Photo: Rev. Kathryn M Schreiber ©2018. Worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber ©2022

BCCC Worship Schedule

We return to Sunday in-person worship March 6^th continuing to practice COVID-19 Safety Protocols indoors – vaxed, masked, distanced, no singing –  for the health of everyone.

We Gather

“My charge to you is quite simple, yet one that takes discernment and focus. It is simply this:  Give the church and its ministry back to God. Do this every day, every week, every month, in every season. This is your calling, your hope and your reason for being.” – Rev. Dr. Sharon Thornton at our service of Installation on October 6, 2019

Welcome and Acknowledgements (pastor)

Welcome! Everyone is welcome this Transfiguration Sunday! We open ourselves to God’s loving presence revealed in Jesus Christ as we gather as community. We stand with our original hosts, the Lisjan-Ohlone people, protecting the West Berkeley Shellmound Sacred Site.

Altar Flowers given by Jane Mah and Norman Chong. Imagine a beautiful bouquet honoring another year of BCCC ministry.

Invocation (pastor)

While we are not on a mountain top, Beloved Christ, we are with You witnessing Your splendor. We envy Peter, James, and John who actually saw You illuminated with glory and heard God’s heavenly blessing.

As we light Your candle today, honoring this Annual Meeting Sunday, remind us to always put You first. To always turn our gaze to You, Eternal Christ, O Radiant One. Amen.

Light The Christ Candle (pastor)

Welcoming Those Not Physically Present (pastor)

Passing the Peace (all) Joyful gestures and words of peace to one another.

We Rest in God’s Grace

Song: “Spirit of the Living God” Written by Daniel Iverson, 1926. Chalice Hymnal #259.

Prayer and Silence (pastor)

Let us shift into silence in God’s presence with this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10.

Be still and know that I am God. (Breathe slowly)

Be still and know that I am. (Breathe slowly)

Be still and know. (Breathe slowly)

Be still. (Breathe slowly)

Be. (Breathe slowly)

(Breathe in silence)

Amen.

Assurance of Grace (pastor)

When Jesus’s disciples watched Jesus praying, they witnessed an amazing sight – the Transfiguration of Jesus! The two greatest Hebrew spiritual leaders – Moses and Elijah – then appeared and spoke to the luminous Jesus.

Witnesses Peter, John, and James wanted to build three sacred spaces, one each, for these three religious heroes. But they had misunderstood what they had experienced. The disciples had seen the two greatest Hebrew prophets recognizing their Messiah, our Messiah, The Messiah — Jesus Christ. God spoke from the heavens to clarify who Jesus is for the benefit of the confused disciples – those there at the time and all of us who have followed.

God knows we can misinterpret sacred moments. So, God keeps on speaking. God speaks in many different ways. Wise souls know to be open to being wonderfully corrected. God’s gifts are often far grander than we first imagine.

We Listen

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9 (version: NRSV) (pastor)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

May God add a blessing to the reading and reflecting upon God’s Holy Word. Amen.

Message: “Let Us Think about These Things” (pastor) This is a Turning Time – not only globally as the pandemic shifts, but also among all communities of faith. Let us be sure to put first things first as we venture forward.

Special Music: “Shine, Jesus, Shine” Written by Graham Kendrick.

We Pray

Prayer Requests (all)

Pastoral Prayer (pastor)

O Magnificent One! O Radiant Christ! On this Transfiguration Sunday we praise Your earthly and eternal presence! As we focus on Your brilliance our hearts leap with hope – for You are the source of holy transformations. Today, we ask You to guide us forward as we offer our congregation back to You. Please bless that which needs fortifying and rearrange that which needs shifting. Please take away that which no longer serves and give us what we really need to be who You would have us be. Amen.

Prayers of the People, Private Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer (pastor)

We Give

Offering of Praise “Doxology” (all; acapella) Please mail your donations to the church or directly to Treasurer Diane Huie.

Announcements (pastor)

Song: “Be Thou My Vision” Words: Mary E Byrne; Music: Traditional Irish melody. Chalice #595.

Benediction (pastor, from today’s key scripture)

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. May we ponder what is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise that the God of peace will dwell among us. Amen.

The service is concluded.

Worship Resources:

(kms) All content prepared and written by Rev. Kathryn M Schreiber, unless attributed to another source.

Residency Acknowledgement: This content was written in Huichin Village, unceded territory of the Lisjan- Ohlone people, where I dwell and serve as a local church pastor. Please support indigenous rematriation efforts, the #LandBack movement, and give to Sogorea Te’ Land Trust Soghttps://sogoreate-landtrust.org/ and other non-profits that reform, balance, and heal relationships with our indigenous hosts. Thank you!

Copyright Note: Copyright laws changed in December 2020 when Congress passed the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2020 (CASE Act). Please check with your legal counsel as to the appropriate use of licensed materials, especially print and recorded music when sharing content online. Please observe ethical use of resources and follow the publishing requirements of any broadcasting or publishing platforms you use. Protect the rights of content creators. Thank you!

Online Publishing Date: February 23, 2022.

Permission: Permission is not granted to share or distribute this resource beyond your community without additional permission from the author. Please attribute source and observe ethical use of all resources. Follow your platforms’ publishing requirements for all created content, especially if publishing online or broadcasting. Thank you!

Donation: Due to the current coronavirus pandemic this content is offered free. If you’d like to support the congregation I serve as pastor – Berkeley Chinese Community Church – we’d be most grateful for your support. Please send checks to: BCCC UCC, 2117 Acton Street, Berkeley, CA 94702, Attn: Diane Huie, Treasurer. Thank you!

For Online Content: Please see Facebook pages: “Berkeley Chinese Community Church” and “Living Liturgies”; as well as my website: www.inthebiglove.com and YouTube channel: “Kathryn Schreiber”