St Edburg's Church - Bicester

Collect of the Day

Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross:
give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him
and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

 

First Reading

Exodus 24.12-18

12The LORD said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’ 13So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14To the elders he had said, ‘Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.’  15Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

 

Psalm   Psalm 2

Refrain: The Lord is the strength of his people, a safe refuge for his anointed. 

1 Why are the nations in tumult,  
and why do the peoples devise a vain plot?  2 The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his anointed:

3                 ‘Let us break their bonds asunder
and cast away their cords from us.’  4 He who dwells in heaven shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision.

5                 Then shall he speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury:  6 ‘Yet have I set my king  
upon my holy hill of Zion.’
7  I will proclaim the decree of the Lord; he said to me: ‘You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.  8 ‘Ask of me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.  9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’  0 Now therefore be wise, O kings; be prudent, you judges of the earth.  11 Serve the Lord with fear, and with trembling kiss his feet, lest he be angry and you perish from the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.  12 Happy are all they who take refuge in him.

Refrain: The Lord is the strength of his people, a safe refuge for his anointed.  Most high and holy God, lift our eyes to your Son enthroned on Calvary; and as we behold his meekness, shatter our earthly pride; for he is Lord for ever and ever.

 

Second Reading

2 Peter 1.16-21

16We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ 18We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.

9So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

 

Gospel  Matthew 17.1-9

1Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then 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.’ 5While 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!’ 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

9As 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.’

 

Post Communion Prayer

Holy God, we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ: may we who are partakers at his table
reflect his life in word and deed,
that all the world may know his power to change and save.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):

Post Communion (Sunday next before Lent) ©  1985 Anglican Church of Canada: The Book of Alternative Services.  2 Peter 1.16-21 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA

Exodus 24.12-18 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA. Matthew 17.1-9 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA

Psalm 2 ©  The Archbishops' Council 2000