THE HOLY TRINITY
May 30, 2021
The Sunday following Pentecost is always Holy Trinity. On this day we are confronted with who God is through what God does. He is the mighty God, the One in Three, before whom we sing “Holy, Holy, Holy.” He is also the Christ, the Savior who comes in flesh to redeem His fallen creation and restore the lost to Himself. He is also the Spirit who blows when and where He wills but breathes life into those dead in trespasses and sin and bestows faith where fear once lived. It all is expressed in the God who so loved the world—the most familiar and beloved Bible passage. Here, in this Gospel in a nutshell, is the triune God at work for us and our salvation.
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+ PREPARATION +
OPENING HYMN: Holy, Holy, Holy
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
People: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for meditation and reflection.
Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
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.
SALUTATION and PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us pray.
O almighty and everlasting God, You have manifested Your great love for us by delivering up Your only Son to the altar of the cross to give Himself up for us sinners. Grant us grace to know You as Father of mercy, to confess You as the Redeemer of the world, and to trust in You with all our heart, mind, body, and soul. Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, all honor and glory is Yours, almighty Father, whom with the Spirit You are one Lord, one God, now and forevermore.
People: Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DAY
Pastor: Today is Holy Trinity, the First Sunday after Pentecost. The festival half of the Church Year, which has confessed the saving events in the life of our Lord, now gives way to that part of the Church Year in which we hear His teaching. From the Old Testament Reading from Isaiah, we witness a glimpse of the glory of the Lord, the God of Sabaoth, whose power is chiefly known in showing mercy. In the Epistle from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear another part of the Pentecost sermon of Peter attesting to the revelation of Jesus as both Lord and Christ. In the Gospel according to John, we hear Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus and within this we hear the most beloved and familiar verse of Scripture.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 6:1–8
(We have seen the Lord of hosts.)
1In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL Psalm 145:3, 5b, 6b
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and His greatness is unsearchable.
On Your wondrous works, I will meditate,
and I will declare Your greatness.
EPISTLE Acts 2:14a, 22–38
(Let all know that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.)
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.”
37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor: 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.
HOLY GOSPEL John 3:1–17
(“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son.”)
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the third chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN OF THE DAY: Alleluia! Let Praises Ring
1 Alleluia! Let praises ring!
To God the Father let us bring
Our songs of adoration.
To Him through everlasting days
Be worship, honor, pow’r, and praise,
Whose hand sustains creation.
Singing, ringing:
Holy, holy,
God is holy;
Spread the story
Of our God, the Lord of glory.
2 Alleluia! Let praises ring!
Unto the Lamb of God we sing,
In whom we are elected.
He bought His Church with His own blood,
He cleansed her in that blessèd flood,
And as His bride selected.
Holy, holy
Is our union
And communion.
His befriending
Gives us joy and peace unending.
3 Alleluia! Let praises ring!
Unto the Holy Ghost we sing
For our regeneration.
The saving faith in us He wrought
And us unto the Bridegroom brought,
Made us His chosen nation.
Glory! Glory!
Joy eternal,
Bliss supernal;
There is manna
And an endless, glad hosanna.
4 Alleluia! Let praises ring!
Unto our triune God we sing;
Blest be His name forever!
With angel hosts let us adore
And sing His praises evermore
For all His grace and favor!
Singing, ringing:
Holy, holy,
God is holy;
Spread the story
Of our God, the Lord of glory!
Text: Public domain
SERMON: Undone and Remade
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.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: Blessed be the kingdom of our God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
People: Blessed be His kingdom, now and forever, to the end of all the ages!
After each petition:
Pastor: … Lord, in Your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Blessed be the kingdom of our God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
People: Blessed be His kingdom, now and forever, to the end of all the ages!
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.
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.
BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
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 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.
DISMISSAL
Pastor: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God.
CLOSING HYMN: Glory Be to God the Father
Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series B, Quarter 3. Copyright © 2021 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
