Technicolour Feast

Matthew 17:1-9
The Transfiguration
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”


Invitation
It is good for us to be here.
Not to build tents.
Not to capture the moment.
But to meet Christ who transforms us by his brightness
So draw near to this table
You are welcomed by a dazzling God
who makes room for all to feast.

Narrative
On the mountain top and on the plain
Jesus feasted with the people who gathered round
At kitchen tables or in front rooms
He made every meal a feast
And the night before he was betrayed
He gathered his disciples round
and as he ate and drank
He set up this meal by which we remember him
So, gathered round this table,
let us make room for others
to share with all the saints,,past and present
To do as Jesus did
And let us give thanks

Prayer of Thanksgiving
God who transforms a simple meal into a feast for saints
we gather round, shuffling along, making room for others,
conscious that we are part of something much bigger.
As we take our place at your table
we give you thanks that you take common things, bread and wine
and transform them into the body and blood of Jesus
whom you sent to show us your love.
At this table, Lord, we are conscious of spaces where folk are missing.
Those who are ill, those who cannot leave their homes or loved,ones, those who have lost their way here and those who have gone from our sight and who now dine with you.
May we know a bond with all your people in heaven and on earth.
As we taste the riches of your blessed sacrifice and know the power of your transforming love
may we make room in the sanctuary of our hearts for all those at whose tables Jesus sat and those whose lives he transformed.
The poor, the outcasts, the homeless, the judged and rejected, those who lived on the edge, those who did not conform, the bereaved, the lonely, the depressed, the anxious and those whose social status brought isolation.
Transforming God, as we share in communion here, may we be dazzled by your brightness and by the power of your love to make a difference, even when we have lost hope.
So feed us and nourish us with love and joy and hope so that the light of your love transforms the darkest corners of our hearts and lives and the world in which we live.
May your Spirit descend upon this bread and wine, transforming it, transforming us.
In the name of God whose love and transforming power knows no bounds.
Amen

Fraction
Christ, transfigured on the mountain top
descends to share everyday food
Take, eat, this is Christ's body broken for you.

This cup is the promise of a new relationship with God
Drink this to remember Christ died for you.

Transforming gifts from a transforming God

Prayer after communion
God, here we have handled holy things.
So change us from within.
May we bask in your glowing appearance and be moved
to go and transform our world, our church and our community
with the power of your love that makes every encounter special
and full of potential.
And God, help us never to settle for the ordinary but to expect to see
all of life in dazzling technicolour
For the joy of the kingdom
Amen.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad