Pastor Sullivan's Blog

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Throughout His earthly life Jesus gives brief glimpses of the glory He had with the Father before the creation of the world. Through this season of Epiphany Jesus shows us His glory bit by bit, miracle by miracle, that He is “ t he brightness of [God’s] glory and the express image of His person ” (Hebrews 1:3). He shows it bit by bit because He conceals His eternal glory by assuming our human flesh. He hides His divine glory under what Paul calls a “ form of a servant ” in Philippians 2:5. The son of God became incarnate, not to display His glory to but to give His life as a ransom for all are under the slavery of sin. He came to fulfill the Law on our behalf, being perfectly righteous in every thought, word, and deed since we sinners cannot do God’s righteous will and merit only wrath and condemnation. But in this state of humiliation He gives His disciples glimpses of His divine glory so that they might bel...

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain, probably Mount Tabor, the highest mountain in Galilee. There “ He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as with as the light. ” In that moment Jesus shined with the glory and radiance that was His because He is true God. Since His conception, though, the only begotten Son of God had hidden this glory. From eternity He is the “ brightness of God the Father’s glory and the express image of His person ” (Heb. 1:3). But when He assumed human flesh in the incarnation, St. Paul says He took the form of a slave and came in the likeness of men, being found in appearance as a man. Thought His entire life Jesus looked like any other man, even though He was the Word of God in human flesh. Throughout His ministry He reveals His glory through miraculous healings: water into wine, cleansing lepers with a touch, rebu...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 134 Songs of Thankfulness and Praise Hymn # 135 Tis Good Lord to be Here Hymn # 59 Hail to the Lord's Anointed   Introit The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. ( Psalm 77:18b ) How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your anointed. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; ( Psalm 84:1-2a, 4, 9, 11)   Readings Isaiah 61:10-11 2 Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9   Collect for the Transfiguration of Our Lord O God, Who in the glorious Transfiguration of Thine Only-Begotten Son hast confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of the Fathers, and Who, in the Voice that came from the bright cloud, didst in a wonderful manner foreshow the adoption of sons...