Sunday next before Lent
Collect
Almighty Father,
whose Son was revealed in majesty
before he suffered death upon the cross:
give us grace to perceive his glory,
that we may be strengthened
to suffer with him
and be changed into his likeness,
from glory to glory;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Additional Collect
Holy God,
you know the disorder of our sinful lives:
set straight our crooked hearts,
and bend our wills
to love your goodness and your glory
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Exodus 24.12-18
12The LORD said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’ 13So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14To the elders he had said, ‘Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.’
15Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
Psalm 99
R The Lord our God is holy!
1 The Lord is king: let the peoples tremble; *
he is enthroned upon the cherubim: let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion *
and high above all peoples.
3 Let them praise your name, which is great and awesome; *
the Lord our God is holy. R
4 Mighty king, who loves justice,
you have established equity; *
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God; *
bow down before his footstool, for he is holy. R
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests
and Samuel among those who call upon his name, *
they called upon the Lord and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
they kept his testimonies and the law that he gave them. R
8 You answered them, O Lord our God; *
you were a God who forgave them
and pardoned them for their offences.
9 Exalt the Lord our God
and worship him upon his holy hill, *
for the Lord our God is holy. R
Second Reading
2 Peter 1.16-21
16We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ 18We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
9So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia. We do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 17.1-9
1Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
9As 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.’
Short passage of scripture
Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body,
for we all partake of the one bread. 1 Corinthians 10.17
Post Communion
Holy God,
we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ:
may we who are partakers at his table
reflect his life in word and deed,
that all the world may know his power to change and save.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Christ, who has nourished us with himself
the living bread and the true vine,
make you one in praise and service,
and raise you up at the last day;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):
Post Communion (Sunday next before Lent) © 1985 Anglican Church of Canada: The Book of Alternative Services
Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2002
Blessing 4 and Corpus Christi 1) © The Archbishops' Council
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