Call to Worship (Psalm 116: 1-2)
I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

HYMN 124 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation

Prayers

Lord, who called all creation into being,
the earth, sea and sky are the work of your hands.
Your presence is all around us,
empowering the world your energy.
Your Holy Spirit gives life to all who follow
in the footsteps of Jesus.
You cause your people to seek out justice for the oppressed,
to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless,
and to bring your peace to a troubled world.

We bow before you in prayer once more
giving thanks for your love toward us.
We celebrate your presence among us;
in creation around us we see your works.
As your people we bring you our prayers,
of joy and praise, struggle and suffering.
You call us by name to come before you,
and to journey in your ways.

Lord, your love to us is always true,
and we are left needing to say sorry;
sorry for our faithlessness to you and to each other,
sorry for our forgetting of the poor and the broken-hearted,
sorry for our failure to care for creation.
Lord, give us life to enable us to change
that in changing we might truly live.

In your mercy, Lord, hear our prayer
restore and renew us,
refresh and enliven us,
in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Bible Readings:

Exodus 19:2-8a
They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.’ So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one: ‘Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.’

Matthew 9:35-10:8
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

HYMN 544 When I need a neighbour

Reflection:

“Sticks and stones may break my bones … but names will never hurt me!”
Do you remember that rhyme from your childhood? It was something we said at those who tried to upset us by calling us names. These weren’t just any old names but ones that were designed to hurt. Children are good at name calling. In part it’s an element of their coming to terms with the world, and seeking to understand the relationships in which they find themselves. It’s also about testing boundaries and exerting power or influence. Either way it’s not a good feeling to be on the end of it. The things is, though, did it actually work? Even as you recited that rhyme, I imagine that you were hurting even if you hid it well.

Of course, there are names which may be good ones to be called. These may be the names that come with family origins, or perhaps our given names. They may speak to us of our heritage within a people at large, or simply within our family group. Sometimes names are given because they have special meaning. This is something we see routinely in the words of the Bible. There people are often named in relation to events around the birth, or in connection with something God is believed to have done for the parents. Sometimes the Biblical name is something of a theological statement; at its root, ‘Jesus’ means ‘God saves’.

Names are important in the Bible and in the world in which it was written. In our reading from Matthew’s Gospel we find the names of the twelve disciples to be fully itemised. The names tell us something of the men behind them. Reading the Gospel with the benefit of hindsight we may even react in certain ways to some of the names. As in a pantomime you may want to ‘boo’ or ‘hiss’ when hearing or reading the name ‘Judas’. In our Exodus reading the names are not as immediately recognisable as in the Gospel, but they are there. When we read of ‘treasured’, or ‘priestly’, or ‘holy’ we are reading names, titles, that speak of being special. They are names that proclaim love, and belonging, and significance.

We often, naturally, recoil from the violence that is “sticks and stones”, but words can be violent too. Sadly there are still names and words that are in use that should belong to the pages of history. Events in recent weeks have reminded us that some people, and groups, are still called names with the intent of diminishing their humanity. Words that were in everyday use decades ago, and should be left there, are still to be found in use today. I mean terms such as ‘darkie’, ‘paki’, and ‘chinky’. These aren’t ethnic identifiers but words that are derogatory or pejorative in their use. To refer to someone with these words is seldom to mean that they are seen as equals; more often it is to see them as inferior. It is to look down upon someone from a position of assumed superiority. To look down on someone because of the colour of their skin is called ‘racism’. For Christians this kind of language, and the actions that often accompany it, are not acceptable. After all, we are all made in the image of God. As Saint Paul wrote to the Colossians, “ … there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” There are none who are superior or inferior.

Matthew’s Gospel says, “When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were … like sheep without a shepherd.” Our dealings with all people, irrespective of skin colour, has to be founded on the model of Jesus and the early church. We need to follow their example. Although Jesus seems to have had few encounters with people of different racial or ethnic groups, each one led to healing or awakening. The church of the early apostles and disciples began to transcend traditional ethnic and racial boundaries. If we are to be Christ’s flock in this time and place we need to do likewise. We need to let Jesus be our shepherd, leading us into being fully human. Racism, whether it be overt or covert, deliberate or incidental, personal or cultural, is a stain on humanity. It should be history, something that is in the past and from which we can learn so as not to make the same bad choices again. There is no place for racism, in word or in action, in the Kingdom of God. Amen.

Prayers

You walked this world in Christ,
because you love your creation,
and so we dare to pray:
God send your spirit to renew the life of the earth.

Teach us how to connect the words of scripture
to the life of the world in which we live.
Teach us how to let the call of Jesus
overcome our resistance to respond,
Lord, send your spirit to renew the life of the world.

Lord, awaken the hearts of those in power
to the realities of those they govern.
Lord, challenge our arrogance and privilege
with the vulnerability of the poor,
Lord, send your spirit to renew the life of the earth.

Lord, open our eyes to the fragile state of the planet,
confronting those who carelessly misuse it.
Lord, let the pain of those who are hurting
give rise to caring hearts in us all.
Lord, send your spirit to renew the life of the earth.

Lord, close the gap between our belief and our action;
close the gap between our possibility and our potential;
close the gap between the truth and reality;
close the gap that the world may be whole.
Lord, send your spirit to renew the life of the earth.

Loving Lord, show us that all creation matters,
and that in you there is both hope and renewal.
Make us true disciples, that we may bring hope and healing,
to a world in need,
and to do so in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

HYMN 533 Will you come and follow me

Benediction

Go from this time of prayer and praise,
to walk in the paths of Him,
to whom creed and colour and name do not matter,
that you may bless the world by your presence.
Amen.

Acknowledgements
Bible readings taken from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Prayers based on resources from the Iona Community.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 8)
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.

HYMN 111 Holy, holy, holy

Prayers

The earth belongs to the Lord,
the world and all its people.
How good and wonderful it is
To be one in your name.

As we worship you this day
move among us, giving us life
that we may rejoice in you.
Make our hearts fresh within us;
renewing us in mind and spirit.

Before you we confess our brokenness:
to the ways we wound our lives,
the lives of others,
and the life of the world.

Father forgive us;
Christ renew us;
Holy Spirit grow us in love.

[silent prayer]

You have made us in your own image,
befriended by Christ,
empowered by the Spirit.
Set us free this day,
to know you,
and to serve you
to whom alone belongs all praise.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Scriptures

II Corinthians 13: 11-13
Final Greetings and Benediction
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Matthew 28: 16-20
The Commissioning of the Disciples
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

HYMN 596 Breathe on me, Breath of God

Reflection

Today is Trinity Sunday. It’s one of those dates in the church calendar that doesn’t tie in to an event in the life of Jesus. Rather, it’s a day to reflect upon one of the teachings of the church. That teaching is that Jesus was not only God in human flesh but that he was also one with the Holy Spirit of God too. That’s three persons but only one being! Does your head hurt? This may be why it has often been said that the subject of Trinity should only be preached upon once per year. Any less and people will forget; more and they will be confused.

Trinity seeks to find a way through the impasse created when the world of Greek and Roman thought collide head on with Jewish notions of the uniqueness, holiness, and unity of God. Abstract theological notions designed as a stop-gap answer to the problem of just who and what Jesus is are not always helpful. Neither are the often practical. So, what are we to do with it?

The answer to that question may, in part, be found in our reading from Matthew’s gospel. It recounts the last encounter between Jesus and his disciples. The ending is sudden. There is no drawn out goodbye. There is also something different going on; something has changed since the resurrection. The disciples are said to ‘worship’ Jesus. We see this word used once before in this chapter, in reference to the women encountering the risen Jesus. No self-respecting Jewish man would get down on his knees to prostrate himself before another man or an idol. The disciples are Jewish men, so something must have changed. Did Jesus seem different? Was it how he looked? Was it the way he spoke? Perhaps it was something less tangible. Perhaps they were thinking of various texts from their scriptures and, putting two and two together, saw Jesus as the Son of Man spoken of in the book of Daniel. This person would come from God and have the full authority of the divine on earth. Is that what they saw or thought? Jesus takes this connection further, stating that he also had ‘full authority in heaven’ too.

Without having a chance to ponder what’s going on the disciples are given an instruction. They are to go into the world to makes disciples, to baptize, to teach, and to obey God’s commands. As the church we have often strived to fulfil the last part of the command yet we have struggled to make much progress with the first three. In almost his last words to them, Jesus instructs the eleven with a mission imperative. In the time of a shrinking church these words of Christ should make us sit up, and take stock of what we are doing. But these are not the last words he utters.

In the gospel according to Matthew the last words of Jesus are these: “ … surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” As we seek to follow God, as revealed to us in and through Jesus, we are not left alone. We are not abandoned. We are, rather, accompanied and resourced. In the last three months many have found how truly difficult it is to live, let alone thrive, alone. By ‘alone’ I mean without the human contact and fellowship that is necessary for life to flourish. Digital communications are fine for sharing information, but not for growing in our mutual humanity. Jesus does not leave his followers alone. Having the authority of God, he accompanies us through the Holy Spirit that he sends upon us. He is there in the highs of celebration. He is there in the depths of despair and solitude. Only God can be relied upon to be ever present in this way.

The doctrine of Trinity may leave you confused, and with a headache. The reality of a God who is ever present with us will not. The practical value of this doctrine is that it reminds us that God exists in relationship. From the beginning that has been as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yet throughout history God has offered relationship to people like you and me. This is a relationship that extends throughout the whole range of human experience. He doesn’t desert us when the going gets tough. That is the point of Trinity.

Amen.

Prayers

Lord of life, grace and truth
may all creation come to know your peace.
God of love, you are at the root of all creation;
deepen our awareness of your presence among us.
Everlasting God, let us lift high your name in all the world.

[silence]

God of grace, you reach out to touch our lives.
We set our concerns before you, seeking your vision for our world.
As you share our life, so may we come to see your glory.

Holy Spirit of fellowship, move between us to unite all people as one.
Strengthen all that builds true community both near and far.
We pray for places of unrest, especially today in the United States.
God of peace, be present in our midst.

[silence]

Eternal God, you hold creation from its beginning to its end.
Sustain in your love all who are faint or whose strength is failing.
In our current pandemic be with our healers, our scientists, and our leaders.
Restore our faith that you are with us to the end of the age.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you make us a little lower than the angels.
Remind us of your love for us, remind us that you have a plan for each of us.
In love we give thanks to you for all who have died;
may they know the glory and honour of your eternal presence.

[silence]

Father of mercy, we pray for ourselves.
When we are weak, may we find strength.
When we despair or doubt, may we find hope.
We pray, as ever, in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

HYMN 200 Christ is made the sure foundation

Benediction

May the Lord who created the earth
by the power of his Word and Spirit
reveal to you his love
made real in Christ Jesus.
And as we move from this time of worship
may that same Lord,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
remain with us
now and evermore.
Amen.

Acknowledgement: Scripture Readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.