A strange and wondrous passage presents itself to us today. Jesus and three disciples ascend a mountain to pray, and they are met by tower figures from Jesus’ faith heritage: Moses and Elijah. And Jesus is transfigured—he is “shining like the sun.” What does it all mean?
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Last Epiphany
Transfiguration Sunday
Shining Like the Sun
Psalm 77:13-20; Matthew 17:1-9
Union Presbyterian Church
February 15, 2026
Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Liturgist: Doug Moore Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube
Welcome
Announcements Doug Moore
Prelude Stephany Marilley, flute
Meditation, from Thaïs (Jules Massenet)
(Public Domain)
* Call to Worship
Blessed is the Lord our God,
who revealed the law to Moses.
The Lord our God is holy!
Blessed is the Lord our God,
who has spoken through the prophets.
The Lord our God is holy!
On a high mountain, Jesus was transfigured,
and God said, “This is my Beloved Son. Listen to him!”
The Lord our God is holy!
* Hymn # 33
“Praise the Lord! God’s Glories Show,” David Evans
©1927, Oxford University Press, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Praise the Lord! God’s glories show, Alleluia!
Saints within God's courts below, Alleluia!
Angels round the throne above, Alleluia!
All who see and share God's love. Alleluia!
Earth to heaven exalt the strain, Alleluia!
Send it, heaven, to earth again, Alleluia!
Age to age, God’s mercies trace, Alleluia!
Praise God’s providence and grace! Alleluia!
Strings and voices, hands and hearts, Alleluia!
In the concert, bear your parts, Alleluia!
All that breathes, your Lord adore, Alleluia!
Singing praise forevermore, Alleluia!
* Call to New Life
Jesus said, Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, nor is anything secret that will not come to light. Trusting in God’s grace, let us reveal our inmost hearts, asking for God’s healing.
* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (unison)
God of compassion, in Jesus Christ you reveal the light of your glory, but we turn away, distracted by our own plans. We confess that we speak when we should listen, act when we should wait, and hesitate to speak out in the name of justice and mercy.
~ Silent Prayer~
And we pray,
Forgive our aimless enthusiasms. Grant us wisdom to live in your light and to follow the way of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our brother. Amen.
* Words of Assurance
It is God who said, “Let there be light,” when all was formless and void.
It is God who shines in our hearts to reveal God’s compassion and love.
The love of God is from everlasting to everlasting.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made whole once more.
Thanks be to God! Alleluia!
* Sharing of the Peace
May the peace of God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us share a sign of God’s peace with one another.
Scripture Psalm 77:13-20
God, your way is in holiness;
what other god is great as our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known among the peoples your power.
With your own arm you have redeemed your people,
the children of Asenath,
and the children of Rachel and Leah, and Bilhah and Zilpah.
The waters saw you, O God; the waters saw you
and writhed-as-in-labor;
the very depths were shaken.
The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered;
indeed your arrows went about to and fro;
The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lit up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
In the sea was your way, and your paths in the many waters,
yet your footsteps were not seen.
You led your people like a flock,
by the hand of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses.
Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube
Music: “Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory” (Hymn #190)
©1985, Church Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Anthem Choir; Stephany Marilley, flute
“Jesus, My All, to Heaven is Gone,” Howard Helvey
©1999, Beckenhorst Press, Inc., All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Jesus, my all, to heaven is gone,
I’ll never turn back no more;
He whom I fix my hopes upon,
I’ll never turn back no more.
No more, no more, no more, my Lord;
I’ll never turn back no more.
His path I see, and I’ll pursue,
I’ll never turn back no more;
The narrow way, till Him I view,
I’ll never turn back no more.
No more, no more, no more, my Lord,
I’ll never turn back no more.
No more, no more, no more, my Lord;
I’ll never turn back no more.
Jesus, my all, to heaven is gone.
Scripture Matthew 17:1-9
Six days [after Jesus told his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and biblical scholars, and be killed], Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and brought them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. Then, look! Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. Peter responded saying to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will pitch three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, look! A cloud full of light overshadowed them! And then . . . ! A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell upon the ground and were very much afraid. Then Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” They looked up and they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them saying, “Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Woman from the dead has been raised.”
Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Shining Like the Sun”
Affirmation of Faith from Hebrews 3:1-6 (NIV)
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ‘Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’ bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
* Hymn # 352
“My Lord, What a Morning!” Melva Wilson Costen
©1990, Melva W. Costen, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
My Lord! what a morning;
My Lord! what a morning;
O my Lord! what a morning,
When the stars begin to fall,
When the stars begin to fall.
You will hear the trumpet sound
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my God's right hand,
When the stars begin to fall.
My Lord! what a morning;
My Lord! what a morning;
O my Lord! what a morning,
When the stars begin to fall,
When the stars begin to fall.
You will hear the sinner cry,
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my God's right hand,
When the stars begin to fall.
My Lord! what a morning;
My Lord! what a morning;
O my Lord! what a morning,
When the stars begin to fall,
When the stars begin to fall.
You will hear the Christian shout,
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my God's right hand,
When the stars begin to fall.
My Lord! what a morning;
My Lord! what a morning;
O my Lord! what a morning,
When the stars begin to fall,
When the stars begin to fall.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Prayer Response # 144 (verse 4) “In the Bleak Midwinter” (Public Domain)
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
Call for Offering
* Doxology # 584 “Glory, Glory, Glory”
©1989, OCP Publications, All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE. License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Glory, glory, glory,
Glory be to God on high!
Glory, glory, glory,
Glory be to God on high!
And on earth peace to all people
In whom God is well pleased.
And on earth peace to all people
In whom God is well pleased.
* Dedication of Offering
* Hymn # 389
“Come and Sing the Praise of the Lord,” John L. Bell
©2008, GIA Publications, Inc., All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
(Sing two times:)
Come and sing the praise of the Lord: sing hallelujah!
Come and sing the praise of the Lord: sing hallelujah!
Let all that lives, all that has breath,
Sing the praise of God, hallelujah!
Let all that lives, all that has breath,
Sing the praise of God.
* Benediction
Postlude Stephany Marilley, flute
Flute Concerto in G Major, first movement (W. A. Mozart)
(Public Domain)
Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.
Scripture Translations are from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney, unless otherwise noted.
Liturgy taken or adapted from the Book of Common Worship from the Presbyterian Church (USA), 2018.