Catechesis for Trinity Sunday

Catechesis Class June 11, 2006 Trinity Sunday

Begin with Luther’s Morning Prayer
Books of the Bible

Review What the Hearers Owe Their Pastors.
The Lord has commanded that those who preach the Gospel should receive their living from the Gospel. I Cor 9:14
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Gal 6:6-7

New Lesson Today is Trinity Sunday which is the only part of the church year which is name after a doctrine (teaching) rather than an event. Other than the event of Reformation, all the rest of the Sundays deal with the life of Christ and the Church. See if the children can identify which “events” these recount --Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Transfiguration, Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost. Trinity Sunday is white since it is a festival Sunday; it will be white next Sunday also since it is the octave of the festival. The color on the altar during the Trinity season is green because this is considered ordinary time – the time of growth. It is the longest part of the church year.


On Trinity Sunday we usually say the Athanasian Creed. (pg 53 of the hymnal) Tell about the heresy of Arius and the Nicene Creed and then St Athanasius lived during the next century and has this creed named after him. Explain catholic as universal. Point out the parts of the liturgy which highlight the Trinity (invocation, confession, Gloria Patri , the end of the Gloria, Kyrie, Creed, Sanctus, benediction.

Memorize: Explain the Table of Duties & vocation
Let each his lesson learn with care, and all the household well shall fare.


We ask you brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. I Thess. 5:12-13

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Heb. 13:17

Explain, read and enact the Gospel lesson: John 3:1-15 (it speaks of all three persons of the Trinity)

Sing TLH 249 (point out composer Luther, text from Isaiah, meaning of Sabaoth, how many Holy is God?)

Isaiah, mighty seer, in days of old The Lord of all in spirit did behold
High on a lofty throne , in splendor bright, With flowing train that filled the Temple quite. Above the throne were stately seraphim; Six wings had they, these messengers of Him. With twain they veiled their faces as was meet, With twain in rev’rent awe they hid their feet, And with the other twain aloft they soared, One to the other called and praised the Lord: “Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! Behold, His glory filleth all the earth!” The beams and lintels trembled at the cry, And clouds of smoke enwrapped the throne on high.