Community United Church An Open and Affirming Congregation Affiliated with the , the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the Church of the Brethren

Trinity May 30, 2021: 11:00 AM

Trinity Sunday: Holy Mystery

The Church is now in the Season of ! Many Christians have long believed that on the day of Pentecost the of came upon Christ’s disciples, revealing Today’s Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8 the presence of God Psalm 29 and the outpouring Matthew 28:16-20 of God’s Spirit upon the world. To say that we believe in the Holy Spirit is to

affirm that God’s presence and power Theme: “Mysteries & Meanings of the are still among us— Trinity”

sometimes quiet and Pastoral Team: sublime, other times Rev. Dr. Rich McCarty, Senior Pastor boldly and with great Pastor Joy Johnson, Associate Minister empowerment. The Holy Spirit of God Whoever you are, and wherever you leads us in the ways are on life’s journey, you are of grace, and moves us to embody heaven welcome here!

on earth!

Prelude Cheryl Strecker & “I Think I Can Hear You” Bob Martin

Welcome, Prayer Requests & Announcements Centering Music “Healing Grace” Patrick Vahey & Bob Martin

*Invocation One: Spirit of God, you have gathered us today to worship the Holy One of heaven and earth, and we dare to proclaim this mystery: All: You, O God, are One and Mysterious, you are at once Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. One: You, O God, are One and Mysterious, you are at once the Source, Word, and Spirit. All: You, O God, are One and Mysterious, you are the great I AM, you are the living Divine Word incarnate in Christ, you are the eternal divine presence made known in the Holy Spirit. One: You, O God, are One in Three and Three in One, a mystery too great for us to fathom, and a God in whom we are called to trust. All: Be with us, most Holy Trinity—One God, forever and ever. Amen!

*Opening Hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!” #136

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee, Though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see, Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee, Perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea; Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed trinity!

*Opening Prayer Day Litany One: People of God, as our nation commemorates Memorial Day, let us pause to consider how our faith informs our participation as citizens. First, we remind ourselves that the Reign of God is not bound to one nation; it does not belong to one people; it belongs to no one political party. The Reign of God supersedes and transforms all. All: Christ , as you inaugurated the Reign of God in a time of conflicting kingdoms, remind us to stake our life’s claim on the values of the : unconditional love, restorative justice, humble faith, radical hospitality, care for the least among us, and the rejection of vengeance. One: So, too, Jesus, you have said that there is no greater love than this: that we lay down our lives for another. You said this not to create a Christian empire of violent warriors, but to create a new commonwealth defined by the practice of love. All But we struggle, O God. We struggle with how to live the path of love well in a world of violence and pain. One: But in our struggles we are not wholly lost or unenlightened. There is evidence all around us that people can—and still do—manifest a profound sense of goodness. Included among them are those who hear the call to protect and defend friends, family, and fellow citizens from the harms of war. All: But until we beat our swords into plowshares, the harm of war is somewhere robbing a family of their loved ones; their homes, and the land that they love. Until we learn true wisdom, somewhere greed and injustice are manufacturing war for power and profit, at the expense of the powerless, poor, and oppressed. One: And so, while we dare not confuse military might with the power and justice of the Reign of God, we acknowledge and honor those who have served—especially those who have stood in the way of more harm and injustice at the high cost of their very lives. For they, and all, we pray: All: On this Memorial Day, we remember and pray for our soldiers who laid down their lives for their friends, families, and fellow citizens. One: We remember and we pray for those who put the health and wellbeing of others above their own. All: We remember and pray for those families who are grieving. We remember and pray for those soldiers and military family members who need our ongoing care and support. One: We remember and we pray for our leaders to honor our soldiers, and all of us, by leading with wisdom and restraint. All: We long for, pray for, and work towards a world filled with peace—where we no longer need to lay down our lives for our friends anymore. This we pray in the name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Song of Remembrance “God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand” #728

God of the ages, whose almighty hand Leads forth in beauty all the starry band Of shining world in splendor through the skies, Our grateful songs before your throne arise.

Your love divine has led us in the past, In this free land by you our lot is cast; Be now our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay, Your Word our law, your paths our chosen way.

From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence Be your strong arm our ever sure defense; Your true religion in our hearts increase, Your bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh your people on their toilsome way, Lead us from night to never-ending day; Fill all our lives with heaven-born love and grace, And songs of praise we’ll lift before your face!

First Reading The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 6:1-8 In the year that King Uzziah died [742 BC], 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 Sovereign One, 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!” Responsorial Psalm 29 One: Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, O heavenly beings. Ascribe to the LORD the glory of God’s name; worship the LORD in holy splendor. All: The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters. One: The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. All: The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness. One: The voice of the LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as sovereign forever. All: May the LORD give strength to God’s people. May the LORD bless the people of God with peace! Amen.

*Gloria “Glory Be to God, Creator” #145

Glory be to God, Creator, glory be to , Glory be to God the Spirit, known as Three, yet God the One.

As it was in the beginning, it is now and so shall be, In a world without an ending, glory through eternity.

Holy, holy God Almighty! Holy, holy Prince of Peace! Holy, holy Wind of Presence! Holy, holy, holy! Amen!

*Gospel Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

One: These are the words of God for the people of God. All: Come Holy Spirit! Thanks be to God!

Message “Mysteries and Meanings of the Trinity” Pastor Rich

Song of Response “Glorify Thy Name” #146

Father, we love you, we worship and adore you Glorify thy name in all the earth; Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, Glorify thy name in all the earth!

Jesus, we love you, we worship and adore you Glorify thy name in all the earth; Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, Glorify thy name in all the earth!

Spirit, we love you, we worship and adore you Glorify thy name in all the earth; Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, Glorify thy name in all the earth!

Community Reflection

Every year, we celebrate Trinity Sunday after Pentecost. It is a time of reflecting on a deep mystery of our faith: that our one God is at once Three Persons: Source, Word, and Presence; or, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; or, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Friends, you are made in the image and likeness of God. So, let us meditate on these questions: As God is Creator, how have you unleashed your divine powers of creation? (There’s no reason to hold back.) As God is Redeemer, how have you infused mercy, grace, and forgiveness into your own life and into the lives of others? (Grudges and vengeance have never created peace.) As God is the Sustainer, how have you embodied spaciousness of mind, peace in body, and centeredness of spirit? (If these are foreign concepts, it’s time to start anew for a less frantic life.) And what if we allowed these questions to drive our spiritual life instead of limiting God and our spirituality to rote doctrines? Ponder these things this week and be open to Christ’s presence and Spirit’s answers. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer (“Debts and Debtors”) One: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. One: Let us pray: For the prayer requests that have come to us today, whether joys or sorrows…. [prayer requests are presented] …. Holy and Loving God, in your wisdom, meet all of these needs in the perfect way of your grace. All: God hear our prayer! One: Holy and Loving God, as you are the Source, Creator, and Parent of all that is seen and unseen, help us to celebrate wherever the powers of creative spirit bring insight, happiness, pleasure, and relief: All: God hear our prayer! One: Living Word and Wisdom of God, you have spoken through all the prophets, and in the fullness of time you wrapped our flesh around you in the person of Jesus Christ. Continue to speak through your creation—people and nature alike—until we willingly follow in the way of love and Spirit: All: God hear our prayer! One: For all that we hold in the silence of our hearts, we come to you in the confidence of quiet, O God, and lift our petitions privately to you. (Silent prayer)… Almighty God, Sovereign of Heaven, send a double portion of your blessings upon all people! Move the mountains in our lives, or help to move us so that we might be fully at peace. This we pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray… All: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors—and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever.” Amen.

Offering Our offerings are first and foremost what we give to the world through justice, kindness, and mercy—and these we can do every day. Our offerings can also take the form of financial contributions to the church to support our ministries.

Financial offerings are now accepted online at: www.communityunited.church/giving/

Or, if you prefer to mail in a check, that can be addressed to the church at: 1011 West 38th Street – Erie, PA 16508

Offertory Music and Time for Contemplation Cheryl Strecker

“Any Dream Will Do” Patrick Vahey

*Congregational Response #147 “Praise God, from whom all blessing flow: Praise God, all creatures high and low: ! Alleluia! Praise God, in Jesus fully known! Creator, Word, and Spirit one! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

*Departing Prayer One: Holy and Loving God, the whole universe reveals your majesty and love. All: Fill us with strength and courage, and with discernment and compassion, that we may be instruments of your love and justice, until the whole earth is filled with the peace of heaven. Amen.

*Closing Hymn “How Great Thou Art” #51

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout The universe displayed.

Chorus: Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art, how great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee: How great thou art, how great thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze. (Chorus)

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. (Chorus)

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!” (Chorus) *Blessing

Postlude Cheryl Strecker Thank you for worshipping with us this morning at Community United Church!

Next Sunday, June 6, 2021:

Live & Online and In-Person Sanctuary Worship at 11:00 AM Readings: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Psalm 130 Mark 3:20-35

Theme: “The Power of God within Us”

Need to contact us for prayer, conversation, or to connect with a small group or church ministry? th 1011 West 38 Street – Erie, PA 16508 (814) – 864 – 4429 www.communityunited.church