Call to worship:
Gathered in the name of Jesus Christ,
inspired by the Holy Spirit, and blessed by God, we come to worship one, holy God.
O God, our own God, how wonderful is your name in all the earth. Your majesty is the music of the starry skies. Yet even children of dust can sing your praises.
In the name of the Healer, the Provider and the Enabler let your gratitude and joy be made known. O God, our own God,
how wonderful is your name in all the earth!
Adapted from: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/05/call-to-worship-psalm-8.html written by Bruce Prewer (adapted), and posted on the http://pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au/ website.
Opening Prayer based on Psalm 8:
In your time, Creator God
this world was put in place
and in your time became beautiful
through the craftsmanship of your love.
Remind us always
as we look at sunrise,
landscape or tiny child
to look beyond the artist brush
or created thing to the artist and creator.
Amen
https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/09/prayer-creator-god.html Copyright © John Birch, posted on Faith and Worship – Prayers and Resources
STF 2 Come let us sing to the One
Come, let us sing to the One
To the Father of life,
For His light fills the earth like the sun;
Come, tell of the wonders He’s done.
Great is the world He has made,
Are the mysteries untold,
Is His measureless power of old;
Come, come let us sing to our God.
Refrain
To our God, who is able
To strengthen us in His grace,
Beyond all we imagine,
Be all glory and praise,
Be all praise.
Come, let us sing to the One,
To the Saviour of life,
Find the fullness of God in the Son;
Come, tell of the wonders He’s done.
Wild is the mercy of Christ,
Is the richness of grace,
Is the unending life we embrace;
Come, come let us sing to our God.
Refrain
Come, let us sing to the One,
To the Spirit of life,
Leading us in the way of the Son;
Come, tell of the wonders He’s done.
Strong is the Spirit within,
Is the boldness to speak,
Is the power to run when we’re weak;
Come, come let us sing to our God.
Refrain
Bible Reading
John 16: 12-15
12 ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Time to reflect:
Today we celebrate ‘Trinity Sunday’, which within the church calendar is always the Sunday after Pentecost. It’s a Sunday where we celebrate the mystery of faith and unity on and of the Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is also the third week of Bible month. Bible month is an annual Methodist Connexion initiative that goes back to the 1990’s, where we are all encouraged to ‘feast’ on one particular book of the Bible together (https://www.methodist.org.uk/faith/the-bible/bible-month/). This June the Gospel of John was chosen to explore together and therefore our Bible passage to reflect on today is from John’s Gospel.
Preaching on Trinity Sunday is often met with hesitancy, as we explore and reflect on the Christian belief, in the Trinity. Maybe this is because if we try to explain the mystery of the trinitarian nature of God, words fall away, and we enter a journey of trust and faith. A place where ordinary words can’t begin to express the wonders of God. However, I would suggest that Trinity Sunday is a gift for us, because it reminds us of the mystery, faithfulness and ever-present nature of God.
In chapter 4 of John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of ‘God is Spirit’ and that we worship God ‘in the Spirit and in truth’ (John 4:24). A truth which God revealed in word and action through his Son Jesus and continues to be unveiled through the Holy Spirit. In our Bible passage for today Jesus explains that soon he will not be physically present, but we are not left alone because the ‘Spirit of truth’ will be with us. Through which we will continue to understand many things. The message translation verses 12-13 of chapter 16 say: “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is.”
A guidance which the other books in the New Testament testify to; as the followers of Jesus stepped out in faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the centuries exploration of these scriptures through the Holy Spirit have deepened our understandings of God. This is because God continually reveals more insight, if we are open to receive it. A journey of faith and trust that has unveiled a ‘Trinity of Love’: Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. A love which is relational and in which we are held.
A love which is captured in 1 John chapter 4 verse 16: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, God in them”. The life-giving nature of living in the love of God in Christ, through the Holy Spirit is brought to life by Paul, in Acts Chapter 17 verse 28 “For in him we live and move and have our being”. Today then on this Trinity Sunday, we are all encouraged to celebrate the mystery of our God, the ‘Trinity of Love’. To give thanks for God’s faithfulness and God’s ever-present Spirit, that guides and walks besides us whatever we are facing. Amen.
Prayers of intercession
You are invited to pray silently for:
The needs of the world…
The Church and its calling…
Loved ones going through difficult times…
For peace, justice, and reconciliation…
In Jesus name.
Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
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.
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.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.
Amen.
StF 726 Come to us, creative Spirit
Come to us, creative Spirit,
in our Fathers house,
every natural talent foster,
hidden skills arouse,
that within your earthly temple,
wise and simple may rejoice.
Poet, painter, music-maker,
all your treasures bring;
artist, actor, graceful dancer,
make your offering;
join your hands in celebration:
let creation shout and sing!
Word from God eternal springing,
fill our minds, we pray;
and in all artistic vision
give integrity:
may the flame within us burning
kindle yearning day by day.
In all places and forever
glory be expressed
to the Son, with God the Father
and the Spirit blest:
in our worship and our living
keep us striving for the best
Final Prayer
Creator God, may your peace go with us wherever we will be this day. May you guide us through the challenges, protect us when in need and inspire us with your love.
May we acknowledge your presence
in all the human goodness we will see.
May you bring us home rejoicing
to our place of rest this night.
Creator God,
we now go into this day in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Amen.
From https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2014/09/closing-prayer-may-your-peace-go-with-us.html posted on the Third Space website. http://third-space.org.uk/blog
