The church calendar moved into a new phase on Sunday with the celebration of Trinity Sunday.

The editorial in this week’s All Saints’ bulletin makes a comparison with the terrible tornado that struck Oklahoma City last week. This lasted a relatively short time in changing the landscape, whereas the Holy Spirit has been driving the mission of the Church of God for 2000 years towards a greater understanding and compassion for a sad and suffering world.

Father Stephen Drakeley, priest-in-charge, was the president and preacher for the mass, which began with the processional hymn “Firmly I believe and truly.” After the Kyrie and Gloria had been sung, Barbara Jenkins read the first lesson taken from the Book of Proverbs chapter 8. The writer envisages “wisdom” as a bring at the side of God when He created the world. Sally Maynard read Psalm 8 with the response from the congregation, “Lord our Governor, how glorious if your name in all the earth.”

The New Testament lesson was part of chapter 5 of Paul’s letter to the Romans. This contains the momentous statement “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This was read by James Davies.

The gospel proclaimed by Fr Stephen was John chapter 16 v 12-15. Here Jesus prepared the disciples for what they could expect from the coming of the Holy Spirit. In his address Fr Stephen explored the apparent paradox of the Triune God, Father Son and Holy Spirit. Prayers were led in this part of the service by Linda Thomas, Barbara Martin and Frances Martin. Celebrating at the eucharist, the priest was assisted as chalice administrators by Barbara Jenkins and Sally Maynard after which he led the acclamation “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power.”

The formal mass was concluded with the hymn “Thou whose almighty word” after which Matthew Seaton, church organist, played Prelude and Fugue in G by J S Bach.