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Service Sheet for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity – 1st September 2024

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Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass) New English Hymnal numbers (tunes): Entrance: 285 (England’s Lane) For the beauty of the earth Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 15 Gradual: 500 (Irish) Thy kingdom come! on bended knee Offertory: 436 (Praise, My Soul) Praise, my soul, the King of heaven Post Communion: 456 (Sandys) Teach me, my God and King Recessional: 381 (Ewing) Jerusalem the golden All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy

 

A Reading from Deuteronomy (Deutoronomy 4: 1-2, 6-8) Moses said to the people: ‘Now, Israel, take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life and may enter and take possession of the land that the Lord the God of your fathers is giving you. You must add nothing to what I command you, and take nothing from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God just as I lay them down for you. Keep them, observe them, and they will demonstrate to the peoples your wisdom and understanding. When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, “No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation.” And indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation is there that has laws and customs to match this whole Law that I put before you today?’

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

 

Psalm 15: Response: O Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? 1 Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? Who may rest upon your holy hill? 2 Whoever leads an uncorrupt life And does the thing that is right; (Response) 3 Who speaks the truth from the heart and bears no deceit on the tongue; 4 Who does no evil to a friend and pours no scorn on a neighbour; (Response) 5 In whose sight the wicked are not esteemed, but who honours those who fear the Lord. 6 Whoever has sworn to a neighbour and never goes back on that word; (Response) 7 Who does not lend money in hope of gain, nor take a bribe against the innocent; 8 Whoever does these things Shall never fall. (Response)

 

A Reading from the Letter of James (James 1: 17-18, 21-22, 27)   It is all that is good, everything that is perfect, which is given us from above; it comes down from the Father of all light; with him there is no such thing as alteration, no shadow of a change. By his own choice he made us his children by the message of the truth so that we should be a sort of first-fruits of all that he had created. Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls. But you must do what the word tells you, and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves. Pure, unspoilt religion, in the eyes of God our Father is this: coming to the help of orphans and widows when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world. The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life: you have the message of eternal life.

 

The Lord be with you. And also with you. + A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23) Glory to you, O Lord.

 

(after the Gospel reading): The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

 

Prayer after communion: Lord, you renew us at your table with the bread of life. May this food strengthen us in love and help us to serve you in each other.

 

For our Prayers: All affected by the recent fires, for Peace with Justice in the Sudan, Ukraine and Russia, and Gaza. For the sick: Julia, Sherry, Helena, Jennifer, Jane, George Halkidis, Eva, Austin, Linda, Theodore, Sue, Guy, Margarita, Marcus, Christina, Theresa, Lodo, Dimitri, Fran, Nicholas, Eleftheria, and Christina and Daphne and for their carers

Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)

Church Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Weds. 4th September: 10 a.m. Low Mass; liturgy followed by refreshments

Sun. 8th September 10 a.m. Sung Mass; liturgy followed by refreshments

Coffee Morning: 12th September (Thursday) (10:00 a.m.)

Choral Evensong: Saturday 14th September; Sunday 27th October; Sunday 24th November; Sunday 22nd December (6:00 p.m.)

Autumn Bazaar: Saturday 28th September

Harvest Festival: Sunday 20th October

Study Group: details from Fr. Benjamin;  Walking Group: 7th September (details from Fr. Benjamin)

 

Donate via card by scanning the QR code, thank you for supporting St Paul’s Church

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Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury frbenjamindrury@gmail.com; Home tel.: 210 72 14 906 Deacon Christine Saccali : (Day Off: Friday) 697 737 7655 Church of Sweden: Fr. Bjorn Kling 694 6072428 Facebook @AnglicanAthens www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity – 25th August 2024

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Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

New English Hymnal numbers (tunes):

Entrance: 484 (Aurelia) The Church’s one foundation

Congregational Psalm: 467 (Ps. 34) Through all the changing scenes of life

Gradual: 332 (Miles Lane) All hail the power of Jesu’s name

Offertory: 449 (St. Ethelwald) Soldiers of Christ, arise

Post Communion: 276 (Bread of Heaven) Bread of heaven, on thee we feed

Recessional: 463 (Aus der Tiefe) Thine for ever! God of love

 

All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy.

 

A Reading from the Book of Joshua (24: 1-2a, 15-18)

 

24 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, 15 “if you be unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the re- gion beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should for- sake the Lord, to serve other gods; 17 for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land; therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

 

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

 

Congregational Psalm: 467 Psalm 34, Through all the changing scenes of life

 

Congregational Psalm: 467 Psalm 34, Through all the changing scenes of life

 

A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians (Eph. 6: 10-20)

 

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wicked- ness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; 16 besides all these, tak- ing the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts

 

of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that utterance

may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life: you have the message of eternal life.

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (John 6: 56-69)

Glory to you, O Lord.

 

56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.” 59 This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. 60 Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 66 After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him. 67 Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

 

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

 

For our Prayers: All affected by the recent fires, for Peace with Justice in

the Sudan, Ukraine and Russia, and Gaza.

For the sick: Julia, Sherry, Helena, Jennifer, Jane, George Halkidis, Eva, Austin, Linda, Theodore, Sue, Guy, Margarita, Marcus, Christina, There- sa, Lodo, Dimitri, Fran, Nicholas, Eleftheria, and Christina and Daphne and for their carers

 

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service:

Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Church Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Weds. 28th August: 10 a.m. Low Mass

Sun. 1st September 10 a.m. Sung Mass; liturgy followed by refresh- ments

 

Coffee Morning: 12th September

Choral Evensong: Saturday 14th September; Sunday 27th October; Sunday 24th November; Sunday 22nd December (6:00 p.m.)

Autumn Bazaar: Saturday 28th September Harvest Festival: Sunday 20th October

 

Donate via card by scanning the QR code, thank you for supporting St Paul’s Church.

QR Code

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury

frbenjamindrury@gmail.com;

Home tel.: 210 72 14 906

 

Deacon Christine Saccali : Day Off – Friday           697 737 7655 Swedish Church: Fr. Bjorn 694 6072428

 

Facebook @AnglicanAthens

www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

Assumption

Readings for Sunday 18th August 2024, The Blessed Virgin Mary, (Feast of the Assumption)

 

 

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Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)
New English Hymnal numbers (tunes):
Entrance: 478 (Laast uns Erfreuen) Ye watchers and ye holy ones
Canticle: 186 (Woodlands) Tell out, my soul (Magnificat)
Gradual: 185 (Abbot’s Leigh) Sing we of the blessed Mother
Offertory: 188 (Daily Daily) Ye who own the faith of Jesus
Post Communion: 180 (Ave Maris Stella) Hail, O Star that pointest
Recessional: 181 (Puer Nobis Nascitur) The Lord whom earth and sea and sky
All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy.

 

 

A Reading from the Revelation of St. John the Divine (Rev. 11:19-12:6,10)

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his cove- nant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

12 And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth,

in anguish for delivery. 3 And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; 5 she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

 

A Reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Galatians (Gal. 4:4-7)

4 But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because

you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, cry- ing, “Abba! Father!” 7 So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

 

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Mary has been taken up into heaven; all the choirs of angels are rejoicing.

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 1: 46- 55) Glory to you, O Lord.

46 And Mary said “My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm,

he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones,

and exalted those of low degree;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.

54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

 

For our Prayers: The world-wide Church & the homeless, those struggling with addiction and in recovery. For Peace with Justice in: Palestine-Israel, Armenia, Ukraine, Sudan, all Refugees and Aid Agencies. The Church in Gaza, all victims of war. All those affected by fires and natural disasters.

 

Church Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Weds. 21st August: 10 a.m. Low Mass

Sun. 25th August 10 a.m. Sung Mass; liturgy followed by refreshments

Dates for the diary

Coffee Morning: 12th September

Choral Evensong (in September (date to be confirmed))

 

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury

frbenjamindrury@gmail.com; Home tel.: 210 72 14 906

Deacon Christine Saccali : Day Off – Friday          697 737 7655 Swedish Church: Fr. Bjorn 694 6072428

Facebook @AnglicanAthens,  www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

Donate via card by scanning the QR code, thank you for supporting St Paul’s ChurchQR Code

sermon news

Sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity – 2 KINGS 4:42-44, EPHESIANS 3: 14-21, JOHN 6: 1-21

Deacon Chris Saccali – St Paul’s Athens

I speak in the name of the Triune God, Father Son and Holy Spirit Amen

I don’t know when and if you do your supermarket shopping, you take any notice of to kalathi tis voikokipas / ou . It should not be a gendered social issue but that’s the Greek language for you.  The English supermarkets and some here have a list of basic or essential products to fit everyone’s  trolley or basket . However, what should be on our essential list and which items can we all agree on? Maybe bread or some kind of rusk is a basic  one if we remember also to include those who have special dietary requirements. When Cliff and I  were on holiday earlier in the month in Kefalonia, we were quite surprised to find that tavernas didn’t automatically bring a basket of bread as they would in our usual haunts here. You had to ask for it or they asked you. I take any leftovers with me for home or to feed the ducks.

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Loaves & Fishes (1)

Readings for the 11th Sunday after Trinity – 11 August 2024

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Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

New English Hymnal numbers (tunes):

Entrance: 443 (Gopsal) Rejoice, the Lord is King

Congregational Psalm: 417 (St Anne) O God, our help in ages past (Ps.90) Gradual: 434 (University College) Oft in danger, oft in woe

Offertory: 470 (Oriel) To the name that brings salvation Post Communion: 297 (Living Lord) Lord Jesus Christ Recessional: 373 (Coe Fen) How shall I sing that majesty

All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy

 

A Reading from the First Book of the Kings (1 Kings 19: 4-8)

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And

the angel of the Lord came again a second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you.” 8 And

he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

 

A Reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Ephesians (Eph. 4:25 – 5:2)

25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

 

5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

 

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

If anyone loves Me he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We shall come to him

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John ( John 6:35, 41-51) Glory to you, O Lord.

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this

Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus an-

swered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Every one who has heard and

learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am

the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness,

and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

 

For our Prayers: The world-wide Church & the homeless, those struggling with addiction and in recovery. For Peace with Justice in: Palestine-Israel, Armenia, Ukraine, Sudan, all Refugees and Aid Agencies. The Church in Gaza, all victims of war. All those affected by fires.

 

 

Church Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Weds. 14th August 10 a.m. Low Mass

Sun. 18th August 10 a.m. Sung Mass (Blessed Virgin Mary); liturgy followed by refreshments

Dates for the diary

Coffee Morning: 12th September

Choral Evensong (in September (date to be confirmed))

 

Donate via card by scanning the QR code, thank you for supporting St Paul’s Church.

 

QR Code

 

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury

frbenjamindrury@gmail.com; Home tel.: 210 72 14 906

Deacon Christine Saccali : Day Off – Friday          697 737 7655 Swedish Church: Fr. Bjorn 694 6072428

Facebook @AnglicanAthens www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

sermon news

Sermon for the 10th Sunday after Trinity – 4th August 2024: Exodus 16, 2-4, 9-15; Ephesians 4, 1-16; John 6, 24-35

Fr Leonard Doolan – St Paul’s Athens

 

‘Lord, give us this bread always’. (Jn 6,34)

 

Around the year 270AD Anthony, from the city of Koma in Lower Egypt, left his home and travelled deep into the desert to find space and freedom for contemplating God. Not the first to lead an ascetic life, nonetheless Anthony is considered the first of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. His desert life is depicted in many works of art through history, not least by Hieronymous Bosch.

We could discuss his life more fully, but we must press to the question, ‘why go into the desert?’ Part of the motivation for these desert monks and nuns was to find solitude, and partly to escape the metropolitan fleshpots – to turn their backs on the cities, full of noise and the babbling of people, to escape the moral corruption that is characteristic of city life. Where ate the fleshpots of Athens, I can hear you saying?

One of the adverse consequences of seeking this solitude, is that people from the fleshpots wanted to hear the spiritual advice of such saintly men and women – so far from getting the peace they wanted, the clamour of spirit-hungry humanity followed them. It was not so easy to escape from the fleshpots.

Moses has a slightly different situation to deal with. Having escaped from their slavery in Egypt, the People of Israel have had enough of the desert wandering – their patience in the search for the Promised Land is wearing thin. It is reported that the people are grumbling – a common theme in the scriptures – and that compared to all this freedom and lack of certainty, hunger, scarcity of comforts, endless travelling with seemingly no destination in sight – they lament the sort of lives they had in the fleshpots of Egypt.

Please, let us go back to them. We had everything there, and here we have nothing. How can this be better? What is God up to? Why are we following you, Moses and Aaron? Give us fleshpots any time.

The grumbling of the people is heard; their lament is noted. It is OK to grumble to God, to lament, to complain about how God might be responsible for our lamentable condition. There is a lovely verse in Psalm 56 (vs 8) ‘You have counted up my groaning; put my tears into your bottle; are they not written in your book?’ A beautiful image – our plight recorded in God’s book; our tears, the weeping of humanity, collected in his bottle and kept precious.

God hears their cries and God responds according to his nature, his essence. God gives of his bounty; God overflows with his graciousness; he gives not out of superior largesse, the noblesse oblige, but as an outpouring of himself.

Those essentials that the people associated with living in their past circumstances are provided – God provides, Yahweh Yireh.

We are told that the people are provided with quails, and the following morning with a ‘flake-like thing’, fine as hoarfrost. It is their bread. We of course would say it was their manna from heaven. The people’s needs are provided for by their God. ‘It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.’ Says Moses.

Jesus refers to this happening. He goes to the very heart of the event. It is not a human being like Moses who provided for the people, but God. It is God who provides – it is God who gave them their heavenly manna’ ‘Lord, give us this bread always’ is their response. These words resonate in the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, a prayer than nourishes us now and countless billions of the faithful down through the Christian centuries, ‘Give us this day, our daily bread.’

In our eucharist we take bread, and we take wine, and we affirm our belief that the bread is the body of Jesus, the wine the blood of Jesus. ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.’

The eucharist is at the heart of our faith and practice – but our understanding of our daily bread widens beyond just our physical needs – our daily sustenance. God provides also for his whole church. He sustains us with the daily calling of his people –  each one of us, with no exceptions – that we may each sustain and nourish each other; our daily bread to sustain us in our faithful witness, both within and beyond our sacred gathering.

By God’s divine provision God calls us into ministry to feed one another spiritually, to feed the world spiritually. We are literally, each of us, bread for the world. Our bread is God’s grace – give us this daily, Father in heaven.

St. Paul informs us that ‘grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.’ (Eph 4,7). The divine gift is Christ’s very church – and this is you and me (and a good many other people besides). God takes us as we are and by his glorious alchemy he calls us into being ‘apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors teachers’ not for the sake of the individuals who have such ministries, but, as St. Paul says ‘to equip the saints (that’s you and me in St. Paul’s language) for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ’ so that we may grow together ‘to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.’ (Eph 4, 13). This is the real thing. This is not some dainty confectionary, but the bread of life for the feeding of the body of Christ. ‘Lord, give us this bread always’.

As we go through life – sometimes faithful, sometimes grumbling, sometimes having a clear vision sometimes cloudy, sometimes going through real personal sacrifice sometimes yearning for those fleshpots (that rather dubious place preferred by the grumbling Israelites), we pray and yearn for our daily bread that we may be sustained and nourished from the boundless generosity of our God.

To bring us to a close I would like us to sing that great and rousing hymn as we reflect on the bread of heaven.

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,

Pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but thou art mighty,

Hold me with thy powerful hand.

Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,

Feed me now and evermore.

 

Loaves & Fishes

Readings for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity – 28th July 2024

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Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

New English Hymnal numbers (tunes):

Entrance: 310 (Offertorium) We hail thy presence glorious

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 145; 10-19

Gradual: 305 (Anima Christi) Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast Offertory: 338 (Evelyns) At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow Post Communion: 357 (Sussex) Father, hear the prayer we offer Recessional: 433 (Hanover) O worship the King, all glorious above

 

For our Prayers: The world-wide Church & The homeless, those struggling with addiction and in recovery.

For Peace with justice in: Palestine/Israel, Armenia, Ukraine, Sudan, all Refu-

gees, Aid Agencies. The Church in Gaza, all victims of war. All affected by fires.

For the sick: Stella, Julia, Sherry, Helena, Jennifer, Jane, George, Eva, Austin, Linda, Theodore, Sue, Guy, Hilary, Margarita, Marcus, Christina, Takis, Diane, Lodo, Teresa, Dimitra, Fran, Nicholas and Christine, who is house-bound

And for the recently departed: Margaret Liveris; Teresa Bolam

 

FIRST READING

A Reading from the Second Book of the Kings (2 Kings 4: 42-end)

42 A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” 43 But his servant said, “How am I to set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” 44 So he set it before them. And they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

 

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 145; 10-18

Response: I will bless you and praise you forever, O God my King 10 All your works praise you, O Lord,

and your faithful servants bless you.

11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your mighty power (Response)

12 To make known to all peoples your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;

your dominion endures throughout all ages. (Response) 14 The Lord is sure in all his words

and faithful in all his deeds.

15 The Lord upholds all those who fall

and lifts up all those who are bowed down. (Response) 16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord,

and you give them their food in due season. 17 You open wide your hand

and fill all things living with plenty.

18 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving in all his works. (Response)

19 The Lord is near to those who call upon him, to all who call upon him faithfully. (Response)

 

SECOND READING

A Reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Ephesians (Eph. 3: 14- end)

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.

 

20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

 

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Your Words are spirit Lord and the are life, you have the message of eternal life

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John ( John 6; 1-21)

Glory to you, O Lord.

6 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples.

4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him,

Jesus said to Philip, “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii[a] would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, 20 but he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

…………………………………………………..

Church Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Wednesday. 31st July  10 a.m. Mass

Sunday. 4th August 10 a.m. Mass; liturgy followed by refreshments

Dates for the diary

Coffee Morning: 12th September

Choral Evensong (in September (date to be confirmed))

 

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury

frbenjamindrury@gmail.com; Home tel.: 210 72 14 906

Deacon Christine Saccali :  Day Off – Friday     697 737 7655

Swedish Church: Fr. Bjorn  694 6072428

Facebook @AnglicanAthens

www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

Donate via card by scanning the QR code,

thank you for supporting St Paul’s ChurchQR Code

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Readings for Sunday 21st July – eighth Sunday after Trinity

Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

New English Hymnal numbers (tunes):

Entrance: 362 (Austria) Glorious things of thee are spoken

Congregational Psalm: (Ps. 23) 457 (St. Columba) The King of Love

Gradual: 434 (University College) Oft in danger, oft in woe

Offertory: 453 (Ellacombe) Stand up! – stand up for Jesus!

Post Communion: 383 (Aberystwyth) Jesu, Lover of my soul

Recessional: 495 (Benson) God is working his purpose out

For our Prayers: The world-wide Church & The homeless, those struggling with addiction and in recovery.

For Peace with justice in: Palestine/Israel, Armenia, Ukraine, Sudan, all Refugees, Aid Agencies. The Church in Gaza, all victims of war. All affected by fires.

For the sick: Stella, Julia, Sherry, Helena, Jennifer, Jane, George, Eva, Austin, Linda, Theodore, Sue, Guy, Hilary, Margarita, Marcus, Christina, Takis, Diane, Lodo, Teresa, and Christine, who is house-bound

And for the recently departed: Margaret Liveris; Terry Bolan

A Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 23; 1-6)

23 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the Lord.

5 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

A Reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 2; 11-22)

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me.

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6; 30-34)

Glory to you, O Lord.

30 The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Dates for the diary

Coffee Morning (12th September (to be confirmed))

Choral Evensong (in September (date to be confirmed))

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury

frbenjamindrury@gmail.com; Home tel.: 210 72 14 906

Deacon Christine Saccali : Day Off – Friday 697

Facebook @AnglicanAthens

www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

Donate via card by scanning the QR code,

thank you for supporting St Paul’s Church.

QR Code

Oliver's picture

Service for the 7th Sunday after Trinity – 14th July 2024

For our Prayers: The world-wide Church & The homeless, those struggling with addiction and in recovery.

For Peace with justice in: Palestine/Israel, Armenia, Ukraine, Sudan, all Refugees, Aid Agencies. The Church in Gaza, all victims of war. All affected by fires.

And for the recently departed: Margaret Liveris

A Reading from the Prophet Amos (Amos 7; 7-15)

7 He showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,

“Behold, I am setting a plumb line

in the midst of my people Israel;

I will never again pass by them;

9 the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,

and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,

and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos has said,

‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword,

and Israel must go into exile

away from his land.’”

12 And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there; 13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”

14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son;[a] but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, 15 and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

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