Livestream broadcast will be available at 10:45 AM: (Please note that the “Order of Worship” below is an edited shorter version of the Sunday Bulletin)
“REFLECTIONS”
THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH
WELCOMES YOU WORSHIP!
Order of Worship
February 15, 2026
Transfiguration Sunday
ORDAINED MINISTER: Rev. Jo-Ann Hills
ORGANIST / PIANIST: Ilene Wettergreen
HANDBELL DIRECTOR: Kathleen Link
OFFICE COORDINATOR: Jodi Hargreaves
SCRIPTURES READER: Darlene Humenny
PIANO/ORGAN PRELUDE
ACKNOWLEDGING TERRITORY:
We acknowledge that we are gathered on treaty 6 area and the homeland of the Metis. For thousands of years, the First Peoples of this place have cared for the land even as the land cared for them. Guided by the wisdom of their traditions and their ancestors, they have been taught that the circle of life is embraced and embracing. Let us carry on this wisdom. Let us live into right relations with love and respect. Adapted and used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2022-2023; Jamie Miller
WELCOME, TIME OF CELEBRATION OF BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHRIST CANDLE LIGHTING:
We believe Jesus shines with the glory of God. At the transfiguration, three disciples experienced Jesus shining and radiant. We were not there to experience the mystery of that moment, but we are here now.
We can nurture our relationship with Jesus, so that our living reflects that Christ light, so that we shine in small ways and large. We light this Christ candle as a symbol of the light that shines through us as we live our discipleship. Adapted and used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Bill Perry
All sing: VU 336 “Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies”
1. Christ whose glory fills the skies,
Christ the true, the only light,
sun of righteousness, arise,
triumph o'er the shades of night.
Dayspring from on high, be near;
daystar, in my heart appear.
2. Dark and cheerless is the morn
unaccompanied by thee;
joyless is the day's return,
till thy mercy's beams I see,
till they inward light impart,
glad my eyes and warm my heart.
3. Visit then this soul of mine,
pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
fill me, radiancy divine,
scatter all my unbelief;
more and more thyself display,
shining to the perfect day.
1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
Climb the mountain of God. We will watch and wait.
Wait for God's glory to shine like the sun. Wait for Christ to reveal the heart of God.
Wait to gain courage for the terror of the night. Wait for the Spirit to dispel the darkness.
Climb the mountain of God. We will watch for things worth waiting for. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
2. OPENING PRAYER: Source of light and love, reveal to us your glory. As you appeared to your servant Moses in devouring fire on Mount Sinai, appear to us now in power and might during our time of worship. As you revealed Christ's resplendent light to his disciples on the mountaintop, reveal your radiant light to us during our fellowship together. Transform us with your glory, that our souls might shine your light into a world shrouded in darkness. Amen. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
3. LEARNING TIME:
4. HYMN VU 232 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”
1. Joyful, joyful we adore you,
God of glory, life and love;
hearts unfold like flowers before you,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the gloom of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
2. All your works with joy surround you,
earth and heaven reflect your rays,
stars and angels sing around you,
centre of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
sound their praise eternally.
3. You are giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blest,
wellspring of the joy of living,
ocean depth of happy rest!
Source of grace and fount of blessing,
let your light upon us shine;
teach us how to love each other,
ift us to the joy divine.
4. Mortals join the mighty chorus
which the morning stars began;
God's own love is reigning o'er us,
joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife;
joyful music leads us sunward
in the triumph song of life.
5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
It is good that we are here; this holy place is a good place to listen for God's voice.
It is good that we are together; there is joy and strength as we receive God's word together in faith community.
It is good to reflect on our biblical traditions; through the gift of Jewish and Christian scriptures our way is secured.
It is good to be inspired to work for just and compassionate causes; the call is to come down from the mountaintop and go out to serve.
Bless us and open us to receive your word this morning, Holy God. Amen. Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; David Sparks
6. PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Loving God, you enable us to make changes that matter. With your love, you transform our sadness into joy, our defeat into hope.
With your love, you transform our apathy into commitment, our selfishness into thanksgiving.
With your love, you transform our indifference into praise, our shyness into laughter.
Transforming God, we are restored by your presence to be the faithful ones we are called to be.
In gratitude, we open our hearts now to you, sharing honestly what needs transformation in our lives. (a time of silent prayer)
Loving God, you enable us to make changes that matter. With your love, you transform our lives. Thank you. Amen. Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; David Sparks
7. WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
With tenderness and grace, Jesus shows us the power and the glory of God. Walk in the assurance of God's mercy and the promise of Christ's strength for the journey. Thanks be to God! From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
8. PASSING OF THE PEACE:
As we climb the mountain of God to see Jesus transfigured in our midst, bless those on the journey with us with signs of Christ's peace. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
9. INVITATION TO OFFERING:
We are told that giving freely to help others glorifies God. Let us bring or gifts to God, so that God's love may be made known. Let us present our morning offering. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
10. OFFERTORY VU 540 “Grant Us, God, the Grace”
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.
11. OFFERING PRAYER: Mysterious God, we are transformed by the awe and delight of encountering you. We are radiant as we offer our gifts of time, talent, and treasure. May we always be filled with amazement as we commit ourselves to share our resources. We give in the name of the transfigured Christ. Amen. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
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12. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD'S PRAYER:
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 trespasses,
as 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,
forever and ever. AMEN.
13. BLESSING:
Climb the mountain of God. We will walk in the light and truth of God.
Do not fear the voice that calls from the heavens. We will heed our call to follow Jesus.
Draw near to God's holy fire. We will bathe in the warmth of our God.
Shine the light of Christ in the world. We will be bold, for God goes with us. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
14. THREE FOLD AMEN
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
Exodus 24: 12 - 18
Moses on Mount Sinai
Responsive Reading: Psalm 99: page 819 VU REFRAIN: You rule with justice in delight, and faithfulness maintain.”
2 Peter 1: 16 - 21
The Message about the Glory of Christ
The Gospel of Matthew 17: 1 - 9 The True Glory of Jesus
Next Sunday: First Sunday in Lent February 22, 2026: Genesis 2: 15 - 17; 3: 1 - 7
Psalm 32; Romans 5: 12 - 19; Matthew 4: 1 - 11.
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