Emmanuel will observe Trinity Sunday, including the Athanasian Creed. Over the years I have seen a wide variety of practices in churches, everything from just getting the recitation out of the way to having the sermon preached from the creed. I am pasting below how our congregation now presents the creed since I have not seen other congregations do this. The practice of chanting the creed is well received. I find it is better appreciated when given with some brief explanations. In other words, I lean toward the "focus on the creed" school of thought rather than the "let's get it out of the way" approach. Simple psalm tones are used for the chanting. The text is drawn from an older public domain hymnal.
THE ATHANASIAN CREED
On Trinity Sunday, we use the Athanasian Creed, which summarizes biblical teaching about the Trinity. As the pastor and the choir sing the creed, meditate on the mystery of who God is and how He reveals Himself to us in Jesus. Brief comments follow each section.
The Introduction
1. Whosoever 'will be saved,* before all things it is necessary that he hold the 'catholic faith,*
2. Which Faith except every one do keep whole and 'undefiled,* without doubt he shall perish ever-'lastingly.*
Comments
The Godhead
3. And the catholic 'faith is this:* that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in 'Unity;*
4. Neither confounding 'the Persons;* nor dividing 'the Substance.*
5. For there is one Person of the Father, another 'of the Son,* and another of the 'Holy Ghost.*
6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 'is all one:* the Glory Equal, the Majesty Co-'eternal.*
7. Such as the Father is, such 'is the Son:* and such is the 'Holy Ghost.*
8. The Father uncreate, the Son 'uncreate:* the Holy Ghost 'uncreate.*
9. The Father is incomprehensible, the Son incompre-'hensible* and the Holy Ghost incompre-'hensible.*
10. The Father is eternal, the Son 'eternal:* and the Holy Ghost 'eternal.*
11. And yet they are not three 'Eternals:* but one 'Eternal.*
12. As there are not three uncreated, nor three incompre-'hensibles:* but one uncreated and one incompre-'hensible.*
Comments
One Almighty God and Lord
13. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son 'Almighty:* and the Holy Ghost 'Almighty.*
14. And yet there are not three 'Almighties:* but one 'Almighty.*
15. So the Father is God, the 'Son is God:* and the Holy 'Ghost is God.*
16. And yet they are 'not three Gods:* but 'o-ne God.*
17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the 'Son [is] Lord:* and the Holy 'Ghost [is] Lord.*
18. And yet 'not three Lords:* but 'o-ne Lord.*
19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity: to acknowledge every Person by himself to be 'God and Lord;* So are we forbidden by the catholic Religion: to say, There be three Gods, 'or three Lords.*
Comments
The Interrelation of Persons
20. The Father is 'made of none:* neither created nor 'begotten.*
21. The Son is of the Fa-'ther alone:* not made, nor created, but 'begotten.*
22. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and 'of the Son;* neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but 'proceeding.*
23. So there is one Father, not 'three Fathers;* one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three 'Holy Ghosts.*
24. And in this Trinity none is before, or 'after other:* none is greater, or less ‘than an-other;*
25. But the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and 'coequal:* So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to 'be worshipped.*
26. He therefore that 'will be saved* must thus think of the 'Trinity.*
Comments
The Person of Christ
27. Furthermore, it is necessary to Everlasting 'Salvation;* that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord 'Jesus Christ.*
28. For the right Faith is, that we believe 'and confess:* that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is 'God and Man;*
29. God, of the Substance of the Father begotten be-'fore the worlds:* and Man of the Substance of his mother, born 'in the world;*
30. Perfect God, and 'perfect Man:* of a reasonable soul and human flesh 'subsisting.*
31. Equal to the Father, as touching 'his Godhead:* and inferior to the Father, as touching 'his Manhood.*
32. Who although he be 'God and Man:* yet he is not two, 'but one Christ;*
33. One; not by conversion of the Godhead 'into flesh:* but by taking the Manhood 'into God;*
34. One altogether; not by confusion 'of Substance:* but by Unity 'of Person.*
35. For as the reasonable soul and flesh 'is one man:* so God and Man is 'one in Christ;*
Comments
The Work of Christ
36. [Christ] Who suffered for our 'salvation:* descended into hell, rose again the third day 'from the dead.*
37. He ascended into heaven; he sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God 'Almighty;* from whence he shall come to judge the quick 'and the dead.*
38. At whose coming all men shall rise again with 'their bodies:* and shall give account for 'their own works.*
Comments
The Conclusion
39. And they that have done good shall go into life e-'verlasting:* and they that have done evil into ever-'lasting fire.*
40. This is the 'catholic faith:* which except a man believe faithfully, he can-'not be saved.*
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