SERVICE FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY, 2ND JUNE 2024

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens.  Fr. Bjorn Kling of the Swedish church will preside. The deacon is Revd. Deacon Christine Saccali.  Licensed Reader Nelly Paraskevopoulou will preach.

Entrance Introit: 234 (Ratisbon) Christ, whose glory fills the skies

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 informally welcomes the people of God and the deacon leads us into Confession.

Deacon: We run the race set before us, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Therefore let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, bringing them to Jesus in penitence and faith.  (A short period of stillness and silence)

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

Absolution: Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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Service for Trinity Sunday – 26th May 2024

Welcome to St Paul’s Athens,   especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens.

Please join us after the service for refreshments in the garden.

The worship is led by Licensed Reader Nelly Paraskevopoulou

Non Profit Organization ‘Creative Hands’ will present their work, in a question and answer session with Deacon Chris,  especially appropriate to the strands of the Trinity  which we celebrate today.

Entrance  Introit: 146 (Nicaea) Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Minister:  Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

All:            and also with you.

Minister:  O Lord, open our lips

All:            and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Minister: Give us the joy of your saving help

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

The minister then welcomes people informally.

Prayers of Penitence

Minister:   Jesus says, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. So let us turn away from our sin and turn to Christ, confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

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.

Minister:  May the Father of all mercies cleanse us from our sins, and restore us

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

All:            Amen

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Sermon for Pentecost Sunday – 19th May 2024:ACTS 2:1-21, ROMANS 8:22-27, JOHN 15:26 -27,16:4b-15

PENTECOST 2024 DISRUPT US – Deacon Chris Saccali – St Paul’s Athens

I speak in the name of the Triune God, Father, and Son AMEN

I am so glad we sang Enemy of Apathy again, that wonderful worship song whose words capture perfectly the Spirit of Pentecost not as a fluffy white dove, any more than Easter is about cute yellow chicks. Michael Mitton in his book Wild Beasts and Angels talks about the peristera mentioned in the gospels, as being a dark wild sort of wood pigeon which lives in caves.

Let’s read the first verse again: She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters, hovering on the chaos of the world’s first day; she sighs and she sings mothering creation waiting to give birth to all the Word will say.

I saw something similar perching on the top of a flagpole at OAKA last month when I had the honour with my family of being present at the Olympic museum when the cauldron was lit outside from the torch relay for the Paris Olympics – remember there was no international relay for the flame three years ago for Tokyo due to the aftermath of the pandemic and the change of date. Actually, that event at the Olympic Park in Marousi was a glorious spirit filled moment recalling 2004 twenty years ago and the best of human endeavours and hopes now in 2024 followed by the handover between Greece and France at the Kalimararo stadium.

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Service for Pentecost Sunday – 19th May 2024

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens.  There is coffee in the garden after the Liturgy.

The presiding priest this morning is Fr. Bjorn Kling of the Swedish Church. The deacon and preacher is the Revd. Deacon Christine Saccali.

Entrance Hymn:   

Introit: 137 (Down Ampney) Come down, O Love divine

Priest:  Alleluia! Christ is risen

All:       He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Priest: The Lord be with you

All:       And also with you

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

Silence

Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed.

We have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

In your mercy forgive what we have been,

Help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be;

That we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God.

Amen.

Absolution: May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Gloria

Glory to God in the highest, peace to his people on earth

Glory to God in the highest, 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,

have mercy on us,

you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father,

Amen,

In the glory of God the Father. AMEN

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

God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen

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Service for the Seventh Sunday of Easter – 12th May 2024

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. After the Liturgy we gather in the church garden for coffee and refreshments 

The presiding priest and preacher this morning is Fr. Terry Hemming, the deacon is Revd. Deacon Christine Saccali

Entrance Hymn   

Introit: 128 (Gonfalon Royal) Eternal Monarch, King most high

 Priest: Alleluia! Christ is risen

 All:     He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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

Silence

Deacon: Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life.

Kyrie eleison

All:             Kyrie eleison

Deacon: Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins.

Christe eleison

All:            Christe eleison

Deacon: Lord Jesus, you feed us with the living bread.

Kyrie eleison

All:            Kyrie eleison

Absolution: May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, peace to his people on earth

Glory to God in the highest, 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,

have mercy on us,

you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father,

Amen,

In the glory of God the Father. AMEN

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

Risen, ascended Lord, as we rejoice at your triumph, fill your Church on earth with power and compassion, that all who are estranged by sin may find forgiveness and know our peace, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

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Service for the 6th Sunday of Easter – 5th May 2024

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens.  Please stay for refreshments in the church garden after the Liturgy. 

The presiding priest and preacher this morning is Fr. Terry Hemming, the deacon is Revd Deacon Christine Saccali

Entrance Hymn  

Introit: 482 (Gott sei Dank) Spread, O spread, thou mighty word

Priest:    Alleluia! Christ is risen

 All:        He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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

Deacon: Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life.

Kyrie eleison

All:          Kyrie eleison

Deacon: Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins.

Christe eleison

All:          Christe eleison

Deacon: Lord Jesus, you feed us with the living bread.

Kyrie eleison

All:          Kyrie eleison

Absolution: May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, peace to his people on earth

Glory to God in the highest, 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,

have mercy on us,

you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father,

Amen,

In the glory of God the Father. AMEN

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Service for the 5th Sunday of Easter – 28th April 2024

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens.  Please stay for refreshments in the church garden after the Liturgy. 

The presiding priest and preacher this morning is Fr. Terry Hemming, and the deacon is Revd., Deacon Christine Saccali

Entrance Hymn    Introit: 408 (Blaenwern) Love divine, all loves excelling

 Priest:    Alleluia! Christ is risen

 All:        He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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

Deacon: Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life.

Kyrie eleison

All:          Kyrie eleison

Deacon: Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins.

Christe eleison

All:          Christe eleison

Deacon: Lord Jesus, you feed us with the living bread.

Kyrie eleison

All:          Kyrie eleison

Absolution: May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, peace to his people on earth

Glory to God in the highest, peace to his people on earth.

1. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

2. Lord Jesus Christ only Son of the Father, Lord God , Lamb of God,

you take aways the sin of the world, have mercy on us,

have mercy on us,

you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

3. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father,

Amen,

In the glory of God the Father. AMEN

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

God our redeemer,

you have delivered us from the power of darkness

and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:

grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,

so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Service for the Third Sunday of Easter – 14th April 2024

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens.  There is coffee in the garden after the Liturgy. 

The presiding priest this morning is Fr Terry Hemming, the deacon is Revd. Deacon Christine Saccali

We will be celebrating a Baptism during the Service this morning.

 The Greeting

Priest: Alleluia! Christ is risen

 All:     He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

HYMN Introit: 103 (Lux Eoi) Alleluya! Alleluya!

Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us that to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be born again of water and the Spirit, and has given us baptism as the sign and seal of this new birth. Here we are washed by the Holy Spirit and made clean. Here we are clothed with Christ, dying to sin that we may live his risen life. As children of God, we have a new dignity and God calls us to fullness of life.

Gloria in Excelsis

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect

Risen Christ,

you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope:

strengthen us to proclaim your risen life

and fill us with your peace,

to the glory of God the Father.

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