You may have seen the Star Trek: Next Generation episode entitled “The Dauphin”. In that episode, two of the people are able to alter their appearance. At the end of the episode the two are leaving the starship. Just before she transports to her home planet, the person who has appeared as a young woman the entire episode (except for one short scene) changes from looking human to her true self, a shimmering, translucent being.

Was the change a transformation or a transfiguration. What about some other examples? In the “Transformer” series of movies, the Transformers are able to change their appearance between looking like giant mechanical beings and looking like somesort of motor vehicle.Is it a subject taught at Hogwarts? Or a tone poem by Richard Strauss?

One website says the difference between transformation and transfiguration is that transform is to change greatly the appearance or form of while transfigure is to transform the outward appearance of something; to convert into a different form, state or substance. Probably still not sure of the difference after that.

To Peter, James, and John, it is an event that occurred when Jesus took them up on a mountain and was transfigured before them. His garments became whiter than any bleach could make them. At that point the prophets Elijah and Moses appear and Jesus begins to talk to them.

This Sunday we celebrate The Transfiguration of Our Lord. Sunday worship is at 9:30. Coffee hour at 10:30 and Adult Forum/Forward on the Fourth at 10:45.