10:00am First Sunday after the Epiphany - January 9, 2022
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First Sunday after the Epiphany
January 9, 2022
10:00am
A community praising God, growing in Christ
and joyfully serving others
Please join us for Morning Prayer at
www.facebook.com/The-Church-of-the-Transfiguration-
196440785568
We will be worshiping online with livestreamed services for the
month of January. Bulletins will be posted on our website each
week at http://transfigpalos.org
1
Opening Hymn Songs of Thankfulness and Praise H135
Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise,
manifested by the star
to the sages from afar;
branch of royal David’s stem
in thy birth at Bethlehem;
anthems be to thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.
Manifest at Jordan’s stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
and at Cana, wedding-guest,
in thy Godhead manifest;
manifest in power divine,
changing water into wine;
anthems be to thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.
Officiant
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness
of your rising. Isaiah 60:3
Deacon
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. P 79
Silence may be kept
Officiant and People together
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
2
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Officiant
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins
through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all
goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in
eternal life. Amen.
The Invitatory and Psalter p 80
All stand
Officiant Lord, open our lips.
People And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Officiant and People
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Except in Lent, add Alleluia.
Then follows one of the Invitatory Psalms, Venite or Jubilate.
Psalm 63:1-8 p 82
Officiant and People
O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; * my soul thirsts for
you, my flesh faints for you, as in a barren and dry land where there
is no water.
Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, * that I might
behold your power and your glory.
For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; * my lips shall
give you praise.
3So will I bless you as long as I live * and lift up my hands in
your Name.
My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, * and my mouth praises you
with joyful lips,
When I remember you upon my bed, * and meditate on you in the
night watches.
For you have been my helper, * and under the shadow of your wings I will
rejoice.
My soul clings to you; * your right hand holds me fast.
The Psalm or Psalms Appointed Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the LORD, you gods, *
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his Name; *
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; *
the LORD is upon the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; *
the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; *
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire;
the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; *
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
8 The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.
9 And in the temple of the LORD *
all are crying, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; *
the LORD sits enthroned as King for evermore.
11 The LORD shall give strength to his people; *
the LORD shall give his people the blessing of peace.
4Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Lessons
The Old Testament Isaiah 43:1-7
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah.
Thus says the LORD,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight,
and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, "Give them up,"
and to the south, "Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the end of the earth--
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."
5Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People Thanks be to God.
Canticle G A Song of Ezekiel
I will take you from among all nations; *
and gather you from all lands to bring you home.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you; *
and purify you from false gods and uncleanness.
A new heart I will give you *
and a new spirit put within you.
I will take the stone heart from your chest *
and give you a heart of flesh.
I will help you walk in my laws *
and cherish my commandments and do them.
You shall be my people, *
and I will be your God.
The New Testament Acts 8:14-17
A reading from the Book of Acts.
When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of
God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them
that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon
any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then
Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People Thanks be to God.
Canticle 21 You are God p 95
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord; we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
6The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not shun the Virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
The Gospel Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
A reading from the Gospel of Luke.
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their
hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of
them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is
coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his
threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn
with unquenchable fire."
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized
and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon
him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son,
the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People Thanks be to God.
7Sermon Rev. Annette Mayer
Officiant
Through the Paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried
with Christ by Baptism into his death, and raised with him to
newness of life. I call upon you, therefore, now that our
Lenten observance is ended, to renew the solemn promises
and vows of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced
Satan and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully
in his holy Catholic Church.
The Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Officiant Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and
renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?
People I do.
Officiant Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Officiant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Officiant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic church,
The Communion of Saints,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.
Officiant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
8fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.
Officiant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and whenever
you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.
Officiant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
news of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.
Officiant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
you neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.
Officiant Will you strive for justice and peace among all people,
and respect the dignity of every human being?
People I will, with God’s help.
The Celebrant concludes the Renewal of Vows as follows
May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and
bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal
life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
The Prayers p 97
The People stand or kneel
Officiant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Officiant Let us pray.
Officiant and People
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 trespasses,
9as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Then follows this set of Suffrages
V. Show us your mercy, O Lord;
R. And grant us your salvation.
V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
R. Let your people sing with joy.
V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
R. For only in you can we live in safety.
V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;
R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
V. Let your way be known upon earth;
R. Your saving health among all nations.
V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;
R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
The Collect of the Day
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed
him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are
baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess
him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God,
in glory everlasting. Amen.
A Collect for Guidance p 100
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our
being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by
your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of
our life we may not forget you, but may remember that
10we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
Amen.
A Prayer for Mission p 101
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love
on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might
come within the reach of your saving embrace: So
clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our
hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to
the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your
Name. Amen.
Hymn The Sinless One H 120
The sinless one to Jordan came,
and in the river shared our stain;
God’s righteousness he thus fulfilled,
and chose the path his Father willed.
Uprising from the waters there,
the Father’s voice did then declare
that Christ, the Son of God, had come
to lead his scattered people home.
Above him see the heavenly Dove,
the sign of God the Father’s love,
now by the Holy Spirit shed
upon the Son’s anointed head.
Deacon
The Lord shall give us the blessings of strength and peace. Beloved of God,
let us pray, “Walk with us through the waters, O God; walk with us through the
fire.”
Break down the walls of division in our city and our nation. Bring us together as
one human family, formed and made by your great hands. We pray for the needs of
11our community: for those in the military, our first responders, especially Alex,
Anthony, Frank, Edilio, Sam, Michael, Travis, Alexander, Jonathan, and Jacob,
and their families. Silence
Walk with us through the waters, O God;
Walk with us through the fire.
Heal and comfort your beloved children, O God. Be with the needy in their trials.
May they know that they are precious in your sight. We pray for all on our parish
prayer list, and especially for Bishop-elect Paula, Barb, Georgianna, Suzi,
Marilyn, Robby, Gail,, Carole, Chuck, Norma, Pam, Bill, Ed, Susie, Marie,
Steven, Michael, Barbara, Annette, Daniel, Jessie, and Shawn. Are there others?
Invite the congregation to add their petitions.
Walk with us through the waters, O God;
Walk with us through the fire.
Heavenly Parent, you have accepted us as your children. You have made us heirs
with Christ. In your great mercy, receive us, and all who have died, especially
Hope, into glory everlasting.
Walk with us through the waters, O God;
Walk with us through the fire.
Announcements
A Prayer of St. John Chrysostom p10
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one
accord to make our common supplication to you; and you
have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two
or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the
midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions
as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of
your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
Deacon
Let us bless the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
12Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely
More than we can ask or imagine; Glory to him from generation
To generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.
Amen.
Closing Hymn O Love How Deep H 448
O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
how passing thought and fantasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals’ sake.
For us baptized, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore;
for us temptations sharp he knew;
for us the tempter overthrew.
All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad;
the Trinity whom we adore
for ever and for evermore.
Thank you for joining us this morning.
13Note: You may continue to submit your pledges and offerings
by mail or use the credit card payment option at
Transfigpalos.breezechms.com, or use the text giving option by
texting your $amount plus the word “pledge” to 708-394-7474.
NEW: You can submit a donation using Zelle to
admin@transfigpalos.org.
Upcoming at Transfiguration
Today Episcopal 101 Zoom 9:00am
Morning Prayer FB 10:00am
Coffee Hour Zoom 11:30am
1/12 Anti-Racism group Zoom 7:00pm
1/16 Episcopal 101 Zoom 9:00am
Morning Prayer FB 10:00am
Coffee Hour Zoom 11:30
1/18 Vestry Meeting Zoom 7:00pm
1/19 Bible Study Zoom 7:00pm
Compline continues every MWF on Facebook
SPECIAL INTENTIONS
THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE REMAIN ON OUR PERMANENT
PRAYER LIST AS THEIR NEED FOR PRAYER IS LONG-TERM
RATHER THAN ACUTE: Joe, Don, Roberta, Marilyn, Jim, Mary,
Meghan,
Jan, Chelsea, Bob, Mark, Bob, Billy, Natasha, Laura, Cindy, Susie,
Pam, Katy, Lou, Nick, Brendan, Bob, Jayden, Debra, Janet, Jacelyn,
Sharon, Gabe, Chuck, Nancy, Tom, Mike, Betty, Carol, David, James,
Kathy, Bill, John, Rosemary, Roberta, Earl, Anita, Steven.
** PLEASE KEEP THESE INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR PRAYERS AND
NOTIFY THE OFFICE IF THEIR CONDITION OR SITUATION CHANGES.**
Prepare your heart to hear God’s word next week:
14Epiphany 2 (C)
January 16, 2022
RCL: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11
Isaiah 62:1-5
Weddings are times of great celebration for a family, a community,
and especially for a couple who are beginning a new life together. The
prophet uses this image of bridegroom and bride as an example of how
God sees God’s people. At a wedding, the sense of love is tangible as the
couple looks at each other with delight.
The name of God’s people is changed from “Forsaken” to “My
Delight is in Her” and this name change is initiated by the Lord. A change
in name indicates a change in identity, and when I got married, the many
places where I needed to register my new name was extensive, so it felt like
I was letting the nations know. There was nothing I did to earn the love of
my spouse, and I did not have to perform in order to deserve it. Perhaps
that is why we see so many references to marriage in the Bible—because it
is the most intimate relationship people can have, and it is love that is
without conditions and never earned. There is nothing I can do that will
cause me to gain more of God’s love than exists at this moment. Similarly,
there is nothing I can ever do that will cause God to love me any less than
God does right now. God loves us because it is God’s nature to love.
• What is God’s name for you?
• Do you have a sense of God delighting in you and rejoicing over you?
Psalm 36:5-10
God’s love is vast and incomprehensible and unending. Standing at
the south rim of the Grand Canyon, the vista is magnificent. That is the
15image that comes to mind when considering God’s love reaching to the
heavens, and how tiny I felt in relation to my surroundings. Even with the
immeasurable grandeur of God’s love, the people of God can cluster like
baby chicks under the shadow of God’s wing for protection. This is the
both/and aspect of God: incomprehensibly great and profoundly intimate
at the same time.
Loving-kindness is the translation of chesed, a Hebrew word that
has implications of loyalty and commitment that goes far beyond what
would be expected by the law or duty. This love is beyond imagination, and
as overwhelming as staring across the Grand Canyon. God’s love provides
all we need for life: nourishment, light, and protection.
• What does it mean to be “true of heart?”
• Is there any aspect of your heart that seems false and you might choose to
relinquish?
• Where are you invited to consider showing loving-kindness (care beyond
duty or law) to those you encounter this week?
Corinthians 12:1-11
In a society that is based on transactions, gifts muck up the works.
The adage, “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours,” encapsulates
many of our interactions from day to day. I pay for coffee for my friend
this week, and next week, she picks up the tab. I have noticed that if I am
always expected to pay, I start to feel resentful and ungenerous. When I
receive a gift from a friend that seems “over-generous” I feel
uncomfortable. I desire balance in relationships: an equal give and take,
so I feel neither obliged nor taken advantage of. Contrast this to the love
of God who gives gifts to us again and again and again, and we never pick
up the tab.
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth where one-upmanship is
apparently a problem. Humans love a pecking order and knowing who is
the most important in the room. Paul says that spiritual gifts are given for
the common good, and the Spirit chooses who receives which gift. Gifts
are not earned or deserved, they are simply received. In human terms, we are
often more impressed with one gift than another. I am usually most impressed by
those who have gifts that I am lacking. Paul levels the playing field by saying
16that it is one Spirit, one God, and all gifts are for the common good (not to create
a hierarchy). The manner in which I order gifts is disorder in God’s eyes.
• What is one of your gifts that you use for the common good?
• How have you viewed gifts as transactions?
John 2:1-11
Jesus’ first miracle in this gospel is the transformation of water to
wine. The evangelist writes that there are seven signs (or miracles) that
include healings, feeding, raising Lazarus from the dead and walking on
water. This first sign takes place at a wedding, and Jesus’ mother comes to
him because they have run out of wine. In the time of Christ, weddings
lasted a week, and running out of wine would be a humiliation for the
families. Was Mary related to those getting married, or was she simply
attuned to their distress and convinced that her son could help? Jesus
takes the ordinary water and transforms it into “good wine,” made for
celebration.
Healing and feeding are arguably necessary for life, and yet in the
first miracle recorded, it is the transformation of something very ordinary:
water into wine for celebration. This miracle also had limited exposure,
because the servants knew where the wine was from, but when it was all
consumed, there would be no remaining evidence of the miracle. Contrast
this miracle to the raising of Lazarus; this miracle might appear somewhat
frivolous and common, with limited impact on the community, but as a
sign, it tells us about Jesus. This fine wine (120 to 180 gallons of it)
reflects the abundance of God found in the psalm. Weddings are common
experiences, and Jesus showed up there.
• Where have you noticed signs of Jesus in the common?
• What is ordinary in your life that might be transformed into a cause for
celebration by Jesus?
This Bible study, written by Dr. Michelle Dayton, originally ran for Epiphany 2 in 2019.
17CHURCH OF THE T RANSFIGURATION
12219 South 86 th Avenue
Palos Park, Illinois 60464
(708) 448-1200
WWW .TRANSFIGPALOS. ORG
The Rev. Canon Paula Clark. Bishop-elect,
bishop@episcopalchicago.org
The Rt. Rev. Chilton Knutson, Assisting Bishop
The Reverend Annette C. Mayer, Rector rector@transfigpalos.org
Cell # 817-845-4985
The Reverend Jason Elliott, Deacon jasonagelliott@gmail.com
Beverly Opelka, Choir Director bev4642@att.net
Jeff Otto, Music Director jstyles4@yahoo.com
Debbie Trapp, Director of Children & Youth Ministries
trappsrus@sbcglobal.net
Jodi Powers, Day Care and Learning Center, Director
ppedconnect@outlook.com
Angelika Strama, Parish Administrator, admin@transfigpalos.org
Ted Karrison, Senior Warden karrison@sbcglobal.net
Rob Carr, Junior Warden whitelab12@comcast.net
Members of the Vestry: Mark Brticevich, Sue Burke, Maria Finatri,
Beth Gallivan, Pat Jonikaitis,
Joe Rossi, Rich Strale, John Carroll, Treasure Zach Ottinger, Joe Rossi,
Rich Strale,
John Carroll, Treasurer
1819
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