The Bulletin is at: 05-27-2018 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 05-27-2018 – Service
or the service is as follows:
Holy Trinity Sunday
May 27, 2018
AS WE GATHER…The Festival of the Holy Trinity gives us an opportunity to stretch our faith. At its center is a careful delineation of doctrine. At the heart of the liturgy is the Athanasian Creed, which is challenging not only for its length but for its content as well. As he writes to Titus, Paul has special words of encouragement, writing, “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Through the Scripture Lessons we hear and the Creed we speak, we faithfully join in expressing the doctrine that has stood the test of time.
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
OPENING UP TO GOD AND ONE ANOTHER
P: We join in confessing our sins to God in order to hear once again his forgiveness that frees us from the guilt of our sin and allows us to live in joy and hope following Christ:
C: Dear Lord, we come to you in all honesty and humility, admitting that we are sinners—we have sinned in our evil thoughts, in our hurtful words, and in our destructive actions. We also admit that we have at times been exclusive in thinking that Christ’s salvation is just for a few of us, rather than a gift for all people. Help us, Lord, to hold on to that simple, pure Gospel of your gracious gift of salvation, and to share that good news with others in whatever ways we can, so that others may come to know you and your gracious gift.
SONG OF CONFESSION White As Snow
White as snow, white as snow,
though my sins were as scarlet
Lord I know, Lord I know,
that I’m clean and forgiven.
Through the power of your blood,
Through the wonder of your love
Through faith in you I know that I can be
white as snow.
(Repeat)
P: God knows our brokenness, and he knows our hearts; he knows our desire to live as his people day by day. So he frees us from the guilt of our sin by assuring us of his forgiveness. In God’s name and by his command, I proclaim to you the forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
CREED (Part 1)
P: As an expression of our faith, we confess the words of the Athanasian Creed, the longest and most recent of the three Ecumenical Creeds of the Church. Because of its length, we will be dividing the Creed into two sections and will be assisted by readers in speaking it.
C: Whoever desire to be saved must, above all, hold the universal faith. Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.
Reader 1: And the universal faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance. For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is another. But the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.
Reader 2: Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit: the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated; the Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite; the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal.
C: And yet there are not three Eternals, but one Eternal, just as there are not three Uncreated or three Infinites, but one Uncreated and one Infinite.
Reader 1: In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty; and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
Reader 2: So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God; and yet there are not three Gods, but one God. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.
C: Just as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so also are we prohibited by the universal church to say that there are three Gods or Lords.
Reader 1: The Father is not made nor created nor begotten by anyone. The Son is neither made nor created, but begotten of the Father alone. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.
Reader 2: Thus, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
Reader 1: And in this Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another;
Reader 2: but the whole three persons are coeternal with each other and coequal, so that in all things, as has been stated above, the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity is to be worshiped.
C: Therefore, whoever desires to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.
CHOIR ANTHEM: “Holy & Mighty” By Pepper Choplin
Holy, holy, holy and mighty (x4) is our God!
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, blessed Trinity.
Holy, holy, holy and mighty (x4) is our God!
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 was and is and evermore shall be.
Holy (x7) Almighty God.
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, blessed Trinity.
Holy (x7)
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
The prophet Isaiah is given a vision of the Lord.
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
The love of God is shown to the world in Jesus.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
SERMON HYMN: “Holy, Holy, Holy”
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 blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Which wert and art and everymore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy’ there is none beside thee,
Perfect in pow’r in love and purity.
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, blessed Trinity!
P: We continue and conclude the confession of our faith today with the second part of the Athanisian Creed.
C: But it is also necessary for everlasting salvation that one faithfully believe the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is the right faith that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is at the same time both God and man.
Reader 1: He is God, begotten from the substance of the Father before all ages; and He is man, born from the substance of His mother in this age: perfect God and perfect man, composed of a rational soul and human flesh;
Reader 2: equal to the Father with respect to His divinity, less than the Father with respect to His humanity.
P: Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ:
Reader 1: one, however, not by the conversion of the divinity into flesh, but by the assumption of the humanity into God; one altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.
Reader 2: For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ, who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
Reader 1: At His coming all people will rise again with their bodies and give an account concerning their own deeds.
Reader 2: And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.
C: This is the universal faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.
OFFERING
We offer our thanksgiving for what God has first given us—our selves, our time, our possessions.
OFFERTORY
P: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. As we grow in the Christian faith, we pray for an increase of the Word, that it be freely shared and bring the good news of sins forgiven through Christ to every place. Triune God in mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: We pray for the world in which we live, asking that there would be times of peace and security in our days and that we know days of blessings and joy. Triune God in mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: We pray for the Church and for this household of faith, that we be the radiant Bride of Christ, daily growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We also pray for New Life Fellowship and their pastor, Pastor Dave Brooks, that their fellowship continue to be salt for the community of Philomath and a light to those who need Your grace. Triune God in mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: We lift our petitions now for the sick, the homebound, and all who this day are in need of our intercession, (especially…….), that their prayers soon be answered and that they be supported by God’s people as they honor Christ. Triune God in mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: As we pray this Memorial Day weekend, we remember with gratitude those valiant people of the armed forces of our nation who have fought and died to protect the liberties that are central to our way of life. (Moment of silence) Triune God in mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION
P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
C: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”
- My country, ‘tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring.
- My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.
- Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom’s song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.
- Our fathers’ God, to thee,
Author of liberty,
To thee we sing:
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light.
Protect us by thy might,
Great God, our king.
HEARING FROM OUR PARTNER Teen Challenge
DISMISSAL
P: Go in Peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.