Hymn Suggestion: ELW 671 Shine, Jesus, Shine
Children’s Message:
Invite the children to gather with you to gaze into a mirror, as together, you notice the beauty of each other’s faces. Though our features may differ, we are all created in God’s image, and we are all beloved by God. Invite the children to smile and notice how your faces beam with God’s love. Remind the children that if they hear someone saying that a certain skin color is better than another or a particular eye color is more beautiful than others, those messages are LIES. They are not true, because God created us all and loves us all, just as we are.
An engaging picture book that supports this message is:
You Are So Wonderful – Jacqui Lewis (author), Jeremy Tugeau (illustrator)
Mirror
For preachers who wish to continue with the mirror theme, this could be a great opportunity to reflect back to the congregation how God has been using them to do important ministry. Be specific and name and celebrate how your congregation is feeding the hungry, advocating for injustice, caring for creation, welcoming new neighbors, comforting the distressed, etc. This is the important work of ministry to which Jesus and the disciples (and Moses) return when they descend the mountain. This is the important work that reveals the God of love and glory to a world in need.
Mountain
Another angle is to consider the setting for three of the four readings. It is nature – the expansiveness of creation which communicates so clearly how utterly small and insignificant we are in comparison to the magnitude and majesty of God, the Creator of all. The imagery in the hymn Shine, Jesus, Shine invites consideration of the powerful forces of nature. We have witnessed the destruction and devastation of fire and flood, and yet these are precisely the images that this hymn invites us to consider for transforming this world the power of God’s love, as together, we strive to live into the reality that God envisions for all of creation.
The glory of the transfiguration is dazzling. It is also fleeting. The on-going work comes with a descent from the mountain-top experience and a return to the challenges of daily life. Indeed, upon their descent from the mountain, Jesus promptly returns to the ministry of healing. Upon his descent from the mountain, Moses faces the daunting challenge of teaching God’s people a whole new way of living, guided by the Ten Commandments.
As a kid, growing up in the midwest with big piles of snow, I recall playing “King of the Mountain.” The goal of the game was to race to the top of the snow pile, trying to be first, and once up there, expending lots of energy trying to prevent any others from reaching the top. No matter how large the pile of snow, the rules dictated that only one person could be king of the mountain. One’s reign, however, never lasted long, with the constant challenge from other kids trying to dethrone the king.
The words we have been hearing from Jesus these past weeks have presented a stark contrast to this “winner-take-all” mentality. So many voices in this world urge us to divide and conquer, while Jesus shows us how to reach out with love to embrace and welcome and include. When Peter suggests settling in and making camp, Jesus’ actions make clear that his mission – and our mission as his followers – leads us back into the messiness and complications of everyday life.
Giving up for Lent
Plenty of people choose to give up something for Lent. How about challenging folks in your congregation to give up something that supports care of creation? For example, people may choose one of these:
Give up single-use plastics.
Give up purchasing take-out food from businesses that do not use compostable or recyclable containers.
Give up purchasing fresh produce that travels farther than a certain distance to reach your home.
Give up driving your car for at least some trips. Choose to walk or bike or use public transportation or form a carpool.
Rev. Karen Behling
Chippewa Falls, WI
Since moving to Wisconsin six years ago, Pastor Karen Behling (she/her) has been transforming their lawn into more and more pollinator habitat. Such a glorious front lawn has sparked many meaningful conversations with neighbors of all ages. Today marks her final Sunday serving Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls, WI, as she heads to the St Paul Area Synod to serve as Interim Pastor at Our Saviour’s in Hastings, MN. Karen is married to David, a rostered Deacon, who serves as Program Coordinator for Reconciling Works. Their three children have all become scientists – two daughters in MN and a son in Antarctica. Two grandsons bring many smiles and great joy to their lives!