Freelton and Strabane Pastoral Charge
Horseshoe Falls Regional Council.
Trinity Sunday
Sunday, June 12 2022
Minister: Rev. Will Wheeler, B.A. M. Div.
905-659-3380 E Mail [email protected]
Administrative Assistance: Linda Young : [email protected]
Announcements
Boxed Meat Sale.
Pick up will on June 14th starting approximately around 5:45-6pm (depends on the truck) Don't miss out on this grilling extravaganza
Trunk Sale
It's time to start doing some of that spring cleaning and what better way to get rid of things than a Trunk Sale at Freelton United Church on June 18th from 8am to 1pm. We are offering 20x20 spots for $20 and 15 x20 spots for $15. So book now and don't miss out on this fun day. Hot dogs, muffins coffee and drinks will be for sale. To get your spot contact Rev Will at 905 659 3380
We are asking people to bake us some muffins for sale at the Trunk Sale, Please bring them to the Church for 7am on June 18th or drop them off on the Friday.
There will be a special joint meeting of the Freelton Council and the Strabane council on June 20th at 7pm at Strabane, to review the Amalgamation Document. Please Print and bring your copy with you. If you need it mailed again, please contact Rev Will
Gathering Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of Lord.
Call to Worship
One: Come celebrate the wisdom God created before the stars were born and set in place.
All: Before the planets cooled around our starlet, wisdom ruled with God beyond all space.
One: The majesty of earth is all around us, and infants sing the glory of the skies.
All: We will rejoice that God created earth in grandeur , with towering ring mountain and fertile fields designed with wisdom, that we might be pleased.
Prayer of Approach
Lord Jesus, do not leave us without revealing your full will to us. Keep speaking to us, ,keep showing us your glory, keep changing us for the better. Keep telling us the truth, even when it may hurt us to hear it. Keep believing in us so that we might believe in ourselves. Keep calling us so that we might come forth and be the faithful, lively, courageous followers that you deserve. Do not leave us. Amen
All: (sung) In God we live and move and have our story.
In love God lives in us and makes us whole
O Jesus may we hear the Word that calls us near;
Your story makes a home within our soul.
Your story makes a home within our soul
One Let us listen to the Word of God
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15
One This is the word of the Lord
All Thanks be to God
The gospel is somewhat vague at explaining this great mystery.
The wonder or more likely confusion of understanding the Trinity is perhaps reflected in Nicodemus
Nicodemus gets hit with this idea of spiritual rebirth which just goes over his head because he is so grounded in the real world to let go and believe in something that is spiritual is to make a leap of faith he is not prepared to do.
Here we come and get the doctrine of the Trinity dumped on us. One God three distinct persons. This is just a contradiction of well everything.
Nicodemus spends most of his time saying “how can this be?”
We spend most of our time thinking “how can this be?”
The answer is always the same. “It is.“
The Rev Jan Richardson an artist and writer reflects on the Trinity in contemplating the traditions that are found in Celtic Christianity. Her Reflection is around the triple spiral found in Celtic history.
The spiral is a symbol that can be considered as an eternity symbol When early humans observed the beauty of nature's spirals it’s not surprising that it would become a potent symbol for creation and growth. It is prominent symbol in Neolithic Celtic art and not surprisingly Celtic Christianity.
In the Neolithic world, passing a spiral barrier (like the entrance stone to Newgrange in Ireland) the one is led into an inner sanctuary that was the necessary passport in the journey of the sacred dance, through the labyrinth to the sacred realms beyond the center. At the center, there is complete balance: the point where Heaven and Earth are joined.
The Celts were firm believers of this ability and most of their myths and legends deal with this journeying. This was a movement through the experiences of life, death and rebirth is symbolized in the ever-changing directional flow of the spiral.
Richardson Reflects
In their commentary on Trinity Sunday, the authors of Handbook of the Christian Year counsel us that rather than approaching this day with an emphasis on “the Trinity as an abstract concept, idea, or doctrine,” and seeking to explain or define it, it rather “seems more in keeping with the character of worship and of the Christian Year to treat Trinity Sunday as a day in which we praise and adore the infinitely complex and unfathomable mystery of God’s being
To just admire with wonder.
Justo Gonzalez reminds us that “Trinity is a mystery, not a puzzle. Love is a mystery, a crossword is a puzzle. You try to solve the puzzle, you stand in awe before a mystery."
To just be in wonder. We are like Nicodemus. Nicodemus came to Jesus with what he knew ("I know that..."). He ended with questions about what he did not know. He arrived fairly confident that he had a good grasp on who Jesus was; he left having encountered the mystery of God in the flesh
We arrive fairly confident and leave having once more encountered the mysterious God.
We are reminded Don’t explain, Don’t always seek answers. Just Wonder
rather than explain, answer or worry just wonder
Let us for today not speak of Doctrine. But let us speak of wonder.
Let us speak of mystery. Of God revealed in the spirals of our lives.
Let us speak of our Oneness with God and be open to all of God the Creator God the Saviour God the presence in our lives. I want you just to be. Even if it is just for a moment be with all of God. To be in God, in creation and growth, in heaven and earth. In hear in the spiritual To follow the sacred labyrinth of life trusting in God in the journey.
In the spiral dance of life as we move outward, inward may we find, and hold and experience the Wonder of the infinite drawing in of God’s Love enfold you, the embracing compassion of Christ encircle you and the turning of the Spirit draw you into the wondrous dance of life, love, mystery, hope and faith. The Three in one. God with us. We are not alone.
Prayers of the people
Hear our prayer we humbly offer
Grant to us your peace O God
Hear our prayer we humbly offer
Grant to us your peace O God.
Prayers
Todays prayer is based on the hymn Teach me, God, to wonder by Walter Farquharson.
Teach us, God, to wonder teach us God to see, to let your world of beauty capture me. Let us God be open let us be loving. Let our prayers for your world be spoken. Let us God be ready and be awake to be there for those that are in need. May we hold them in our prayers and name them in our hearts. Let your Spirit be a courage and strength to those that are seeking. Seeking healing, direction, confidence and strength. Teach of God to know you, hear you when you speak and see you in all the wonder of the world. May even in these most strange time may life be celebrated and joy given in your name. United through the great prayer which you give us we say…Our Father….
Offering
We give thee but thy own. The work of the Church continues and there are three ways you can continue to support that work. Consider using PAR, use the donate button on our Web Site or drop your gift at the Manse. Let us make our offering and give thanks.
One: Praise God who from all Blessing flow
All: Loving Creator, we bring these symbols of our stewardship, seeking your blessing on all the work we do. Grant us the depth of character truly to appreciate and care for all you have made. We dedicate to your service our time , our talent, and all the riches we accumulate. May what we share here be well used in ministry to one another and in outreach to the world. Amen.
Amen
Yesterdaywe honour our heritage.
Todaywe know that we are not alone,that we live in God's world.
Tomorrowwith God,we will discoverthe undiscovered country.
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