The feast of Transfiguration is on 6 August. Consider using this form for a few days following too. Many ideas and phrases in the prayers below come from the accounts in Matthew 16:28-17:8 and its parallels in Mark and Luke.
Lord, it is good for us to be here [i]
For your Spirit is with us
We pause to recognise God’s presence.
Our hearts respond to your call ‘Seek my face.’
Your face, Lord, will we seek. One thing we ask of you Lord
and this is what we seek:
to dwell at your meeting place all our lives’ days
To behold your loveliness, and think on your ways.[ii]
…
As we hear the scriptures
may we listen to your Beloved.
Overshadow us and speak to us
for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit
Scriptures and a time of quiet and/or shared reflection.
By the Spirit, we hear God’s voice from heaven, In Christ we have the message more fully confirmed. Let us be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place.[iii]
A collect may be said.
Canticle of Solomon
Yours, O Lord, are the greatness,
the power, the glory,
the victory, and the majesty;
for all that is in the heavens
and on the earth is yours;
yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
and you are exalted as head above all.[iv]
Your steadfast love, O Lord, is in the heavens,
your faithfulness reaches the skies.[v]
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.[vi]
We honour you and thank you: in Christ we are your beloved children, with whom you are well pleased. In Christ you are transforming us from one degree of glory to another by the working of the Holy Spirit.
And so, we laud your name:
Holy, holy, holy God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna in the highest.
In the transfiguration, we glimpse a world reflecting God’s glory, we long for transfigurations of here-and-now realities into anticipations of the new heaven and new earth.
…
Your kingdom come
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us wisdom to share sensitively with all people the good news so that all may behold your glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
…
Your kingdom come
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
By the hopes of the prophets, we are emboldened to cry out for justice, mercy and peace.
…
Your kingdom come
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Sensing the groaning of creation[vii] in us and around us, we cry out for humanity to step up to serve and guard the earth[viii].
…
Your kingdom come
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
As we accompany Christ to the wheres and whens that touch glory, be our provider
…
Your kingdom come
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Forgive us that in various ways, big and small, we have grieved the Spirit as we have resisted being transformed into the likeness of Christ Jesus.
……
Gracious God, glorify your name,
We glory in your forgiveness.
Enfold our forgiving of others into your transfiguration of creation that we may continually participate in the transformation of the world.
…
Give us grace to forgive:
Work your glory into our forgiveness.
Lead us so we do not sleepwalk into sin
awaken us to the signs of glory around us.
Preserve us from attempts to make permanent the provisional;
And from the paralysing fear of the new and challenging.
In the midst of the strange and misunderstandable;
Give us ears to hear you and heart to follow Jesus.
Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
now and forever. Amen.
We go being transformed into Christ’s image,
from one degree of glory to another ;
This comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Amen.
[i] Matthew 17:4 -allusions to the same passage can be found throughout this form for prayer.
[ii] From Psalm 27
[iii] See 2 Peter 1:19
[iv] 1 Chronicles 29:10-11
[v] Psalm 36:5
[vi] Psalm 57:11
[vii] Romans 8:22
[viii] Genesis 2:15
Book of our Common Prayer 