SUNDAY OF THE HOLY TRINITY/PENTECOST I
June 4, 2023
“I Believe . . .”
One of the joys of worshiping as a congregation is participating in the singing of hymns, participating in liturgy and prayers, hearing God’s Word and receiving Holy Communion. Being able to once again gather in our familiar sanctuary, to hear the voices of fellow members, guests and other friends is truly a gift, and many of us have a new appreciation for coming together. Although it’s been over a year since we returned to in-person worship, I still feel a little thrill of happiness and gratitude when we stand and sing the opening hymn, speak and sing the liturgy, and join in prayer.
As we do every week, this Sunday of the Holy Trinity, we speak in unison the words of the Apostles’ Creed, one of the most foundational statements of our faith. “I believe in God the Father . . .”, “I believe in God the Son . . . “I believe in God the Holy Spirit.” As we state our belief in God as creator, redeemer, and sanctifier, the unity of the Triune God draws Christians together as well. There are differences in understandings and interpretations among individuals and groups, but here are the basics — the creative power of God the Father; the life, death, and resurrection of his only Son, truly human and truly divine; and the call, enlightenment, and sustaining power of Holy Spirit, making us holy in the faith.
Martin Luther’s Catechism and his explanations of the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer were part of confirmation instruction for most of us, and I have great appreciation for the clarity of these explanations and Luther’s ability to be both eloquent and plain spoken. As we join our voices in these words of faith, we bind ourselves together in a statement of belief, and therefore purpose. Have you ever noticed that, although we always say the Creed together, we speak in the first person singular — “I believe. . .” To me, this says that we as individuals are joined in sharing this belief in the Three Persons of One God.
“Mission statements” have been part of corporate operations for some time, and sounding both professional and knowledgeable along with some idealism is probably quite challenging. In the business world, most of us consider the “mission” as turning a profit and keeping the company solvent. Schools, organizations and other institutions frequently have some kind of statement of their purpose, their guiding principles, and/or the goals that are the reason for their existence.
As Lutheran Christians, our mission statement, our Creed, has been spoken by our ancestors in the faith for centuries and now in the 21st century, we share it with fellow believers around the world. And if someone asks you, “What do you believe?” you have a response, although you might reword it just a bit for the individual and the situation!
Praising Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers