As we gather together there is some technical information that most of you already know, but just in case someone does not:
There is a copy of the service in the red book by the door to the sanctuary.
The service will be in voice and text.
Worship music will be in the media player.
Thank you for not touching the media player—We have learned the hard way that if you poke it, it gets cranky and the video stops playing for everyone.  
So if the player isn't working in your viewer, please follow the YouTube link!
GATHERING: 
Today’s service is very much about motion and stillness.  And I can’t think of a better song about the need to keep moving than this one!
"Break My Stride"
~Matthew Wilder
Lyrics:
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/laguns/breakmystride.html
YouTube Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4c_SkROzzo

Please feel free to type any announcements you have for us into Local Chat.

WELCOME
Welcome to First United Church of Christ and Conference Center, Second Life.
We have official standing with the Eastern Association of the Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ as a Real Life church located in Second Life.
And I still think that's pretty cool, because I have sat in South Central Pennsylvania—I have sat in Northern Maine—
and I am currently sitting in Central Connecticut—
and I still think it's pretty cool that we can partner with my brothers and sisters and non-binary siblings all across the country 
and all of you wherever you are!
Speaking of wherever you are:
"No matter who you are, 
or where you are on life's journey, 
you are welcome here."
Most churches have a time of offering.
Making an offering, sharing what you can in God’s name, is a spiritual practice.
That offering can be one of prayer or of presence, 
of work on behalf of the church doing things like reading scripture or serving on the board of directors,
of helping with any of the many things that are needed for the church to function,
and/or, that offering can be one of money.
As a UCC church, we support the work of the wider church both with prayer and with donations. 
And it's true that we don't have a physical building, but there are monetary costs for this ministry to function.
So if you would like to make an offering by participating in leading worship or social events,
or if you would like to become a member of this church,
let any clergy or staff member know.
If you would like to make a financial offering to support this ministry there is a donation bowl by the door to the sanctuary, 
or if you prefer you can make a donation in RL currency on our website:
www.firstuccsl.org
And since we are a 501(c)(3) public charity, monetary donations are tax deductible in the U.S. 
We thank you for the blessing of your presence and your offering of support. 
SCRIPTURE LESSON
2 Kings 2:1–12
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’
But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’
So they went down to Bethel.
The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’
And he said, ‘Yes, I know; keep silent.’
Elijah said to him, ‘Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.’
But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’
So they came to Jericho.
The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’
And he answered, ‘Yes, I know; be silent.’
Then Elijah said to him, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.’
But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’
So the two of them went on.
Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan.
Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’
Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’
He responded, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’
As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.
Elisha kept watching and crying out, ‘Father, father!  The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’
But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Mark 9:2–9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.
And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’
He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’
Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 
SERMON      "The Pause Button"
This Sunday, many churches will be celebrating Transfiguration Sunday:  
the part of the season of Epiphany that uplifts the story we just heard from the Gospel of Mark as a pretty major revelation about just who Jesus is.
But have you ever wondered why the Revised Common Lectionary pairs the story of the Transfiguration with the the ascension of Elijah?
I suppose it could be as simple as the fact that Elijah makes an appearance in both stories, but part of me has always thought that the ascension of Elijah should be paired with the ascension of Jesus!
But today I’m interested in something the Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay wrote about how these two passages are similar:  a pause.
The idea of pausing has made Emmi and I laugh and smile for a long time, now.
It’s almost like a game—when life interrupts what we’re watching on our tv at home and we need to push that pause button—to notice the expression on the face of the actor frozen in place on the screen!
But what she points out is that:
“As Elijah and Elisha traveled to Gilgal, Elijah directs Elisha “to stay here” three times.
Each response from Elisha affirms that he will “not leave.”
The text provides no explanation for the stops made on this journey.
No action accompanies these destinations other than the company of prophets attempting to dissuade Elisha for his continued fidelity to Elijah.”
and that:
“In the Markan passage, the idea of staying put comes from Peter, who parallels Elisha in these narratives, as the one who will eventually take on the mantle of leadership of the burgeoning  community of faith.”
and that:
“Even prophetic and missional  ministry needs a pause, not a break that separates us from kin-dom building work, but a moment of rest to refocus and refuel.
This is captured in the larger concepts of sabbath, which “sanctifies time through sanctioned forms of rest and inaction” (Walter Brueggemann),
and jubilee, an extraordinary time of extended sabbath, celebration, and demonstration of the kin-dom fulfilled.
The ascendancy of Elijah and the Transfiguration of Jesus give their respective followers a taste of jubilee.
It serves as a reminder of what their labor promises, their commitment pursues, and their hope proclaims.
The glory of the Holy One on earth.”
This may come as a surprise to the people of my beloved homeland.  We Americans are not good at this.
Not good at all.
Americans work longer days, take less vacation time, and retire later than anyone else in the industrialized world.
But here’s the thing:
Studies show that taking time off from work has physical and psychological health benefits.
Simply put, folk who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve their goals.
And of course, I can’t help but think about the COVID-19 pandemic, and how we have all been forced into our homes for almost a year, now—
about how we have had no choice but to pause.
The Rev. Dr. Lindsay made this observation about the pandemic:
“At the dawn of the pandemic, there was a great deal of conversation about sporting events.
In particular, the questions of if, when, and how they might be played arose;
different entities made decisions based on the nature of their sport and the impact on their business model.
The NBA immediately shut down their season as they understood the health of their players was paramount.
The Wimbledon Championship also cancelled their scheduled matches for 2020.
At the time that decision was announced, it was revealed that the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club,
which hosts the event,
had an insurance policy that covered infectious diseases and would receive over £100 million from submitting a claim due to the cancellation.
On Twitter, sports commentator Jemele Hill made the point that “You don’t have to get ready when you stay ready.”
We take a pause to stay ready.”
Elijah and Elisha pause several times along their journey in order to stay ready:
“It doesn’t stop it or change their course. It is a divinely executed transfer of power.
Both men understand the significance of the moment.
Elijah has concluded his term, and Elisha has been selected as his successor.
In different ways, both prophets are elevated.
One to rest and reward while the other takes on the mantle of leadership for a new day.
Such moments deserve their time.”
Peter suggests that they pause on that mountaintop in order to stay ready:
“Transfiguration Sunday reminds us to take a pause…
Epiphany as a season, rather than as a distinct day, is a time that seems to encourage us to “Look at God!”
Look at Jesus being baptized in the River Jordan with the whole Trinity showing up for the occasion.
Look at Jesus venturing out into ministry and calling those first disciples to come along for the journey.
And, this Sunday, we seek Jesus revealed before three of his closest disciples in his transfigured, dazzling glory.
Look at God!
It’s a proper time to take a pause.  
To be still and know.
To gaze upon the beauty of God’s splendor.”
We take a pause.  
Sometimes because we have the wisdom to do so on our own.  
Sometimes because circumstance forces us to do so whether we wan to or not.
But with a little wisdom, we can always use that pause for good.
“We take a pause to stay ready.
We reach for the sky in worship to get ready to face the otherwise unfaceable.
Elisha would have to face continuing the prophetic ministry of his mentor and parental-figure.
Peter, James, and John would have to face the horrors of the crucifixion of their teacher and friend.
Daily, followers of Jesus Christ confront the challenges of a world sickened by evil and polluted by greed.”
We take a pause.  
Sometimes because we have the wisdom to do so on our own.  
Sometimes because circumstance forces us to do so whether we wan to or not.
But with a little wisdom, we can always use that pause for good.
And so my prayer for you is that you remember to take a pause—
that you are able to find the wisdom to gaze upon the beauty of God’s splendor, that you have the wisdom to use it to stay ready when circumstance forces a pause upon you—
to be still and know.
What do you say?  Amen?
PRAYER PREPARATION:
This piece is from an anime too deep and complex to try to describe in a single sentence.  
The piece is entitled “A Moment When Tension Breaks” and it represents a version of the pause I’ve been preaching about—the comfort and joy of simple, domestic normalcy.
I hope you enjoy it.
"A Moment When Tension Breaks"
~From _Neon Genesis Evangelion_
YouTube Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaEL4KCOPfY

We have come to our time in worship that I really do believe is the core of what we do here together, and that is where we uplift our joys and concerns with one another in prayer.
And so I would like to invite you to enter this time of prayer with a sense of reverence. 
We're about to enter into a conversation with God, and that shouldn't be done lightly,
but rather "... with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 
making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"  (Ephesians 4:2-3) 
Please type your prayers into chat, or if you need to use voice simply emote raising your hand so everybody can have a voice.
And as we pray together, you may wish to respond to others with words like, "God hear our prayer," or with any other words the Spirit leads to you use.
COMMUNITY PRAYER
If there was a prayer inside of you that you couldn't quite get out, it's ok.
Because the Psalmist tells us that God knows what we are going to say before the words can even form on our tongues.
And so we know.
We _ know _ that God has heard our prayers.  Those spoken out loud, those typed into SL chat, and those spoken only in the silence of our hearts.
And that we pray them in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
LISTEN!
We have done a lot of talking.  Let us take a moment of silence to listen to what God might be saying.
Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening...
PASTORAL PRAYER
God of Steadfast Love and Mercy, help us to pull back the veil to notice how You are at work in our lives and in the world around us.
Help us to find Your secret notes for us in the turning leaves and new buds and shoots.
Guide us to find Your hidden messages in the snowprints of Your creatures and the dripping icicles.
Lead us to the knowledge of Your love in the care and compassion of our neighbors and friends,
and help us to share Your love messages with others in our own acts of mercy and forgiveness.
You are at work, in us and through us and around us;
help us to reveal Your works to the world.  Amen.    (Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell, http://rev-o-lution.org)
BENEDICTION:
And now it really is just this simple:
God loves you
So don't forget to love each other
Go with God
Go in Peace
And amen!
CLOSING:  
I couldn’t help thinking of this classic piece from Simon & Garfunkel,
slow down, you move too fast!
"The 59th Street Bridge Song"
~Simon & Garfunkel
Lyrics:
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/simongarfunkel/the59thstreetbridgesongfeelingroovy.html
YouTube Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xhJcQEfD5s