HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY - 4 June 2023

 

Today's Service Leader and Speaker - Rev. Jesse Kueker, Admissions Officer, STL Seminary

 

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting Three, LSB pages 184ff.

 

907 God Himself Is Present

Text: Gerhard Tersteegen, 1697–1769, abr.; tr. Frederick W. Foster, 1760–1835, alt.; tr. John Miller, 1756–90, alt.
Tune: Joachim Neander, 1650–80
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

 

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Exhortation LSB 184

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

 

 

Confession of Sins LSB 184

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

 

Absolution LSB 185

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

 

Introit Psalm 8:1–2a, 3–5; antiphon: Liturgical Text

Blessèd be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity.
Let us give glory to him because he has shown his mercy to us.
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

Blessèd be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity.
Let us give glory to him because he has shown his mercy to us.

 

Kyrie LSB 186

 

Gloria in Excelsis LSB 187

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

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.

 

Sit

 

Catechesis - Table of Duties - To Bishops, Pastors, and Preachers

P Today's catechetical reading is from the Table of Duties. What are the duties of Bishops, Pastors, and Preachers?

C Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive…  – 1 Timothy 3:2-4 (4 & 5)

He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. – 1 Timothy 3:6 (K & 1)

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. – Titus 1:9 (2 & 3)

 

 

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 6:1–7

¹In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. ²Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”

⁴And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. ⁵And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

⁶Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

 

Gradual Liturgical Text

Blessèd are You, O Lord, who beholds the deep,
and who dwells between the cherubim.
Blessèd are You, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven,
and greatly to be praised forever.

 

Epistle Romans 11:33–36

³³Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

³⁴“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
³⁵“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

³⁶For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

 

 

Alleluia and Verse

LSB 190

P Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers, and greatly to be praised and glorified forever.

 

Holy Gospel John 3:1–17

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the third chapter.

¹Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ²This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” ³Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

⁹Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? ¹¹Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. ¹²If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

¹⁶“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

 

Sit

 

 

498 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest

 

5 Drive far away our wily foe,
And Your abiding peace bestow;
With You as our protecting guide,
No evil can with us abide.

 

6 Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And You, from both, as Three in One
That we Your name may ever bless
And in our lives the truth confess.

 

D 7 Praise we the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, with them One,
And may the Son on us bestow
The gifts that from the Spirit flow!

Text: attr. Rabanus Maurus, 776–856; tr. Edward Caswall, 1814–78, alt.
Tune: Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert, 1533, Wittenberg, ed. Joseph Klug
Text and tune: Public domain

 

 

Sermon - Rev. Jesse Kueker, Admissions Officer, STL Seminary

 

 

Stand

 

Offertory LSB 192

 

Prayer of the Church

P In peace, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For an ever-growing understanding of the depths of God’s riches, wisdom and knowledge through His Word, that we may glorify Him forever, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the missionaries of our Church as they go to the ends of the earth with the Gospel, that many may hear of God’s love in Christ Jesus and be saved through faith in Him, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For faith to believe that, since the Lord has given us new birth through Holy Baptism, we truly are His children and will not be abandoned to hades, but will see eternal life in His kingdom, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For [_____________ and] all who rule us, that the Lord, enthroned as king forever, would bless them with wisdom and understanding, that truth and justice may prevail in our land and lawlessness may be kept at bay, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For [_____________ and] all who suffer in our midst, that the Lord of hosts would uphold them in the truth that, since He is at their right hand, they cannot be shaken; and that He would gladden their hearts, cause their tongues to rejoice and make their flesh dwell in hope, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P That since there is no gift by which our Lord might be repaid, God would accept our humble offerings, brought in thanksgiving for His benefits, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all who commune, that by Christ’s cleansing body and blood on our lips, our guilt may be taken away and our sin atoned for, that we would not be lost but abide in His holy presence forever, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

The offering is gathered.

 

Preface LSB 194

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

P Lift up your hearts.

C We lift them up unto the Lord.

P Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.

C It is meet and right so to do.

 

Proper Preface

P It is truly meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, who with Your only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit are one God, one Lord. In the confession of the only true God, we worship the Trinity in person and the Unity in substance, of majesty coequal. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

 

Sanctus LSB 195

 

 

Lord's Prayer

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 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.

 

The Words of Our Lord LSB 197

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 

Pax Domini LSB 197

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.

 

Agnus Dei LSB 198

 

Sit

 

 

Distribution

 

940 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

Text: Latin, c. 4th cent.; German version Katholisches Gesangbuch, 1774, Vienna; tr. Clarence A. Walworth, 1820–1900, alt.
Tune: Katholisches Gesangbuch, 1774, Vienna
Text and tune: Public domain

 

966 Before You, Lord, We Bow

Text: Francis Scott Key, 1779–1843, alt.
Tune: John Darwall, 1731–89
Text and tune: Public domain

 

507 Holy, Holy, Holy

Text: Reginald Heber, 1783–1826
Tune: John B. Dykes, 1823–76
Text and tune: Public domain

 

895 Now Thank We All Our God

Text: Martin Rinckart, 1586–1649; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, alt.
Tune: Johann Crüger, 1598–1662
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis LSB 199

 

Thanksgiving LSB 200

A O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,

C and His mercy endureth forever.

 

Post-Communion Collect

A Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

Salutation 201

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

 

Benedicamus LSB 202

A Bless we the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Benediction LSB 202

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and T give you peace.

 

 

805 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

Text: Thomas Ken, 1637–1711
Tune: Trente quatre Pseaumes de David, 1551, Geneva, ed. Louis Bourgeois
Text and tune: Public domain

 

 

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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