Trinity Sunday
Trinity Sunday coming up: one of the seven Principal Feasts of the Church, acclaimed as the only Sunday that’s about a doctrine instead of a major event. In my case, it’s my only Sunday of the year to be in the pulpit preaching about an incomprehensible while most of our congregation are across the Bay on Shell Island eating barbecue and fried chicken.
Because it’s Shell Island Sunday. Our second annual. Last year a flotilla of boats carried a couple hundred people across. A wonderful time was had by all, and there were several baptisms. It’s about the grandest way to start the summer season that one could imagine.
For Sunday, the Weather Channel says 91F, wind W at 8 mph, 0% chance of rain.
Meanwhile, back at the Ranch ...
There was a time in the Church of England, perhaps still so, when, in place of the Nicene Creed or Apostles Creed, it was the tradition on Trinity Sunday to stand and say the Creed of Saint Athanasius, also called the Athanasian Creed and the Quicunque Vult. Lengthy and ponderous, it was attributed (albeit erroneously) to Athanasius, fourth century bishop of Alexandria who helped lead the Church away from Arianism during the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). Perhaps its clearest assertion is the line
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
Arianism was the vigorously asserted, viciously defended, and then-dominant view in the Christian Church, that the Son is not of the same being as the Father, that the Son was created, that the Son was not eternally coexistent with the Father, that, as the Arian slogan went, “there was a time when he was not.” Had Arius held, Christian doctrine today would be far different to what every Sunday morning we stand and say we believe.
Perhaps we shall have a look at the Athanasian Creed together this coming Sunday morning. Or perhaps not. A poster for future Shell Island Sundays might be
Come and enjoy
Sea and Sun
Chicken and Fun
on Shell Island
or
Stay back at the Ranch
and memorize the Quinque Vult.
The Creed of Saint Athanasius is found in the Book of Common Prayer at page 864. As we stand.
TW+