The Holy Trinity
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook, Series IV, Cycle C
Soul Motion
Object:
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi
Call To Worship
Leader: Welcome. Last week was a fiery Sunday. Today is a white one. Today we mark the description of God as three parts -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Another way to describe God as three parts is: mind, body, and psyche. We're here to sing and pray to God, the Holy One.
People: We are here to "keep the sabbath." We are glad for one day to rest and to do different things from the rest of the week. We want to listen for God, to gain wisdom, and to receive strength.
Leader: We are surrounded with beauty and we read poetry from Proverbs about God having a child at the divine knees while sinking the foundations for the world! We'll read about children adoring God in songs. We'll hear the psalmist marveling at the universe and at God's goodness to humankind. We will hear scriptures invite us to be wise.
People: In songs, in conversation, and in silence we celebrate the written word, the spoken word, and the creating word among us!
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
Creator of the Universe -- your emanations amaze us. The horizon and the clouds, the owls and the porpoises, the balanced earth, and the expanding cosmos all speak of your creative imagination. We recognize your liveliness in the seasons that come and go. Thank you for the poets who have described how you are with us; we are glad for the pleasure each time we read their imaginative descriptions. This hour, we anticipate guidance to help us mature and bring us to wisdom. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
In old and new cities, people have tried to make the best use of a little bit of space. In Babylon, in New York City, and in our town, buildings seem to touch the sky and even pierce the heavens. We can be glad that God makes a home with us so that we can be cocreators with the Holy. In these few minutes, consider the language you use to talk about your work, your leisure, and your faith. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the One God.
Community Confession (Unison)
Sun Stopper -- how easy it is to dream a building and make it real!
How amazing it is to see the moon and go there!
We long to be close to you, to be at home with you, yet our lifestyles often leave little time to listen to you and little energy to talk with you.
Shift our priorities so we feel your affirmation and feel contented with living.
We long to be close to you, body, soul, and mind. Amen.
Sermon Idea
The biblical scenes at Babel and Pentecost remind us of the human desire to be close, to be intimate with Mystery. The Holy One does not need mathematics and numerology to be present in the human heart. The Trinity concept emerged several centuries after the death of Jesus as a way to explain the relationship of nous, soma, and spiritus/pneuma, God Father, God Son, God Spirit: mind, body, and soul. Converts to The Way were attempting to articulate the connection between Jesus of Nazareth and the God in heaven, Yahweh/Adonai. They tried their best to articulate the wisdom and vision they experienced when walking with Jesus. The Proverbs and Psalm readings present images different from the Hellenistic images of "sameness/essence." One translation of Proverbs 8:22f suggests that a part of God functioned as a nursling/child/architect beside the Holy One while creation was happening. An interesting image, that a part of God inspired play and creativity, which resulted in the world! Psychologists have told us for more than half a century about the child-within. We are made in the Divine mold and we have various creative parts of ourselves that help us along our human paths. It might be interesting to compare the pre-scientific view of the world with the contemporary one. The preacher could also consider human perceptions of how and why God intervenes in history.
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
We know God, the Creator, by many names;
we believe that God, the Holy One, loves us and all creation.
We know Jesus of Nazareth taught people to love friends and enemies;
we believe Jesus' teachings lead us to satisfaction in living.
We believe the Holy Spirit is moving throughout the global village,
inviting all peoples to live peaceably together;
we experience the Holy Spirit to be motivating us to journey toward
internal contentment and external service for justice.
In community, we are stimulated intellectually to ask questions
about the meaning of life and Mystery.
We are challenged to know ourselves and to relate to God.
We are soothed during the painful parts of life and in good times,
we share our rejoicings! Hurrah! Yippee! Hallelujah!
Offertory Statement (Leader)
We have many opportunities to serve God and the church. This is one of them. The money you put in the basket and the time you use to teach, fix things, and listen to someone enhance our life together and make reaching out to others a bit easier. Give as you can.
Doxology
The Lone, Wild Bird (v. 2, modified), tune: PROSPECT
The ends of earth are in God's hand, The sea's dark deep and far-off land.
And I am yours! I rest in you. Great Spirit, come, and rest in me.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
God of Languages and Buildings -- we are glad for the ways you are among us especially for being like a parent, a child, and a gracious Spirit. Thank you for this money and for the talents gathered here. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
God of Words and Numbers -- we venture into mathematics and physics to get of glimpse of what you might be like. We wonder with rhyme and paragraphs, with decibels and colors, and with dramatic architectural designs how you answer prayers. We can only imagine how you heal us and how you protect us. With gratitude we acknowledge that you work in us until we are whole. Comfort us who grieve; soothe our distressed psyches; mend our bodies.
God of Thoughts -- some of us think symbolically in ones and threes, in unities and trinities. Some of us think that you whisper and write down words in our own language. What we know is that the scriptures enrich our thinking and help us see humanity with all its foibles and graces seeking to be with you. Guide us along the way.
Builder of the Cosmos -- with bricks and mortar, with prayers and names, with rules and ceremonies we have tried to be sure you love us and we try to please you. Guide us in our questing; open us to perceiving you in ways beyond those of today. Make us whole as you are whole.
God of Deserts and Rain Forests -- as in Bible times, lands are dry and food crops are insufficient to feed the hungry, especially in Africa. We know that human behaviors cause detrimental changes to the earth's ecosystems. Give us courage to do things differently so food and energy resources serve more people for a very long time. May peace between leaders trickle down to make peace between neighbors. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
Go from this place with ideas that will build bridges between peoples.
Go with a song in your heart and a lilt in your step.
Go, aware that Divinity resides in you.
Go, as a peacemaker, friend of the living Christ.
Music
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Words: Reginald Heber, 1826, alt.
Music: John B. Dykes, 1861; descant O. I. Cricket Harrison, 1994
NICAEA
Womb Of Life, And Source Of Being
Words: Ruth Duck, 1986, 1990
Music: Traditional Dutch melody; arr. Julius Roentgen, 1906
IN BABYLONE
Creating God, Your Fingers Trace
Words: Jeffery Rowthorn, 1974
Music: Thomas Tallis, 1561
TALLIS' CANON
Come, Great God Of All The Ages
Words: Mary Jackson Cathey, 1987
Music: Cyril V. Taylor, 1941
ABBOT'S LEIGH
God Is Here
Words: Fred Pratt Green, 1978
Music: Cyril V. Taylor, 1941
ABBOT'S LEIGH
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi
Call To Worship
Leader: Welcome. Last week was a fiery Sunday. Today is a white one. Today we mark the description of God as three parts -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Another way to describe God as three parts is: mind, body, and psyche. We're here to sing and pray to God, the Holy One.
People: We are here to "keep the sabbath." We are glad for one day to rest and to do different things from the rest of the week. We want to listen for God, to gain wisdom, and to receive strength.
Leader: We are surrounded with beauty and we read poetry from Proverbs about God having a child at the divine knees while sinking the foundations for the world! We'll read about children adoring God in songs. We'll hear the psalmist marveling at the universe and at God's goodness to humankind. We will hear scriptures invite us to be wise.
People: In songs, in conversation, and in silence we celebrate the written word, the spoken word, and the creating word among us!
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
Creator of the Universe -- your emanations amaze us. The horizon and the clouds, the owls and the porpoises, the balanced earth, and the expanding cosmos all speak of your creative imagination. We recognize your liveliness in the seasons that come and go. Thank you for the poets who have described how you are with us; we are glad for the pleasure each time we read their imaginative descriptions. This hour, we anticipate guidance to help us mature and bring us to wisdom. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
In old and new cities, people have tried to make the best use of a little bit of space. In Babylon, in New York City, and in our town, buildings seem to touch the sky and even pierce the heavens. We can be glad that God makes a home with us so that we can be cocreators with the Holy. In these few minutes, consider the language you use to talk about your work, your leisure, and your faith. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the One God.
Community Confession (Unison)
Sun Stopper -- how easy it is to dream a building and make it real!
How amazing it is to see the moon and go there!
We long to be close to you, to be at home with you, yet our lifestyles often leave little time to listen to you and little energy to talk with you.
Shift our priorities so we feel your affirmation and feel contented with living.
We long to be close to you, body, soul, and mind. Amen.
Sermon Idea
The biblical scenes at Babel and Pentecost remind us of the human desire to be close, to be intimate with Mystery. The Holy One does not need mathematics and numerology to be present in the human heart. The Trinity concept emerged several centuries after the death of Jesus as a way to explain the relationship of nous, soma, and spiritus/pneuma, God Father, God Son, God Spirit: mind, body, and soul. Converts to The Way were attempting to articulate the connection between Jesus of Nazareth and the God in heaven, Yahweh/Adonai. They tried their best to articulate the wisdom and vision they experienced when walking with Jesus. The Proverbs and Psalm readings present images different from the Hellenistic images of "sameness/essence." One translation of Proverbs 8:22f suggests that a part of God functioned as a nursling/child/architect beside the Holy One while creation was happening. An interesting image, that a part of God inspired play and creativity, which resulted in the world! Psychologists have told us for more than half a century about the child-within. We are made in the Divine mold and we have various creative parts of ourselves that help us along our human paths. It might be interesting to compare the pre-scientific view of the world with the contemporary one. The preacher could also consider human perceptions of how and why God intervenes in history.
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
We know God, the Creator, by many names;
we believe that God, the Holy One, loves us and all creation.
We know Jesus of Nazareth taught people to love friends and enemies;
we believe Jesus' teachings lead us to satisfaction in living.
We believe the Holy Spirit is moving throughout the global village,
inviting all peoples to live peaceably together;
we experience the Holy Spirit to be motivating us to journey toward
internal contentment and external service for justice.
In community, we are stimulated intellectually to ask questions
about the meaning of life and Mystery.
We are challenged to know ourselves and to relate to God.
We are soothed during the painful parts of life and in good times,
we share our rejoicings! Hurrah! Yippee! Hallelujah!
Offertory Statement (Leader)
We have many opportunities to serve God and the church. This is one of them. The money you put in the basket and the time you use to teach, fix things, and listen to someone enhance our life together and make reaching out to others a bit easier. Give as you can.
Doxology
The Lone, Wild Bird (v. 2, modified), tune: PROSPECT
The ends of earth are in God's hand, The sea's dark deep and far-off land.
And I am yours! I rest in you. Great Spirit, come, and rest in me.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
God of Languages and Buildings -- we are glad for the ways you are among us especially for being like a parent, a child, and a gracious Spirit. Thank you for this money and for the talents gathered here. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
God of Words and Numbers -- we venture into mathematics and physics to get of glimpse of what you might be like. We wonder with rhyme and paragraphs, with decibels and colors, and with dramatic architectural designs how you answer prayers. We can only imagine how you heal us and how you protect us. With gratitude we acknowledge that you work in us until we are whole. Comfort us who grieve; soothe our distressed psyches; mend our bodies.
God of Thoughts -- some of us think symbolically in ones and threes, in unities and trinities. Some of us think that you whisper and write down words in our own language. What we know is that the scriptures enrich our thinking and help us see humanity with all its foibles and graces seeking to be with you. Guide us along the way.
Builder of the Cosmos -- with bricks and mortar, with prayers and names, with rules and ceremonies we have tried to be sure you love us and we try to please you. Guide us in our questing; open us to perceiving you in ways beyond those of today. Make us whole as you are whole.
God of Deserts and Rain Forests -- as in Bible times, lands are dry and food crops are insufficient to feed the hungry, especially in Africa. We know that human behaviors cause detrimental changes to the earth's ecosystems. Give us courage to do things differently so food and energy resources serve more people for a very long time. May peace between leaders trickle down to make peace between neighbors. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
Go from this place with ideas that will build bridges between peoples.
Go with a song in your heart and a lilt in your step.
Go, aware that Divinity resides in you.
Go, as a peacemaker, friend of the living Christ.
Music
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Words: Reginald Heber, 1826, alt.
Music: John B. Dykes, 1861; descant O. I. Cricket Harrison, 1994
NICAEA
Womb Of Life, And Source Of Being
Words: Ruth Duck, 1986, 1990
Music: Traditional Dutch melody; arr. Julius Roentgen, 1906
IN BABYLONE
Creating God, Your Fingers Trace
Words: Jeffery Rowthorn, 1974
Music: Thomas Tallis, 1561
TALLIS' CANON
Come, Great God Of All The Ages
Words: Mary Jackson Cathey, 1987
Music: Cyril V. Taylor, 1941
ABBOT'S LEIGH
God Is Here
Words: Fred Pratt Green, 1978
Music: Cyril V. Taylor, 1941
ABBOT'S LEIGH
