Two
Rivers Pastoral Charge
Sunday February 15, 2026 – Transfiguration Sunday (and Annual Meeting Sunday)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 17:1-9
It happens every couple of years that our Annual Meeting falls on
Transfiguration Sunday, the Sunday before the beginning of Lent. It is an interesting pairing. When you read the story of the
Transfiguration, about Jesus’s physical presence being transformed into light,
alongside the ancient leaders of Moses and Elijah, and about the voice of God
echoing from the heavens – this story feels all mystery and holiness and
transcendence. And beside this story, we
have the very mundane business of financial reports and budgets and building
maintenance and fundraisers. You are
excused if you feel a bit of whiplash moving between the two!
So the question that I asked myself this week was – what is the connection
between the story of the Transfiguration and our annual meeting? (You folks know that I like a good
challenge!)
I actually think that the connection is maybe not as far-fetched as it might
seem on the surface. You see, Jesus’s
disciples, after their encounter on the mountaintop, they didn’t stay on the
mountaintop. Even when Peter tried to
prolong the experience by suggesting that he build some shelters for them to
stay in, eventually Moses and Elijah disappeared, eventually the cloud of
brightness dissipated, eventually Jesus returned to his normal appearance. And then, after all of that, eventually
Peter, James, and John accompanied Jesus back down off the mountainside to
resume the work that they were doing.
But I also wonder how Peter, James, and John were changed by what they
experienced on the mountaintop. When we
talk about Transfiguration Sunday, we are usually talking about how Jesus’s
appearance is changed and transformed.
But I rather suspect that Peter, James, and John were also transformed
by their encounter with the holiness of God.
I rather suspect that the people who walked down the mountain were
different than the people who had climbed up it. I rather suspect that their future ministry
was different than their ministry had been before this encounter.
Which brings us to ourselves, and our experiences today. I see the concept of church as combining both
the transcendent and the practical. When
you read through my Minister’s report, or even the Annual Report as a whole,
you will see both of these. I talk about
the transcendent experiences of worship and sacraments. You will see baptisms recorded there, and the
funerals we held. All moments when we
can encounter the holiness and the mystery of God.
And we are shaped by these moments of transcendence. We are shaped by our worship; we are shaped
by our participation in the sacraments; we are shaped by prayer. And because our encounters with God change
and transform us; like Peter, James, and John, our ministry is
transformed. Those encounters with God
equip us to do the day-to-day work of churching – the work of making sandwiches
for Romero House, the work of celebrating Pride Week, the work of managing the
bank accounts of the church.
To me, church is always about balancing the two. If we were to only have the mundane practical
parts of church, we would be no different than a service club. But on the flip side, if church was only
about personally seeking encounters with the Divine, then we wouldn’t be
carrying out God’s mission in our communities.
Our encounters with the Holy One shape us and inspire our mission, and our
participation in God’s mission have us longing to draw close to the Divine
Presence.
So I guess that maybe it is very appropriate to be having our annual meeting on
Transfiguration Sunday! For the work of
the church and the worship of God are two sides of the same coin.
And may God bless us with Their presence, and may God equip us for Their
mission this year and always. Amen.
"Transfiguration"
by JESUS MAFA
Used with Permission
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