11th Sunday after Trinity (August 23rd 2020)

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here

for the first time or visiting Athens. Due to Government COVID-19 restrictions protective masks must be worn at all times in the church AND in the garden. There are no refreshments after the Liturgy, and we are not permitted yet to sing any hymns. Seating – try to ensure you are 1.5m away from any neighbour. Thank you for your co-operation as together we seek to control this virus in Greece. The presiding priest is Fr. Leonard. The preacher is Alice Karanja.

 

Entrance: 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

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

Silence and stillness follows

 

All:  Father eternal, giver of light and grace, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour, in what we have thought, in what we have said and done, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We have wounded your love, and marred your image in us. We are sorry and ashamed, and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past; and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light. Amen.

 

Absolution: Almighty God, who forgives all 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 sin 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 Father. Amen.

 

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

God of glory, the end of our searching, help us to lay aside all that prevents us from seeking your kingdom, and to give all that we have to gain the pearl beyond all price, through Christ our Saviour. Amen.

 

First Reading    (please sit)                                                         Romans 12, 1-8

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Reader:  This is the word of the Lord

All:          Thanks be to God.

 

Gospel Reading        (turn towards the gospel book)

Reader:     Alleluia! Alleluia! The word of the Lord endures for ever. The word of the Lord

is good news announced to you.  Alleluia!

All (said):  Alleluia            

Reader:     The Lord be with you

All:             and also with you

Reader:     Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew (Matt. 16, 13-20)

All:             Glory to you, O Lord

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

At the end of the Gospel

Reader:   This is the gospel of the Lord

All:            Praise to you, O Christ. 

 

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

 

Creed   (Please stand)  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:  (please sit or kneel)   Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer. Intercessor: Linda Paparsenos

 

Peace:  Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be called children of God. We meet in the name of Christ and share his peace. The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All:        And also with you.

 

(The bread and wine, signs of work and life are placed on the altar and received with the words)

Priest:  Wise and gracious God, you spread a table before us; nourish your people with the word of life and the bread of heaven.

All:       Amen.

 

Your collection this morning should be placed in the basket as you leave church.

 

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

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 in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 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.

Priest:     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 your own 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 the risen Christ.

All:       Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

 

Said:   Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us

             Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us

             Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world, 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 come forward to receive the body of Christ. If you wish you may receive a blessing. Please let the Sides-people guide you forward. Keep your distance of 1.5m.  

 

Post Communion Prayer:  Let us pray     (please stand)

Lord of all mercy, we your faithful people have celebrated that one true sacrifice which takes away our sins and brings pardon and peace: by our communion keep us firm on the foundation of the gospel and preserve us from all sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

All: We thank you, Lord, that you have fed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet prepared for all peoples.  Amen.

 

Notices

 

Blessing and Dismissal

Priest:     The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in

the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and the

blessing…. Amen.

 

Priest:     Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

All:           In the name of Christ. Amen.

 

Next Week’s Readings:  Romans 12, 1-8; Matthew 16, 13-20

 

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. Christine is on leave most of August

Swedish Church: Fr. Bjorn is recuperating from a serious illness – no contacts please

 

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. We can also receive donations by PayPal – there is a link on our Website.

 

Fundraising and Special Services for Autumn/Winter 2020