Service for the 6th Sunday after Trinity – 11th July 2021 – St Paul’s Athens
Fr. Leonard will lead the worship and preach. The Deacon is
Deacon Christine. Before our worship begins the organ will play.
Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
There follows a short period 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.
Glory to God in the heaven above, peace to his friends on earth.
Lord God of hosts, and our heavenly King, Father and mighty God.
We worship you, we give you thanks, praise to your holy name.
‘Glory to God’ heaven declares ‘Glory’ creation sings.
Refrain: Glory to God in the heaven above, peace to his friends on earth.
God, ever three, yet eternally one, glorious Trinity.
Son of the Father, and Lord of us all, holy eternal Lamb,
Christ, who has carried the sin of the world, mercy on us, we pray.
Jesus our God, Saviour and Judge, answer us when we cry;
Seated on high, reigning with God, hear and receive our prayer. Refrain.
You, Jesus Christ, are the Lord, the Most High, you are the Holy One.
You, only you, with the Spirit divine, reign in the Father’s love.
Blessed are you, Father and Son, Spirit of grace and truth;
Myst’ry profound, veiled yet revealed, hidden in depths of light. Refrain
Collect: Let us pray (Collect of the Day)
Creator God, you made us all in your image; may we discern you in all that we see, and serve you in all that we do; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
First Reading please sit Amos 7, 7-15
This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos has said, ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.’” And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Second Reading Ephesians 1, 3-14 (Nelly Paraskevopoulou)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.
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 (Mark 6, 14-29)
All: Glory to you, O Lord
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
Deacon: This is the gospel of Christ
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Fr. Leonard (sermon available on website in recorded and printed version)
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
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. Alleluia.
As the table is prepared with bread and wine, the collection will be taken. The organ will play for a few minutes.
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, fruit of the field and work of human hands, 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 bread of life.
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: Blessed are you, Lord God
our light and our salvation:
to you be glory and praise for ever.
From the beginning you have created all things
and all your works echo the silent music of your praise.
In the fullness of time you made us in your image,
the crown of all creation.
You give us breath and speech, that with angels and archangels
and all the powers of heaven
we may find a voice to sing your praise:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes, comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Priest: How wonderful the work of your hands, O Lord! As a mother tenderly gathers her children you embraced a people as your own. When they turned away and rebelled your love remained steadfast. From them you raised up Jesus our Saviour, born of Mary, to be the living bread, in whom all our hungers are satisfied. He offered his life for sinners and with a love stronger than death he opened wide his arms on the cross. On the night before he died, he came to supper with his friends, and taking bread, he gave you thanks. He broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me. At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, he gave you thanks, and said: 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.
Deacon: Christ is the bread of life
All: When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come in glory.
Priest: Father, we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all on the cross: we remember his dying and rising in glory, and we rejoice that he prays for us at your right hand. Pour out your Holy Spirit as we bring before you these gifts of your creation; may they be for us the body and blood of your dear Son. As we eat and drink these holy things in your presence, form us in the likeness of Christ, and build us into a living temple to your glory. Remember Lord your Church in every land. Reveal her unity, guard her faith, and preserve her in peace with our Bishop, Robert, and all the congregations of this diocese; bring your people at the last with the Holy Mother of God, Paul, and all the saints to the vision of that eternal splendour for which you have created us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom and with whom and in whom, with all who stand before you earth and heaven, we worship you in songs of everlasting praise;
All: Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. 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.
Sung: Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us.
Jesus bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer 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. During these days we administer only the holy bread) Communion: the organ will play during the distribution of Holy Communion
Prayers after Communion
Priest: God of our pilgrimage, you have led us to the living water; refresh and sustain us as we go forward on our journey, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 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
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
Priest: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: In the name of Christ. Amen.
Notices
SUMMER RAFFLE – The Draw for the Summer Raffle will be Sunday 18th July. We need everyone to support the Raffle either by buying tickets or by selling tickets among your friends. The list of prizes (see the website) is excellent – our thanks to Lynn Stavrou for organising them, and the donors for their generosity.
Fr. Leonard’s usual Day Off – Monday (in emergencies contact Deacon Christine)
(on summer leave from 19th July-31st July)
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
No Comments