Trinity 2020

This version is the Church Society’s 1994 modern language version of the wording in the Book of Common Prayer (1662). It is not straightforward reading (take your time!) and does have some provocative language in it. As you read, be reassured we are saved by grace alone through faith alone (in Christ alone), NOT by our intellectual ability to grasp complex theological concepts! Note, too, that the word “catholic” simply means “universal”, not “Roman Catholic”.

Whosoever wishes to be saved
before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith,
which faith, if anyone does not keep it whole and unharmed,
without doubt he will perish everlastingly.

Now, the catholic faith is this,
that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity,
neither confusing the Persons
nor dividing the divine Being.

For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son,
and another of the Holy Spirit,
but the Godhead of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is all one,
their glory equal, their majesty co-eternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son
and such is the Holy Spirit:
the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated
and the Holy Spirit uncreated;
the Father infinite, the Son infinite
and the Holy Spirit infinite;
the Father eternal, the Son eternal
and the Holy Spirit eternal;
and yet they are not three Eternals
but one Eternal,
just as they are not three Uncreateds, nor three Infinites,
but one Uncreated and one Infinite.

In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty
and the Holy Spirit almighty;
and yet they are not three Almighties
but one Almighty.

Thus the Father is God, the Son is God
and the Holy Spirit is God;
and yet there are not three Gods
but one God.

Thus the Father is the Lord, the Son is the Lord,
and the Holy Spirit is the Lord;
and yet not three Lords
but one Lord.

Because, just as we are compelled by Christian truth
to confess each Person singly to be both God and Lord,
so are we forbidden by the catholic religion
to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords.

The Father is from none,
not made nor created nor begotten;
the Son is from the Father alone,
not made nor created, but begotten:
the Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son,
not made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons;
one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
And in this Trinity there is no before or after,
no greater or less,
but all three Persons are co-eternal with each other
and co-equal.
So that in all things, as has already been said,
the Trinity in Unity, and Unity in Trinity, is to be worshipped.

He therefore who wishes to be saved
let him think thus of the Trinity.

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

Now, the right faith is that we should believe and confess
that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
is both God and man equally.

He is God from the Being of the Father, begotten before the worlds,
and he is man from the being of his mother, born in the world;
perfect God and perfect man,
having both man’s rational soul and human flesh;
equal to the Father as regards his divinity
and inferior to the Father as regards his humanity;
who, although he is God and man,
yet he is not two, but one Christ;
one, however, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh
but by the taking up of humanity into God;
utterly one, not by confusion of human and divine being
but by unity of Christ’s one Person.

For just as the rational soul and flesh are one man,
so God and man are one Christ;
who suffered for our salvation,
descended to the realm of the dead,
rose again the third day from the dead,
ascended to heaven, sat down at the right hand of the Father,
from where he will come to judge the living and the dead;
at whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies
and will give an account for their own actions,
and those who have done good will go into life everlasting
and those who have done evil into everlasting fire.

This is the catholic faith
which, if anyone does not believe it faithfully and firmly,
he cannot be saved.

We bring our prayers to God our Father in union with Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit:

For the church:
On this Trinity Sunday, when we remember especially both the one-ness and the three-ness of God, we call to mind Jesus’ prayer that Christians would be one.

God of reconciling love, we lament the brokenness of the church around the world, and we pray for her restoration.  May we learn, as the Apostle John taught, to find our unity in the truth and to walk together in love.  We repent of those times when we have foolishly tried to base our unity on any foundation other than the truth and we ask you to lead us into all truth by your Spirit, that we may truly love one another and show your glory to the world.

Give grace and wisdom to Bishop Alan, Bishop Michael and Bishop Richard as they seek to lead and support the churches of this Diocese and fill their hearts with your wisdom that their lips may always speak life and hope.

For the world:
God of the nations, your word teaches us that you have made all people from one man, and that this one man was made in your image.  We come before you as members of a human race which struggles to honour either you or our common humanity and in which conflict and division are prevalent.  We humbly acknowledge that our own perspectives are often limited and that we are predisposed to listening only to voices and narratives that reinforce our own points of view.  Help us to listen to those whose experience of life is different from ours that we may learn to love more deeply and bring a greater blessing to the world.

We pray for all caught up in the events following the murder of George Floyd in America last week: for his family, friends and community who grieve him personally; for black people and others of minority ethnic groups who daily face prejudice and inequality of opportunity; for politicians and leaders including President Trump; for all involved in law-enforcement, from police officers to the judiciary, including the officer charged with murder and those who must hear the case; for those who wish to protest peacefully and for those who feel a more forceful and confrontational approach is justified; for those whose hearts are twisted with hatred and self-interest for whom these circumstances provide an outlet for rage and an opportunity for gain by dishonest means.  God of justice and mercy, God of all wisdom, in all these contexts, do what is right and turn all hearts to seek your perfect will.

For our communities:
Gracious Lord, as our lockdown is eased and people begin to mix again with family and friends, we pray for those who are most vulnerable and most fearful.  We know that there are risks to our nation of a second wave of infections and yet that there are risks associated with staying in lockdown, so we ask you to show mercy on those we love and to help them make the right decisions about returning to work and family and community life.

We thank you for our Parish Councils and those who have volunteered and continue to volunteer within our communities to provide care for those in most need.  Help us all to consider the welfare of others in all that we do and say, that our villages may be characterised by love patterned upon the love of Jesus who gave himself for us.

We pray these things in his glorious name.
Amen