A Service for Remembrance Sunday – 13th November 2022

Welcome to our worship on this Remembrance Sunday. A particular welcome to His Excellency Matthew Lodge, British Ambassador, and Captain Alex Bush (RN), Defence Attache. This Worship is led by The Revd. Canon Leonard Doolan, Senior Chaplain, who is also the preacher. There is a Noon ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery at Alimos.

 

Priest:      Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

All:            and also with you.

Priest:      O Lord, open our lips

All:            and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Priest:      Give us the joy of your saving help

All:            and sustain us with your life-giving Spirit.

Hymn:    

1 God is our strength and refuge,
our present help in trouble,

and we therefore will not fear,
though the earth should change!
Though mountains shake and tremble,
though swirling floods are raging,

God the Lord of hosts is with us evermore!

 

2 There is a flowing river

within God’s holy city;
God is in the midst of her-
she shall not be moved!
God’s help is swiftly given,
thrones vanish at his presence-
God the Lord of hosts is with us evermore!

3 Come, see the works of our maker,
learn of his deeds all-powerful:
wars will cease across the world
when he shatters the spear!
Be still and know your creator,
uplift him in the nations-
God the Lord of hosts is with us evermore!                       After Psalm 46, Richard Bewes (born 1934)

© Richard Bewes/Jubilate Hymns

 

Ever- living God, we remember those whom you have gathered from the storm of war into the peace of your presence; may that same peace calm our fears, bring justice to all peoples, and establish harmony among the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Prayers of Penitence

Let us confess to God the sins and shortcomings of the world; its pride, its selfishness, its greed; its evil divisions and hatreds. Let us confess our share in what is wrong, and our failure to seek and establish that peace which God wills for his people.

 

All:           Lord God, we have sinned against you;

                 we have done evil in your sight.

                 We are sorry and repent.

                 Have mercy on us according to your love.

                 Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.

                 Renew a right spirit within us and restore us to the joy of your salvation;

                 through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Priest:      May the Father of all mercies cleanse you from your sins, and restore you

in his image to the praise and glory of his name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All:            Amen

 

Reading from the prophecy of Malachi: Malachi 4, 1-2   (read by the British Defence Attaché, Captain Alex Bush, Royal Navy)   

See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.  

Reader: This is the word of the Lord

All:         Thanks be to God                                                  

 

Hymn  417  ‘O God our help in ages past’

 

Reading from the Gospel of St. Luke: Luke 21, 5-19  (read by the British Ambassador, His Excellency Matthew Lodge)    

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance, for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Reader:  This is the word of the Lord

All:          Thanks be to God

Sermon    (sermons are available on the St. Paul’s website in print and pre-recorded)

 

Anthem: Pie Iesu  (Faure)

 

The Apostles’ Creed  (please stand)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.  On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of God the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.    Amen.

 

Intercessions  (Please kneel or sit) Lord in your mercy,  Hear our prayer.  (Jean Mertzanakis)

 

Act of Commitment: Led by Deacon Christine (please stand)

Deacon: Let us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God and our fellow men and women; that we may help, encourage and comfort others, and support those working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of the nations.

All: Lord God our Father, we pledge ourselves to serve you and all mankind, in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering, and for the praise of your name. Guide us by your Spirit; give us wisdom; give us courage; give us hope; and keep us faithful now and for ever. Amen.

 

Deacon: Gathering our prayers and praises into one, as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray:

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.

 

Hymn  354   ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’.

 

Hymn  354   ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’.

 

Priest:    They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will

remember them.

All:          We will remember them

                A short silence will follow

 

National Anthem of the United Kingdom:

God save our gracious King

Long live our noble King,

God save our King.

Send him victorious

Happy and glorious

Long to reign over us

God save the King.

 

Priest:   God grant to the living grace, to the departed rest, to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth and all people, unity, peace and concord, and to us and all God’s servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.

 

Captain Alex Bush then says: ‘When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.’

 

Fr. Leonard’s usual Days Off – Monday & Tuesday  (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

 

Notices :

• The new church history and guide book ‘OPENING the DOORS’ is now available at the cost of €10,00.
• Remembrance Sunday – November 13^th. Poppies are for sale this morning.
• A POS is available so you can make your Sunday donation by card
• Join the online Prayer Group each Tuesday morning at 09.00 – see website for the Zoom link.
• Community Connect Coffee Mornings – every second Wednesday 11.00-13.00. Nov 16^th (change of date!); Dec 14^th (both in Swedish Centre). Contact Anne Dedes if you need information.
• Christmas Bazaar – at the Foyer of the Amphitheatre of the War Museum – December 4^th. Contact Lynn Stavrou for details.  St Paul’s will be open the week leading up to the Bazaar for things to be delivered. (10.00-14.00hrs)
• Christmas Services: Sunday 18^th December 18.00 Carols Sing-a-long

                                     Saturday 24^th December 18.00  Lessons and Carols

                                     Sunday 25^th December 10.00  Christmas Morning Liturgy

• View our Website:   anglicanchurchathens.gr
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• Liturgical material © the Archbishops’ Council.