Trinity Sunday A (June 11): Revenge versus Forgiveness/ Three in One

There is a 2023 version of this blog with lots more resources - see my archive at left

Bible readings: Genesis 1 1-2:4a, Psalm 8, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20

About the images:
Upper Left: From http://www.sacredise.com/files/images/free/Trinity2.jpg.
Upper Right: Trinity found at http://www.servicioskoinonia.org/cerezo/indexAgraf.html
Lower Left: This is an Imagebank free image - see my link column at left.
Lower Right: This is a free Heartlight image - see my link column at left.

Call to Worship:
Ask everyone to go outside or bring something in which reminds them of God's creation to place on the communion table.


Listening Song: Creation Calls
By Brian Doerksen on the album, Light the Fire (pictured at right). Illustrate this song with images from your own local area for greatest impact.

Film Clip: Antz
Show the clip at the very beginning straight after the credits and finish when Z says "I'm insignificant with attitude". (see below).  This clip includes the credits and a minute or so after Z's statement but it work best if you edit it to stop at his statement.



Discussion: on the film clip of Antz.
1. Why does Z feel insignificant?
2. In what sort of situations can we feel like this?
3. Matthew 28:19 says: "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples". What do you think of this verse? How does it make you feel?
4. What reassures you that this is not too big an ask of us ...or is it?

Kids story: The Blind Men and the Elephant
This old, old story makes a good lead in to a discussion on God, three in one, not only for children but for adults as well.

Drama: In the Beginning
Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, Page 7 (pictured at right). This is based on the Genesis reading.

Trinity Illustration: Threesome
Found in When You Walk by Adrian Plass, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 1997, ISBN 0745935524, page 321 (pictured at left). This is a lovely analogy of the Trinity and I once used it as the basis of my service and sermon.  

Story: The Life Saving Station
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 140 (pictured at right. This story is based on the gospel reading.

Story: The Skier
Story 155 in 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching by Michael P Green, Baker Books, 1989, ISBN 0801063302 (pictured at left). This illustration shows us the different ways the Holy Spirit can act in our lives.

Story: Through Thick and Thin

Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks Book 4 by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 2001, ISBN 0310236193, page 39 (pictured at right).

Story: Rivalry
Found as story No 226 in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch, 2003, ISBN 1854245929. This story matches up well with the 2 Corinthians reading.

Prayer For Others: Circles
Found in Multi-sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 33. This goes quite well with the 1 Corinthians reading.


Response Activity:
I gave people a choice of three responses (see below). I used the words of 2 Corinthians 13:13, Matthew 28:19 and "Our God is complex, dynamic, relational, ever-reaching, ever seeking, ever creating, ever loving, and ever speaking" (William Willamon: Preaching Resources, Trinity Sunday, 2005) as the basis for all three responses. The choices were
1. Meditation: I used the words as a visual meditation with a powerpoint presentation and music by Moby from his album, Play. I used two tracks: "Inside" and "Guitar, Flute and String".
2. Discussion: I gave people the words on a handout and asked them to discuss the words.
3. Modelling: I gave people the words on a handout together with a small piece of self hardening clay and asked them to model a response to the words.

Response Activity: Relationships
Found in Bringing the Word to Life Together by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, MediaCom, 2010, ISBN 9780949656919, page 94. This response is based on the Corinthians reading. There are also some great sermon notes to be found here as well.


Also:


Poem/Meditation: The Cheerful Unrepentant Weeds

By Ruth Burgess in Dandelions and Thistles: Biblical Meditations from the Iona Community by Jan Sutch Pickard (ed.) Wild Goose Publications, 1999, ISBN 1901557146, page 13 (pictured at left).

Worship Activity: Prayer Lights

By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN, 0830724044, page 43.  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Prayer Exercise: The Psalms Teach Us to Pray

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 42.  This is based on the Psalm reading.

Also:

Kids: Cecil and Psalm 8

This is another brilliant book  by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2017.  This goes with the Psalm.  The great thing about these books is that they only around $A7 and for a further $A10 (or instead of) you can buy on line the story in any format you need to project the pictures in church.  There are also free activity sheets and for a cost activity books for both teachers and children.  Visit www.lostsheep.com.au to check out all the excellent resources.

Kids: The Image of God

And another another brilliant book by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2017. This goes with the Genesis reading. 

A chapters of resources for Trinity Sunday:

By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 199ff. 

Various Ideas: Te Great Commission: Getting the Message Out

Found in Multi-Sensory Message by Dave Maclure, Scripture Union, 2008, ISBN 9781844272730, page 30. Connected with the Gospel reading. 

Various Ideas: Creation - the Message of Love

Found in Multi-Sensory Message by Dave Maclure, Scripture Union, 2008, ISBN 9781844272730, page 7. Connected with the Genesis reading.

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