Wellspring@Home
February 14th 2021
Prepared by Sue Watts
|
WOW!!
The image of rugged mountains is awe inspiring to me, and might give a clue to a WOW moment like no other, described in the Gospel of Mark, as the Transfiguration, and our focus for today. We just skirted part of the foothills of this fabulous range of mountains shown here, known as the Black Cuillins, but we have climbed Snowdon & Cader Idris in Wales, a few peaks in the Lakes district, and Derbyshire’s very own mountain, Kinder Scout. The overwhelming emotion, once you reach the top is always the breath-taking views. There’s a sense of achievement too, but most of all it’s the wonder of such beauty in creation all around you that is awesome; WOWED! |
The Cuillins, Isle of Skye
photo by Robert Watts |
VERSE
Look for the Lord in the vast beauty of creation,
Look for the Lord in the small places,
Look for the Lord when you least expect Him,
Look for the Lord in the dark places
Look for the Lord within you.
Look for the Lord and be Wowed.
In today’s New testament reading, Jesus with his disciples, Peter, James and John, have a mountain-top experience that changes their perception of Jesus forever, as the Glory of God is revealed when Jesus is transformed like a shining dazzling sun and the three are left terrified and almost speechless.
Look for the Lord in the vast beauty of creation,
Look for the Lord in the small places,
Look for the Lord when you least expect Him,
Look for the Lord in the dark places
Look for the Lord within you.
Look for the Lord and be Wowed.
In today’s New testament reading, Jesus with his disciples, Peter, James and John, have a mountain-top experience that changes their perception of Jesus forever, as the Glory of God is revealed when Jesus is transformed like a shining dazzling sun and the three are left terrified and almost speechless.
Reading: Mark 9:2-9
Lord set our hearts on fire, help us to shine for you in our world today.
Song: Shine Jesus Shine (MP 445)
Graham Kendrick © 1987 Make Way Music Ltd,
PO Box 263, Croydon, Surrey CR9 5AP.
Wellspring CCLI No. 571370
Graham Kendrick © 1987 Make Way Music Ltd,
PO Box 263, Croydon, Surrey CR9 5AP.
Wellspring CCLI No. 571370
|
|
A prayer of adoration
God of divine power, what a spine-tingling, hair-raising event the disciples experienced! One minute they were looking upon Jesus, the man. Next, they were tuned into your Glory shining in and through him as he transformed before their eyes: your confirmation of his deity.
God of life-changing moments, we glorify you.
Your same radiant light, available to us through relationship with Jesus your Son, transforms our hearts.
God of life-changing moments, we glorify you.
Your divine Holy Spirit tunes our faith in unexpected ways through the transforming radiance of you love.
God of life-changing moments, we glorify you.
© ROOTS for Churches Limited used with permission
God of divine power, what a spine-tingling, hair-raising event the disciples experienced! One minute they were looking upon Jesus, the man. Next, they were tuned into your Glory shining in and through him as he transformed before their eyes: your confirmation of his deity.
God of life-changing moments, we glorify you.
Your same radiant light, available to us through relationship with Jesus your Son, transforms our hearts.
God of life-changing moments, we glorify you.
Your divine Holy Spirit tunes our faith in unexpected ways through the transforming radiance of you love.
God of life-changing moments, we glorify you.
© ROOTS for Churches Limited used with permission
- But it wasn’t just the blinding light the disciples witnessed, Moses and Elijah were there too talking with Jesus, and as Jews, they knew the significance of being in such revered company, the ancient Prophets of the Israelite people. And if that wasn’t stunning enough, a cloud descended and God spoke to them. “This is my Son whom I love, Listen to Him”
Reading: Exodus 34:29-35 and 2 Kings 2:1-12
Stories which confirm that these great prophets, Moses and Elijah, encountered God in all his glory and majesty and earned their place in history.
Lord set our hearts on fire, help us to shine for you in our world today.
Song: These are the days of Elijah (MP 1012)
Robin Mark © 1997 Daybreak Music Ltd,
Silverdale Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN20 7AB
Wellspring CCLI No. 571370
Robin Mark © 1997 Daybreak Music Ltd,
Silverdale Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN20 7AB
Wellspring CCLI No. 571370
|
|
IN PSALM 50 The Psalmist declares the greatness of the Lord and reminds his chosen people that they are in His holy presence.
- The Mighty One, God, the Lord speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him and a tempest rages. He summons the heavens above and the earth that he may judge his people: Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (From the New International Version)
We are in no doubt about the greatness and glory of God from the psalm and the old testament stories of Moses and Elijah, where light and fire and power and authority create a vivid image of God. Now as we read from the New Testament, Mark 9: 2-9, we see why this fleeting moment has such a WOW factor.
- The WOW factor, then the cloud and probably in darkness, the 4 of them came back down the mountain, down to earth with a bump! back to reality. AND they mustn’t tell anyone what had happened (that almost seems like a joke except Jesus was deadly serious)
- The message from God “Listen to Him” still ringing in their ears.
- The reality for Jesus was to continue his ministry of caring and healing, teaching and preaching his Fathers word, journeying closer and closer to the cross.
- The reality for the disciples was indeed to listen to, and follow Jesus, their Lord, the one they now believed was the Messiah because they had seen God’s light shining through him.
Lord set our hearts on fire, help us to listen for your voice, and shine for you in our world today.
What is our reality? We are told never to stare directly into the sun, the glare will damage our eyes, even something like a spot light blots out our vision for a while, until our eyes adjust. It’s as if we need the darkness in order to see the light.
Prayer for others
Lord of the darkness and the light, we pray for those who are constantly living in fear, in a bad domestic relationship, in an abusive childhood, through modern slavery exploitation and trafficking, through political unrest and loss of freedom.
Lord shine on your people.
Lord of the darkness and the light, we pray for those who live in need of a place to call their own, a country, a home, a bed for the night, a decent meal, an income.
Lord shine on your people.
Lord of the darkness and the light, we pray for all who suffer in silence and in loneliness, who suffer abuse because they are black, or gay or disabled.
Lord shine on your people.
Lord of the darkness and the light, we pray for those in pain both physically and mentally, those fighting the covid 19 virus, those suffering loss and bereavement because of the pandemic.
Lord shine on your people. Amen
Are we Wowed? well you only have to walk down Wood St. to see a very large digger making a huge hole in the ground at the back of Wellspring to make your jaw drop, as we anticipate the building of the long awaited Annexe. Then the reality for us will be to grab the opportunities it represents.
The WOW factor is to “Listen to Him” and try to reflect God’s Glory through our lives and by his grace.
Lord of the darkness and the light, we pray for those who are constantly living in fear, in a bad domestic relationship, in an abusive childhood, through modern slavery exploitation and trafficking, through political unrest and loss of freedom.
Lord shine on your people.
Lord of the darkness and the light, we pray for those who live in need of a place to call their own, a country, a home, a bed for the night, a decent meal, an income.
Lord shine on your people.
Lord of the darkness and the light, we pray for all who suffer in silence and in loneliness, who suffer abuse because they are black, or gay or disabled.
Lord shine on your people.
Lord of the darkness and the light, we pray for those in pain both physically and mentally, those fighting the covid 19 virus, those suffering loss and bereavement because of the pandemic.
Lord shine on your people. Amen
Are we Wowed? well you only have to walk down Wood St. to see a very large digger making a huge hole in the ground at the back of Wellspring to make your jaw drop, as we anticipate the building of the long awaited Annexe. Then the reality for us will be to grab the opportunities it represents.
The WOW factor is to “Listen to Him” and try to reflect God’s Glory through our lives and by his grace.
Lord set our hearts on fire, help us to listen for your voice, and shine for you in our world today.
Song: Turn your eyes upon Jesus (MP 712)
Helen H Lemmell (1864-1961) © 1922 Singspiration Music/Brentwood Benson Music Publishing/ Copy Care PO Box 77, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 3EF
Wellspring CCLI No. 571370
Helen H Lemmell (1864-1961) © 1922 Singspiration Music/Brentwood Benson Music Publishing/ Copy Care PO Box 77, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 3EF
Wellspring CCLI No. 571370
|
|
Blessing
The Lord bless us and keep us.
The Lord make his face to shine upon us
And be gracious to us. The Lord turn his face toward us and give us peace. Amen.
S O N G S & S T O R I ES
SONGS AND STORIES have been moved from this location.
They can now be found on their own pages by following the links below.
Songs & Stories
SONGS AND STORIES have been moved from this location.
They can now be found on their own pages by following the links below.
Songs & Stories
'We shall meet'- a 'song for Covid'.
We shall have this link every week for the next
few weeks at least.
We shall have this link every week for the next
few weeks at least.
Original words and music Hans Olav Mørk (Norway)
© Words: 2020 WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland
© Music: John Bell, WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland
CCLI Song Number: 7153725 Wellspring CCLI licence no. 571370
© Words: 2020 WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland
© Music: John Bell, WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland
CCLI Song Number: 7153725 Wellspring CCLI licence no. 571370