Pentecost and Trinity Sunday
Prayers, Readings, and Liturgies for Pentecost and Trinity Sunday
About Pentecost Sunday
What Is Pentecost Sunday?
Pentecost Sunday commemorates the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, empowering them to speak in other languages and proclaim the gospel with boldness. The event is recorded in Acts 2:1–4, where the followers of Jesus were gathered “all together in one place” during the Jewish festival of Shavuot (also called the Feast of Weeks).
Suddenly, a sound like a rushing wind filled the house, and tongues of fire appeared, resting on each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in languages they had never known. Pilgrims from many nations heard the message of Jesus in their own tongues. This moment is often called the birthday of the Church, because it marked the beginning of the Church’s public mission in the world.
Read more about “What does the Bible say about Pentecost?
Where Did Pentecost Happen?
The Pentecost event took place in Jerusalem, likely in an upper room or a central gathering space near the Temple. The crowd included Jews from every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5), who had come to Jerusalem for the pilgrimage feast. Peter preached to this diverse audience, and about 3,000 people were baptized that day (Acts 2:41).
Why Does Pentecost Matter Today?
Pentecost is not just a historical milestone—it’s a living promise. It reminds us that the Church is not a human invention but a Spirit-formed, Spirit-sustained community. Pentecost affirms that God speaks across boundaries—of language, culture, and nation—and that every believer is empowered to bear witness.
Read more about “What the Holy Spirit Can Do”
Pentecost Sunday
Liturgies to God - Three in One
About Trinity Sunday
What Is Trinity Sunday?
Trinity Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost and is dedicated to the mystery of God’s triune nature: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Unlike most holy days that mark a biblical event, Trinity Sunday honors a doctrine—the theological understanding of one God in three persons. It invites the Church to reflect on the unity and distinctiveness within the Godhead.
Though the word “Trinity” does not appear in Scripture, the concept is deeply biblical. The Great Commission names all three persons of the Trinity (see Matthew 28:19), and the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16–17) presents the Father’s voice, the Son in the water, and the Spirit descending like a dove.
Where Did Trinity Sunday Come From?
Trinity Sunday began to be celebrated in parts of Europe by the 10th century and was officially established for the Western Church by Pope John XXII in the 14th century. It grew out of a desire to give a dedicated liturgical focus to the doctrine of the Trinity—especially after Pentecost, which marks the fullness of God’s self-revelation.
Today, it stands as a capstone to the liturgical seasons that tell the story of salvation: from Advent to Easter to Pentecost. Trinity Sunday shifts the focus from redemptive events to God’s identity—eternal, relational, and united in love.
Why Does Trinity Sunday Matter Today?
Trinity Sunday calls the Church to holy wonder. The doctrine of the Trinity is not a puzzle to solve, but a truth to be celebrated. It shapes how we understand love, community, and mission. The triune God is not distant or abstract, but a communion of persons into which we are invited through Christ and empowered by the Spirit.
In worship, Trinity Sunday is often marked by creeds, doxologies, and hymns like “Holy, Holy, Holy.” It’s a day to marvel that the God we worship is more relational and dynamic than we can comprehend—and to give thanks that this same God has chosen to dwell with us.
Trinity Sunday Liturgy
Liturgies for the Worship of the Trinity
A complete liturgy for the Day of Pentecost (Year C, June 8, 2025), with call to worship, prayers of confession and assurance, and a prayer for illumination. The service celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit with themes of unity, divine power, renewal, and bold faith, drawn from Acts 2, Romans 8, Psalm 104, and John 14.