• God is not a thing; an object; a concept; but rather a living being; ‘person’, in whom we have a living relationship

• That relationship is an integral part of God’s being

• God the Father – also Creator

                                 Genesis 1
                                 Genesis 2
                                 Job 41
                                 Psalms eg 65
There is a living relationship as Father to Son

• John 1

• Colossians 1

• John 17

• Mark 1, 9

• Mark 9, 2

There is a living relationship as Creator to Spirit

• Genesis 1

• Ezekiel 37

• Act 2

And as Father, Son and Holy Spirit

• See again the Baptism of Jesus and the Transfiguration

      This living relationship culminates for the first time in an overt reference to   
      Trinity

• Matthew 28, 16  where the Trinity is directly linked to the act of baptism

Other important points to remember – as well as relationship, Trinity is also to be worshipped, not necessarily understood – as well as revealing himself, God is also mystery. So:

• Genesis 18 (inspiration for the famous Rublev icon)

• Isaiah 6 – the experience of worshipping the living God

The Trinity is now an integral part of our Christian worship. We find it expressed in:

• Prayers  - see ‘collects’ of the day

• The Eucharistic prayer

• Blessings at end of worship

• Central to baptism

• Laying on of hands at Confirmation

• Placing a ring on a brides/grooms finger  etc etc

• Also it is found in the Creed – studied more in Week 9

We need to ‘live the Trinity’ rather than ‘understand the Trinity’ – we should allow the example of the Trinity’s life, to infect us, both in worship and in our everyday relationships. The Trinity is a model for Christian life and relationships