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Transfiguration Sunday (Last Sunday before Lent) – Year A

15 February 2026 All day

Churches that do not observe the last Sunday before Lent as Transfiguration Sunday may prefer to use the resources for the 7th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent.

Below you will find the Bible readings set for Transfiguration Sunday in the Revised Common Lectionary, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them, plus prayers and sermons based on them.

Bible Readings (paraphrased)

Lections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville, TN 37203-0003, USA. Used with Permission.

The LORD said to Moses, “Come up onto the mountain and wait for me there; and I will give you the two slabs of stone on which I have written the instructions for how my people are to live.”

So Moses and his right-hand-man, Joshua, set out for the mountain to meet with God. Before going up the mountain, Moses called together the tribal leaders and said, “Stay put here until we get back. I’m leaving Aaron and Hur in charge. You can ask them to sort out any problems that occur while we are away.”

Then Moses began his climb up Mount Sinai, and cloud engulfed the mountain. The mountain top lit up with the glorious presence of the LORD. To the Israelite people watching from below, it looked like a raging bushfire and the whole mountain was engulfed in thick cloud for six days. On the seventh day, the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. Moses went into the cloud and right up onto the top of the mountain. He stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Why do the nations conspire against you, LORD?
Why do the peoples plot rebellion?

Why do the world’s power brokers thump their chests,
and the war lords put their heads together,
plotting against you and your chosen one?

They say:
“Let us join forces to sever ties with God.
Let’s throw off these chains and declare our independence.”

You must be laughing as you sit high above, LORD.
They must look like a pathetic joke to you.

You will vent your terrifying anger on them,
and give them a piece of your mind, saying,
“I, the LORD, have put my king on the throne
on Zion, my sacred mountain.”

We know well what you promised, LORD.
You said to your chosen one:
“You are my son;
today I have brought you forth.”

You give to your chosen one whatever he asks;
nations, land and sea, the earth itself.

They are all his to do with as he sees fit;
he can smash them to pieces if he so desires.

So the power brokers would be well advised to serve you, LORD;
the rulers would do well to heed the warning
and kiss your feet with fear and trembling.

If they don’t your anger will blaze forth and incinerate them,
for you easily lose your temper with corrupt leaders.

But those who trust you for shelter, LORD,
will always be glad they did.

©2002 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

When we filled you in on the power of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and his approaching return, were not simply digging up a masterful old bit of story telling. We know what we were talking about because we had been given a sneak preview of his true grandeur. God, the conceiver of everything, decked Jesus out in honour and glory. We witnessed this ourselves while we were with him on the sacred mountain. With our own ears we heard God’s voice, booming out majestically to him from heaven, saying, ““This is my Son who I love greatly and who fills me with pride.”

So we have been left in no doubt about the truth of what God’s prophets have said about him. Take my advice and pay attention to what they said, because their message is a much-needed source of light in the darkness that you must endure until the new day breaks and the morning star rises in your hearts. But what you must first get clear in your heads is that the prophetic messages in the scriptures are not just the private opinions of those who wrote them down. The prophetic messages that have been passed down to us were not born of someone’s wishful thinking. Rather, the Holy Spirit fired up men and women to speak on God’s behalf.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them off up a high mountain. Before their very eyes, the way Jesus looked was suddenly changed from the inside out. His face shone like the sun and his clothing became so white it was dazzling. And, lo and behold, they saw Moses and Elijah there too, in deep conversation with Jesus.

Peter said, “Lord, this is fantastic! What a moment! If you like, I will knock up three huts, so that you, Moses and Elijah can all stay here longer.”

Even before he finished getting the words out, a dazzling cloud engulfed them all. Deep within the cloud, a voice boomed forth: “This is my Son, the love of my life, who fills me with pride. Listen to him!”

When Peter, James and John heard this, they hit the deck, dumbfounded. But Jesus came and tapped them on the shoulders and said, “Up you get! There’s nothing to be afraid of!”

And when they looked up, everything looked normal again and they saw no one there but Jesus.

As they were coming back down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy, saying, “Don’t breathe a word to anyone about what you’ve seen until the New Human has been raised from the dead.”

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Prayers

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 your transfiguring light has overcome us
and is restoring within us the image of your glory.

At the dawn of time your glory overcame the chaos
and gave birth to the earth and heavens.
On the fiery mountain you gave the law to Moses,
and through men and women moved by your Holy Spirit
you gave us your word to lighten up the dark places.

In the timeless presence of Moses and Elijah
you transfigured your anointed one, Jesus,
allowing his terrified followers to witness his majesty
and hear your voice from the awesome cloud.
Powerful leaders plotted against him
and killed him,
but you raised him from the dead,
declaring him again to be your beloved Son.
Calling us now to listen to him
you send us forth to share your transfiguring love with all.

Therefore with .....

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We thank you for the glory of your anointed one, Jesus,
which was witnessed by his terrified followers in the awesome cloud,
and is now restoring within us the image of your glory
and sending us forth to share your transfiguring love with all.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for your transfiguring light has overcome us
and is restoring within us the image of your glory.

At the dawn of time your glory overcame the chaos
and gave birth to the earth and heavens.
On the fiery mountain you gave the law to Moses,
and through men and women moved by your Holy Spirit
you gave us your word to lighten up the dark places.

In the timeless presence of Moses and Elijah
you transfigured your anointed one, Jesus,
allowing his terrified followers to witness his majesty
and hear your voice from the awesome cloud.
Powerful leaders plotted against him
and killed him,
but you raised him from the dead,
declaring him again to be your beloved Son.
Calling us now to listen to him
you send us forth to share your transfiguring love with all.

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.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Though the glory of the Lord is a devouring fire,
before which we tremble in awe,
Jesus comes to us,
touching us with mercy
and saying, “Get up, and do not be afraid.”

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

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go now and make known the power and coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bow at God’s feet,
and serve the Lord with joy.

And may God be your shelter;
May Christ Jesus take away your fear;
And may the Holy Spirit lead you in truth until the day dawns
and the morning star rises in your hearts.

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

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Sermons

Sermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website.

  1. After the Mountain
    A sermon on 2 Peter 1:16-21 & Matthew 17:1-9 by Nathan Nettleton
  2.  Revealing the face of utter human vulnerability
    A sermon on Matthew 17:1-9 by Roslyn Wright
  3. From Mountain Top to Mountain Top (full version)
    A sermon on 2 Peter 1:16-21; Exodus 24:12-18 & Matthew 17:1-9 by Nathan Nettleton
  4. From Mountain Top to Mountain Top (abridged version)
    A sermon on 2 Peter 1:16-21; Exodus 24:12-18 & Matthew 17:1-9 by Nathan Nettleton