Service for the feast of Christ the King – Sunday 21st November 2021

St Paul’s Athens

 

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. Please observe the 1.5m distancing regulation at all times and masks must be worn. Coffee is served after the Liturgy in the garden.  

 

The presiding priest and preacher is Fr. Leonard. The deacon is The Revd. Deacon Christine Saccali.

 

Entrance Hymn   352 Crown him with many crowns

 

Priest:  Blessed be the kingdom of God

All:       Now and for ever.

Priest:  The Lord be with you.

 All:      and also with you

 The priest welcomes the people of God and the deacon then leads us into Confession.

Deacon: Lord, you are gracious and compassionate:

Kyrie eleison

All:          Kyrie eleison

Deacon: You are loving to all and your mercy is over all your creation:

Christe eleison

All:          Christe eleison

Deacon: Your faithful servants bless your name and speak of the glory of your kingdom:

Kyrie eleison

All:          Kyrie eleison

 

Absolution we hear the words of God’s forgiveness to those who are truly penitent

 

Gloria: Glory in the highest to the God of heaven;

Peace to all your people through the earth be given.

Mighty God and Father, thanks and praise we bring,

Singing Alleluia to our heavenly King.

 

Jesus Christ is risen, God the Father’s Son;

With the Holy Spirit, you are the Lord alone.

Lamb once killed for sinners, all our guilt to bear,

Show us now your mercy, now receive our prayer

 

Christ the world’s true Saviour, high and holy one,

Seated now and reigning from your Father’s throne

Lord and God, we praise you! Highest heaven adores

In the Father’s glory, all the praise be yours!

 

Collect:  Let us pray    (remain standing as the priest prays the Collect of the Day)   

Eternal Father, whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King; keep the church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

First Reading    (please sit)                             Daniel 7, 9-10, 13-14 (Reader: Jane Mandalios)

As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne;
his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousand served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgement, and the books were opened. As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

Reader:  This is the word of the Lord.

All:          Thanks be to God.

 

Second Reading                                           Revelation 1, 4-8               (Melissa Dixon)

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Reader: This is the word of the Lord.

All:         Thanks be to God

 

Gospel Hymn   439  (omit *verses) Praise to the holiest

 

Gospel Reading       

Deacon:  Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus Christ is the firstborn from the dead; to him be glory and power for ever and ever.

Alleluia!   (sung)

Deacon:   The Lord be with you

All:            and also with you

Deacon:   Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John (John 18, 33-37)

All:            Glory to you, O Lord

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Deacon: This is the gospel of the Lord

All:          Praise to you, O Christ

 Sermon  (Please sit)  Some sermons are available on the website

 

Creed  (please stand as we declare our faith)

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; hear our prayer       (Angelos Palioudakis)

 

The Peace: (please stand)

 Priest: The kingdom of God is a kingdom of justice, love and peace. The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

All:        and also with you

 

Offertory Hymn  338 At the name of Jesus   (The Collection will be taken)

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 forever!

Priest:  Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine    to offer. Fruit of the field and work of human hands, it will become for us the cup of salvation.

All:   Blessed be God forever!

 

The Great Thanksgiving Prayer (please remain standing for this)

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

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For with the oil of gladness you have anointed Christ the Lord, your only Son, to be our great high priest and king of all creation. As priest, he offered himself once for all upon the altar of the cross and redeemed the human race by this perfect sacrifice of peace. As king he claims dominion over all your creatures, that he might bring before your infinite majesty a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace. And so with angels and archangels and all the heavenly host,
we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Sanctus:    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.

Deacon:  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. AMEN

 

The Lord’s Prayer:  (to be prayed in your own first language)

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:   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

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 Holy Communion – only the bread is distributed at this time.  

 

Communion Hymn:  353  Dear Lord and Father

 

Post Communion Prayer: Let us pray     (please stand)

Priest: Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; that they being plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

All: Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory.  Amen

 

Notices followed by:   Post Communion hymn: 436  Praise my soul

 

The Blessing and Dismissal

Priest:      Christ our King make you faithful and strong to do his will, that you may reign

with him in glory; and the blessing….

Deacon:  Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

All:           In the name of Christ. Amen

 

Fr. Leonard’s usual Day Off – Monday 

Home tel :  210 72 14 906;  email anglican@otenet.gr

Deacon Chris: Day off –  Friday

Swedish Church: contact Fr. Bjorn on  694 607 2428

 

 

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