Trinity Sunday

This Trinity Sunday we celebrate the three persons of God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Before we open our service, let us remember the command to baptise in the Bible, “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28,19) and also the final verse of St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you”.

 

Opening Prayer

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,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

 

Readings

Isaiah 6: 1-8
Romans 8: 12-17
John 3: 1-17

 

Anthem:

I saw the Lord – John Stainer

 

Prayers and Intercessions

Heavenly Father, we thank You that we can freely come together in this Your House, to offer You our worship and praise;

we thank You for our faith, and the rock that it gives us in our lives;

we thank You for the knowledge You have given us of Your Godhead, the Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit, and the pattern and foundation it gives for Your creation;

we thank You for the new member You have chosen for Your Church in this Chaplaincy, Daniel Kearney,

and we thank You that, through Your sacraments and Your Holy Spirit, you continue to breath into us new life, new faith and new hope;

Heavenly Father look in mercy on Your Church here on earth, in an indifferent and largely hostile world, struggling against the subtle wiles of Satan;
Grant its ministers wisdom to understand Your will for them and Your Church at this time, and the courage to pursue the same.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the world, all nations and peoples, in a time of fast changing standards and challenges, confused and lost in the abundance of false gods of its own making;

We pray for the many countries whose peoples are suffering oppression and suppression by authoritarian leaderships, or racked by terrorism and internal strife;

We pray at this time particularly for India, and the many other countries unable to cope with the Covid pandemic, without proper medicines or medical care, nor even the means to bury or cremate their dead.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all sick and suffering, for the bereaved, the depressed, the confused, and those struggling with their faith;

we pray particularly for those of our own congregation, for those on our Chaplaincy Prayer List;

for those too frail or handicapped to be present with us in Church,

and for those for whom we personally wish to pray …..

Comfort, merciful Father, all in distress, relieve them from their suffering if it be Your will,
and lift them up in Your everlasting arms;

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom,
You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking; have compassion on our weakness, and grant these our petitions which we ask through the merits of Your son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father, accept these our prayers for the sake of Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen

 

Words for Contemplation from John Birch in his book ‘God beside us’

May the whisper of the Father be the one that wakens you, the open hand of the Son be the one that raises you, the prompting of the Spirit be the one that sends you, this morning and all mornings, and leads you safely home.

The embrace of the Father be the comfort you desire. The name of the Son Be the one on whom you rely. The presence of the Spirit Be with you every hour. The Three in One Be the focus of all you are. (John Birch)

The blessing of the God of life be with us in our journeying. The blessing of the risen Christ be with us in our following. The blessing of the Holy Spirit be with us in our questioning. The blessing of the heavenly host be with us in our worshipping. Bless, O God, each hour, each day, that we shall walk with you.

 

Hymn

NEH 146 – Holy, holy holy! Lord God Almighty

 

 

Closing Prayers

Almighty and eternal God,
you have revealed yourself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
and live and reign in the perfect unity of love:
hold us firm in this faith,
that we may know you in all your ways
and evermore rejoice in your eternal glory,
who are three Persons yet one God,
now and for ever. Amen. 

 

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.