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Pew Sheets

31^st May

Trinity Sunday

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity: keep us steadfast in this faith, that we may evermore be defended from all adversities; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Readings

Old Testament Isaiah 40. 12-17, 27-end^.

New Testament 2 Corinthians 13. 11-end.

Gospel Matthew 28. 16-end.

When I first moved to Herefordshire, and was doing my intern scheme year with two vicars, one of them told me “the best piece of advice I can give you is to never try to preach on the Trinity.” Having spent the last three years studying theology, I’m inclined to agree with him – the Trinity is at once both one of the most central and important aspects of our faith, and also the most complex, confusing, and likely to be the cause of error.

The belief in the Trinity – that God exists in the three distinctive persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Trinity – is also one of the most contested elements of belief by people of other faiths. I remember when I was at university in Birmingham, and was talking to some Muslim street preachers, who told me that Christianity must be in error because we claim to worship one God, but actually worship three.

It is easy to see how people fall into this trap. If God is the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, then doesn’t 1+1+1=3? But this is to misunderstand what the doctrine of the Trinity actually is – Christians do not believe that a “bit” of God is Father, another “bit” Son, and still another “bit” Holy Spirit. Rather, the Father is completely God, the Son is completely God, and the Holy Spirit is completely God. God does not put on a mask when we hear the words of the Father in scripture, and then “change disguise” when we see the Son, Christ, before donning another outfit to act as the Holy Spirit descending at Pentecost. No – He is the same God, differentiated in persons, but united in the Godhead. Thus, the equation is actually 1x1x1=1.

If you have a Book of Common Prayer to hand (or the internet!) I would recommend you turn to the Quicunque Vult (also known as the Creed of St. Athanasius.) You’ll find it just after Evening Prayer, with the heading “At Morning Prayer”. This text has served as a benchmark for orthodox faith and belief in the Trinity since the middle of the 3rd century, and it explains in great detail how we, in the church catholic, have understood the nature of God – “we worship one God in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the Persons, nor dividing the substance.” Ewan

Services next Sunday 07^thJune – 1^st Sunday after Trinity

Weston-under-Penyard	Morning Worship	NEW TIME 11.00 a.m.
The Lea	Family Communion	9.30 a.m.
Hope Mansell	Parish Communion 1662 BCP	9.30 a.m.
Aston Ingham	Evensong	4.30 p.m.
Linton	Parish Communion	11.00 a.m.
Upton Bishop	All Age Worship	11.00 a.m.

Forthcoming Services & Events

LINTON. Bible Book Club Bible Book club is an informal monthly book club reading through the Bible one book at a time. Each session is stand alone and starts with refreshments at 10.30am, everyone welcome. Info Contact Charlotte

WESTON: Bible Studies continue at Penyard Rise on 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month. Tony & Mary Pitt 07534 510614.

UPTON BISHOP have a BCP communion Service at 9.30 am on the first Wednesday of each month. A quiet midweek service. All welcome”

Please be aware that if you have any events you would like to advertise here, do please contact Debs directly (details below) and she will be pleased to include them.

Please pray for all who are sick, Alan Brooker (Lea),

Please pray for all who have died, Jean Williams (Lea), R South (Lin) Michael Sterry (Lin),

Rev David Howell: 07903 790049 email: revdavidhowell@icloud.com

Rev Ewan Gillings: 07568 515628 email: revgillings@gmail.com

If you would like to receive this pew sheet via email¸ please email Debs debsparishsecretary@outlook.com

Website: www.ariconium.church

24^th May

Pentecost

Collect

God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Readings

Old Testament Acts 2. 1-21^.

New Testament 1 Corinthians 12. 3b-13.

Gospel John 20. 19-23.

PENTECOST

On the feast of Pentecost (24th May this year) we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. Some people find the Holy Spirit a bit of a conundrum, for example “God the Father I know, God the Son I know, but who is this mysterious spooky chap?” Well, it is understandable, not least because it is not long since He was called the Holy Ghost. The way words evolve means that “Spirit” expresses the character better nowadays. From God the Father and God the Son (Jesus) something emanates that is vibrant and alive. It is an energy, an intelligence, an inspiration that follows our everyday lives. God the Father made the Universe and all that is in it, including us. God the Son is God translated into human form to help us understand Him better and to remove obstacles to our relationship. The Holy Spirit is the continuing energy, a presence unseen but active and strong. The word “spirit” is the basis for our word “inspire”, leading to understanding and action, be it a work of art or music but most of all to bring us closer to God. It is dynamic and powerful, it is the continuing sense of the presence of God in our lives guiding, strengthening and inspiring. The creed puts it very well when it says” We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son is worshipped and glorified”. Think of a newborn baby. That lovely bundle appears to the world but is not fully alive until it takes that first life-giving breath and it is always a relief when that happens. It is from then that the newborn person is fully alive.

So, there it is, a feeling that God is not an ancient story, He is a continuing presence, alive, dynamic, inspiring, imparting life and liveliness, the rationalisation of the universe, the depiction of God as gentle but powerful as the wind.

We are glad of Him, forever within us. ROBIN

Services next Sunday 31^st May – Trinity Sunday

Weston-under-Penyard	ARICONIUM BENEFICE SERVICE @ HOPE MANSELL	10.30 a.m.
The Lea
Hope Mansell
Aston Ingham
Linton
Upton Bishop