10:30 Sunday May 30, 2021
Trinity Sunday
You will find our live stream on our homepage, on Facebook (where you can interact with others watching with comments), and on Youtube.
The congregation is invited to say the words together in bold. Please sing along with us! To prepare for worship, you may want to place a candle or two in the place where you worship, to light during the opening prayer.
Prelude
The service begins with several minutes of preludes from the Holy Communion music archives.
Procession
The in-person congregation is invited to stand as the clergy enter and reverence the altar.
Welcome
A priest welcomes the congregation. If you are new to us, consider filling out our “get connected” form, let us get to know you better.
Opening Dialogue and the Collect of the Day
Blessed be God: most holy, glorious, and undivided Trinity.
And blessed be God’s reign, now and forever. Amen.
The congregation watching from home are invited to light a candle with us as the candles on the altar are lighted.
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Opening Hymn
The God of Abraham Praise - 1982 Hymnal #401
The Lessons
We hear the stories of the experience of God from our spiritual ancestors. Following an ancient pattern originally from Jewish synagogue worship, readings follow a set calendar for what will be read when. The translation used at Holy Communion is the Common English Bible translation.
A Reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-8)
In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple. Winged creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew about. They shouted to each other, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces!
All the earth is filled with God’s glory!”
The doorframe shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke.
I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!”
Then one of the winged creatures flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips. Your guilt has departed, and your sin is removed.”
Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “Whom should I send, and who will go for us?”
I said, “I’m here; send me.”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The Psalm (Psalm 28)
The Psalm is read responsively. The congregation is invited to read the verses in bold.
O God, I call to you;
my Rock, do not be deaf to my cry;
lest, if you do not hear me,
I become like those who go down to the Pit.
Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you,
when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies.
Do not snatch me away with the wicked or with the evildoers,
who speak peaceably with their neighbors,
while strife is in their hearts.
Repay them according to their deeds,
and according to the wickedness of their actions.
According to the work of their hands repay them,
and give them their just deserts.
They have no understanding of your doings,
nor of the works of your hands;
therefore you will break them down and not build them up.
Blest are you, O God,
for you have heard the voice of my prayer.
You are my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in you, and I have been helped;
Therefore my heart dances for joy,
and in my song will I praise you.
You are the strength of your people,
a safe refuge for your anointed.
Save your people and bless your inheritance;
shepherd them and carry them for ever.
Sung Alleluia
Celtic Alleluia
The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to John (John 3:1-17)
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could do these miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom.”
Nicodemus asked, “How is it possible for an adult to be born? It’s impossible to enter the mother’s womb for a second time and be born, isn’t it?”
Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don’t be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus said, “How are these things possible?”
“Jesus answered, “You are a teacher of Israel and you don’t know these things? I assure you that we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you don’t receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Human One. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so must the Human One be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon:
The Rev. Mike Angell
Anthem:
Oceans
The Prayers
Let us pray in the way Christ taught us, and in the language of our hearts.
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.
Those worshiping online with us are invited to add your prayers in the comments at any time, or by using the form on our homepage. Know that people will pray for you.
Gracious God, you send your Spirit to renew the face of the earth. We pray for the church throughout the world. Give us a Spirit of Renewal: Come Holy Spirit!
As the Spirit hovered over the waters at the beginning of the world, as the Creator breathed life into every creature, we pray that the Spirit might help us see the blessedness of all life. We pray especially for those celebrating birthdays this week: Robert Endicott, Ed Hansell, and Anthony Cabrera; and for those celebrating anniversaries, Chris & Robert Carter. Give us your Spirit of gratitude: Come Holy Spirit!
Your Spirit gave the disciples power to proclaim the Good News in every language, to every people and tribe and nation. Help us likewise to tell the Good News in a nation and a world so desperate for Good News. We pray for the courage to tell the good news, even when it means standing up for justice. Give us your Spirit of Proclamation: Come Holy Spirit!
Your Spirit stays close to those who suffer from division, pain, disease, disaster and war. We pray especially for the people of Palestine and Israel. We pray for our partners in Human Rights work in El Salvador and Central America. We pray for all who suffer. Give us your Spirit of Peace and Perseverance: Come Holy Spirit!
Your Spirit unites us with one another, and the living with the dead. We pray for those we love, but see no longer. Give us your Spirit of Perpetual Light: Come Holy Spirit!
The presider adds a concluding collect.
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in
the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us
and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O
lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Holy and undivided Trinity,
now and for ever. Amen.
Concluding Prayers
Please stand, as you are able.
The presider prays a prayer or collect appropriate to the day.
The people respond: Amen.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
The Peace
The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
The Peace is then exchanged. Consider sending a text, a message on Facebook, or even writing a letter or email to someone who could use some peace. If you are in the space, please do not approach people outside your household. A wave, a peace sign, or a “smize” (a smile with your eyes) will do.
Concluding Hymn
There’s a Sweet Sweet Spirit - Lift Every Voice and Sing Hymnal #120
Dismissal
The Deacon dismisses the congregation:
Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
Procession
The in-person congregation is invited to stand as the clergy exit and reverence the altar.
Postlude
If you are in the church, please make your way outside as soon as you can after the service. The clergy will greet you outdoors.
Service Leaders
Preacher and Presider: The Rev. Mike Angell
Assisting: The Rev. Marc Smith
Deacon: The Rev. Chester Hines
Readers: Shirley Mensah, Warren Davis
Ushers: Kara Cummins, Paul Mensah
Musician: Bridget Voda
Director of Music: Mary Chapman
Stream Producers: John Kelly
Music reprinted and broadcast with permission by OneLicense # A-704988
The Psalms and Collect of the Day are copyright of the Order of Saint Helena. The Scripture Translation is the Common English Bible. All are used by permission.
The Prayers of the People were composed by our rector.
