sermon news
03/10/2020 In Sermons & Services

Sermon Preached on 27th September 2020 – Creationtide

Deacon Chris Saccali

 

MAY I SPEAK IN THE NAME OF THE LIVING GOD, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.

I had just brought the washing in and was settling down for a siesta when my husband came in holding a photo on his phone. Our granddaughter’s latest escapade, I thought but no it was a picture of a snake basking in the sun on the flagstones! It turned out it was an Ottoman adder after consultation with Google. Now it is a long time since we have found or seen snakes on our property.

Creation and nature seem to be making a come back even though we are told species are dwindling. This is the season of creation from beginning of September through to 4th October St Francis feast day instituted by Patriarch Dimitrios in 1989. This year is entitled Jubilee for the Earth which combines ecological and economic justice. It reveals the truth that our redemption from financial indebtedness and material poverty is inextricably intertwined with the redemption of the land from wanton extraction and pursuit of profit. We are encouraged as Christians to hold a climate Sunday service during this year.

This past week has been international climate week. Prince Charles, a friend to this church and a staunch activist on Climate said this week at the virtual opening: COVID 19 offered a window of opportunity to reset the economy for a more sustainable and inclusive future. He added the pandemic was a wake up call we cannot ignore.Remember Prince Charles suffered himself from COVID earlier in the year.

At the end of August I preached on a lockdown psalm and today it seems appropriate to use another psalm, so relevant in these times when the world seems to be facing a second wave and CO20 summit due to take place later this year has been held over until 2021. This piece is written by Rev Dr David Pickering based on psalm13:

‘How long?’ cries the psalmist, facing seeming abandonment in the face of affliction.

‘How long? ‘Cries the psalmist, expressing as enemies assail.

3,000 years on we too may cry, ‘How long will the shadow of illness surround me or a loved one?

How long shall lockdown separate me from my loved ones?’

‘How long, cries Greta , on behalf of the world’s youth, will we ignore the house on fire?’

‘How long?’ speaks Sir David on behalf of the scientific community, will policy fall short of evidence?’

‘How long, Extinction rebellion prophetically protest, must we wait for a zero –carbon, just and green new normal?’

By articulating their concern the psalmist starts the transforming journey from their hurting hungry, heart.

Their next cry, ‘give light that i may see your light.’

Opens way to a renewed faith and trust in God.

The psalmist’s journey from a problem stated

To action taken, is one of engagement and hope.

It is so in our lives, for the way of healing

Is lined with with care of body, mind and soul,

And the loneliness of lockdown

May  be overcome with phone call, post and messaging.

Liewise, the Greta, Sir David and rebellious prophet within us all being concerned for the well being on earth, know of the imperative that policy follows science,

That personal rights shouldn’t trump community wellbeing. Today’s choices should be mindful of tomorrow’s generations.

We stand as Moses once did overlooking the river to the promised land beyond.

In a post lockdown world do we just gaze over a fictitious land of hope and dreams?

Or do we choose life, setting off to a just and green new normal to which we are called and ultimately born to run?

As heart cries, How long may eyes’ light see through darkness and hope lead the way.

We need to hold on to the Christian promise of hope in these times more than ever and be a beacon of Christ’s light to others and for the world. To this end on 18th September our Diocese in Europe held a service for Creation. You can follow this service on youtube if you missed it. On the very same day I followed it, Greece was watching the progress and path of Ianos the medicane Mediterranean storm. This is a rare weather phenomenon in this part of the world, parts of the plain of Thessaly, a rich normally productive and fertile land will see no harvest this year and maybe for many more. We have also been observing fires across the world and the pandemic , the root of this word meaning pan dimos all population in Greek, has affected us all.

How can scripture connect with this? We declare that Christ is the new creation when we use the words of Philippians as a creed. What we are saying is that only Christ, Son of God, can bring fullness out of emptiness life out of death. This is the meaning of kenotic.

Jesus is not always sweetness and light. Increasingly we have had readings in Matthew’s gospel of justice and fairness and how this applies to all with no exceptions, like the pandemic. In this parable which is told just after Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. He has overturned the money lenders tables outside the temple and his behaviour is challenging the Jewish norms.

 

We have not been promised an easy life or one without challenges to embrace. Creation is groaning and we are still crying how long O Lord? Mankind and creation is facing several challenges at this time. However, we are called as Christians in these times and that means we have to grapple with them. James Baldwin, the American author says: ‘We cannot change everything we face but we have to face it in order to bring change.’

As Christians in the year of our Lord 2020 what does justice across the board look like for mankind and the planet we live on and have been put in charge of by our Maker?

AMEN

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02/10/2020 In Blog News

APPEAL FOR DONATIONS FROM FR LEONARD DOOLAN – CHAPLAIN OF ST PAUL’S.

These have been challenging times for all of us and particularly so for organisations such as ourselves who are self-financing and have no income save from the generosity of those who worship here.  During Lockdown we had to lock our doors – our services were suspended, and all the concerts were cancelled – 90% of our income has gone.   We are open again but with restrictions. So our situation is pretty dismal.

If you feel you could support us you can send us a donation either in Greece or the UK.

Our online banking details are on our website – Click here to take you to our Donations page . If you are a UK Taxpayer you will find details there, of how to increase the worth of your donation to the Chaplaincy with no extra cost to yourself through “Gift Aid”.

There has been an Anglican presence in Greece since 1843, but like any organisation we need funds to survive and ensure our future.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and God Bless you.

24/09/2020 In Blog News

16th Sunday after Trinity – 27th September 2020

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

for the first time or visiting Athens. Mmasks must be worn at all times in the church and in the garden we must keep a 1.5metre distance from each other OR wear a mask. People from the same household can sit normally together. One of the sidespeople will direct you forward for Holy Communion. Your collection should be placed in the envelope provided and placed in one of the offering bags as you leave. There are individualized worksheets for children – please ask. There is coffee after the Liturgy (€1,00 to help church funds!)

The presiding priest is Fr. Leonard. The preacher is Deacon Christine.

 

Entrance Hymn:  336

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 the deacon 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 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.

 

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 glory of God the Father. Amen.

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Bread of Life
17/09/2020 In Blog News

15th Sunday after Trinity – 20th September 2020

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

for the first time or visiting Athens. Masks must be worn at all times in the church and in the garden we must keep a 1.5metre distance from each other OR wear a mask. People from the same household can sit normally together. One of the sidespeople will direct you forward for Holy Communion. Your collection should be placed in the envelope provided and placed in one of the offering bags as you leave. There are individualized worksheets for children – please ask. There is coffee after the Liturgy (€1,00 to help church funds!)

 

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

 

Entrance Hymn:  234 (2nd tune)

 

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 the deacon 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 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.

 

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 glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

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

Lord God, defend your Church from all false teaching and give to your people knowledge of your truth, that we may enjoy eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Reading                                                                                        Philippians 1, 21-end

It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.

 Reader:  This is the word of the Lord

All:          Thanks be to God

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sermon news
16/09/2020 In Sermons & Services

Holy Cross Sunday – 13th September 2020: Philippians 2, 6-11; John 3, 13-17

Fr Leonard Doolan – St Paul’s Athens

 

There was nothing remarkable about the day when Jesus from the town of Nazareth was crucified on a hill outside the city wall of Jerusalem.

City life was going on as usual – hustle bustle, trading, noise, the shout of haggling. It was probably a bit manic that day in the street markets because not only was it the day that Sabbath would begin, but that particular year it was also the day before Passover. The residents of Jerusalem were actually occupied with their own dometic concerns. The fact that the Romans were crucifying some criminals and trouble makers was not important enough to detract them from their priorities. Of course, the families and friends of those being crucified would have gathered at Golgotha. Remember, this was not yet ‘Good Friday’ nor a public holiday.

There was nothing remarkable that Jesus of Nazareth was being crucified. His was not a unique punishment. Indeed the gospel narratives tell us of at least 2 others, who were robbers, being crucified alongside him. That doesn’t mean there were not others also. Crucifixion was commonplace. The main road that ran south from the city of Rome was the Via Appia. This Appian Way was the nearest the Roman civilization had to an autobahn, an autostrada, motorway, αυτοκινητόδρομος.

The Appian Way was busy with traffic, merchants, businessmen, traders, in carriages, horseback and on foot. It was normal to see crucified criminals either side of this main road.

 

Crucifixion was one of the normal methods of punishment inflicted by the Roman authorities. It was a horrible death, yes, but the most important feature is that it was very public. It was an overt display of what happened to those who both committed crimes, but also those who threatened the Roman state, either in Italy, or in a vassal state. This state was neurotic about insurrection – nothing must be allowed that threatened what they considered to be the Pax Romana.

The followers of Jesus had a different perspective, of course. Those who gathered there at Golgotha were witnessing the public punishment, and slow death, of the man they loved as a preacher and teacher; a man at whose hands miracles had happened; a man they had become convinced was God’s Messiah, the harbinger who would bring in the Kingdom of God on earth.

Their grief would have been palpable as they wept, swooned, and supported each other. St. John tells us (John 19, 25) that Mary, the mother of Jesus was one of them, along with Mary wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. The disciple John was also there, but plenty of the closest friends of Jesus are not recorded as being there to see the death of their ‘master’. Yet, so many had seen this man’s works – his signs and wonders.

Disappointment and grief is shared. Grief will be transformed to joy, but they are ignorant of this as yet on an unremarkable, normal day just outside Jerusalem.

 

With hindsight St. Paul can write about this same man, and the cross he died on, in a different way. Paul personally experiences and shares the joy and the light which is the flip of the shadow side of the cross – the Risen Lord. When he writes to the Christians in Philippi he speaks of God and the cross is an entirely new and radical way. Jesus is none other than the form of God, equal to God – God emptied in Jesus (kenosis); Jesus is as a slave is, humbled, obedient, crucified. Yet at the same time in this terrible self-sacrificial act, he is exalted, has pre-eminence; every knee will bow before him and all confess him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. The cross of shame is the throne of glory, and in this man Jesus we see the fullness of the God in whom we believe, and in whom we are being saved.

When the Empress St. Helena, mother of Emperor St. Constantine, decides to make a pilgrimage to the homeland of this man Jesus, whom she accepts as Lord and God, she asks for the blessing of the Pope in Rome. In Evelyn Waugh’s lovely novel called Helena the conversation goes like this.

‘Where is the cross anyway?’ She asked. ‘What cross, my dear?’ ‘The only one, the real one’. ‘I don’t know. I don’t think anyone knows. I don’t think anyone has ever asked before.’ Pope Sylvester goes on to say, ‘You’ll tell me, won’t you? – if you are successful.’ ‘I’ll tell the world.’

In Jerusalem at Golgotha Helena is guided to search in an area covered with basil bushes – of course, the plant of ‘the King’. Just as I said earlier the hill was covered in bits of wood – the tradition is that when the right bits were put together a dead man was placed on it and came alive again.

Helena was as good as her word, and the whole world now knows of her ‘invention’, her discovery. We too are commanded to tell the whole world about the mystery of the cross, and the man Jesus, crucified for us to guide us home to the Father, the man Jesus raised by God from the dead, the man whom the early disciples, Mary, Paul, Helena, and billions of people since, have worshipped, bent the knee, and confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Go, and baptise all the nations’ he tells us.’ (Matt 28, 19)

Philippians 2, 6-11 expresses for us superbly, in St. Paul’s words, a paradigm – THE paradigm – of God in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. St. John (John 3, 16), expresses it in this way, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life’.

In our own day the paradigm of God has much to teach us – the paradigm (παράδειγμα) is our example of Godly living, and at its heart is the mystery of the cross, humility, self -emptying, obedience. It is when we accept this that we can share in the mystery of our faith.

This paradigm turns upside down and inside out everything that we assume God will be. We assume that God is, in our human understanding of these words, all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent, yet Paul’s words in Philippians bring us to kneel at the feet of the one whose power and might rested in him not exercising this. I have used before the phrase, ‘the power of power not exercised.’

In Jesus, the man who died unnoticed by most people at a place where hundreds were put to death, by a method that was common-place, God chose to dwell fully, and show forth his glory in a manger in a stable, and on a cross on a little hill. As people of faith, we need to look at everything we do, everything we see, everything we assume, everything we collude with, everything we tacitly support, and apply to it the paradigm of the cross – a sign that in God’s kingdom nothing is what we expect.

In Greece this week, on the island of Lesbos, something tragic happened – we all know about it. Each of us will have a variety of views and reactions to what happened at the Moria Refugee camp. Those views might be coloured by where you live – suppose you live in Mytilene or one of the villages around it. Your view might be coloured by how the presence of this vast blight of a refugee camp has affected tourism, with the knock on effect on your hotel, your restaurant, your livelihood, the school where your children attend.

Your view might be coloured by what you think about refugees and migrants and their impact on Greece and Europe generally, and why does the EU not do more to help Greece; why should refugees be given cash cards to buy groceries when elderly Greek women, citizens, our mother or grand-mother’s age have to open the big street pedal bins to try and find something to eat or wear, or sell on for a few cents? You might be angry because your taxes are paying for the camp that was burned down by those it was built for; your taxes now pay for 900 police officers on one small Aegean island.

Your view might be one of exasperation that we allow such refugee camps to exist at all; that they are inhumane, undignified, soul destroying, a sign of our failure and the failure of the nations.

These views and many others will colour the way we respond and react to complex situations of human challenge and misery. Whatever our view, we must return again and again to the Philippian’s paradigm of Paul to rediscover what our faith says to us, and how we understand ourselves and our world, in relation to the kenotic God, who emptied himself for the sake of his love for us.

 

It is extraordinary, is it not, that this man who died on a fairly normal busy day, with just a handful of friends around him, in a way that common criminals were punished, on a little hill outside Jerusalem, should have such a powerful hold on our lives and in the shaping of our world – the mystery of that cross.

‘You’ll tell me, won’t you?-if you are successful.’ ‘I’ll tell the world.’

Bible Study Blog
08/09/2020 In Announcements, Blog News

Fr Leonards Sermons, virtual and viral, for Lent, Holy Week & Easter 2020

The Anglican Church in Greece (Church of England)

The Revd. Canon Leonard Doolan

Karneadou 6, Athens 10675 Greece

Tel (0030) 210 721 4906                                                    August 2020

 

During the worst weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown thousands of faithful priests and pastors were preparing to preach Sunday by Sunday, or day by day, seeking to keep Christ’s people engaged with the mysteries of the holy season of Lent, Holy Week, and the ‘Great Weeks’ of Easter.

These were challenging days – not yet behind us by any means – for preachers to address the scriptures set for this season, but at the same time to acknowledge the realities of the global pandemic that prevented most, if not all social and human public activity, including worship. Suddenly we had to be creative and make use of different media platforms in our attempts to ‘keep together in isolation’.

In Athens I did my best to wrestle with new technology that took me way beyond my normal comfort zone ‘blending’ the ancient art of preaching with the contemporary possibilities of Zoom. I have to admit that it was not like oil and water, as my initial skepticism might have concluded. The blend of printed copies of sermons sent by email, texts placed on the website, pre-recorded versions emailed out, ‘virtually’ live preaching on Zoom, and then sermons delivered on Zoom and in St. Paul’s church respecting local restrictions, all of these somehow seem to have worked, with considerable appreciation from our congregation and ‘para’ congregation.

I was delightfully encouraged when a couple of people suggested that my sermons prepared over this period should be brought together and published in a small booklet. That initial suggestion, much to my surprise, has come about.

There is no delusion in publishing these sermons, by the way. They are not the best sermons you will ever read, and so much could have been better said, and has been, in the hands of other fine preachers. However, I think the interest lies in the nature of the background of the sermons. Never before have we preached in Lent, Holy Week and Easter with a pandemic raging away, devastating so many lives and disrupting global and local economies; shutting down work patterns and adding to our already existing anxieties in the relationship between humanity and the Creation.

This little booklet of sermons may have some lasting interest simply because in the future someone might be interested to observe how one preacher went about his business during the COVID-19 experience.

To order a copy email: anglican@otenet.gr  Cost €5,00 (all proceeds to St. Paul’s Church)  p&p  €2.50 within Greece; €5,00 outside Greece.

Holy Cross
05/09/2020 In Blog News

Holy Cross Sunday (September 13th 2020)

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

for the first time or visiting Athens. We will have some gentle singing this morning – masks must be worn at all times in the church and in the garden and we must attempt to keep 1.5m distance. People from the same household can sit normally together. One of the sidespeople will direct you forward for Holy Communion. Your collection should be placed in the envelope provided and placed in one of the offering bags as you leave. There is coffee again in the garden after the Liturgy – masks and social distancing please! Coffee is €1,00 (to help church finances)

 

The presiding priest and preacher is Fr. Leonard.

 

Entrance Hymn:  the organ will play two verses of hymn 237

 

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 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.

 

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 glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

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

Almighty God, who in the passion of your blessed Son made an instrument of painful death to be for us the means of life and peace; grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we gladly suffer for his sake; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one god, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Reading                                                                                        Philippians 2, 6-11

Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself  and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Reader:  This is the word of the Lord

All:          Thanks be to God

 

Gospel Hymn: The organ will play a verse of hymn 92  

Gospel Reading        (turn towards the gospel book)

Priest:       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            

Priest:       The Lord be with you

All:             and also with you

Priest:       Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John (John 3, 13-17)

All:             Glory to you, O Lord  

No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

At the end of the Gospel

Priest:      This is the gospel of the Lord

All:            Praise to you, O Christ. 

The organ will play a well known Alleluia tune

 

Sermon  (Please sit)  Most sermons are available on the website in print and pre-recorded

 

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: Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer  (Magdalen Imarghiagbe)

 

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.

We are currently not shaking hands with ours neighbours, but please greet each other.

 

(The bread and wine, signs of our work and life, are brought forward to the altar and received with the words)

 

The organ will play three verses of hymn 295

 

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.

 

The Great Thanksgiving Prayer    ( Please remain standing for this- in the responses please sing gently while keeping your mask on)

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:  It is indeed right and good, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Today we celebrate with songs of praise the cross, the victory-sign of Christ. Once through the fruit of the forbidden tree we fell, now through this tree our Saviour cancels all our sin. An instrument of shameful death has become for Christ a throne of glory. The power of the life-giving cross reveals the judgement that has come upon the world and the triumph of Christ crucified. And so, with choirs of angels and with all the heavenly host, we proclaim your glory and join their unending hymn of praise:

All: (sing gently) 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.

 

Sung:   (sung gently)

             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.  

 

Communion Hymn:  the organ will play hymn 307

 

Post Communion Prayer:  Let us pray     (please stand)

Faithful God, whose Son bore our sins in his body on the tree and gave us this sacrament to show forth his death until he comes: give us grace to glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life and our hope, who reigns as Lord, now and forever. 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.

 

Blessing and Dismissal

Priest:        Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

All:              In the name of Christ. Amen.

 

Next Week’s Readings: Trinity 15    Philippians 1, 21-end; Matthew 20, 1-16

 

 

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.

Swedish Church: contact Fr. Bjorn on  694 607 2428

For all concert bookings and enquiries:  6937257578 and see booking form on website.

 

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 income other than from the generosity of those who worship here.

 

  1. Notices : The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be on Sunday 20th Nomination forms for Council Membership and Church Wardens will be available soon.
  2. Easter – Virtual and Viral A book of sermons preached by Fr. Leonard during the first weeks of lockdown. Cost €5,00 – all income from sales will go to St. Paul’s Church.
  3. Church Council will meet on Saturday 12th at 10.30am in St. Paul’s.
  4. Community Connect coffee Morning – this Wednesday at 11.00-12.30
  5. If you feel competent to ‘run’ Zoom in church so we can livestream our services, please speak with Fr. Leonard this morning. 

  6. FUNDRAISING AND SPECIAL SERVICES FOR AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

  7. Saturday 26th September – there will be a church garden Autumn Sale from 10.00-15.00 hours. (Planning Meeting after Liturgy on 13th)
  8. Sunday 4th October – Feast of St. Francis. At noon there will be a Blessing of Pets service in St. Paul’s. Gift envelopes will be printed up and available for donations. 10% of the collection will go to an animal charity.

    Saturday 10th October – ‘Gift Day’ from 11.00-13.00hrs Fr. Leonard will be at the church to receive donations from individuals in thanksgiving for St. Paul’s Church. Envelopes will be available and a ‘Giving Blessing’ will be offered.

    Christmas Bazaar – 22nd November. We must assume it will go ahead as normal. There will be an open meeting for stall holders/interested individuals on Saturday 17th October at 11.00 in St. Paul’s. We need a co-ordinator/s.

    Quiz Nights – Jean Mertzenakis has arranged three nights before Christmas. Sept 11th(cancelled), Oct 16th, Nov 13th, Dec 4th.

    Community Connect Coffee Mornings: Sept 9th (Church Garden) Oct 14th, Nov 11th venue to be confirmed (Other Coffee Mornings – the last Sunday of each month in the Church garden)

    Wine Tasting- Anne Kokotos has agreed an Autumn wine tasting. The date is to be confirmed and we hope it will be in the Garden of the British Residence

    Christmas Carol Singalong – 2 December dates this year, Dec 6th and 20th both at 18.30.

 

sermon news
05/09/2020 In Sermons & Services

Trinity 13 – 6 September 2020: : Romans 13, 9-end; Matthew 18, 15-20.

Revd. Canon Leonard Doolan – St Paul’s  Athens

 

In all of the four gospels Jesus only uses the word ‘church’ twice. The Greek word is εκκλεσία. In ancient Greek the word is used for an assembly of citizens and the word comes from a verb that means ‘to shut out’. So an ekklesia literally means an assembly where those who are not its members are shut out.

Both times this word ekklesia is attributed to Jesus occur in the central section of St. Matthew’s gospel. The first occasion is where Jesus gives to Simon the additional name of Peter, the rock on which Jesus says he will build his church, his assembly of members, his ekklesia. There is something very prophetic in this message from Jesus as after his death and resurrection small communities of faith in the risen Lord began to emerge from Judaism in Jerusalem and the whole Mediterranean region, many visited and encouraged by St. Paul.

The second occasion ekklesia occurs in St. Matthew’s gospel is in the reading we heard this morning. It is basically a passage about resolving conflict, suggesting a protocol for those who feel sinned against by fellow members of the assembly (ekklesia) and how it is to be resolved.

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