A service for Remembrance Sunday – 14th November 2021 – St Paul’s Athens and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Alimos
Welcome to our worship on this Remembrance Sunday. A particular welcome to His Excellency Matthew Lodge, British Ambassador, and Captain Alex Bush, 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
Fr. Leonard then welcomes people informally and then prays:
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 Old Testament : Wisdom 6, 12-16 (read by the British Defence Attaché, Captain Alex Bush, Royal Navy)
Hymn 417 ‘O God our help in ages past’
Reading from the New Testament: Matthew 25, 1-13 (read by the British Ambassador, His Excellency Matthew Lodge)
Sermon (sermons are available on the St. Paul’s website in print and pre-recorded)
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.
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’.
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 Queen
Long live our noble Queen,
God save our Queen.
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save the Queen.
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.’
SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE AT THE
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION CEMETERY
ALIMOS, ATHENS
SUNDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2021 12.00 noon
LEST WE FORGET
12.00 – Ceremony begins
Introduction by British Defence Attaché, Captain Alex Bush Royal Navy
Welcome address by the British Ambassador, His Excellency Matthew Lodge
Service led by Revd Canon Leonard Doolan
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Phaleron War Cemetery at Alimos
The site of what is now Phaleron War Cemetery was chosen by the British military authorities, in conjunction with the Greek Government and the Army Graves Service, as the most suitable site for a Second World War cemetery for the whole of mainland Greece. There are now 2,029 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. Also within the cemetery are the Phaleron Cremation Memorial, commemorating 74 men of the army of undivided India who died during the campaigns in Greece and Crete during the Second World War, and the Athens Memorial, commemorating nearly 3,000 members of the land forces of the Commonwealth who lost their lives during the campaigns in Greece and Crete in 1941 and 1944-1945, in the Dodecanese Islands in 1943-1945 and in Yugoslavia in 1943-1945, and who have no known grave. Both the cemetery and the Athens Memorial were designed by Louis de Soissons.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was founded in 1917 and honours the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars. It maintains cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries, in addition to the preservation of extensive records and archives.
ORDER OF SERVICE
Military personnel are asked to remove caps.
The words in bold type, other than the headings, we say together.
THE GATHERING
All gather in silence.
Presiding Minister:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
This I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning. Lamentations 3.21-23
The Presiding Minister continues:
We meet in the presence of God.
We commit ourselves to work in penitence and faith for reconciliation between the nations that all people may, together,
live in freedom, justice and peace.
We pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror.
We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present,
have been given and taken away.
Hymn
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul he doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E’en for his own name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill:
For thou art with me, and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
My table thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be. Psalm 23. Scottish Psalter, 1650
LISTENING FOR THE WORD FROM GOD
Read by a member of the Diplomatic Corps or the Armed Forces
Jesus said,
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.
Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5.3,6,9
May God give peace
God give peace
for all members of the armed forces who
are in danger this day, remembering
family, friends and all who pray for their
safe return;
May God give peace
God give peace
for peacemakers and peacekeepers,
who seek to keep this world secure and free;
May God give peace
God give peace
for all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership, political, military and religious; asking for gifts of wisdom and
resolve in the search for reconciliation and peace;
May God give peace
God give peace
Presiding Minister:
O God of truth and justice,
we hold before you those whose memory we cherish,
and those whose names we will never know.
Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of the broken world,
and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm.
As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future;
for you are the source of life and hope,
now and forever. Amen.
All are invited to join together in saying the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Πάτερ ημών, ο εν τοίς ουρανοἰς,
hallowed be thy name; αγιασθήτω το ονομά σου,
thy kingdom come; ελθέτω η βασιλεία σου,
thy will be done; γενηθήτω το θελημά σου,
on earth as it is in heaven. ως εν ουρανώ και επί της γης.
Give us this day our daily bread. Τον άρτον ημών τον επιούσιον
And forgive us our trespasses, δός ημiν σήμερον.
as we forgive those who trespass και άφες ημίν τα οφειλήματα ημών,
against us. ως και ημείς αφίεμεν τοις
And lead us not into temptation; οφειλέταις ημών.
but deliver us from evil. και μη εισενέγκης ημάς
For thine is the kingdom, εις πειρασμόν,
the power and the glory, αλλά ρύσαι ημάς
for ever and ever. Amen. από του πονηρού.
Prayers from other churches and Faith Traditions may be included here.
Military personnel are asked to replace their caps
REMEMBERING
Presiding minister says:
In peace let us remember.
A member of the Diplomatic Corps or of the Armed Forces says
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
A representative of the First Athens Brownies
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
we will remember them.
All affirm:
We will remember them.
Last Post: by a member of the Hellenic Armed Forces
One minute silence
Reveille: by a member of the Hellenic Armed Forces
Presiding Minister:
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
The wreaths are laid, during which musical accompaniment is provided by St Lawrence College
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, sung by Anna Argyrou, accompanied by Ms Diana Romeos.
A member of the Diplomatic Corps or of the Armed Forces says
When you go home
tell them of us and say,
‘For your tomorrow,
we gave our today.’ The Kohima Epitaph
Hymn
Praise my soul, the King of heaven,
To his feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me his praise should sing?
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise the everlasting King.
Praise him for his grace and favour
To our fathers in distress;
Praise him still the same for ever,
Slow to chide and swift to bless.
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise him! Praise him!
Glorious in his faithfulness.
Father- like, he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows;
In his hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise him! Praise him!
Widely as his mercy flows.
Angels, help us to adore Him;
Ye behold him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before him;
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise with us the God of grace. From Psalm 103. H. F. Lyte 1793- 1847
RESPONDING IN HOPE AND COMMITMENT
Presiding Minister:
Let us commit ourselves to responsible living and faithful service.
Will you strive for all that makes for peace?
We will
Will you seek to heal the wounds of war?
We will
Will you work for a just future for all humanity?
We will
Merciful God, we offer to you the fears in us that have not yet been cast out by love.
May we accept the hope you have placed in the hearts of all people, and live lives of justice, courage and
mercy, through Jesus Christ our redeemer. Amen
The National Anthems of the United Kingdom and Greece are played.
United Kingdom
God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen.
Greece
Σε γνωρίζω από την κόψη
Του σπαθιού την τρομερή,
Σε γνωρίζω από την όψη,
Που με βιά μετράει τη γη.
Απ’ τα κόκκαλα βγαλμένη
Των Ελλήνων τα ιερά,
Και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη,
Χαίρε, ω χαίρε, Ελευθεριά!
Presiding Minister:
God grant to the living grace, to the departed rest, to the Church, the State and all people, unity, peace and concord,
and to us and all God’s servants, life everlasting.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you all
and remain with you always. Amen.
We take our leave.
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