Service for the 17th Sunday after Trinity – 26th September 2021
St Paul’s Athens
Fr. Leonard will lead the worship and preach. Deacon Christine is the deacon. Before our worship begins the organ will play.
Opening Hymn: 364 (tune 408) God is love
Priest: Blessed be the kingdom of God.
All: Now and for ever.
Priest: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
The deacon invites us into a short time of silence and stillness
Deacon: Your raise the dead to life in the spirit.
Kyrie eleison All: Kyrie eleison
Deacon: You bring pardon and peace to the broken in spirit.
Christe eleison All: Christe eleison
Deacon: You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided.
Kyrie eleison All: Kyrie eleison
Priest: Almighty God, who forgives all those who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord . Amen.
Gloria: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God, the glory of God the Father. Amen, amen.
Collect: Let us pray (Collect of the Day)
Gracious God, you call us to fullness of life: deliver us from unbelief and banish our anxieties with the liberating love of Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen.
First Reading please sit Numbers 11, 4-6, 10-16, 24-29 (Jane Mandalios)
The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the Lord became very angry, and Moses was displeased. So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favour in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child, to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors’? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once—if I have found favour in your sight—and do not let me see my misery.” So the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you. So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again. Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Second Reading James 5, 13-end (Virginia Stevens)
Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Sung: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia The gospel book is brought from the altar
Please STAND
Deacon: Alleluia, alleluia. Speak Lord for your servant is listening. You have the
words of eternal life.
All: Alleluia
Deacon: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
Deacon: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Mark (9, 38-end)
All: Glory to you, O Lord
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Deacon: This is the gospel of Christ
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Father Leonard (sermon available in print and on website)
Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Intercessions: (kneel or sit) Lord in your mercy; All: hear our prayer (Nelly Paraskevopoulou)
Peace: The kingdom of God is a Kingdom of love, joy, and peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you.
As the table is prepared with bread and wine, the collection will be taken.
Offertory hymn: 297 Lord Jesus Christ
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made, it will become for us the bread of life.
All: Blessed be God for ever
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become for us the cup of salvation.
All: Blessed be God for ever.
Priest: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
Priest: Lift up your hearts
All: we lift them to the Lord
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
All: it is right to give thanks and praise
Priest: Father, we give you thanks and praise through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, your living Word, through whom you have created all things; who was sent by you in your great goodness to be our Saviour.
By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh; as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin, he lived on earth and went about among us; he opened wide his arms for us on the cross; he put and end to death by dying for us; and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life; so he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and singing:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Priest: Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Assistant: Great is the mystery of faith
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption. As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of the Holy Mother of God, St. Paul, and all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer: (to be prayed in whichever language you chose)
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Priest: We break this bread to share in the body of Christ
All: though we are many we are one body, because we all share in one bread
Sung: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace, grant us peace.
Invitation to Communion
Priest: Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Happy are those
who are called to his supper.
All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed
All baptized Christians may receive the Holy Communion. Communion: the organ will play during the distribution of Holy Communion
Prayers after Communion Please Stand
Priest: Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen.
All: Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name: through Christ our Lord. Amen
Hymn: 352 Crown him with many crowns
Blessing and sending out
Priest: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
Priest: Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
Deacon: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: In the name of Christ. Amen.
Notices:
- Pet Blessing Service: On Sunday 3rd October at 12 Noon there will be service for the blessing of pets. The Swedish congregation will combine with us. This is the Sunday nearest the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
- Book Study: There will be a book study group ‘Meeting God in Mark’, Rowan Williams. We will begin on 5th October at 8.00pm on Zoom. I have one book left, so one more space in the reading group. Let me know if you are interested. The book is €10,00.
- Harvest Festival: This will be on October 24th at the Kokotos Vineyard. Please see the poster for details. A free coach will be available to transport people to the vineyard. There will be no service in the church that Sunday.
- Christmas Bazaar: Advance notice! If regulations at the time allow it, there will be a Christmas Bazaar on Sunday December 5th. It will be held at the War Museum Amphitheatre lobby in Rizari. If you would like to be a stall-holder and have not yet contacted Lynn Stavrou, please do so. There will be a meeting of stall-holders in October.
Fr. Leonard’s usual Day Off – Monday (in emergencies contact Deacon Christine)
Home tel : 210 72 14 906; email anglican@otenet.gr
Deacon Chris: 22950 53164: Day off – Friday
Swedish Church: contact Fr. Bjorn on 694 607 2428 (Swedish Sunday Mass at St. Paul’s at 12 Noon)
The Anglican Church in Greece (including St. Paul’s) is self-financing, and receives no income other than from the generosity of those who worship here. We are a legal body and we pay tax. Our tax number is 997073090. If you wish to donate direct to our bank (IBAN) the account with Piraeus Bank is: The Anglican Church in Greece, St. Paul’s Athens GR 820172 0500 0050 5008 6327 479 Swift code is PIRB GRAA
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