Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, June 4, 2023)
Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows. This Sunday is the First Sunday after Pentecost in the liturgical calendar of the Western Church. It is also known as Trinity Sunday. It celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In a number of Christian traditions, it marks the beginning of Trinitytide, which lasts from the First Sunday after Pentecost until the First Sunday of Advent.
PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO GODPrelude:
Open this link to hear the traditional English tune ROYAL OAK.
Opening Hymn:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Richard Leach’s “Come, Join the Dance of Trinity.”
1 Come, join the dance of Trinity,
before all worlds begun--
the interweaving of the Three,
the Father, Spirit, Son.
The universe of space and time
did not arise by chance,
but as the Three, in love and hope,
made room within their dance.
2 Come, see the face of Trinity,
newborn in Bethlehem;
then bloodied by a crown of thorns
outside Jerusalem.
The dance of Trinity is meant
for human flesh and bone;
when fear confines the dance in death,
God rolls away the stone.
3 Come, speak aloud of Trinity,
as wind and tongues of flame
set people free at Pentecost
to tell the Savior's name.
We know the yoke of sin and death,
our necks have worn it smooth;
go tell the world of weight and woe
that we are free to move!
4 Within the dance of Trinity,
before all worlds begun,
we sing the praises of the Three,
the Father, Spirit, Son.
Let voices rise and interweave,
by love and hope set free,
to shape in song this joy, this life:
the dance of Trinity.
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us pray.
Silence
Father,
you sent your Son to bring us truth
and your Holy Spirit to make us holy;
open our hearts to exalt you,
open our lives to reveal you,
our one true God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
Act of Praise:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley-Smith’s adaptation of the Te Deum laudamus, "We Come with Songs of Blessing."
We come with songs of blessing,
O Father, God Most High,
your Name on earth confessing
to whom the angels cry;
by all the hosts of heaven
continually adored,
to you all praise be given,
the everlasting Lord.
We come with songs,
we come with songs!
The heavens show your glory,
your greatness fills the earth;
the prophets tell your story,
apostles praise your worth.
The saints and martyrs name you
eternal Three-in-One,
and through the world acclaim you
as Father, Spirit, Son.
We come with songs,
we come with songs!
O King for ever glorious,
O Son for sinners slain,
O Christ who died victorious
to rise and rule and reign:
the hosts on high enthrone you
at God the Father's hand;
and wide, to those who own you,
the gates of heaven stand.
We come with songs,
we come with songs!
In mercy, Lord, behold us,
our God to whom we pray;
let Jesus' love enfold us
against that final day;
no tale of sin confound us
before the judgment throne;
his righteousness surround us,
who trust in God alone.
We come with songs,
we come with songs!
Amen!
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
Prayer for Illumination:
Thank you, Father, for making yourself know to us
and showing the way of salvation
through faith in your Son.
We ask you now to teach and encourage us
through your word,
so that we may be ready to serve you,
for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
A reading from the Old Testament (Genesis 1:1–2:4)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”
And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.
Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. God called the space “sky.”
And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.
Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. 10God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.
Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. 15Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.
Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”
And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.
Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that move along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that move along the ground.”
So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that move along the ground.”
Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that move along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened.
Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!
And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth.
Silence
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Kiran Young Wimberly’s “Majestic (Psalm 8)”
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
When I see the work of your fingers
The moon, the stars, the sun
All things on earth are in their place
Majestic is your name
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
Who are mortals that you consider
Or that you think of them
They are underneath the angels
Majestic is your name
[Instrumental interlude]
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
You have placed creation in our care
All that has life and breath
May we show respect and dignity
Majestic is your name
A reading from the New Testament (2 Corinthians 13:11–13)
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All of God’s people here send you their greetings.
Silence
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Tom Booth's gospel acclamation, "Alleluia! Glory to the Father."
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 28:16–20)
Praise and glory to God.
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him—but some of them doubted!
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Silence
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ, the Word.
Christians in the mainstream of Christianity, both in the Eastern Church and the Western Church, believe that God revealed himself through the teaching of Jesus and the writings of the apostles as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What does that mean and why is it important?
Let us consider what it does not mean first and then look at what it does mean and what its significance is for Christians and those who are exploring the Christian faith.
Among the things that it does not mean is that God has a gender. The terms “Father” and “Son” are masculine but their use for the first Person and the second Person of the God is not meant to assign a gender to God. God is spirit and therefore God is genderless.
God’s revelation of himself as Father, Son, and Spirit does not mean that Christians worship three gods. While God exists as three Persons, they are three Persons in one God. They form a single Being and share the same Substance. Christians in Christianity’s mainstream are monotheists, not polytheists. They believe that there is only one God. They do not believe in many gods.
As a result of the debate over gender identity and the use of preferred pronouns or out of a desire for the increased use of gender neutral language, some groups have urged that God be addressed as “they,” rather than “he.” But it must be pointed out that this practice reinforces the mistaken belief that Christians reverence and honor more than one god. If gender-neutral language is desired, it is preferrable to refer to God as “God” or “Holy One” or use a similar epithet for God.
When Jesus and the apostles refer to God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they are not referring to different ways that God relates to human beings. They are not implying that “the members of the Trinity are not three distinct Persons but rather three modes or forms of activity (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) under which God manifests himself.”
The doctrine of the Trinity presents a number of problems for philosophers who like neat and tidy explanations with no loose ends and unanswered questions and for those of us who may have similar mindset. However, we must keep in mind that our knowledge of God is revealed knowledge. It is not what we have fathomed for ourselves but what God as revealed to us. Just because we cannot fully understand something, does not mean that it does not exist or happen. God to a large extent is shrouded in mystery. We cannot put God under a microscope.
I have found that human psychology may offer some insight into how God exist as three Persons in one Being. The two analogies that I am about to present do have limitations. They do, however, suggest that the existence of three Persons as one God is not beyond the realm of possibility.
Human beings can have more than one personality. These different personalities may or may not be aware of each other. Now I am not suggesting that God has multiple personalities. A human personality and a Person of the Trinity are not the same. If finite beings like us are complex, however, it is not unreasonable to conclude that an infinite being like God would be far more complex than we are.
Canadian psychiatrist Eric Berne developed a theory of personality and a form of psychotherapy, known as transactional analysis in the late 1950s ad early 1960s. From his observation of social interactions between people, he concluded that we have three ego states, a Parent, an Adult, and a Child. During our transactions with other people, one of these ego states is active.
What Berne described as “ego states” are “the ways that we think, feel and behave, changing across time and contexts.” The Parent “is a state in which people behave, feel, and think in ways influenced by their parents. It involves either interpreting or responding to situations similarly to how one’s parents did, rooted in the past." The Adult “is the ability to think and act based on the present: the ultimate goal of transactional analysis in the context of therapy is to strengthen the Adult.” The Child “is a state in which people behave, feel, and think similarly to how they did as a child, rooted in the past.”
If the human psyche is a complex amalgamation of ego states, the existence of three Persons as one God is also highly plausible. Now the Persons of the Trinity are not ego state. I am not suggesting that they are. What I am saying is the complexity of the human psyche helps to make sense of what Jesus and the apostles were saying about God existing as or in three Persons and yet being one God.
Among the implications of the doctrine of the Trinity is that it was God himself who suffered and died upon the cross to reconcile humanity to himself. It was God himself who came to teach us how we should relate to God and to our fellow human beings and how we should treat each other. It is God himself who lives in believers and who transforms us into the likeness of Jesus, restoring in us his own image. When we talk about God’s grace, we are talking about the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, enabling us to will and do what is pleasing to God.
While we do not fully understand the nature of God, God has revealed enough of himself to us for us to walk closely with God, to enjoy the relationship with God that humanity was created to enjoy. God created human beings, male and female, to be in relationship with him. It is something to always keep in mind. We were created to be in relationship with God, to live in harmony with the one who made us and all of humankind. We were meant to join in the dance of the Trinity. The Three, in hope and love, have indeed made room within the dance for us.
Silence
Anthem:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ruth Duck’s “Womb of Being.”
1 Womb of life, and source of being, .
home of ev'ry restless heart,
in your arms the worlds awakened;
you have loved us from the start.
We, your children, gather 'round you,
at the table you prepare.
Sharing stories tears and laughter,
we are nurtured by your care.
2 Word in flesh, our brother Jesus,
born to bring us second birth,
you have come to stand beside us,
knowing weakness, knowing earth.
Priest who shares our human struggles,
Life of Life, and Death of Death,
risen Christ, come stand among us,
send the Spirit by your breath.
3 Brooding Spirit, move among us;
be our partner, be our friend.
When our mem'ry fails, remind us whose we are,
what we intend. Labor with us,
aid the birthing of the new world made new,
ever singing, ever praising, one with all,
and one with you.
4 Mother, Brother, holy Partner;
Father, Spirit, Only Son:
we would praise your name forever,
one-in-three, and three-in-one.
We would share your life, your passion,
share your word of world made new,
ever singing, ever praising,
one with all, and one with you.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
Concerns and Prayers:
The liturgist and people pray responsively.
Particular intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered before any section.
Periods of silence may be kept.
Blessed are you eternal God,
to be praised and glorified for ever.
Heavenly Father, hear us as we pray for the unity of the Church.
May we all be one that the world may believe.
Grant that every member of the Church
may truly and humbly serve you,
that your name may be glorified by everyone.
We remember those who have died.
Father, into your hands we commend them.
(Remembering N)
We praise you for all your saints
who have entered your eternal glory.
May we also come to share your heavenly kingdom.
Have compassion on those who suffer or are in,
grief or trouble.
that they may be delivered from their distress..
Look with your kindness on our homes and families.
Grant that your love may grow in our hearts.
Make us alive to the needs of our community.
Help us to share one another’s joys and burdens.
Inspire and lead those who hold authority
in the nations of the world.
Guide us and all people in the way of justice and peace.
Strengthen all who minister in Christ’s name.
Give us courage to proclaim your Gospel.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
Silence
Draw your Church together, O God,
into one great company of disciples,
together following our Lord Jesus Christ
into every walk of life,
together serving him in his mission to the world,
and together witnessing to his love
on every continent and island.
Praise to you, our God; you answer prayer.
Gracious God, we humbly thank you
for life and health and safety,
for freedom to work, leisure to rest,
and for all that is beautiful in creation and human life.
But, above all, we praise you for our Savior
Jesus Christ,
for his death and resurrection,
for the gift of your Spirit;
and for the hope of sharing in your glory.
Fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing Song:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Card’s arrangement of Katherine K. Davis’ “Let All Things Now Living.”
Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the creator triumphantly raise.
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the end of our days.
His banners are o'er us, His light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished
As forward we travel from light into light.
His law he enforces, the stars in their courses
And sun in its orbit obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine.
We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration a song let us raise
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving:
"To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise!"
[Instrumental interlude]
We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration a song let us raise
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving:
"To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise!"
May the God peace equip you with everything good
for doing his will, working in you what is pleasing to him,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
Choral Benediction:
Open this link in a new tab to hear the One and All Rejoice Benediction.
The Lord bless you,
the Lord keep you,
the Lord make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious and be gracious,
the Lord look upon you with favor
and give you peace. Amen.
Opening Hymn:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Richard Leach’s “Come, Join the Dance of Trinity.”
1 Come, join the dance of Trinity,
before all worlds begun--
the interweaving of the Three,
the Father, Spirit, Son.
The universe of space and time
did not arise by chance,
but as the Three, in love and hope,
made room within their dance.
2 Come, see the face of Trinity,
newborn in Bethlehem;
then bloodied by a crown of thorns
outside Jerusalem.
The dance of Trinity is meant
for human flesh and bone;
when fear confines the dance in death,
God rolls away the stone.
3 Come, speak aloud of Trinity,
as wind and tongues of flame
set people free at Pentecost
to tell the Savior's name.
We know the yoke of sin and death,
our necks have worn it smooth;
go tell the world of weight and woe
that we are free to move!
4 Within the dance of Trinity,
before all worlds begun,
we sing the praises of the Three,
the Father, Spirit, Son.
Let voices rise and interweave,
by love and hope set free,
to shape in song this joy, this life:
the dance of Trinity.
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us pray.
Silence
Father,
you sent your Son to bring us truth
and your Holy Spirit to make us holy;
open our hearts to exalt you,
open our lives to reveal you,
our one true God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
Act of Praise:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley-Smith’s adaptation of the Te Deum laudamus, "We Come with Songs of Blessing."
We come with songs of blessing,
O Father, God Most High,
your Name on earth confessing
to whom the angels cry;
by all the hosts of heaven
continually adored,
to you all praise be given,
the everlasting Lord.
We come with songs,
we come with songs!
The heavens show your glory,
your greatness fills the earth;
the prophets tell your story,
apostles praise your worth.
The saints and martyrs name you
eternal Three-in-One,
and through the world acclaim you
as Father, Spirit, Son.
We come with songs,
we come with songs!
O King for ever glorious,
O Son for sinners slain,
O Christ who died victorious
to rise and rule and reign:
the hosts on high enthrone you
at God the Father's hand;
and wide, to those who own you,
the gates of heaven stand.
We come with songs,
we come with songs!
In mercy, Lord, behold us,
our God to whom we pray;
let Jesus' love enfold us
against that final day;
no tale of sin confound us
before the judgment throne;
his righteousness surround us,
who trust in God alone.
We come with songs,
we come with songs!
Amen!
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
Prayer for Illumination:
Thank you, Father, for making yourself know to us
and showing the way of salvation
through faith in your Son.
We ask you now to teach and encourage us
through your word,
so that we may be ready to serve you,
for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
A reading from the Old Testament (Genesis 1:1–2:4)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”
And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.
Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. God called the space “sky.”
And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.
Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. 10God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.
Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. 15Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.
Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”
And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.
Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that move along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that move along the ground.”
So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that move along the ground.”
Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that move along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened.
Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!
And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth.
Silence
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Kiran Young Wimberly’s “Majestic (Psalm 8)”
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
When I see the work of your fingers
The moon, the stars, the sun
All things on earth are in their place
Majestic is your name
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
Who are mortals that you consider
Or that you think of them
They are underneath the angels
Majestic is your name
[Instrumental interlude]
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
Majestic is your name O God
Your name in all the earth
You have placed creation in our care
All that has life and breath
May we show respect and dignity
Majestic is your name
A reading from the New Testament (2 Corinthians 13:11–13)
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All of God’s people here send you their greetings.
Silence
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Tom Booth's gospel acclamation, "Alleluia! Glory to the Father."
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
to God who is, who was, and who is to come!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 28:16–20)
Praise and glory to God.
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him—but some of them doubted!
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Silence
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ, the Word.
Dancing with the Trinity
Christians in the mainstream of Christianity, both in the Eastern Church and the Western Church, believe that God revealed himself through the teaching of Jesus and the writings of the apostles as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What does that mean and why is it important?
Let us consider what it does not mean first and then look at what it does mean and what its significance is for Christians and those who are exploring the Christian faith.
Among the things that it does not mean is that God has a gender. The terms “Father” and “Son” are masculine but their use for the first Person and the second Person of the God is not meant to assign a gender to God. God is spirit and therefore God is genderless.
God’s revelation of himself as Father, Son, and Spirit does not mean that Christians worship three gods. While God exists as three Persons, they are three Persons in one God. They form a single Being and share the same Substance. Christians in Christianity’s mainstream are monotheists, not polytheists. They believe that there is only one God. They do not believe in many gods.
As a result of the debate over gender identity and the use of preferred pronouns or out of a desire for the increased use of gender neutral language, some groups have urged that God be addressed as “they,” rather than “he.” But it must be pointed out that this practice reinforces the mistaken belief that Christians reverence and honor more than one god. If gender-neutral language is desired, it is preferrable to refer to God as “God” or “Holy One” or use a similar epithet for God.
When Jesus and the apostles refer to God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they are not referring to different ways that God relates to human beings. They are not implying that “the members of the Trinity are not three distinct Persons but rather three modes or forms of activity (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) under which God manifests himself.”
The doctrine of the Trinity presents a number of problems for philosophers who like neat and tidy explanations with no loose ends and unanswered questions and for those of us who may have similar mindset. However, we must keep in mind that our knowledge of God is revealed knowledge. It is not what we have fathomed for ourselves but what God as revealed to us. Just because we cannot fully understand something, does not mean that it does not exist or happen. God to a large extent is shrouded in mystery. We cannot put God under a microscope.
I have found that human psychology may offer some insight into how God exist as three Persons in one Being. The two analogies that I am about to present do have limitations. They do, however, suggest that the existence of three Persons as one God is not beyond the realm of possibility.
Human beings can have more than one personality. These different personalities may or may not be aware of each other. Now I am not suggesting that God has multiple personalities. A human personality and a Person of the Trinity are not the same. If finite beings like us are complex, however, it is not unreasonable to conclude that an infinite being like God would be far more complex than we are.
Canadian psychiatrist Eric Berne developed a theory of personality and a form of psychotherapy, known as transactional analysis in the late 1950s ad early 1960s. From his observation of social interactions between people, he concluded that we have three ego states, a Parent, an Adult, and a Child. During our transactions with other people, one of these ego states is active.
What Berne described as “ego states” are “the ways that we think, feel and behave, changing across time and contexts.” The Parent “is a state in which people behave, feel, and think in ways influenced by their parents. It involves either interpreting or responding to situations similarly to how one’s parents did, rooted in the past." The Adult “is the ability to think and act based on the present: the ultimate goal of transactional analysis in the context of therapy is to strengthen the Adult.” The Child “is a state in which people behave, feel, and think similarly to how they did as a child, rooted in the past.”
If the human psyche is a complex amalgamation of ego states, the existence of three Persons as one God is also highly plausible. Now the Persons of the Trinity are not ego state. I am not suggesting that they are. What I am saying is the complexity of the human psyche helps to make sense of what Jesus and the apostles were saying about God existing as or in three Persons and yet being one God.
Among the implications of the doctrine of the Trinity is that it was God himself who suffered and died upon the cross to reconcile humanity to himself. It was God himself who came to teach us how we should relate to God and to our fellow human beings and how we should treat each other. It is God himself who lives in believers and who transforms us into the likeness of Jesus, restoring in us his own image. When we talk about God’s grace, we are talking about the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, enabling us to will and do what is pleasing to God.
While we do not fully understand the nature of God, God has revealed enough of himself to us for us to walk closely with God, to enjoy the relationship with God that humanity was created to enjoy. God created human beings, male and female, to be in relationship with him. It is something to always keep in mind. We were created to be in relationship with God, to live in harmony with the one who made us and all of humankind. We were meant to join in the dance of the Trinity. The Three, in hope and love, have indeed made room within the dance for us.
Silence
Anthem:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ruth Duck’s “Womb of Being.”
1 Womb of life, and source of being, .
home of ev'ry restless heart,
in your arms the worlds awakened;
you have loved us from the start.
We, your children, gather 'round you,
at the table you prepare.
Sharing stories tears and laughter,
we are nurtured by your care.
2 Word in flesh, our brother Jesus,
born to bring us second birth,
you have come to stand beside us,
knowing weakness, knowing earth.
Priest who shares our human struggles,
Life of Life, and Death of Death,
risen Christ, come stand among us,
send the Spirit by your breath.
3 Brooding Spirit, move among us;
be our partner, be our friend.
When our mem'ry fails, remind us whose we are,
what we intend. Labor with us,
aid the birthing of the new world made new,
ever singing, ever praising, one with all,
and one with you.
4 Mother, Brother, holy Partner;
Father, Spirit, Only Son:
we would praise your name forever,
one-in-three, and three-in-one.
We would share your life, your passion,
share your word of world made new,
ever singing, ever praising,
one with all, and one with you.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
Concerns and Prayers:
The liturgist and people pray responsively.
Particular intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered before any section.
Periods of silence may be kept.
Blessed are you eternal God,
to be praised and glorified for ever.
Heavenly Father, hear us as we pray for the unity of the Church.
May we all be one that the world may believe.
Grant that every member of the Church
may truly and humbly serve you,
that your name may be glorified by everyone.
We remember those who have died.
Father, into your hands we commend them.
(Remembering N)
We praise you for all your saints
who have entered your eternal glory.
May we also come to share your heavenly kingdom.
Have compassion on those who suffer or are in,
grief or trouble.
that they may be delivered from their distress..
Look with your kindness on our homes and families.
Grant that your love may grow in our hearts.
Make us alive to the needs of our community.
Help us to share one another’s joys and burdens.
Inspire and lead those who hold authority
in the nations of the world.
Guide us and all people in the way of justice and peace.
Strengthen all who minister in Christ’s name.
Give us courage to proclaim your Gospel.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
Silence
Draw your Church together, O God,
into one great company of disciples,
together following our Lord Jesus Christ
into every walk of life,
together serving him in his mission to the world,
and together witnessing to his love
on every continent and island.
Praise to you, our God; you answer prayer.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us,
we are bold to say
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, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE SENDING OUT OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
The Lord’s Prayer:
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us,
we are bold to say
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, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE SENDING OUT OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Let us give thanks.
Gracious God, we humbly thank you
for life and health and safety,
for freedom to work, leisure to rest,
and for all that is beautiful in creation and human life.
But, above all, we praise you for our Savior
Jesus Christ,
for his death and resurrection,
for the gift of your Spirit;
and for the hope of sharing in your glory.
Fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing Song:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Card’s arrangement of Katherine K. Davis’ “Let All Things Now Living.”
Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the creator triumphantly raise.
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the end of our days.
His banners are o'er us, His light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished
As forward we travel from light into light.
His law he enforces, the stars in their courses
And sun in its orbit obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine.
We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration a song let us raise
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving:
"To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise!"
[Instrumental interlude]
We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration a song let us raise
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving:
"To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise!"
May the God peace equip you with everything good
for doing his will, working in you what is pleasing to him,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
Choral Benediction:
Open this link in a new tab to hear the One and All Rejoice Benediction.
The Lord bless you,
the Lord keep you,
the Lord make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious and be gracious,
the Lord look upon you with favor
and give you peace. Amen.
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