7th June is Trinity Sunday. All our Christian worship is permeated by the Holy Trinity.
Every new-born Christian is baptized with water
in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
In the baptismal creed we begin by saying that
we believe and trust in God the Father, almighty,
the creator of heaven and earth
.
We go on to say that, We believe and trust in Jesus Christ,
God's only Son, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
who was born of Mary, who was crucified,
raised and ascended into heaven.
In the third part of the Baptismal creed we say that
we believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit
and that from the Holy Spirit there flows first the church,
then the fellowship and communion of all saints and believers,
and also forgiveness and the assurance of eternal life.
At Holy Communion we give thanks over the bread and wine to God the Father, we celebrate the redeeming work of God the Son and his institution of the Lord's Supper and then we ask the Holy Spirit to make Christ the Son real to us in the sacrament. Then at the end of the Prayer of Thanksgiving we have the final doxology of praise giving glory to the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit.
When we ordain ministers we pray, Father,
through Christ our Lord send down your Holy Spirit
on your servant.
When we say goodbye to our loved ones at their
death we often pray: Go forth upon your journey,
Christian soul, in the name of God the Father who created you,
in the name of God the Son who suffered and died for you and
in the name of the Holy Spirit who is poured out on you.
From the beginning of our life to its very end we are bathed in the three-fold love and protection of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and shall be for ever. Amen
Norman Wallwork
Copyright ©:2009 Wotton United Church Wotton-under-Edge Gloucestershire
