Happy Transformation Sunday!
It was a good day today. I feel like I was really “present with God” all day actually.
I woke and sprang up, not sure why because I usually turn my alarm off and sleep an extra 2 hours. Today was different. It was 4 minutes to 10. I put my Grand View Wrestling sweatshirt on, threw a comb through my hair, grabbed my Bible (iPad) and I was off to the church across the street.
This church is actually about 200 feet from my doorstep. I’ve never been inside.
I navigate through the doors at about 10:02 wearing basically a black jumpsuit with snow boots with my leather-bound Bible. I hear music, the service is already started. I approach the front of the entrance to the sanctuary and a man greets me. He asks if I am joining them for service this morning and I say yes, and ask him what time service started. I’m told they’re on their first worship song, success! :)
What This Church Is Like
I take my seat and listen in to what would be an enlightening, transformative talk. This church has a Japanese-American decent and is filled with culture. Near the end of the service we sang a short hymn in their native tongue. So beautiful.
Worship is lead by the Choir located near the back of the main stage. Its a large choir of about 12 members of the congregation. Including myself there were about 45 people there–a real family friendly environment. The pastor started with the children’s sermon and there were 12-15 kids that showed–2 were late arrivals. :)
What happened next was pretty neat. The children then went around the congregation with small tin buckets used for collecting the offering that goes specifically towards the children’s ministry. People mostly donate coins but as the pastor said after they collected it all “oh theres some green in that one!”–to congratulate the little girl who had collected dollar bills.
The Sermon
As we can see from the program its Transformation Tuesday, and the sermon gave a very much “Colorado-like” take on what it means to be transformed.
Scripture from both the old and new testament were read aloud:
Exodus 24:12-18
The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And Behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.”
Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now 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. Moses entered the cloud and wen up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Matthew 17:1-9
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and lead them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white and light. And behold, there appear to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter sadi to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well please; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”