The Celebration of the Gospel
June 16, 2019 — Trinity Sunday
There is one body, and one Spirit, one Lord, one God, and Father of all,
who is above all and in all and through all.
—Ephesians 4.4-6
________ We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE
There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing – James McGranahan, arr: Teresa Wilhelmi
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.
You may light a votive candle in prayer
any time during the prelude, hymns, offering, Peace or postlude.]
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Loving Father, Strong Mother, Infinite Creator,
you breathe us into life; you call us to wakefulness.
All: Holy One, Holy Three, you call us to worship.
Beloved Son, you walk with us, you heal us, you die and rise with us.
All: Holy One, Holy Three, you call us to worship.
Holy Spirit, you move in us and sing with love in us.
All: Holy One, Holy Three, you call us to worship.
You dance the dance of love, and we enter your dance with love. Alleluia!
* SONG – 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, infinite, bright mystery, greater than the galaxies yet warmly close at hand,
Lover and Beloved, Love that flows between thee, One in relation, blessed community.
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.
____________We Attend to the Word__________
CHILDREN’S TIME
THE WORD IN SONG
PRAYER
Eternal God, Mother, Son and Holy Spirit, you are beyond our understanding, yet you come to us in the Word that blesses us. You live in us in the Spirit that renews us. In your grace you invite us into the dance of your love. Speak to us now, that our hearts may dance with yours, in the name of Christ and the grace of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT – Ephesians 4.1-6
[Our unity in the Spirit of God, which compels us to relate to one another with love and humility. There is one God, one Christ, and one Spirit, and we are all one in that unity.]
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord,
beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love,
making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit,
just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
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GOSPEL – John 14.15-18, 20, 23
[Jesus describes the unity of God, himself and the Spirit, a unity that includes us in the very life and being of God. it is a mystery in which the Three are one, and we ourselves are the fourth of the three. (That’s right. It’s not about math, it’s about unity.)]
Jesus said: ”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask my Abba God, who will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees her nor knows her. You know her, because she abides with you, and will be in you.
”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
“Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
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SERMON – The Holy Trinity: in it together
SONG – Loving Spirit – Black hymnal #2123
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – A Modern Affirmation – Blue hymnal # 885
* SONG – Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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, forever. Amen.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
_______We Are Sent in Ministry to the World____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS – Prayer For Unity – Kevin Keil
* OFFERING SONG – Doxology – Blue hymnal #94
* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. We know you are faithful to us, and will be with us in all your endeavors. Send us out into the world to shine with your love for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG – You Are Mine – Black hymnal # 2218
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you, my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE Joy Eternal – Gordon Parker