a difficult thing. If you see me being taken from you, it will surely be yours. But if not, then it will not. ” 11 While they were walking and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire, and horses of fire came and separated them. So Elijah went up to heaven in a whirl wind. 12 Elisha was watching and crying out, “ My father! My father! Israel ’s chariot and its charioteers! ” Then he did not see him anymore. Mark 9:2-9 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him and led them up a high mountain where they were alone by themselves. There He was transfigured in front of them. 3 His clothes became radiant, dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them together with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 2


Peter said to Jesus, “ Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. ” 6 He did not know what to say because they were terrified. 7 A cloud appeared and overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, “ This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him. ” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 5

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 12 Therefore, since we have this kind of hope, we act with great boldness. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face, so that the Israelites could not continue to look at the end of the radiance, as it was fading away. 14 In spite of this, their minds were hardened. Yes, up to the present day, the same veil remains when the Old Testament is read. It has not been removed because it is taken away only in Christ. 15 Instead, to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But whenever some -one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

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A Voice came from the cloud: “This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him.” Mark 9:7b 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 But all of us who reflect the Lord’s glory with an unveiled face are being transformed into His own image, from one degree of glory to another. This too is from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 4:1 T her ef or e, si nce we have t hi s mi ni st r y as a r esul t of t he mer cy shown us, we ar e not di scour aged. 2 On the contrary, we have renounced shameful, underhanded methods. We do not operate in a deceitful way, and we do not distort the word of God. Instead, by proclaiming the truth clearly, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

Victory Song of the Day: How Good Lord To Be Here #95cw

I n st ru ct i on i n t h e W ord o f G o d Sunday: T eachi ng T alk - Pi ece by yout h

We Return to the Lord our Thank-Offerings In love, God freely gives; in thanks, God’s people freely give. God’s people do not bully or browbeat, do not tax or tuition to make people give. God does not force His people to be generous with His gifts. God mo ves soul s t o r et ur n gi f t s of mone y, t i me or ski l l s. At Good Shepher d such gi f t s are j oi ned wi t h other s and used t o mo ve God’ s Wor d out t o t he wor l d. It is in joyful confidence that believers live, give, serve, encourage — all for Jesus our Savior. We are thankful God brought you to be here in with Jesus today.

P r a ye r s & w e si n g t h e L o r d ’ s P r a ye r tune: 588cw Father in heaven, holy be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done the same On earth as it is done in heaven above. Our Father, bless Your children with Your love.


Our daily bread provide for us each day. As we forgive, so take our sins away. In time of trial, saving Lord, be near, From every evil our Deliverer. Yours is the kingdom; over all things reign. Yours is the power; all things you maintain. Yours is the glory, sound it forth again For ever and for evermore. Amen!

Benediction | Parting Song We came into the presence of LORD Almighty God Our hearts began to tremble, our souls arose in awe. The Ruler of Creation had called us to His throne. He brought us here to worship in beauty and in song. At times we felt so distant, our hearts were full of pain Our spirits seemed so lifeless to even speak His Name. But then in loving kindness God spoke His gracious Word: Our sins are all forgiven by Jesus, Christ, our LORD! So joyfully we pondered the LORD of grace and truth. Again He brought us closer, again our fears were loosed. The freedom that we longed for, again He freely gave. So let us lift our voices, together praise His Name: We praise You for Your kindness, compassion, love and care! We praise You, God Almighty, who loves to answer prayer! Your Word is living, active – so joyfully we sing – Increase our faith, LORD Jesus, our Savior and our King! Tune: If God Himself #419 CW

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A W E S OM E T RUTH

FROM G OD THROUGH AN ANONY M OUS D US TY P RE ACHE R - GUY

God’s Word brings us here in faith. God’s Word works in us to live in love. God’s Word moves us to serve Him freely, in joy.

Have you ever had a “flash” of light that seemed to blind you for a moment? Maybe a car on a dark highway has its “brights” on as it approaches your car? Maybe a lightning bolt flashes across a darkened sky and catches you off guard? In the Bible history of Jesus’ transfiguration, we read about God’s followers who went with Jesus and saw the flash of “God Glory.” It far exceeded any “flash” from a camera. When Moses went up to be with God, God initially used a bright cloud to represent His presence, or His “Glory” before the people. Later in Exodus 34:29 Moses God brought Moses before Himself again. God’s presence caused Moses’ face to glow for a while. This scared many. So whenever Moses came down from the mountain he wore a vale, a piece of cloth, over his face so they would not see the God-glory fade away. He did not want them to think God’s blessings ever face away. Almost 1500 years later, Jesus’ disciples also saw this brightness or “God-glory” when they were with Jesus on the mountain praying. The word used in the Bible is “transfigured” which simply means that Jesus “changed.” For a moment, Jesus’ clothes became as bright as the sun or a lightning bolt, brighter than any camera flash. In that moment, the disciples saw God’s Glory in Jesus. Jesus, who lived with the disciples as a man, was really God-in-the-flesh. We could not be ever be perfect enough to reach Heaven; but God loved us so much that He lived the perfect life for us by Jesus. Then He died for our sin and guilt on the cross. Jesus took upon Himself all people’s darkness so that all who trust in Him now have the promised gift of new life in Heaven’s-glory. The next time you see a flash of bright light? Think of the brightness of the God-glory which never fades. God promised His glory -gift to everyone who trusts in His Son, Jesus Christ. A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS Scripture from Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) © 2016 The Wartburg Project.| SONGS: FATHER IN HEAVEN | WE CAME INTO THE PRESENCE © Paul A. Tullberg 1981-2018