This coming Sunday the Christian Community of Saint Faith's will celebrate the baptism of Jamie Toby Li and rejoice that he will become the newest follower of the Way among us.
trinity sunday
31 May 2015
The Gathering of the
Community
Entrance Hymn
‘Wind upon the Waters’ Common Praise #408
Greeting
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,
the
fountain of living water,
the
rock who gave us birth,
our
light and our salvation. [i]
There is one body and one Spirit,
there
is one hope in God’s call to us;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one
God and Father of all.
Canticle
‘Holy God, We Praise Your Name’ Common Praise #334
Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Holy God,
the earth is full of your love.
May we your children, born of the Spirit,
so bear witness to your Son Jesus Christ,
that all the world may believe
and have eternal life through him,
who with you and the Holy Spirit,
lives and reigns, one God,
now and for ever.
Amen. [ii]
The Proclamation of the
Word of God
The First Reading
A Reading from the prophet Isaiah (6.1-8).
1
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and
lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above
him; each had six wings: with two they
covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they
flew.
3
And one called to another and said: “Holy,
holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4
The
pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house
filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is
me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean
lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the
King, the Lord
of hosts!”
6
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken
from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7
The seraph touched my mouth with it and said:
“Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your
sin is blotted out.” 8 Then I
heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for
us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me.”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the
church.
Thanks
be to God.
The Psalm of the Day
Psalm 29 with a refrain from Songs for the
Holy One
Refrain (sung twice): Worship
the Creator in the beauty of holiness.
1
Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *
ascribe
to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe
to the Lord the glory due the holy name; *
worship
the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the
Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; *
the
Lord is upon the mighty waters.
4 The
voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *
the
voice of the Lord is a voice of splendour.
Refrain:
Worship the Creator in the beauty
of holiness.
5 The
voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *
the
Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon,
6 making
Lebanon skip like a calf, *
and
Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
7 The
voice of the Lord *
splits the flames
of fire;
8 the
voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *
the
Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
Refrain:
Worship the Creator in the beauty
of holiness.
9 The
voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.
And in the temple of the Lord *
all
are crying, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned
above the flood; *
the
Lord sits enthroned as sovereign for evermore.
11 The
Lord shall give strength to this people; *
the
Lord shall give this people the blessing of peace.
Refrain:
Worship the Creator in the beauty
of holiness.
The Second Reading
A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8.12-17).
12
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live
according to the flesh — 13 for if you live according to the flesh,
you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you
will live. 14 For all who are
led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit
of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing
witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if
children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact,
we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the
church.
Thanks
be to God.
Hymn before the Gospel
‘Baptized in Water’ Evangelical Lutheran Worship #456
The Gospel
The Lord be with you.
And
also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to John (3.1-17).
Glory
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
1
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and
said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for
no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3
Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell
you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can
anyone be born after having grown old? Can
one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I
tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and
Spirit. 6 What is born of the
flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said
to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8
The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not
know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born
of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus
said to him, “How can these things be?” 10
Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand
these things?
11
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have
seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly
things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly
things? 13 No one has
ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in
order that the world might be saved through him.”
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sermon
The Baptism
The Presentation and Examination of the Candidates
The candidate for Holy Baptism will now be
presented.
(Parents and sponsors) I
present Jamie Toby Li to receive the sacrament of baptism.
Will you be responsible for seeing that the
child you present is nurtured in the faith and life of the Christian community?
(Parents and sponsors) I
will, with God’s help.
Will you by your prayers and witness help
this child to grow into the full stature of Christ?
(Parents and sponsors) I
will, with God’s help.
Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual
forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
(Parents and sponsors) I
renounce them.
Do you renounce the evil powers of this
world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
(Parents and sponsors) I
renounce them.
Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw
you from the love of God?
(Parents and sponsors) I
renounce them.
Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him
as your Saviour?
(Parents and sponsors) I do.
Do you put your whole trust in his grace and
love?
(Parents and sponsors) I do.
Do you promise to obey him as your Lord?
(Parents and sponsors) I do.
Will you who witness these vows do all in
your power to support Jamie in his life of faith?
(All)
We will.
Prayers for the Candidates
The Deacon invites the Community to pray for
the Candidates.
Let us now pray for this person who are to
receive the sacrament of new birth.
The Person appointed leads the Prayers.
Deliver him, O Lord, from the way of sin and
death.
Lord,
hear our prayer.
Open his heart to your grace and truth.
Lord,
hear our prayer.
Fill him with your holy and life-giving
Spirit.
Lord,
hear our prayer.
Teach him to love others in the power of the
Spirit.
Lord,
hear our prayer.
Send him into the world in witness to your
love.
Lord,
hear our prayer.
Bring him to the fullness of your peace and
glory.
Lord,
hear our prayer.
Grant, O Lord,
that all who are baptized
into the death of Jesus Christ your Son
may live in the power of his resurrection
and look for him to come again in glory;
who lives and reigns now and for ever. Amen.
Thanksgiving over the Water
The Presider blesses the water.
The Lord be with you.
And
also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It
is right to give our thanks and praise.
Holy God, holy and merciful, holy and
mighty,
you are the river of life, you are the
everlasting wellspring,
you are the fire of rebirth.
Glory to you for oceans and lakes, for
rivers and streams.
Honour to you for cloud and rain, for dew
and snow.
Your waters are below us, around us, above
us: our life is born in you.
You are the fountain of resurrection.
Praise to you for your saving waters:
Noah and the animals survive the flood,
Hagar discovers your well.
The Israelites escape through the sea, and
they drink from your gushing rock.
Naaman washes his leprosy away,
and the Samaritan woman will never be
thirsty again.
At this font, Holy God, we pray:
Praise to you for the water of baptism
and for your Word that saves us in this
water.
Breathe your Spirit into all who are
gathered here and into all creation.
Illumine our days. Enliven our bones. Dry our tears.
Wash away the sin within us, and drown the
evil around us.
Satisfy all our thirst with your living
water, Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen. [iii]
The Baptismal Covenant
The Presider and the Deacon share in asking
the questions of the Covenant.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I
believe in God,
the
Father almighty,
creator
of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of
God?
I
believe in Jesus Christ,
God’s
only Son, our Lord,
who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born
of the virgin Mary,
suffered
under Pontius Pilate,
was
crucified and was buried;
he
descended to the dead.
On
the third day he rose again;
he
ascended into heaven,
he
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and
he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I
believe in God the Holy Spirit,
the
holy catholic church,
the
communion of saints,
the
forgiveness of sins,
the
resurrection of the body,
and
the life everlasting. Amen.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching
and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I
will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil and,
whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I
will, with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the
good news of God in Christ?
I
will, with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all
persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?
I
will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among
all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I
will, with God’s help.
Will you strive to safeguard the integrity
of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?
I
will, with God’s help.
The Baptism
Jamie Toby, I baptize you in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Jamie Toby, you are sealed with the Spirit
in baptism
and marked as Christ’s own for ever. Amen.
Heavenly Father,
we thank you that be water and the Holy
Spirit
you have bestowed upon this your servant
the forgiveness of sin,
and have raised him to the new life of
grace.
Sustain him, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit.
Give him an inquiring and discerning heart,
the courage to will and to persevere,
a spirit to know and to love you,
and the gift of joy and wonder
in all your works. Amen.
The Giving of the Light
Receive the light of Christ,
to show that you have passed from darkness
to light.
Let
your light so shine before others
that
they may see your good works
and
glorify your Father in heaven.
Let us welcome the newly baptized.
We
receive you into the household of God.
Confess
the faith of Christ crucified,
proclaim
his resurrection,
and
share with us in his eternal priesthood.
The Exchange of the Peace
May the peace of the Lord be always with you.
And
also with you.
The Holy Communion
Offertory Hymn
‘Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters’ Common Praise #35
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray.
Holy God, gracious and merciful,
you
bring forth food from the earth
and
nourish your whole creation.
Turn
our hearts toward those
who
hunger in any way,
so
that all may know your care;
and
prepare us now
to
feast on the bread of life,
Jesus
Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen. [iv]
The Thanksgiving at the Table
The Lord be with you.
And
also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We
lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It
is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are
you, gracious God,
creator of
heaven and earth;
you are the
source of light and life for all your creation,
you made us
in your own image,
and call us
to new life in Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Therefore we
praise you,
joining our
voices to proclaim the glory of your name. [v]
Holy,
holy, holy Lord,
God
of power and might.
Heaven
and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna
in the highest.
Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna
in the highest. [vi]
Holy God, you alone are holy, you alone are
God.
The universe declares your praise:
beyond the stars; beneath the sea; within
each cell; with every breath.
We
praise you, O God.
Generations bless your faithfulness:
through the water; by night and day;
across the wilderness; out of exile; into
the future.
We
bless you, O God.
We give you thanks for your dear Son:
at the heart of human life; near to those
who suffer;
beside the sinner; among the poor; with us
now.
We
thank you, O God.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples,
saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for
you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave
thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the
forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering his love for us on the way,
at the table, and to the end,
we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ
has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
We pray for the gift of your Spirit:
in our gathering; within this meal;
among your people; throughout the world.
Blessing, praise and thanks to you, holy
God,
through Christ Jesus, by your Spirit,
in your church, without end.
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our
Father in heaven,
hallowed
be your name,
your
kingdom come,
your
will be done,
on
earth as in heaven.
Give
us today our daily bread.
Forgive
us our sins
as
we forgive those who sin against us.
Save
us from the time of trial,
and
deliver us from evil.
For
the kingdom, the power,
and
the glory are yours,
now
and for ever. Amen. [viii]
The Breaking of the Bread
Creator of
all,
you gave us
golden fields of wheat,
whose many
grains we have gathered
and made
into this one bread.
So may your Church be gathered
from the ends of the earth
into your reign of justice and peace. [ix]
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks
be to God.
Communion
Hymn after Communion
‘Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence’ Common Praise #48
The Sending Forth of the
Community
The Prayer after Communion
God of abundance,
with
this bread of life and cup of salvation
you
have united us with Christ,
making
us one with all your people.
Now
send us forth in the power of your Spirit,
so
that we may proclaim your redeeming love
to
the world and continue forever
in
the risen life of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
Amen. [x]
Glory to God,
whose
power, working in us,
can
do infinitely more
than
we can ask or imagine.
Glory
to God from generation to generation,
in
the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for
ever and ever. Amen.
Closing Hymn
‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty’ Common Praise #1
The Dismissal
The Deacon sends the People forth with a
Dismissal for the occasion.
[viii] Songs
for a Gospel People #12.
