Service Live Stream

The Festival of the Holy Trinity – June 15, 2025

Pre-Service Prayer – Heavenly Father, guide us through Your Holy Word this morning, that we may grow stronger in our faith in You, and in Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through Your Holy Spirit, help us to be on guard against all false beliefs and idols, as well as and everything else could harm our salvation. And please enable us all to live in the same unselfish love toward each other that Christ extends to us. In Jesus’ name I ask this. Amen.

I Believe in God The Father Almighty

….MY Father (and yours too) !!!

Good morning! Happy Father’s Day 2025 to you who are fathers. And a blessed Trinity Sunday not only to everyone reading this, but everyone who’s come for worship today. This morning’s worship service will have a dual emphasis: 1) we’ll be observing Trinity Sunday and considering what the Scripture teach about the one true (and only) God; and, 2) we’ll also be thanking God for the earthly fathers He provides and supports, and especially for His being “Our Father” and our being His children with all the blessings that relationship gives us.

This morning we’re also starting a summer series of worship services and sermons developed around the chief emphases of the Apostle’s Creed. For many of us (particularly those who are confirmands/communicants), these upcoming worship services will provide us with an opportunity to review and re-commit ourselves to what we once learned during our days of confirmation instruction. And for those in our church family who have not yet completed confirmation instruction with its in-depth study of this oldest and most-used of the three “Ecumenical” (used church-wide) Creeds of the Church, we hope that these summer services and sermons will prove to be a blessing to you from the knowledge and stronger faith that you’ll gain through them. In particular, we hope that they will provide us with an opportunity to learn more about and to love better our Triune God through this (at least) eighteen centuries’ old confession of our Christian faith, that nearly all of us committed to memory as children, and in which we regularly unite during our worship services.

Since this Sunday is also the day in our country that customarily is devoted to giving public thanks to our fathers and husbands, it’s worth our while, as Christians assembled around God’s Word, to contemplate what our Lord says to His Church about the special relationship He has with us as our His dear Children, and which we have with Him as our Heavenly Father. As important and as enduring as our earthly relationships with our earthly fathers are, the earthly father-child relationship is a temporary one which pales in comparison to the essential and eternal relationship that we enjoy with God our Heavenly Father, as His adopted children – all , because of His grace through the redemptive and reconciling work that Jesus Christ carried out for our salvation.

That last point is made clearly and simply in our Epistle Lesson for this morning. In Galatians 3 Paul reminds us that, in spite of our sinful condition which should merit for us endless alienation from God, because of the saving work of Christ — and now through our Spirit-given faith in Christ — God heaven has reconciled us all to Himself and has actually “adopted” us as His children and has given us the privilege of calling Him “Our Father.” Today’s Old Testament Lesson is taken from the “Old Testament Gospel” of Isaiah. Looking into the future through the miracle of divine inspiration, Isaiah sees the day when God will punish a disobedient, idolatrous Jewish nation – all for the eventual purpose of leading the Jews to return in repentance and faith to Him. In this reading Isaiah correctly sees God as a guiding, shaping, forgiving Father Who loves His wayward people so much that He will not forsake them, even though they have forsaken Him. Through this morning’s Gospel Lesson Jesus reminds us of two very important truths: the first, that those who worry about any- and everything are wasting their time; worry is worthless and the evidence of weakness in a person’s faith; and second, that when it comes to our material needs in life, we have a Father in heaven Who is intimately familiar with all our lives and always knows (and provides) what is best for us. That Father, Who gave His best in giving His Son to be our Savior, certainly will provide us — out of His limitless love for us — with everything that we truly need for our bodies, lives and souls. Today’s Children’s Lesson will talk about our responsibilities on Father’s Day to our earthly fathers, and to our heavenly Father. And, finally, our Sermon for today is based on one of Jesus’ more familiar (and one of my favorite) parables: the parable of the prodigal son (also know as the parable of the angry brother) and – for our purposes on this Father’s Day/Trinity Sunday: The Parable of our Gracious God and Father.

The History of “Trinity Sunday” and the Pentecost/Trinity

(Non-Festival) portion of the Church Calendar

This morning is the inaugural Sunday of the “Non-Festival Half” of the Church year. It is commonly known as the Festival of the Holy Trinity, or as Trinity Sunday. A relatively “new” festival when compared to the other festivals in the first half of the church year, The Festival of the Holy Trinity did not find its way onto the official Church Calendar until 1334, although an annual festival in honor of the Holy Trinity had been observed as much as four centuries earlier. Trinity Sunday celebrates the entire teaching of Scripture as a revelation of the one true, three-in-one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The color for the Festival is white. One of Trinity Sunday’s “special” customs involves the reading of the longest of the three Christian Creeds, the Athanasian Creed, during the public worship service. The non-festival half of the Church Year spans the summer and fall seasons of the regular, secular calendar. It begins on Trinity Sunday, which is also known as “the First Sunday after the Festival of Pentecost.” It is worth noting that the Trinity season is the only season of the Church year that is named after a specific doctrine of Scripture. However, on their “church calendars” only two northern European Christian denominations (the Lutheran Church and the Episcopal Church) identify their non-festival Sundays as “Sundays after Trinity.” The majority of Christian denominations prefer to refer to the non-festival portion of the Church Year as the Pentecost Season, or the Sundays after Pentecost. On our bulletins at Grace Lutheran Church we typically use both designations to identify our day of worship.

The Trinity/Pentecost Season is from 22 to 27 Sundays in length, depending on when Easter occurs. There is no particular theme which unites these Sundays together, though the emphases of most sermons and services are on the Christian’s life of sanctification. Often Lutheran pastors will use this portion of the church calendar to engage in “series preaching,” covering over a number of Sundays such matters as: The Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed (which we are doing this summer), various parables, Bible stories, or Biblical Doctrines, or perhaps an entire New Testament epistle, among others. There are a few special days that the “church-in-worship” observes during this non-festival part of the church year. They include: Reformation Day (Oct 31); “All Saints Day” (Nov 1); and Thanksgiving Day (in the U.S.A on the fourth Thursday in November; in Canada on the second Monday in October). Many congregations also hold a Mission Festival Sunday during this season, while others (particularly in farming communities) choose to observe a Harvest Festival in the late fall.

The Athanasian Creed

The Athanasian Creed is the third, the longest, and the least-used of the three “ecumenical” (accepted church-wide) creeds of the Christian Church. The other two ecumenical Christian creeds (a creed is “a statement of what we believe”) are the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. While we are not certain of the name of the person(s) who “authored” this creed, we do know that it received the designation “Athanasian” as a tribute to Athanasius, one of the most significant, prominent, orthodox leaders of the early Christian Church. Athanasius lived from 293-373 A.D. Not only was he very influential in supporting and defending the doctrines of the Nicene Creed, he was also prominently and personally involved in the actual development of that statement of belief. Athanasius and others prepared the Nicene Creed in its initial form at the 1st Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church held at Nicea in 325. Today we use its successor version (with refined wording and more detail) which is actually known as the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. It was produced by the 2nd Ecumenical Church Council, held at Constantinople in 381 AD. (One final refinement would come in 591 A.D. with the addition of the “filioque,” [Latin for “and the son”], which expressed the Biblical truth that the Holy Spirit is sent forth [or proceeds] from both the Father and the Son).

The best information we have today about the date and place of origin of the Athanasian Creed suggests that it could have been written in North Africa, but more likely was produced in southern France sometime between AD 435 and 570 (the latter date was when Venatius Fortunatus of Poitiers wrote a short commentary on this creed).

What made the writing of the Athanasian Creed necessary was this: orthodox (true-teaching) Christians were being forced to defend the Church’s Biblical doctrine concerning the Triune God we worship. The post-Nicean Christian Church eventually felt compelled to develop this written statement of what the Scriptures teach about the true God specifically because certain false beliefs and teachings (various forms of Unitarianism and tri-theism) about God were being vigorously promoted by certain individuals and groups desiring to operate under the umbrella of the Church. However, while they might have technically been “in” the church, in reality their heretical teachings meant that those individuals and groups had already departed from the true Christian faith (and were confusing and misleading others – even destroying true faith – with their false ideas).

The Athanasian Creed’s primary purpose was to set down in exacting detail what the Scriptures teach about the Triune God and about the incarnation of God (that is to say, the Second Person of the Trinity’s becoming truly human while at the same time remaining entirely divine). The Creed emphasizes the Unity of the Godhead……that we worship ONE God. However, it carefully points out the Plurality of that One divine Essence…..that there are THREE distinct Persons of the Godhead. In so doing, this longest of the three Ecumenical (accepted Church-wide) Creeds meticulously states the differences and distinctions that the Bible gives us concerning those three Persons of that one God….the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Without a doubt, the doctrine of the Trinity is a most complicated one, something which our human reason cannot comprehend, but which Scripture simply presents to us as fact, and which is to be accepted by us through humble faith.

Because it focuses on the Triune God Whom we worship, The Athanasian Creed is traditionally used by many Christian Churches every Trinity Sunday. Following that centuries-old practice, we will make use of this statement of our Christian faith by reading it responsively during this morning’s service.

Please Note: The closing words of the Athanasian Creed say that all people will finally “give an account” before the judgment seat of Christ. This phrase comes from Bible passages such as the following:

Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

Romans 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Cf. Heb 4:13; 13:17; 1 Pet 4:5).

This refers to the fact that on the Last Day all people (those who will rise from the dead, as well as those still living) will appear for judgment before Christ, the Judge of all.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Sometimes Christians who know that the way to heaven is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ alone (and not by works – Ephesians 2:8,9) are troubled by the words of the Creed: “And they that have done good will go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.” (See John 5:29). These words do not mean that we must, or even could, earn heaven by good works. For Romans 3:28, among many other portions of Scripture, clearly teaches: “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.” (See also John 3:16-18).

But since true faith is invisible, Christ will prove that believers had faith by pointing out the visible evidence, or “fruits,” of that faith (see Matthew 25:31-46). Only believers can produce such real fruits of faith, done out of love for the Lord. These “godly deeds” alone are recognized by our Lord as “good works.” Which is precisely what He teaches us in Hebrews 11:6, which declares that “without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Furthermore, we know and believe that Christ kept the

commandments flawlessly for us all, as our Substitute, and that by faith His perfect obedience and righteous works are credited to us as if they were our own obedience and righteous acts (2 Cor. 5:21). It is for Jesus’ sake then, and by God’s grace alone, that our failures have been entirely forgiven; this God promises when He says that He will forget the sins of His believers (Jeremiah 31:34). On Judgment Day, Christ will not focus on the sins of His believers, but will recognize their fruits of faith in Him (“good works”). Furthermore, He also will reveal the “motive of their own works” (that they were moved by Spirit-given faith and love for Him; Matthew 25:40 “Whatever you did…..You did for Me”). On the other hand, Christ will point to the unbelievers’ absence of “Godly,” faith-inspired good works (and not to their secular, and often self-serving “good deeds” which did not flow from faith, in spite of how numerous those good deeds might have been) as the evidence that they did not possess faith in and love for Him and thus, that their eternal condemnation by virtue of their unbelief is warranted. It will be just as Christ said: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

Welcome to Grace Lutheran Church If you are a first-time guest, we are honored that you’ve chosen to worship with us this morning. If you’ve been with us before, we’re glad to have you back! If we can do anything to make your time among us more edifying and enjoyable, please speak with one of our ushers, our Pastor, or the person sitting next to you. We want to serve you in whatever way we can. We also invite you to join those around you for some good conversation, coffee, and other refreshments in our fellowship hall after today’s service is concluded. And finally, we invite you to remain afterward to participate with us in today’s Sunday School and Bible Class. May the comfort of God’s love and His forgiveness through Jesus Christ bring you peace, and be with you throughout this day, this week and always.

The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version

Used with permission. Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831

Pre-Service Prayer: My Heavenly Father, I thank You through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, for keeping me through the night from all harm and danger. Keep me through this day also from sin and every evil that all my doings and life may please You. I commend my body and soul and all things into Your hands. Let Your holy angel be with me, so that the devil may have no power over me. Amen.

The Order of Service for Trinity Sunday

Pre-service prayer

Pre-worship music

Let Us Praise The Lord

The Invocation

We make our beginning

In the name…. of the Father,

Who created and preserves this world and every one of us, and Who gave His Son into death for us and raised Him in glory on the third day;

And of the Son,

Who became fully human in order to be our Savior-Substitute, Who laid down His life only to take it up again on the third day, Who rules over all things from heaven for the good of His Church, and Who will return in glory on the Last Day to deliver that Church;;

And of the Holy Spirit

through Whom Christ was made alive,

Who has worked and sustains saving faith in our hearts,

Who lives in us now through the Word,

and Who will one day give life to our mortal bodies.

Amen.

The Prayer For Trinity Sunday

Almighty God and Father, + dwelling in majesty and mystery, + filling and renewing all creation by Your eternal Spirit, + and manifesting Your saving grace through our Lord Jesus Christ: + in mercy cleanse our hearts and lips, + so that, free from doubt and fear, + we may ever worship You, + the one, true, immortal God, + together with Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, + and God the Holy Spirit, + living and reigning, + now and forever. + Amen.

after which the Congregation will be seated

The Opening Hymn Hymn 195 “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty”

1 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!

2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,

Who was and is and evermore shall be.

3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,

Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,

Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,

Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

4 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!

After which the Congregation will rise as…

We Make Confession of Our Sins To God

Pastor – Let us join in confessing our sins to God our Father.

Congregation Almighty Lord God, we have come together to stand in Your presence, + to hear Your Word, and to worship You.

Pastor But who may appear in Your presence, Heavenly Father, and who may call on You for help?

Congregation – He who has clean hands and a pure heart; + He shall receive blessings from the Lord.

Pastor O holy and righteous God, You alone can make us clean. We have rebelled against You and become worthless. But Your mercies never end; they are new every day. At Your command and promise, therefore, we come to You and confess our sins.

Congregation Miserable person that I am, + I confess and lament to You, O most holy God, + that I am a weak and sinful creature, + guilty of every sin, of unbelief, and of blasphemy. + I also confess that Your Word has not brought forth good fruit in me. + I hear it, but do not receive it earnestly. + I do not show works of love toward my neighbor. + I am full of anger, hate, and envy. + I am impatient, greedy, and bent on every evil. + Therefore my heart and conscience are heavy. + Lord, I ask You, free me from my sins, + strengthen my faith, + and comfort my weak conscience by Your divine Word, + that I may obtain Your promised grace

Pastor – Having faithfully confessed your sins, now hear Your heavenly Father’s promise of forgiveness to you. Jesus explained God’s will and promise as clearly as possible in John 6:40 when He said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day.” And now, carrying out my office as a called servant of the Living Word, I proclaim the grace and mercy of God to all of you, and according to the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, and in His place, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you. Amen.

Our Response of Faith “Our Heav’nly Father, Gracious Lord”

To the tune of “Almighty Father, Strong to Save;” by cwh (CW 517)

Our Heav’nly Father, gracious Lord, Who by the power of Your Word

Created and sustains each thing, and all that live.

Your praise we sing….

Our Father, Who in mercy still, Guides everything by Your sure will.

We praise You, Christ, God’s only Son,

by Whom salvation has been won.

For us You lived, and for us died, that we might all be justified,

Raised from the dead, on high to reign.

We know that You will come again.

We worship, You, O Spirit sent, active in Word and Sacrament.

You bind the Church, below, above, in faith in Christ’s redeeming love.

Sustain this faith, our whole lives through,

and day by day our hearts renew! Amen.

The Psalm for Today Psalm 139:1-18

P: O LORD, You have searched me and know me. You know when I set and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar.

C: You discern my going out and my lying down; + You are familiar with all my ways. + Before a word is on my tongue, + You know it completely, O LORD.

P: You hem me in — behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

C: Where can I go from Your Spirit? + Where can I flee from Your presence?

P: If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light before night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.

C: For You created my inmost being; + You knit me together in my mother’s womb. + I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: + Your works are wonderful. + I know that full well.

P: My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.

C: How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! + How vast is the sum of them! + Were I to count them, + they would outnumber the grains of sand. + When I am awake, I am still with you.

after which the Congregation will be seated

We Hear God’s Word

The Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 63:7-10, 15,16; 64:-4,5, 8-9

I will tell about the Lord’s mercies, about the praises of the Lord, about all that the Lord has done for us, about His great goodness to the house of Israel, which He performed for them according to His abundant compassion, and according to His great mercy. 8 He said, “Surely they are My people, children who will not deal falsely,” so He became their Savior. 9 In all their anguish He felt anguish, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and in His pity He Himself redeemed them, and He took them up and carried them all the days of old. 10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit, so He turned against them and became an enemy. He Himself fought against them……15 Gaze down from the heavens and see, from your holy and beautiful dwelling place. Where is your zeal and your might? The feelings of your heart and your compassion are withheld from me. 16 But You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, though Israel does not acknowledge us. You, the Lord, are our Father. Our Redeemer from everlasting is Your name……64:4 From ancient times no one has heard. No ear has understood. No eye has seen any god except You, Who goes into action for the one who waits for Him. 5 You meet anyone who joyfully practices righteousness, who remembers You by walking in Your ways! But You were angry because we sinned. We have remained in our sins for a long time. Can we still be saved? …..8 But now, Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are our Potter. All of us are the work of Your hand. 9 Do not be angry, Lord, without limit. Do not remember our guilt forever. Please look closely. All of us are Your people.

The Epistle Lesson Galatians 3:26-4:7

26 In fact, you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 Indeed, as many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. 28 There is not Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one and the same in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants and heirs according to the promise. 4:1 What I am saying is this: As long as the heir is a young child, he is no different from a slave. Although he is owner of everything, 2 he is still under guardians and managers until the day set by his father. 3 So also, when we were younger children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son to be born of a woman, so that He would be born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those under the law, so that we would be adopted as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts to shout, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son. And if you are a son, then you are also an heir of God through Christ.

A Sequence Hymn God the Father, Gracious Lord meter 7777D

to the tune of “Come You Thankful People, Come” ; by cwh (CW 613)

God the Father, gracious Lord, May Your name be e’er adored.

All exists by Your command In the sky or sea or land.

Precious Father, You know all – When each hair and sparrow fall.

Guide and guard me from all harm With Your strong, protecting arm.

Jesus Christ, my Lord, God’s Son, Who, for me, salvation won –

You Who hung on Calvary Bore my sins and set me free!

You, my ever-faithful Friend, Who will love me to the end,

By Your grace in heav’n I’ll live. Heart-felt praise to You I give.

Holy Spirit, Light Divine, Through the Means of Grace, please shine

In my heart again today, Drive sin’s darkness far away.

Keep me in Your Word, so true, Day by day my faith renew.

Use me, Lord, as You know best Serving here – in heav’n to rest.

Blessed Holy Trinity, Glorious in Your majesty,

Father, Spirit and the Son – Savior-God, the Three-in-One –

From sin’s curse You set me free Heaven’s mine – eternally.

All I am, to You I owe, Source from Whom all blessings flow. Amen

after which the Congregation will rise for to hear the words of our Savior

The Gospel Lesson Luke 12:22-34

22 Jesus said to His disciples, “For that reason I tell you, stop worrying about your life, about what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Certainly life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no warehouse or barn; and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25 And who of you by worrying can add a single moment to his lifespan? 26 Since you are not able to do this little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. 28 If this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, you of little faith? 29 Do not constantly chase after what you will eat or what you will drink. Do not be worried about it. 30 To be sure, the nations of the world chase after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, continue to seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not become old, a treasure in the heavens that will not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

After which the Congregation will be seated for the public

confession of the faith we share as fellow believers in

the One True God, through the words of…

The Athanasian Creed

P: Whoever will be saved, shall, above all else, hold the true Christian faith.

C: Which faith, except everyone keeps whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish eternally.

P: And the true Christian faith is this,

C: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.

P For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.

C: But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

P: Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.

C: The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Ghost uncreated.

P: The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.

C: The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.

P: And yet they are not three Eternals, but one Eternal.

C: As there are not three Uncreated nor three Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and one Incomprehensible.

P: So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty.

C: And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.

P: So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.

C: And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

P: So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord.

C: And yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.

P: For as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord,

C: So the true Christian faith forbids us to say that there are three Gods, or three Lords.

P: The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten.

C: The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten.

P: The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

C: So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.

P: And in this Trinity none is before or after other; none is greater or less than another;

C But the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal:

P: So that in all things, as was said before,

C The Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped.

P: He, therefore, that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

C: Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

P: For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;

C: God of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of His mother, born in the world;

P: Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

C: Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood;

P: Who, although He is God and Man, yet He is not two but one Christ:

C: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into God;

P: One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person.

C: For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ;

P: Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;

C: He ascended into heaven; He sits on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

P: At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies,

C: And will give an account of their own works.

P: And they that have done good will go into life everlasting;

C: And they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.

P: This is the true Christian faith

C: which, except a man believe faithfully and firmly, He cannot be saved.

The Children’s Lesson I John 3:1

See the kind of love the Father has given us

that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are!

Who’s Your Father?

The Hymn of the Day Hymn 224 “God Himself Is Present”

1 God himself is present – Let us now adore him And with awe appear before him.

God is in his temple – All within keep silence, Humbly kneel in deepest rev’rence.

He alone On his throne Is our God and Savior; Praise his name forever!

2 God himself is present – Hear the harps resounding; See the hosts the throne surrounding.

“Holy, holy, holy” – Hear the hymn ascending, Songs of saints and angels blending.

Bow your ear To us here: Hear, O Christ, the praises That your Church now raises.

3 Fount of ev’ry blessing, Purify my spirit, Trusting only in your merit.

Like the holy angels, Worshiping before you, May I ceaselessly adore you.

Let your will Ever still Rule your church terrestrial As the hosts celestial.

after which the Congregation will rise for

The Pre-Sermon Greeting

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every Spiritual blessing in Christ. Amen.

The Sermon Text based on Luke 15:11-32

11 Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all that he had and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted his wealth with reckless living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He would have liked to fill his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, and I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up, go to my father, and tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

20 “He got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, hugged his son, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick, bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.

25 “His older son was in the field. As he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27 The servant told him, ‘Your brother is here! Your father killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 The older brother was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.

29 “He answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I’ve been serving you, and I never disobeyed your command, but you never gave me even a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours arrived after wasting your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

31 “The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’”

OUR GRACIOUS GOD AND FATHER

The Post-Sermon Blessing

May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our fathers.

May He never leave us or forsake us.

May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways. Amen.

after which the Congregation will remain seated for the post-sermon/offering hymn

The Post-Sermon Hymn Hymn 469 “Take My Life And Let It Be”

1 Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to thee.

Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of thy love.

Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for thee.

3 Take my voice and let me sing Always, only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold; Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and use Ev’ry pow’r as thou shalt choose.

5 Take my will and make it thine; It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart – it is thine own; It shall be thy royal throne.

6 Take my love, my Lord, I pour At thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for thee.

We Respond To God’s Word

through our Offering and Prayers

Offerings will be received this morning through offering plates passed among those who have gathered here for worship. However, for those viewing this service online, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:

1) You can mail a check (no cash, please) to our church address

(415 N. 6^th Place, Lowell, AR 72745); or

2) You can donate through our website: www.gracelutherannwa.com

as the offerings are brought forward the Congregation will rise for

Give Online

Today’s Special Prayer

Included in our prayers are prayers of thanksgiving for the following couples which are celebrating their wedding anniversaries this week:

June 15 – Jill &Larry Holter June 17- Jamaica & Tony Hoyord June 17 – Ann & Michael King;

June 18 – Katie & James Boatright; June 21 – Danielle & Taylor Ashley

The Responsive Litany-Prayer for Trinity Sunday

Pastor: Lord God, Almighty Father, You made us the crown of all Your creation, and You graciously preserve us with every good thing, that we may live before You in peace and joy.

Cong: You do this all out of pure Fatherly goodness and mercy, + and not because we have earned or deserve it; + now, for this it is our duty to thank and to praise You, + and to gladly offer all that You have given us, + especially ourselves, to Your service, + and for Your glory.

P. Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only Son from all eternity, You have redeemed us, lost and condemned sinners, with Your holy, precious blood and You have set us free from all sin, from death, and from the power of the Devil.

C: All this You did to make us Your own, + that we may live with You, now and forever, + in perfect joy and endless glory.

P: O Holy Spirit, You have called us out of the darkness of unbelief through the Gospel; You have illumined our hearts by the light of faith and joined us into one sanctified family with our Lord Jesus Christ.

C: You have done all this so that we may be filled with the rich gifts of Your grace: + an unwavering trust in the true God; + the love of Christ that knows no limits; + a strong faith to willingly serve and publicly confess You, + our God, before all people; + and the courage to meet and overcome every trial of life and death.

P: O Triune God, we praise and thank You for all the blessings You have so generously given us, Your unworthy servants. At Your invitation, we now bring all our needs of body and soul to You as we join in praying:

C: 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 tres-passes, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom and the power and glory forever and ever. Amen

We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper (CW p.21)

P: The Lord be with you.

C: (sung) And with Your Spirit

P: Lift up your hearts.

C: (sung) We lift them up unto the Lord

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God

C: (sung) It is good and right so to do.

The Words of Institution – Spoken by the Pastor

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. Amen.

The Distribution of the Sacramental Elements

(Please read the following if you have not spoken with

our Pastor about taking communion. Thank you.)

To our Guests this morning, we appreciate your presence among us. It is an honor to have you join with us as we worship our Lord and listen to His Word. We truly consider it a privilege to spend this time with you! It is our hope that you will both return in the future to worship with us again, and – perhaps – that You will even choose to become part of our congregation’s membership and our Synodical (WELS) fellowship, so that you might become even more involved in worship, study of God’s Word, and in Christian ministry and fellowship with us.

In connection with our worship as Christians, we regularly celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion. But, as a key part of our church’s Biblically-based communion practice, before we can ask anyone to commune with us, we are compelled to first sit down with that individual and establish (upon a comprehensive study of the teachings of Scripture) that we are united in full doctrinal/ teaching fellowship…….which Scripture requires of any and all Christians before they can commune together.

Accordingly, we can offer the Lord’s Supper this morning only to those individuals who have completed that course of study, and who have chosen to become confirmed, communicant members of Grace Lutheran congregation or from one of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) or Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) congregations.

For some guests, this Biblical practice of “Close Communion“ is both unfamiliar and (quite possibly) uncomfortable. We realize that, unfortunately, few churches today continue to follow this approach to communion…..though, in the past (when many churches were more concerned about following all of God’s Word than is the case today) nearly all did. We understand that it is not necessarily easy to watch others receiving the Lord’s Supper, while being asked – respectfully — to refrain from receiving it. Many of us who are communing today once also watched others receive the Lord’s Supper, as you are asked to do this morning, while waiting for the privilege of one day being an active partner in this “Close Communion.” We want to assure you that we are not judging your faith in Christ today. Nor it is our desire to offend you. But it also is not our desire to offend or disobey our Lord’s expectations for the proper use of His Supper. Indeed, we must all obey Him above all others, and we want to obey Him. Consequently, if you have any questions or concerns about our use/practice of the Lord’s Supper (and we invite you to ask or express them — if you do), please feel free to speak with our Pastor after the service, or at your convenience. He considers it a privilege to share with you and others the Biblical reasons for our approach to receiving and offering the Lord’s Supper. In addition, you can also find a brochure in our tract/brochure rack in the entryway; it is entitled “Our Communion Practice.” This brochure also provides our guests and friends with the Scripture-based explanation for our understanding of and use of the Lord’s Supper.

Finally, please know that we truly are grateful for your participation – as a fellow Christian – in this morning’s worship service. We also thank you for your patience and understanding, and for respecting this Biblical approach we must take as we endeavor to faithful make us of our Lord’s Supper. We hope and pray that you will come back to worship with us again — often. And that one day you might become a part of this Christian fellowship, not only as we worship and hear God’s Word from these pews, but as we receive the Lord’s Supper together. May God bless and keep you always!

The Distribution Hymns Hymn 391 “God Loved the World So That He Gave”

1 God loved the world so that he gave

His only Son the lost to save

That all who would in him believe

Should everlasting life receive.

2 Christ is the solid rock of faith,

Who was made flesh and suffered death.

All who confide in him alone

Are built on this chief cornerstone.

3 God would not have the sinner die–

His Son with saving grace is nigh.

His Spirit in the Word does teach

How we the blessed goal may reach.

4 Be of good cheer, for God’s own Son

Forgives the sins that you have done.

You’re justified by Jesus’ blood;

Baptized, you are a child of God.

5 When you are sick, when death draws near,

This truth your troubled heart can cheer:

Christ Jesus saves my soul from death–

This is the anchor of my faith!

6 Glory to God the Father, Son,

And Holy Spirit, Three in One!

To you, O blessed Trinity,

Be praise now and eternally!

Hymn 193 “Come, Now, Almighty King”

1 Come, now, almighty King; Help us your name to sing;

Help us to praise. Father all-glorious,

O’er all victorious, Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days.

2 Come, now, incarnate Word; Put on your mighty sword;

Our prayer attend. Come and your people bless,

And give your Word success; Grant us your righteousness, Savior and Friend.

3 Come, holy Comforter; Your sacred witness bear

In this glad hour. Your sev’nfold gifts impart;

Now rule in ev’ry heart; Never from us depart, Spirit of Pow’r.

4 To the great One in Three Eternal praises be

Forevermore! His sov’reign majesty

May we in glory see And to eternity Love and adore.

After the distribution of the Lord’s Supper the pastor will invite the Congregation to rise for

The Closing Prayer

Almighty God, to Whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from Whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the power of Your Holy Spirit, that we may love You more completely, praise You more joyously, and serve You more faithfully. These requests we make in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, as the one true God, now and forever. Amen.

We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing

Benediction

Brothers and sisters, now go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. And Serve the Lord in gladness.

The LORD bless you and keep you,

The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you,

The LORD look upon you with favor, and grant you His peace. Amen.

The Closing Hymn Joyful, Joyful We Adore You

To the melody of “Ode to Joy,” by cwh (CW 169)

Joyful, joyful we adore You, God of glory, God of love!

Heav’n and earth bow down before You,

Praising You, our Lord above.

You our Father, Christ our Savior, With the Spirit faith provides,

Life eternal we’ve been granted, gracious gift that e’er abides.

You are giving and forgiving, Ever glorious, Ever blest.

Source of every kind of blessing, Giver of eternal rest.

You have claimed us as Your children

Heaven’s heirs through faith alone —

In the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Your Son.

Lord, receive our prayers and praises, weak and humble though they be.

Yours the power, Yours the glory, Both today and endlessly.

None beside You, None before You, God of mercy, full and free.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, ever blessed Trinity. Amen

silent prayer,

announcements,

post service music