Morning Service for Trinity Sunday for 2023
HYMN Father of heaven, whose love profound NEH 358- Rievaulx
1 Father of heaven, whose love profound
A ransom for our souls hath found,
Before thy throne we sinners bend:
To us thy pardoning love extend.
3 Eternal Spirit, by whose breath
The soul is raised from sin and death,
Before thy throne we sinners bend:
To us thy quickening power extend.
4 Thrice Holy! Father, Spirit, Son,
Mysterious Godhead, Three in One,
Before thy throne we sinners bend:
Grace, pardon, life to us extend.
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PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
We recall our Lord’s command to love and in a moment of silence we confess
the many ways we fail to keep his command:
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen
May the God of love and power
forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by his Spirit,
and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God,
you have given us your servants grace,
by the confession of a true faith,
to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity
and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity:
keep us steadfast in this faith,
that we may evermore be defended from all adversities;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING – Isaiah 40.12-17,27-31
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has directed the spirit of the LORD, or as his counsellor has instructed him? Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice? Who taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as dust on the scales; see, he takes up the isles like fine dust. Lebanon would not provide fuel enough, nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before him; they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.
Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
HYMN I bind unto myself today NEH 159- St Patrick
1 I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three.
2 I bind this day to me forever,
by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation,
his baptism in the Jordan river,
his death on cross for my salvation,
his bursting from the spicèd tomb,
his riding up the heavenly way,
his coming at the day of doom,
I bind unto myself today.
3 I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea
around the old eternal rocks.
4 I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
God’s eye to watch, God’s might to stay,
God’s ear to hearken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach,
God’s hand to guide, God’s shield to ward,
the word of God to give me speech,
God’s heavenly host to be my guard.
6 I bind unto myself the name,
the strong name of the Trinity
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three,
of whom all nature has creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation;
salvation is of Christ the Lord!
GOSPEL – Matthew 28.16-20
“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
SERMON
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Someone once famously said, “only connect”. This Sunday, Trinity Sunday, is a day to make connections. Christians often regard the doctrine of the Trinity with some embarrassment; it is so much easier to think in simpler terms of just God, or just Jesus. But that would fail to recognise the unique contribution Christianity has made to the science of God – the understanding that God is not remote, above and beyond all – so far transcendent that he merely sits in judgement, so far apart from us that he can do us no earthly good.
Belief in the God of three persons – yet sharing one personality – is belief in a God who is present both as over arching creator and originator of all things, and as one who is present, united with us in the life and the death and the resurrection of Jesus, and who continues to be present as Holy Spirit to ignite and sustain the love of God in our hearts.
When Moses stood before the burning bush and was told to go back to his people he dared to ask God who should he say sent him. The reply he was given is impossible to translate. One possible translation is that God told Moses to say “say ‘I will be there as I will be there’ sent you.” God wanted the Israelites to know that the essential fact they should understand about him was that he would be with them. It is indeed a recurrent theme in the story of the Exodus, God continually saying to his people that he will be there, and they continually refusing to believe him, and going their own way – with predictable consequences.
And if this is true of the God of Moses, it is made even clearer of the God we meet in Jesus. In Jesus God became uniquely united with his creation – he became, in a new way, part of its story. And that wasn’t lost when Jesus was no longer to be seen.
All the gospel writers tell us Jesus assured his disciples that he would be with them. We heard it again this morning, “and surely I am with you always, to the very end of time.”
The name we give to this abiding presence is the Holy Spirit – God continuing to be there, continuing to be available to the world, and present to all who will open their hearts and lives to his influence, and his grace.
Now practising the presence of God is not easy, and does not necessarily come naturally – like much that is worthwhile in life it comes from our decision, our resolve. God does not force himself on us.
Practising the presence of God, finding him as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is what we are about every Sunday. We come here to find in this place at this very time the living presence of God, the God who always ‘will be there’. By acknowledging he is with us now we begin to acknowledge that he is with us always and everywhere. We focus on this moment and this place and bring our world to it. And when we leave this place, this time, we take what we have experienced back into the worlds we inhabit, to begin to transform them.
And if we manage to fulfil just a part of this calling, if we manage, in some small way to help make the God who comes to us as Father and as Son and as Holy Spirit present to those about us, then we shall be as those who… ‘hope in the Lord, who will renew their strength, and soar like eagles.’
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the scriptures;
he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles: this we have received,
and this we believe. Amen. 1 Corinthians 15.3-7
HYMN Holy Holy holy, Lord God Almighty NEH 146- Nicaea
1 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!
2 Holy, Holy, Holy! all the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
3 Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
4 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION – Christine Hill
God in three persons, blessed Trinity, we come before you to offer our praise and adoration, and to pray for your church throughout the world. We give thanks for those churches which are thriving and ask for your blessing on those which struggle for lack of numbers or which have lost their way. In this benefice we pray for William and all those who give of their time and talents to serve you, in whatever way. May we always be welcoming to newcomers and willing to share our faith with others.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer
We remember all those who bear the responsibility of leadership, for heads of state, ambassadors, politicians and those who serve on local councils. May they never be tempted to abuse or misuse their power, but always work for the good of the communities they lead. We thank you for people who have the courage to challenge our leaders, and thank you that we live in a country where free speech is allowed. May we always use these privileges wisely and with your teachings in our minds.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer
Loving God, we pray this morning for those who are sick, sad or lonely. We also pray for those who are brave and patient when things are going wrong, especially those who are facing long and uncertain waits for treatment. We pray that they may be aware of your comforting presence and know that in your hands they are safe and loved. We remember especially those known to us.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer
Blessed Trinity, we remember before God those who have died. We pray for all whose life is saddened by the death of a loved one and ask that you are with them in their sorrow. We thank you that your love reaches beyond the grave and that Jesus Christ is the light of the world which no darkness can quench.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer
Father God, lead us into the coming week. Help us to believe that you are always with us, and when we face hard decisions or disappointments, or when we enjoy ourselves and have fun with others, may we know that you share these times with us.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
The Lord God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
the holy and undivided Trinity,
guard you, save you,
and bring you to that heavenly city,
where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen
HYMN Praise my soul the king of heaven NEH 436/AMR 365 – Praise my soul
1 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To his feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven.
who like me his praise should sing?
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise the everlasting King!
2 Praise him for his grace and favour
To our fathers in distress;
Praise him still the same forever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise him! Praise him!
Glorious in his faithfulness.
3 Father-like he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows;
In his hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise him! Praise him!
Widely as his mercy flows.
4 Angels, help us to adore him;
Ye behold him face to face;
Sun and moon bow down before him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise with us the God of grace!