Jesus Teaches Nicodemus about Birth and Second Birth
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
Celebration Through Praise
Pastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)
In the name of God the Parent, God the Child, God the Spirit, welcome to Trinity Sunday. Does that invitation turn you on or off? Please raise your hands if the doctrine of the Trinity gives you any difficulty. Who of you has the Trinity all figured out? I invite us to bring our questions and confusions to worship today, if not to get answers, to get our questions pointed in the right direction. I invite you to interrupt at any time. (Especially if you have no sermon discussion following worship. I highly recommend a regular sermon discussion group following every worship for clarification, and for people who never would give a second thought to interrupting the "authority.")
P: In the name of the Triune God, welcome!
M: Thank you, pastor, and welcome to you also!
P: We come because God the Parent created us.
M: We know that we had nothing to do with our own creation.
P: We come because God the Child freed us.
M: We know that we have no ability to free ourselves.
P: We come because God the Spirit guides us.
M: We know that, left to ourselves, we live off-center.
Response
Introduce with similar words, "It's okay to come with your current belief, which may include a misunderstanding or a rejection of the Trinity. If you do not agree with the theology of this hymn, it's okay not to sing." "We All Believe in One True God," Tobias Clausnitzer, 1688; trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1863; alt.; as in Allgemeines Choral-Melodienbuch, 1793.
Prayer of Praise
Study the Trinity Sunday hymns in your hymnbook and use one of them as the prayer. Let the congregation know what you are doing.
Hymn of Praise
"Creating God, Your Fingers Trace," Jeffery Rowthorn, 1979; Eugene W. Hancock, 1989.
Celebration Through Confession And Forgiveness
Introduction to the Act of Confession
Have you ever considered confusion as one of your sins, one that keeps you from a growing relationship with God and others? (One minute of silence to consider the question.) When we are confused, do we take the time to find new information to unconfuse ourselves; or do we prefer to stay confused, and therefore, ignorant. We may agree with Dorothy Sayers' analysis of what many Protestants think about the Trinity: "The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the whole thing incomprehensible." Is that our position? It's too hard to think about, so I'm going to watch the television. Consider these thoughts for two minutes; write down what you are willing to do about it, if anything.
Response
"Nobody Said It Was Going to Be Easy," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Second Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Introduction to the Act of Forgiveness (Pastor and Ministers)
God is the Author of clarity, not confusion. Satan and the serpent are often called the confusers. Are we willing to get clarity from God's Spirit, instead of deciding that being a growing Christian is just too much work? If we want forgiveness for our laziness, God gives it. That's God's promise. Receive God's gift. For those who receive God's promise, those who take it seriously, in the name of Jesus the Christ, I declare the forgiveness of your laziness.
M: God, we thank you for your promise. We believe you. And now we are better equipped to seek forgiveness, and lead new lives each day, each hour.
Response
"Lord, I Want to Be a Christian," American folk hymn. Sing only, "Lord, I want to be committed in my heart ... mind ... will."
Celebration Through The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
I want to tell you about something that may happen when you leave home for the first time, and you think that you know everything. When you leave, you may want to reject what you learned in church school and worship about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. On more than one occasion, college students say to their campus pastor, "I don't believe in God anymore." If the pastor knows what he/she is doing, he/she will say, "That's interesting, what kind of a god is it in which you no longer believe?" (Maybe you have had a similar experience with a friend or relative.) Assure them that it's okay to doubt, and to question, and that no one has all of the answers. It's not helpful to raise the questions, and then, get lazy about searching for answers.
Reading of the Gospel
Select two people to dramatize the scripture. Have an instrumentalist play background music during the dramatization.
Proclamation of the Good News
(1) Avoid this heresy: G. Hobab Kish, in Pulpit Magazine (January 1961), talks about overhearing a Sunday school teacher talking about the Trinity. She (why are all church school teachers women?) finally summed it all up by saying, "It is a kind of heavenly panel." Good grief! (Yes, I used this in Cycle A; it's too good not to use again.) (2) Emphasize the reality that God Was and Is, and Is To Come. Walter Russell Bowie, in Jesus and the Trinity, says that God is beyond all words to express. Perhaps one analogy may help. The Trinity of God is similar to the trinity in us humans. As a man, I am Father, Son, and Brother; yet I am the same person.
Celebration Through Thanksgiving And Intercession
Invite the people to share their joys and concerns, especially for those confused about this doctrine of the Trinity. Encourage them to give friends and neighbors clear thinking about this great truth.
Celebration Through Commitment
Stewardship Challenge
How will you go about showing your love for God and for God's world this coming week?
Charge to the Congregation
When we speak of believing in the Trinity, we need not hang our heads in shame. As we come to know another human being by seeing him/her in many different situations and activities, we come to know the person of God the same way. So, without apology, I say, I believe in God, the Triune God, Parent, Child, Spirit. How about you?
Meditation
"The Depth of All is Trinity
The Vision of Order is Trinity.
The Power of Being is Trinity." (source unknown)
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Trinity hymns. List the page numbers, and invite the congregation to hum them as they enter the sanctuary for worship.
Hymn of Praise: "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty," Reginald Heber (1783-1826). As in Hymns Written and Adapted, 1827; John Baccus Dykes, 1861; desc. David McKinley William, 1948.
Response to the Gospel: "Thanks Be to Thee," Handel.
Response to the Message with Children: "Spirit of the Living God," words and music by Daniel Iverson, Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Prayer of the Sicilian Mariners," Warner.
Hymn of Commitment: "Sovereign Lord of All Creation," Stewart Cross (1928-1989); George Henry Day, 1940.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Trinity hymns. List the page numbers, and invite the congregation to sing them before they leave the sanctuary.
Pastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)
In the name of God the Parent, God the Child, God the Spirit, welcome to Trinity Sunday. Does that invitation turn you on or off? Please raise your hands if the doctrine of the Trinity gives you any difficulty. Who of you has the Trinity all figured out? I invite us to bring our questions and confusions to worship today, if not to get answers, to get our questions pointed in the right direction. I invite you to interrupt at any time. (Especially if you have no sermon discussion following worship. I highly recommend a regular sermon discussion group following every worship for clarification, and for people who never would give a second thought to interrupting the "authority.")
P: In the name of the Triune God, welcome!
M: Thank you, pastor, and welcome to you also!
P: We come because God the Parent created us.
M: We know that we had nothing to do with our own creation.
P: We come because God the Child freed us.
M: We know that we have no ability to free ourselves.
P: We come because God the Spirit guides us.
M: We know that, left to ourselves, we live off-center.
Response
Introduce with similar words, "It's okay to come with your current belief, which may include a misunderstanding or a rejection of the Trinity. If you do not agree with the theology of this hymn, it's okay not to sing." "We All Believe in One True God," Tobias Clausnitzer, 1688; trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1863; alt.; as in Allgemeines Choral-Melodienbuch, 1793.
Prayer of Praise
Study the Trinity Sunday hymns in your hymnbook and use one of them as the prayer. Let the congregation know what you are doing.
Hymn of Praise
"Creating God, Your Fingers Trace," Jeffery Rowthorn, 1979; Eugene W. Hancock, 1989.
Celebration Through Confession And Forgiveness
Introduction to the Act of Confession
Have you ever considered confusion as one of your sins, one that keeps you from a growing relationship with God and others? (One minute of silence to consider the question.) When we are confused, do we take the time to find new information to unconfuse ourselves; or do we prefer to stay confused, and therefore, ignorant. We may agree with Dorothy Sayers' analysis of what many Protestants think about the Trinity: "The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the whole thing incomprehensible." Is that our position? It's too hard to think about, so I'm going to watch the television. Consider these thoughts for two minutes; write down what you are willing to do about it, if anything.
Response
"Nobody Said It Was Going to Be Easy," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Second Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Introduction to the Act of Forgiveness (Pastor and Ministers)
God is the Author of clarity, not confusion. Satan and the serpent are often called the confusers. Are we willing to get clarity from God's Spirit, instead of deciding that being a growing Christian is just too much work? If we want forgiveness for our laziness, God gives it. That's God's promise. Receive God's gift. For those who receive God's promise, those who take it seriously, in the name of Jesus the Christ, I declare the forgiveness of your laziness.
M: God, we thank you for your promise. We believe you. And now we are better equipped to seek forgiveness, and lead new lives each day, each hour.
Response
"Lord, I Want to Be a Christian," American folk hymn. Sing only, "Lord, I want to be committed in my heart ... mind ... will."
Celebration Through The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
I want to tell you about something that may happen when you leave home for the first time, and you think that you know everything. When you leave, you may want to reject what you learned in church school and worship about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. On more than one occasion, college students say to their campus pastor, "I don't believe in God anymore." If the pastor knows what he/she is doing, he/she will say, "That's interesting, what kind of a god is it in which you no longer believe?" (Maybe you have had a similar experience with a friend or relative.) Assure them that it's okay to doubt, and to question, and that no one has all of the answers. It's not helpful to raise the questions, and then, get lazy about searching for answers.
Reading of the Gospel
Select two people to dramatize the scripture. Have an instrumentalist play background music during the dramatization.
Proclamation of the Good News
(1) Avoid this heresy: G. Hobab Kish, in Pulpit Magazine (January 1961), talks about overhearing a Sunday school teacher talking about the Trinity. She (why are all church school teachers women?) finally summed it all up by saying, "It is a kind of heavenly panel." Good grief! (Yes, I used this in Cycle A; it's too good not to use again.) (2) Emphasize the reality that God Was and Is, and Is To Come. Walter Russell Bowie, in Jesus and the Trinity, says that God is beyond all words to express. Perhaps one analogy may help. The Trinity of God is similar to the trinity in us humans. As a man, I am Father, Son, and Brother; yet I am the same person.
Celebration Through Thanksgiving And Intercession
Invite the people to share their joys and concerns, especially for those confused about this doctrine of the Trinity. Encourage them to give friends and neighbors clear thinking about this great truth.
Celebration Through Commitment
Stewardship Challenge
How will you go about showing your love for God and for God's world this coming week?
Charge to the Congregation
When we speak of believing in the Trinity, we need not hang our heads in shame. As we come to know another human being by seeing him/her in many different situations and activities, we come to know the person of God the same way. So, without apology, I say, I believe in God, the Triune God, Parent, Child, Spirit. How about you?
Meditation
"The Depth of All is Trinity
The Vision of Order is Trinity.
The Power of Being is Trinity." (source unknown)
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Trinity hymns. List the page numbers, and invite the congregation to hum them as they enter the sanctuary for worship.
Hymn of Praise: "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty," Reginald Heber (1783-1826). As in Hymns Written and Adapted, 1827; John Baccus Dykes, 1861; desc. David McKinley William, 1948.
Response to the Gospel: "Thanks Be to Thee," Handel.
Response to the Message with Children: "Spirit of the Living God," words and music by Daniel Iverson, Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Prayer of the Sicilian Mariners," Warner.
Hymn of Commitment: "Sovereign Lord of All Creation," Stewart Cross (1928-1989); George Henry Day, 1940.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Trinity hymns. List the page numbers, and invite the congregation to sing them before they leave the sanctuary.
