THE FIRST LESSON John 16:12-15
THE SECOND LESSON Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
SERMON "Wisdom and Delight"
Worship Notes
Today is the first Sunday after Pentecost, which is also called Trinity Sunday. On Trinity Sunday, we celebrate the mystical experience of God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In the Presbyterian tradition, Trinity Sunday is the only date on which a particular doctrine is celebrated. As a visible symbol of the presence of the Holy Spirit, which we observe throughout the Pentecost season, the red cloth remains in the cross and on the communion table.
The music through which we worship today was chosen either specifically illumine the doctrine of the Trinity or is demonstrative of the number three. For example, the prelude is a setting of trio sonata composed by German organist J.S. Bach (1685-1750). In a trio sonata, three equal voices or melodies are played simultaneously (played by the left hand, right hand, and feet) throughout the piece. In this sense, a trio sonata can be considered a metaphor for the Trinity. The traditional Acclamation Hymn, or "Gloria Patri," is itself an expression of praise to God in each of the Trinitarian forms.
The choir's anthem, "God to Enfold Me," expresses the constant presence of God in our lives. This setting, particularly appropriate for Trinity Sunday, was composed in 2001 by Keith Smeltzer, a Seattle-based composer, teacher, and friend of Joe Chrisman. As we also consider the nature of wisdom, described in the Proverbs passage, we respond with a hymn that speaks to the "immortal, invisible" nature of our wise and loving God.
Our prayer response hymn this morning was written in 1972 by Jimmy Owens. Owens is a jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, teacher, and clinician who has played with Jazz legends such as Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Lionel Hampton. In this hymn, Owens sets a particular expression of praise for God as Father, Son, and Spirit.
As the service ends, we carry that love with us out into the world as we depart singing the beloved hymn of the trinity, "Holy, Holy, Holy." The postlude is a setting of variations on this hymn.
