THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (TRINITY)

SERVICE IN THE WARRNAMBOOL LUTHERAN PARISH ON THE 26^TH MAY

WARRNAMBOOL 11.00AM (WITH HOLY COMMUNION)

(this is the only service in the parish this Sunday, and will be Pastor David’s final service in the parish)

Readings:                                           Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Romans 5:1-5                                                            

John 16:5-15

Sermon:                                             John 16:5-15

We begin this week’s sermon discussing Asterix and Obelix, the cartoon characters. “The year is 50BC.  The country of Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans.  Well, not entirely...one small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders.”  These words you will find at the beginning of every Asterix and Obelix cartoon story.  The Roman Emperor, Caesar, and his soldiers, try repeatedly, and in vain, to conquer this nameless Gallic village. 

What is portrayed in these cartoons can help us understand what this Trinity Sunday is about. What made the inhabitants of that village invincible, beginning with Asterix and Obelix, was the magic potion concocted by the druid, whose name was Miraculix.  Drinking the potion made the villagers so strong, that not even the Roman soldiers could defeat them.  The only important thing was to make use of this incomparable source of power and strength that was always available to them.  Then nothing, but nothing, could happen to them.  We do not, of course, have such a magic potion in our church, and pastors, to be sure, are not druids!  But we do have a source of unconquerable strength, which makes us invincible when we draw from it and unbeatable when we make use of it. It is this source of strength that we are celebrating today, on this Festival of the Holy Trinity, and we are not talking here about the funny, clever idea of some cartoonist.  We are talking about the reality that enables the Church to live and to conquer.  The source of power lies in the work of the Triune God.  How the three persons of the Trinity work together is made clear for us here in this Gospel reading and sermon text for today.

Come along on Sunday to find out more.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS THIS WEEK

Sunday

A special lunch will be held after the service in Warrnambool.  At this lunch, the farewell celebrations will continue.

FRIDAY (31^st)

The parish camp  at “Tandara” in the Grampians town of Halls Gap, begins on Friday afternoon.  Those participating can turn up at any time from mid-afternoon onwards.  Full details of what to bring and of the final programme will be distributed on Sunday the 26^th May.