Prelude
Greeting and Welcome
Lighting of the Candles
Hymn of Invocation – O Holy Spirit, Enter In (LSB 913)
O Holy Spirit, enter in,
And in our hearts Your work begin,
Your dwelling place now make us.
Sun of the soul, O Light divine,
Around and in us brightly shine,
To joy and gladness wake us
That we may be truly living,
To You giving prayer unceasing
And in love be still increasing.
Give to Your Word impressive pow’r,
That in our hearts from this good hour
As fire it may be glowing,
That in true Christian unity
We faithful witnesses may be,
Your glory ever showing.
Hear us, cheer us by Your teaching;
Let our preaching and our labor
Praise You, Lord, and serve our neighbor.
O mighty Rock, O Source of life,
Let Your dear Word, in doubt and strife,
In us be strongly burning
That we be faithful unto death
And live in love and holy faith,
From You true wisdom learning.
Your grace and peace on us shower;
By Your power Christ confessing,
Let us see our Savior’s blessing.
+ Preparation +
Invocation
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Introduction
P: Through our worship, we will progressively and responsively confess the Athanasian Creed. As the more commonly confessed Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds were written and doctrinally accepted according to God’s Word in defense to the heresies of the time and applicable still today, so also the Athanasian Creed was written and doctrinally accepted to refute false teachings regarding the Scripturally revealed identity and work of the one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As we hold the “catholic faith,” the Athanasian Creed refers to “catholic” as the true Church of all times and places who faithfully confess the true Christ as Lord and Savior.
Athanasian Creed – Part 1
P: Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith.
C: Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.
P: And the catholic faith is this,
C: that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance.
P: For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is another.
C: But the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.
P: Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit:
C: the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated;
P: the Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite;
C: the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal.
P: And yet there are not three Eternals, but one Eternal,
C: just as there are not three Uncreated or three Infinites, but one Uncreated and one Infinite.
P: In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty;
C: and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
P: So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God;
C: and yet there are not three Gods, but one God.
P: So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord;
C: and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.
Confession and Absolution
P: As we approach our triune God and gather in His majestic name, we draw near with a true heart and confess our sins.
C: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all people, we admit and confess our sinfulness.
P: We have turned away from one another in our thinking, speaking, and doing.
C: We have done the evil You forbid and have not done the good You demand. We do repent and are truly sorry for these our sins.
P: Have mercy on us, heavenly Father, because of the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son.
C: Forgive us all that is past, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, move us to serve You faithfully. Set our feet upon the new path of life, that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.
P: Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). He alone, with the Father and the Spirit, is the one who has promised forgiveness to those who repent of their sins and turn to Him. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. God keep you in His grace by the Holy Spirit, lead you to greater faith and obedience, and bring you to live with Him forever, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
+ Word +
Introit
P: Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity. Let us give glory to him because he has shown his mercy to us.
C: I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
P: Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
C: For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
P: You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
P: Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity. Let us give glory to him because he has shown his mercy to us.
Salutation and Prayer of the Day
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith and defend us from all adversities; for You, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
First Reading – Revelation 15:1–8
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Second Reading – Acts 2:14, 22–36
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Athanasian Creed – Part 2
P: Just as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so also are we prohibited by the catholic religion to say that there are three Gods or Lords.
C: The Father is not made nor created nor begotten by anyone.
P: The Son is neither made nor created, but begotten of the Father alone.
C: The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.
P: Thus, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
C: And in this Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another;
P: but the whole three persons are coeternal with each other and coequal, so that in all things, as has been stated above, the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity is to be worshiped.
C: Therefore, whoever desires to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.
Holy Gospel – John 8:48-59
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighth chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.
The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
Introduction
P: As we confess in this creed the work and identity of the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with all founded in and supported throughout Scripture, the Athanasian Creed closes with a reminder of judgment and the Last Day to come. Though reference is made to works, works are not the basis of our salvation. Only those who by faith believe in Jesus Christ for salvation are able to do good works in God’s sight, and the good works done are fruits of the saving faith in Christ given through the Holy Spirit.
Athanasian Creed – Part 3
P: But it is also necessary for everlasting salvation that one faithfully believe the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C: Therefore, it is the right faith that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is at the same time both God and man.
P: He is God, begotten from the substance of the Father before all ages; and He is man, born from the substance of His mother in this age:
C: perfect God and perfect man, composed of a rational soul and human flesh;
P: equal to the Father with respect to His divinity, less than the Father with respect to His humanity.
C: Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ:
P: one, however, not by the conversion of the divinity into flesh, but by the assumption of the humanity into God;
C: one altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.
P: For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ,
C: who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead,
P: ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
C: At His coming all people will rise again with their bodies and give an account concerning their own deeds.
P: And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.
C: This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.
Children’s Hymn – Father, I Adore You (AGPS 94)
Father, I adore You.
Lay my life before You.
How I love You.
Jesus, I adore You.
Lay my life before You.
How I love You.
Spirit, I adore You.
Lay my life before You.
How I love You.
Children’s Sermon – Tim Cosby
Hymn of the Day – Holy, Holy, Holy (LSB 507)
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, blessèd Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.
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.
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, blessèd Trinity!
Sermon
