The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, June 4, 2023 — Trinity Sunday

 

The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Trinity Sunday
Genesis 1:1—2:4a; Psalm 8;
2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Trinity

Opening Statement

Human beings enjoy a special relationship with God and to the rest of the created order. Unlike all other elements of creation, human beings are made in God’s image and are bestowed with authority and stewardship over the earth. Jesus gives his followers an additional responsibility: to make disciples of all nations; and the church gives us another: to baptize new Christians “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” On Trinity Sunday, we remember our responsibilities, delight in the trust that God has given us, and pray for guidance to complete our tasks with faithfulness.

Opening Prayer
(adapted from Genesis 1)

Eternal God, your Spirit moved on the waters—and there was light, your first creation. Your Spirit moved on the water of our baptism—and again, there was light in our souls and hearts. Let your holy light shine on us today, as we remember your creation and our special part in it. Amen.

The Collect
(from the Book of Common Prayers)

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Call to Confession
(adapted from Genesis 1, Matthew 28)

Holy and eternal God, you created us in your image and gave us special responsibilities toward creation and our fellow human beings. You set us as caretakers for the earth and all its plants and animals. You anointed us as disciples and told us to make fellow disciples the world over. Dear God, as we look at our polluted earth, where we consume resources at an unsustainable rate, we know that we have failed to be good stewards. In many ways, we have failed to live as disciples ourselves, to say nothing of making disciples of all nations. We beg your mercy for our sins and await with expectancy the renewal of our minds and hearts, that we may devote the rest of our days to protecting the earth and making disciples of all nations in accordance to your will. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

This is the good news: Christ died for us that we might have life. We are called to give our lives to ministries of justice. God is with us in this and all righteous endeavors. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

This is probably the source of the longer ending of the Lord’s prayer (Matt. 6:13; cf. Luke 11:4).

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
First Reading

Genesis 1:1—2:4a
Creation of the heavens and the earth

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions

Psalm 8
How exalted is your name
Domine, Dominus noster

O LORD our Governor, *
  how exalted is your Name in all the world!

Out of the mouths of infants and children *
  your majesty is praised above the heavens.

You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
  to quell the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
  the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,

What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
  the son of man that you should seek him out?

You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
  you adorn him with glory and honor;

You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
  you put all things under his feet:

All sheep and oxen, *
  even the wild beasts of the field,

The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
  and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.

O LORD our Governor, *
  how exalted is your Name in all the world!

Heavenly Father, we honor You as the Great Creator, the Lord of the universe, and the Ruler over all. You reign far above us; and yet, You have invited us into Your family. You have told us to come to You as our Heavenly Father. We stand amazed, O Lord, that You care for us. We give You thanks for putting a portion of Your wonderful creation into our hands. Help us take our rightful place as Your children. Help us care for all You have made with a mind and heart aligned with Your purposes. Help us pray and intercede for others as Jesus taught us to pray. Amen.

Second Reading
From the Epistles

2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Paul’s farewell

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings.

Gospel Acclamation
(Isaiah 6:3)

Alleluia.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory.
Alleluia.

Today’s Gospel Reading

Matthew 28:16-20
Living in the community of the Trinity

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Here end the Readings

Click HERE to read today’s Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed

• We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

• And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.

• And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord's Prayer - Our Father Who Art in Heaven

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Communion

Video - Holy Communion
A nondenominational serving of bread and wine

Though no video can truly replace the experience of celebrating together in our places of worship, we know that where two or more are gathered, the Lord is present. This table is open to all who recognize Jesus Christ as healer and redeemer. This table is open to all who work to bring God’s Kingdom here on earth. No one is turned away because of life circumstances. No one is barred from this table. No one seeking God’s abundant grace and mercy is turned aside. We see before us the abundance that a life of faith offers as we respond to God’s everlasting mercy in prayer and deed.

Benediction

Go forth with empowered joy to work for and with ministries of peace with justice. Be the good stewards of the earth and its people that God has called you to be. Amen.

Doxology Worship Intro

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets].

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Responsive Readings from the Common Book of Prayer (1789).

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, June 4, 2023
Trinity Sunday
Genesis 1:1—2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20
Human beings enjoy a special relationship with God and to the rest of the created order. Unlike all other elements of creation, human beings are made in God’s image and are bestowed with authority and stewardship over the earth. Jesus gives his followers an additional responsibility: to make disciples of all nations; and the church gives us another: to baptize new Christians “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” On Trinity Sunday, we remember our responsibilities, delight in the trust that God has given us, and pray for guidance to complete our tasks with faithfulness.