Moses came down from Mount Sinai carrying the two slabs of stone on which he had written the terms of the Alliance with God. Although he didn’t know it, his face was lit up like a lantern because God had been speaking to him directly. When Aaron and all the Israelite people saw how his face was aglow, they were too scared to even go near him. However, Moses called together Aaron and the leaders of the people and spoke with them. After that, he called together an assembly of all the Israelite people, and spelled out for them the laws that came from what the LORD had told him on Mount Sinai. Once Moses had finished addressing the people, he hid his face with a scarf. Whenever he entered the sacred place to speak with the LORD, he would take off the scarf. When he came out again and told the Israelites whatever God had told him to tell them, they could see that his face was aglow. Moses would then put the scarf back over his face and wear it until the next time he went in to speak with the LORD.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

You, LORD, rule over everything!
Enthroned in glory, surrounded by awesome creatures,
your presence sends shivers down our spines
and makes even the earth tremble and quake!

LORD, your greatness is celebrated in Zion,
and in every nation you are number one.
At the mere mention of your name,
people everywhere burst into praise,
for your greatness and holiness are awesome!

Ruling in strength; loving justice with a passion;
you have seen to it that everyone gets a fair go.
You have laid down the law
so that your people will do what is right.

We fall at your feet and sing your praises, O LORD our God,
for your greatness and holiness are awesome!

Moses and Aaron served you as priests,
Samuel was another who reached out to you.
They cried out to you on the world’s behalf,
and from the awesome cloud you answered them.

They stuck to what you had told them, LORD,
and did whatever you asked of them.
When they did wrong you set them straight,
in no uncertain terms;
but you forgave them, LORD,
and never failed to answer them.

We sing your praises, O LORD our God.
We climb your holy mountain to worship you,
for your greatness and holiness are awesome!

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

The hope we have in the new life-giving ways of the Spirit fills us with confidence to live our faith openly — more openly even than Moses. His face was aglow with the glory of God after he received the written law, but he put a scarf over his face so that the people wouldn’t see how quickly it faded. The people back then were as thick-headed as the people of our own day — they could hear the words of God’s law read out, but it never seemed to penetrate their hearts and minds. It’s as though the scarf has stayed in place ever since to prevent anyone from catching sight of the glory revealed by the words. Only Christ can uncover what is hidden. It’s the same for anyone who reads the scriptures without opening themselves to the Lord for insight: it is as though the wool has been pulled over their eyes and nothing gets through but the bare words. It all changes when we turn to the Lord, though, because the Lord is a real eye-opener. The Lord and the Spirit are one and the same, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the freedom to see clearly. The wool is pulled away from our eyes and we come face to face with the glory of God. This experience is truly transfiguring! We are set ablaze by the Spirit — lit up like the Lord — so that more and more we become like mirrors reflecting the glory of God.

We have nothing to hide then, and no reason to lose our nerve, for God has been incredibly generous in trusting us with a share of this work. We have sworn off any methods that we’d be ashamed to have brought to light. We don’t hide behind masks; we don’t do anything shifty or manipulative; and we don’t twist God’s word to promote our own agendas. Instead, we simply lay all our cards on the table and let our integrity speak for itself. By stating it plainly and living it openly in the sight of God, we give everyone the opportunity to make up their own minds about the truth.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Jesus had spoken to his followers for the first time about his impending death in Jerusalem and the fact that following him meant putting their lives on the line. About a week later, he took Peter, John and James and went up to the top of a mountain to pray. As he was praying, a visible change came over his face and his clothing became so white it was dazzling. Suddenly two more men could be seen in deep conversation with Jesus. They were Moses and Elijah, and the glory of heaven could be seen in them. They spoke with Jesus about how he was about to escape to freedom through the waters of death in Jerusalem.

Peter and his mates nearly missed all this because, although they had come to pray too, they were falling asleep. However, they roused themselves in time to see Jesus in all his glory standing with the two men. As the two were finishing up with Jesus, Peter – shooting his mouth off without thinking – said, “Boss, this is fantastic! What a moment! How about we knock up three huts, so that you, Moses and Elijah can all stay here longer.”

Even before he finished getting the words out, an awesome cloud engulfed them all and they were quaking in their boots. Deep within the cloud, a voice boomed forth: “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him!”

When the voice finished, everything suddenly looked normal again, and Peter, James and John saw no one there but Jesus. They were dumbfounded by what they had seen and in the coming days they didn’t breathe a word about it to anyone.

The next day, as they came back down the mountain, they ran into a large crowd who had gathered to meet them. The minute they arrived, one of the men in the crowd shouted out to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, please, I beg you. Take a look at my son, my one and only child. He gets these sudden fits all the time. Some horrible spirit seizes him and throws him screaming to the ground. It makes him foam at the mouth and thrash around until he’s black and blue. I pleaded with your followers to deal with it, but nothing they could do made any difference.”

Jesus shook his head and said, “Sometimes they are as godless and twisted as the rest of their generation. I don’t know why I put up with any of them. Bring your son here.”

Even as they brought him over, another demonic fit seized the boy, crashing him to the ground, convulsing wildly. This time, though, Jesus took charge and bawled out the toxic spirit. He healed the boy and returned him to the care of his father. Everyone was completely bowled over by this sign of God’s power and generosity.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Let us lift up our hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for you remove the veil from our minds
and transfigure us in the wondrous light of your glory.

At creation your word lit up the sun and stars
and dispelled the chaos to form the earth.
You revealed your glory to your servant, Moses,
and, from the cloud, made a covenant with your people.

In the timeless presence of Moses and Elijah
you transfigured your Son, Jesus,
allowing his terrified followers to witness his glory
and hear your voice from the awesome cloud.
He was killed by those whose minds were hardened,
but, by your mercy, his exodus through the waters of death
led to resurrection life and freedom.
Now, you have called us to listen to him
and through your Holy Spirit,
you are transforming us into his image
and clothing us with honour and majesty.

Therefore with .....

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We give you thanks for your transfiguring love
which shone from your servant Moses,
was seen by terrified disciples in your Son, Jesus Christ,
and is now removing the veil from our minds
and clothing us with his honour and glory.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for you remove the veil from our minds
and transfigure us in the wondrous light of your glory.

At creation your word lit up the sun and stars
and dispelled the chaos to form the earth.
You revealed your glory to your servant, Moses,
and, from the cloud, made a covenant with your people.

In the timeless presence of Moses and Elijah
you transfigured your Son, Jesus,
allowing his terrified followers to witness his glory
and hear your voice from the awesome cloud.
He was killed by those whose minds were hardened,
but, by your mercy, his exodus through the waters of death
led to resurrection life and freedom.
Now, you have called us to listen to him
and through your Holy Spirit,
you are transforming us into his image
and clothing us with honour and majesty.

Therefore, with our hearts lifted high,
we offer you thanks and praise at all times
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We have renounced the shameful things that were kept hidden.
It is God’s freedom to punish, but God’s delight to forgive sin.
So do not lose heart, the Spirit of the Lord is here,
and where the Spirit is, there is freedom and mercy.

Sisters and Brothers,
  your sins are forgiven;
    be at peace.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go now and live your faith boldly
as an open statement of God’s truth.
Keep nothing hidden,
and refuse anything deceitful or manipulative.
By God’s mercy, engage in the ministry
to which you have been called,
and let the light of God’s word shine brightly in you.

And may God strengthen you and keep you safe;
May Christ Jesus unveil your minds;
And may the Holy Spirit transform you from glory to glory.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
   In the name of Christ. Amen.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net