Worshipping at Home 30th May 2021

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Trinity Sunday                        30th May 2021

The Service

The above video is 17 minutes & 59 seconds long
The First Hymn
Welcome!

The Church often uses the word ‘mystery’ to describe some of the things it believes. This is not because it thinks that faith is baffling, or that it is a puzzle to be solved! In church language, a mystery is something that we can’t work out unless it is revealed to us. Hence, the mystery of love, and the mystery of God. We celebrate the God who has made himself known to us in Jesus Christ.


Psalm 29
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendour. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!" The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Acclamation

Glory to the holy 
and undivided Trinity,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Three persons 
and yet one God.
Perfectly one 
from before time began;
One in being 
and one in glory;
Dwelling in love, 
three persons, one God.

The Collect Prayer

Holy God, 
faithful and unchanging: 
enlarge our minds 
with the knowledge of your truth, 
and draw us more deeply 
into the mystery of your love, 
that we may truly worship you, 
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and for ever. 

Amen.

Sharing the Peace

We are the Family of God;
In the one Spirit we were all baptised
into one body.
Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.

(At this point please think of others
and in your heart send them
the message: Peace be with you.)

Bible Reading

John 3:1-17 (The wind blows where it wills.)

 

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, 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 a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony.


If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just 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, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Thought for the Day

Ah, Trinity Sunday! The day preachers attempt to explain the nature of God. There will be sermons setting out the complex relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as congregations look and listen in wonder. I am reminded of God speaking to Job (Job 40-42) He questions Job about just how well he knows his God. Job eventually replies, ‘Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.’ 

Mind you, we are not alone in having a complex understanding of God. The ancient Egyptians believed in composite gods where one god lived in another. Hinduism talks of many gods, and yet they are all manifestations of the one god Brahman. Zoroastrians believe in the supreme God Ahura Mazda, but his spirit is called Spenta Manyu. Compared with some other beliefs the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not that complicated. But don’t worry, I won’t try to explain the mysteries. I often think of the Holy Trinity as a heading at the top of a list. Beneath the heading I list lots of points about the divinity of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not for me to understand how all the points relate to each other. It’s more important that I believe each point in its own right. 

When Nicodemus, the Jewish leader, visited Jesus in the night, he thought he was going to meet an interesting, charismatic, clever and holy preacher. Instead he was presented with insights and instructions that no up and coming preacher would ever presume to share with a veteran of the faith. Jesus spoke with breathtaking authority. It is like when he calmed the storm and the disciples wondered, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him’ (Matthew 8:27). 
There is a difference between wondering about Jesus and wondering at Jesus. He start with the former, only to get to the latter. 

In the early days of the Church, Christians were confused about many things but there were two things they were sure of: the resurrection of Jesus, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Now there are two things on my list under the heading ‘Holy Trinity’. My head chases them, and my heart embraces them. 

Let us Pray

God of delight, your Wisdom sings your Word at the crossroads where humanity and divinity meet. Invite us into your joyful being where you know and are known in each beginning, in all sustenance, in every redemption, that we may manifest your unity in the diverse ministries you entrust to us, truly reflecting your triune majesty in the faith that acts, in the hope that does not disappoint, and in the love that endures. Amen.

In our prayers we bring before God everyone for whom we are concerned, praying for God’s blessing on them – including ourselves: Lord God, there is a transformation that takes place within the warmth of your embrace, that certain knowledge that you are refuge, shelter, fortress and stronghold, against which no power can succeed, that you are Brother, Sister, Mother, Father, the love that knows no bounds. That you are God, and we are lost outside of your embrace. Amen.

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.

(Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.)
The Blessing

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.


Amen.

 The Second Hymn

Bible Readings for the Week

Monday: Numbers 9:15-23; Revelation 4:1-8

Tuesday: Exodus 25:1-22; 1 Corinthians 2:1-10

Wednesday: Numbers 6:22-27; Mark 4:21-25

Thursday: Isaiah 28:9-13; 1 Peter 4:7-19

Friday: Deuteronomy 1:34-40; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Saturday: Genesis 2:4b-14; Luke 8:4-15

If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact us

Henley in Arden The incumbent/priest in charge John Ganjavi
telephone 01564 792570 or email Incumbent/ Priest in charge

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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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