Holy Trinity

June 15, 2025, 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel and on Facebook Live

Classic Communion Service

Father’s Day

We honor the Kumeyaay Nation, on whose ancestral lands we have made our home.

Holy Communion will be part of this service. Here at Gethsemane we practice open communion, meaning all who believe in the power of Jesus Christ to bring salvation are welcome to join in. In our Lutheran understanding, both sacraments—Baptism and Holy Communion—are best conducted among the gathered assembly. If you are present on this live-stream, you are present in our assembly. The body of Christ is not limited by place or time, so even if you are on the replay of this service, you are part of our assembly. Any bread and any wine or grape juice will do. If you are celebrating as a family or group, please feel free to break the bread into the right number of portions or have a separate piece for each person. Same with the cup. You may have one cup for all or each member gathered uses a separate cup. We believe the Christ is fully present in both Word and Sacrament, in both the bread and the wine/grape juice so if you only have one or the other, or even if you refrain from communion, you are not missing out on the grace of God. We understand both the Word and Sacraments as the means of grace. Remember it is not the type of bread or wine, nor is it the quantity, but it is your faith in taking the elements that is the window for the Holy Spirit to enter your life.

In the interactive part of the liturgy, the leader’s part is in regular text. The people’s response is in bold. All people are welcome to sing along with the songs where the lyrics are printed.

GATHERING

WELCOME 

“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!”  ELW #413 vss 1, 3, 4 

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!

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

      though the eye of sinfulness 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!

Text: Reginald Heber, 1783-1826, alt.

 

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

In the name of the Father,

and of the ☩ Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

We belong to Christ Jesus

and we are God’s children through faith.

In the cross of ☩ Christ,

and through the power of the Holy Spirit,

our sins are forgiven.

Clothed with Christ, we are a new creation.

Baptized into Christ, we dare to confess how we have failed to live as the body of Christ.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Merciful God,

you free us to love others,

but we neglect our neighbors and follow our own way.

You lead us by the Spirit of joy and peace,

but we turn away from the abundant life you offer.

You surround us with patience, kindness, and generosity,

but we grow weary in doing what is right.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Do not give up on us.

Heal us. Break our bonds.

Show us the path of life and give us the will to follow.

Amen.

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Almighty Creator and ever-living God: we worship your glory, eternal Three-in-One, and we praise your power, majestic One-in-Three. Keep us steadfast in this faith, defend us in all adversity, and bring us at last into your presence, where you live in endless joy and love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

WORD

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

 

“Goodness Is Stronger than Evil”               ELW #721

 

Goodness is stronger than evil;

love is stronger than hate;

light is stronger than darkness;

life is stronger than death;

vict’ry is ours, vict’ry is ours,

through God who loves us.

Vict’ry is ours, vict’ry is ours,

through God who loves us.

Text from An African Prayer Book selected by Desmond Tutu, © 1995 by Desmond Tutu. Used by permission of Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc., and Lynn C. Franklin Associates, Ltd.

PROVERBS  8:1-4, 22-31

In the Bible, wisdom is portrayed in terms sometimes human and sometimes divine. Often, wisdom is personified as feminine. In this passage, Woman Wisdom is depicted not only as the first creation of God, but also as God’s helper, rejoicing in God’s creation, especially in human beings.

 

JOHN 16:12-15

Jesus’ ongoing presence with the disciples will be made known through the coming Spirit who will guide them and communicate to them Jesus’ will and glory.

 

“Come, Join the Dance of Trinity”             ELW #412

1    Come, join the dance of Trinity,

before all worlds begun—

the interweaving of the Three,

the Father, Spirit, Son.

The universe of space and time

did not arise by chance,

but as the Three, in love and hope,

made room within their dance.

2    Come, see the face of Trinity,

newborn in Bethlehem;

then bloodied by a crown of thorns

outside Jerusalem.

The dance of Trinity is meant

for human flesh and bone;

when fear confines the dance in death,

God rolls away the stone.

3    Come, speak aloud of Trinity,

as wind and tongues of flame

set people free at Pentecost

to tell the Savior’s name.

We know the yoke of sin and death,

our necks have worn it smooth;

go tell the world of weight and woe

that we are free to move!

4    Within the dance of Trinity,

before all worlds begun,

we sing the praises of the Three,

the Father, Spirit, Son.

Let voices rise and interweave,

by love and hope set free,

to shape in song this joy, this life:

the dance of Trinity.

 

Text: Richard Leach, b. 1953

Text © 2001 Selah Publishing Co., Inc. www.selahpub.com All rights reserved. Used by permission.

 

SERMON                                                                                                       Pastor Karla

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Prayer Response:

O Lord our Lord,

                  how majestic is your name throughout the earth! (Psalm 8:9)

 

CHOIR ANTHEM                                                             “They Shall Soar Like Eagles”

MEAL

OFFERING OUR GIFTS FOR THE MISSION AND MINISTRY OF GOD’S CHURCH

We have prayed. We have sung.  We have heard the Word. Now, being thankful for the ministry we are called to do, we are invited to offer ourselves; our time, talents and treasure in faithful witness of the good things God has done for us and in confidence that our worship extends beyond this place and time. Your financial contributions are gratefully accepted to further the life and ministry of Gethsemane Lutheran. Thank you.

 

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER AND WORDS OF INSTITUTION

 

LORD’S PRAYER

One: And now, join me in praying as Jesus taught us…

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 trespasses

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 the glory forever and ever.

           Amen. 

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

POST COMMUNION BLESSING

 

SENDING

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

BLESSING

 

“Every Time I Feel the Spirit”                    ACS #942

Refrain

      Ev’ry time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.

      Ev’ry time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.

1    Upon the mountain my Lord spoke,

      out of his mouth came fire and smoke.  Refrain

2    All around me looked so fine,

      asked my Lord if all was mine.  Refrain

3    Jordan river, chilly and cold,

      chills the body but not the soul.  Refrain

Text: African American spiritual

OUR DECLARATION OF MISSION

You are the body of Christ.

We are the body of Christ in the world!

So go in peace

To explore the faith

Live in peace

To express our faith to others

Share the peace

By inviting others to join us on this journey.

WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD, SO GO IN PEACE. LIVE BY THE SPIRIT. THANKS BE TO GOD!  

Romans 5:1-5

Paul describes the life of faith with reference to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Even now, we have peace with God through Jesus, and our hope for the future is grounded in the love of God that we experience through Christ’s Holy Spirit.

Psalm 8

Your glory is chanted above the heavens. (Ps. 8:2)

 

Thanksgiving for Baptism, Reading synopsis, Prayer of the Day (altered), and cover art from Sundays and Seasons. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Please visit our Web site at www.augsburgfortress.org. All music is used with permission under CCLI #3225965.