|
This Sunday, June 12th, in the Year of Our Lord 2022, is Trinity Sunday: the only commemoration in the Prayer Book devoted, not to a Biblical person or an event in the life and ministry of Jesus, but to a doctrine of the Faith. And a most vital and essential doctrine, indeed! Why and how that is so will be the subject of my sermon; but the Propers for the day, and the Announcements, appear below:
The Propers for Trinity Sunday.
The Book of Common Prayer 1928.
The Collect.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.
For the Epistle. Rev. iv. 1.
AFTER this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I beard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be here after. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. And the first was like a lion, and the second like a calf, and the third had a face as a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
The Gospel. St. John iii. 1.
THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whoso ever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Announcements
If you are a visitor:
Welcome! Thank you for being here. We are very pleased to have you with us, and hope that your worship at Christ Church Anglican was a blessing to you. Please sign the guest book on the table in the narthex, and include your email address to be placed on our parish email list: you won’t be bombarded, but it’s a good way to keep in touch. And may God bless you!
Feasts and Holy Days:
Tuesday, June 14th – Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea and Confessor (379)
Thursday, June 16th – Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham (1752)
Saturday, June 18th – Bernard Mizeki, Catechist and Martyr in Rhodesia (1896)
Donations invited for Bibles and Hymnals:
If you would like to make a donation to help defray the cost of our recently-purchased Bibles or the replacement hymnals we need to purchase (as many of our existing ones are falling apart, and/or missing pages), please contact our Treasurer, Bud Saulsbury. Many thanks!
Matthew 25:40 Project (Sandhills Student Assistance):
We continue to collect protein bars for this worthy project, which provides nutritional and other targeted support for students of Moore County schools who are in need. Jack Kennard and I (Fr. Tom) sit on the board of SSA, which relies on teachers, guidance counselors, and social workers to identify students in need of assistance, and then provides it with a minimum of bureaucracy. Protein bars are our parish’s contribution to this worthy ministry. Please donate as you are able!
Hope and pray that everyone has an excellent weekend, and hope to see many of you in church on Sunday! Take care, and God bless.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Fr. Tom Harbold
|
