CCLI license #1913561
Lakeview Presbyterian Church Service, February 14, 2021
Transfiguration Sunday and Black History Month
Questions for Reflection:
We are celebrating Black History Month and today is Valentine's Day and Transfiguration Sunday. Reflect on those themes:
how might those themes relate to one another?
Prelude “O What a Beautiful City” Negro Spiritual sung by Keisha Prime
Refrain
Oh what a beautiful city
Oh what a beautiful city
Oh what a beautiful city
Twelve gates to the city, Hallelu
Refrain
Three gates in-a de east
Three gates in-a de west
Three gates in-a de north
Three gates in-a de south
Making it twelve gates to de city
Hallelu!
Refrain
My Lord built-a dat city
Said it was jus-a fo’ square
Wanted all-a you sinners
To meet Him in-a de air
Cause He built twelve gates-a to city
Hallelu!
Refrain
Twelve gates!
Twelve gates!
Hallelu!
Opening Words
The glory of God shines like a consuming fire.
We have seen the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The voice of God thunders like a mighty storm.
Out of the cloud, God speaks: This is my beloved Son; listen to him!
Opening Prayer
Holy and mighty God, gather us among your faithful ones, the people of your covenant, to stand in the light of your glory and listen for the word of the Lord, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Minute for Mission: Black History Month
During the early years of St Petersburg there were very few historical records of African Americans (AA). Karl Grismer’s 1928 “History of St Pete” only attributed a couple of paragraphs to the “Negro Settlement.” His chronicles published in 1948 included only three pages devoted to the history of Blacks in St. Pete, entitled, “The Colored People Get Jordan Park.” While early historians praised the climate and amenities of the Sunshine City, they seldom mentioned a group of people who were not allowed to relax on the fabled green benches or other amenities of the City.
¬¬ Peggy Peterman (1936-2004) was an AA journalist and columnist noted for the integration of the news which previously had been one page of the paper. Ms Peterman started writing for the St. Pete Times in 1965. After 20 years as a reporter she became a columnist and joined the editorial board in 1994.
The Weekly Challenger was a Black owned newspaper. An article in stpetecatalyst.com states, “Lynn Johnson, the Publishing Editor of the Weekly Challenger, is a true St. Pete native—born and raised. She graduated from Eckerd College with a degree in History, a passion that drives her work at the Weekly Challenger. This local newspaper has been telling the story of St. Pete’s African American community for more than 50 years. Lyn Johnson’s father, Cleveland Johnson, Jr. co-founded The Weekly Challenger in the 60’s, in a time when mainstream coverage of African American news was limited to crime and marriage announcements. When her father passed away in 2001, Johnson’s mother took over publishing, and finally in 2012 Johnson took the helm. The oldest and most beloved voice of the local African American community, Johnson fights to modernize the Weekly Challenger and continues to cover the most important stories in the community.
Hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” Charles Wesley, 1747 sung by Keisha Prime
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that promised rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
'Til in heaven we take our place,
'Til we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
A Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures 2 Kings 2:1-12CEV
Not long before the LORD took Elijah up into heaven in a strong wind, Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “The LORD wants me to go to Bethel, but you must stay here.” Elisha replied, “I swear by the living LORD and by your own life that I will stay with you no matter what!” And he went with Elijah to Bethel. A group of prophets who lived there asked Elisha, “Do you know that today the LORD is going to take away your master?” “Yes, I do,” Elisha answered. “But don’t remind me of it.”
Elijah then said, “Elisha, now the LORD wants me to go to Jericho, but you must stay here.” Elisha replied, “I swear by the living LORD and by your own life, that I will stay with you no matter what!” And he went with Elijah to Jericho. A group of prophets who lived there asked Elisha, “Do you know that today the LORD is going to take away your master?” “Yes, I do,” Elisha answered. “But don’t remind me of it.” 6 Elijah then said to Elisha, “Now the LORD wants me to go to the Jordan River, but you must stay here.”
Elisha replied, “I swear by the living LORD and by your own life that I will never leave you!” So the two of them walked on together. Fifty prophets followed Elijah and Elisha from Jericho, then stood at a distance and watched as the two men walked toward the river. When they got there, Elijah took off his coat, then he rolled it up and struck the water with it. At once a path opened up through the river, and the two of them walked across on dry ground. After they had reached the other side, Elijah said, “Elisha, the LORD will soon take me away. What can I do for you before that happens?” Elisha answered, “Please give me twice as much of your power as you give the other prophets, so I can be the one who takes your place as their leader.” “It won’t be easy,” Elijah answered. “It can happen only if you see me as I am being taken away.” Elijah and Elisha were walking along and talking, when suddenly there appeared between them a flaming chariot pulled by fiery horses. Right away, a strong wind took Elijah up into heaven. Elisha saw this and shouted, “Israel’s cavalry and chariots have taken my master away!” After Elijah had gone, Elisha tore his clothes in sorrow.
Reading from the Gospels Mark 9:2-9 NRS
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Sermon “Shine, Jesus, Shine” The Rev. Lois R. Lehman
Hymn “Be Thou My Vision” Ancient Irish Poem/Ballad sung by Keisha Prime
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one.
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Mighty and merciful one, you have come to us in glory; now we come to you in prayer.
We pray for your glorious creation. . . .
Stamp out fires of destruction, drive away clouds of pollution, and restore the beauty of this world.
We pray for the people of all nations.
Bring healing, justice, and peace to your people.
We pray for those who are perishing, all who are ill in body, mind and spirit; those who love them and those who care for them.
We pray for the body of Christ. . . .
Open our hearts in faith, enlighten our minds with knowledge, and strengthen us to proclaim the gospel In word and In deeds of kindness.
Make us ready for the day when this world is transfigured, transformed, made new— when all things will shine in the dazzling light of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer (Ecumenical Version)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
A Statement about Offering our Gifts
Our offerings are a thanksgiving for God’s gifts. Open now your hearts and share so that the church’s work is made strong for the sake of the world.
Donations can be mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website @lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Special Music “Shine, Jesus, Shine” Graham Kendrick, 1987 sung by Keisha Prime
Lord, the light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth You now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me
Chorus
Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light
Lord, I come to Your awesome presence
From the shadows into Your radiance
By the blood, I may enter Your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me
Chorus
As we gaze on Your kingly brightness
So our faces display Your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here, may our lives tell Your story
Shine on me, shine on me
Chorus
Prayer of Dedication Loving God, we give you thanks for the light of the world, Jesus Christ. Receive the gifts we offer that we may be ministers of his new covenant through the power of the life-giving Spirit. Amen.
Charge and Blessing
Go into the world as disciples of Jesus Christ to live and share the good news.
May the steadfast love of God renew you, the word of Jesus Christ guide you, and the power of the Holy Spirit strengthen you, now and forever. Amen
Postlude “Deep River” Sung by Keisha Prime
Deep River, My home is over Jordan.
Deep River Lord. I want to cross over into campground.
Deep River. My home is over Jordan. Deep River, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground
Oh, don't you want to go, To the gospel feast.
That promised land, Where all, is peace.
Oh, deep River, Lord, I want to cross over into campground.