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THE HOLY TRINITY
June 12, 2022
The Father, Son & Holy Spirit Work Together to Restore Our Communion with Him
In the beginning, following the crown of creation formed in Adam, the Lord said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). By the Lord’s continued creative work in making Eve, Adam would not be alone nor would humanity that followed even into a broken and sinful world. Yet even before the creation of the world and mankind, God Himself was not alone. In His eternal triune nature, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are and always have been. With thanksgiving, even as we come before Him today not alone but together, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit also join us together as one. Our Lord, Three in One, One in Three, comes to us through Word and Sacrament to unite us in faith given, promises fulfilled, and forgiveness assured.
+ Preparation +
OPENING HYMN: #940 – Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
INTRODUCTION
Pastor: Through our worship, we will progressively and responsively confess the Athanasian Creed. As the more commonly confessed Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds were written and doctrinally accepted according to God’s Word in defense to the heresies of the time and applicable still today, so also the Athanasian Creed was written and doctrinally accepted to refute false teachings regarding the Scripturally revealed identity and work of the one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As we hold the “catholic faith,” the Athanasian Creed refers to “catholic” as the true Church of all times and places who faithfully confess the true Christ as Lord and Savior.
ATHANASIAN CREED Part 1
Pastor: Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith.
People: Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.
Pastor: And the catholic faith is this,
People: that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance.
Pastor: For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is another.
People: But the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.
Pastor: Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit:
People: the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated;
Pastor: the Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite;
People: the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal.
Pastor: And yet there are not three Eternals, but one Eternal,
People: just as there are not three Uncreated or three Infinites, but one Uncreated and one Infinite.
Pastor: In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty;
People: and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
Pastor: So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God;
People: and yet there are not three Gods, but one God.
Pastor: So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord;
People: and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: As we approach our triune God and gather in His majestic name, we draw near with a true heart and confess our sins.
People: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all people, we admit and confess our sinfulness.
Pastor: We have turned away from one another in our thinking, speaking, and doing.
People: We have done the evil You forbid and have not done the good You demand. We do repent and are truly sorry for these our sins.
Pastor: Have mercy on us, heavenly Father, because of the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son.
People: Forgive us all that is past, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, move us to serve You faithfully. Set our feet upon the new path of life, that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.
Pastor: Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). He alone, with the Father and the Spirit, is the one who has promised forgiveness to those who repent of their sins and turn to Him. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. God keep you in His grace by the Holy Spirit, lead you to greater faith and obedience, and bring you to live with Him forever, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
introit Psalm 104:24, 27–28, 30 (spoken responsively as marked)
Blessèd be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity.
Let us give glory to him because he has shown his mercy to us.I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now, and will be forever. Amen.
KYRIE
Pastor: Lord,
People: have mercy on us.
Pastor: Christ,
People: have mercy on us.
Pastor: Lord,
People: have mercy on us.
SALUTATION and PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us pray.
O almighty God, Creator of all that is seen and unseen, from the beginning You have been the one true triune God. You formed us in Your own image when You created us, created humanity to be together in fellowship with one another and with You, and, when we had lost Your image because of our sin, You made it available to us again in the person of Your Son. Enlighten us with Your Spirit that we may hear Your voice this day and receive the restoration of life won for us on the cross; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Proverbs 8:1–4, 22–31
(The blessings of wisdom)
1Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4“To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man. . . .
22“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of old.
23Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
26before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
27When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
29when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.”
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL Romans 10:8b, 10
The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,
the word of faith that we proclaim.
For with the heart one believes and is justified,
and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
SECOND READING Acts 2:14a, 22–36
(Peter’s Pentecost sermon affirming all the Lord’s work)
14Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, . . .
22“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25For David says concerning him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand,
35until I make your enemies your footstool.’
36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
VERSE Isaiah 6:3b
Alleluia. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory! Alleluia.
ATHANASIAN CREED Part 2
Pastor: Just as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so also are we prohibited by the catholic religion to say that there are three Gods or Lords.
People: The Father is not made nor created nor begotten by anyone.
Pastor: The Son is neither made nor created, but begotten of the Father alone.
People: The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.
Pastor: Thus, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
People: And in this Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another;
Pastor: but the whole three persons are coeternal with each other and coequal, so that in all things, as has been stated above, the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity is to be worshiped.
People: Therefore, whoever desires to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.
HOLY GOSPEL John 8:48–59
(“Before Abraham was, I am.”)
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighth chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.
48The Jews answered [Jesus], “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
INTRODUCTION
Pastor: As we confess in this creed the work and identity of the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with all founded in and supported throughout Scripture, the Athanasian Creed closes with a reminder of judgment and the Last Day to come. Though reference is made to works, works are not the basis of our salvation. Only those who by faith believe in Jesus Christ for salvation are able to do good works in God’s sight, and the good works done are fruits of the saving faith in Christ given through the Holy Spirit.
ATHANASIAN CREED Part 3
Pastor: But it is also necessary for everlasting salvation that one faithfully believe the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Therefore, it is the right faith that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is at the same time both God and man.
Pastor: He is God, begotten from the substance of the Father before all ages; and He is man, born from the substance of His mother in this age:
People: perfect God and perfect man, composed of a rational soul and human flesh;
Pastor: equal to the Father with respect to His divinity, less than the Father with respect to His humanity.
People: Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ:
Pastor: one, however, not by the conversion of the divinity into flesh, but by the assumption of the humanity into God;
People: one altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.
Pastor: For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ,
People: who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead,
Pastor: ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
People: At His coming all people will rise again with their bodies and give an account concerning their own deeds.
Pastor: And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.
People: This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.
HYMN of the Day: #507 – Holy, Holy, Holy
SERMON: The Father, Son & Holy Spirit Work Together to Restore Our Relationship with Him
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
After each petition:
Pastor: … Lord, in Your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.
At conclusion:
Pastor: … All these things we pray to You, through Christ Jesus, for You live and reign as the triune and eternal God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who always has been and always will be.
People: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
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 and ever. Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith and defend us from all adversities; for You, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
BENEDICTION
Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
People: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: #506 – Glory Be to God the Father
Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series C, Quarter 3. Copyright © 2022 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
