The Transfiguration Of Our Lord

February 3, 2008 9:00am

Thank You for sharing this time of worship with us. Do come again! If you do not have a local church home, we invite you to make your home with us. You will find Christian love, opportunities for spiritual growth, warm friendships, and an appreciation of being part of God’s family.

Please Don’t Rush Off After The Worship Service. Stick around for some refreshments and a little conversation. We hope you are able to stay!

The Lord's Supper is being celebrated today. This special meal, instituted by Christ, unites us with Him and our brothers and sisters in the faith. This sacrament is intended for those who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; trust in Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven; and believe that the true body and blood of Jesus are present with the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Guests who share this faith are invited to speak with the pastor before joining us in this holy meal.

Assisting Us In Worship This Morning

Steve & Nicole Burkhardt, greeters

Margaret Meier, organist

Ryan Jacobs, communion assistant

We Gather To Worship The Lord

Order of Service: The Common Service, page 15 in the front of the hymnal

Hymns: 95 96 97 318

Message: Matthew 17:1-9

“Facedown And Terrified”

OLD TESTAMENT READING Exodus 24:12,15-18

The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction."

...When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

EPISTLE II Peter 1:16-21

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."

We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 17:1-9

After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-- one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," He said. "Don't be afraid."

When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

This Week At Mt. Olive

Today: 8:45am Prayer Time in the Fireside Room

9:00am Family Worship Service with Holy Communion

10:00am Refreshments and Social Time

10:30am Sunday School and Adult Education Hour

2:30pm Band Concert at SCLHS

Monday: 7:00pm “Beautiful Feet” Bible Study

Tuesday: 7:00pm Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday: 5:30pm Lenten Supper (served by the Pine Limb)

6:30pm Ash Wednesday Worship Service

Thursday: 10:00am “Explorers of the Word” Bible Study

12:00pm Women’s Guild

Next Sunday: 9:00am Family Worship Service

11:30am Altar Guild Meeting

2:00pm Chinese New Year Worship and Buffet

7:00pm Coordinating Council Meets

Visitors: Please include your email address in the Friendship Register information. Thanks!

It Has Pleased The Lord to call to heaven His servant, George “Chuck” Semling. Funeral services at Mt. Olive Saturday, February 2, 2008. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord...” Rev 14:13.

Books! Books! Books! We have a cart full of FREE books located in the upper hallway by the Fireside Room. Most are brand new! Please help yourselves to as many as you want. They’re yours to keep. Enjoy!

The Annual Mid-Winter Band Concert at St. Croix Lutheran High School is this Sunday, February 3, at 2:30pm in the school auditorium. Concert participants are the Crusader Band and elementary band students from our association schools. Come and enjoy some lively and lovely music before your Super bowl game gathering.

This Wednesday Is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Our Lenten Worship Services will be held each Wednesday evening, beginning at 6:30pm. Pastors Henkel, Meier, and Ponath will preach the sermons as in previous years. We look forward to the opportunity to once again spend time with Jesus. “Crossroads: Traveling With Our Savior” is this year’s worship theme, and this Wednesday’s focus is “Crossroad 1 – From Galilee to Judea”. As in past years, each Wednesday service will be preceded by a Lenten Supper served by our Limbs. This Wednesday’s meal will be served by the Pine Limb. Serving time is 5:30pm. See you here!

Kids C.A.R.E. Boxes: Last fall these boxes were handed out to collect money to benefit WELS Mission to the Children. This mission serves poor children in Mexico. Let's bring these boxes back for Lent. Please bring them back for the Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 6^th or the Sunday after on Feb. 10^th. We will continue to collect these boxes the entire month of February. Additional boxes are also available in the back of church.

The Members Of Mt. Olive Chinese Church have invited us all to a Chinese New Year celebration next Sunday, February 10^th, beginning with a 2:00pm worship service. This will be followed by a presentation and a buffet supper. All are cordially invited to attend!

Pre-Kindergarten And Kindergarten Round-Ups will be held on Monday, February 11, 2008 at St. John Lutheran School, 771 Margaret Street, St. Paul, MN 55106. Pre-Kindergarten Round-Up will be held at 6:30pm (children need to be 4 years old by September 1st) and Kindergarten Round-Up will be held at 7:00pm (children need to be 5 years old by September 1st.) If you have a child this age, please plan to come that evening (bring your child also) to see the room, make a fun art project, and enjoy a snack. If you know of someone who might be interested in sending their child(ren) to our school, please pass this information along. If this date is not convenient, please call the school office at 651.776.8861 to make other arrangements. St. John Lutheran School also has openings in grades 1-8.

In Concert in the SCLHS Chapel, hear the Nokomis Piano Quartet, Sunday, February 17, at 3:00pm. The four members of the piano, violin, viola and cello quartet have extensive experience in instrumental music performance. They have performed at colleges, for various school groups, and regularly for local organizations. Tickets (adults - $8; students K-12 - $4) are available at the door or may be reserved by calling 651-455-1521, x392. (Proceeds of the concert donated to Lutheran Church in Central Africa Seminary.)

Back To The Future is the SCLHS Auction theme. March 8, 2008 is the date. Now is the time to put your creative ideas to work. Now is the time to drop off your donation at St. Croix Lutheran High School. Check on-line for a list of ideas, for items already donated and for information concerning the auction at www.sclhs.org. Call 651-455-1521 x106 if you would like to bring larger items to the loading dock. Thank you for your support!

It’s Soon Time Again! Those Mission Box offerings for Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society that you have been filling with change are due. Please give to Mae Schmidt, LWMS Reporter before the end of March to ensure being counted before the Spring Rally. New boxes are available in the narthex. Thank you very much.