Service Sheet for Sunday 4th January 2026 – Feast of the Epiphany

Celebrant Fr Benjamin Drury

Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

Processional: 49 (Epiphany) Brightest and best of the sons of the morning

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 72

Gradual: 46 (St. Venantius) Why, impious Herod, shouldst thou fear

Offertory: 50 (King’s Weston) From the eastern mountains

Communion: 48 (Stuttgart) Bethlehem of noblest cities

Recessional: 52 (Was Lebet) O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness

All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy.

Please remember that the chaplaincy in Athens neither receives funding from the British Government nor from the Church of

England. All donations are, therefore, very gratefully received.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (60: 1-6)

Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord is rising on you, though night still covers the earth and darkness the peoples. Above you the Lord now rises and above you his glory appears.The nations come to your light and kings to your dawning brightness. Lift up your eyes and look round: all are assembling and coming towards you, your sons from far away and your daughters being tenderly carried. At this sight you will grow radiant, your heart throbbing and full; since the riches of the sea will flow to you, the wealth of the nations come to you; camels in throngs will cover you, and dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; everyone in Sheba will come, bringing gold and incense and singing the praise of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

Psalm 72: All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice,

that he may judge your people in justice

and your poor in right judgement. (Response)

In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails.

He shall rule from sea to sea,

from the Great River to earth’s bounds. (Response)

The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts shall pay him tribute.

The kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring him gifts.

Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,

all nations shall serve him.(Response)

For he shall save the poor when they cry and the needy who are helpless.

He will have pity on the weak

and save the lives of the poor. (Response)

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians (3: 2-3, 5-6)

You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with

the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery. This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was

unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now

share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body,

and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!

We saw his star as it rose

and have come to do the Lord homage. Alleluia! The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (2: 1-12)

Glory to you, O Lord.

After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose

and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they told him ‘for this is what the prophet wrote:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah, for out of you will come a leader

who will shepherd my people Israel.’

Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them on to Bethlehem. ‘Go and find out all about the child,’ he said ‘and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward, and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.

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

The setting of the Nicene Creed is on page 562 in the New English Hymnal.

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-be- gotten Son to the Gentiles: Mercifully grant, that we, which

know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP Collect Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles)

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

Services: Unless noted, liturgies are followed by refreshments

Wednesday 6th January: 10 a.m.; Low Mass

Sunday 11th January: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Baptism of the Lord) Wednesday 14th January: 10 a.m.; Low Mass

Sunday 18th January: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass

Sunday 18th January: 6 p.m.; Choral Evensong (Schola Cantorum)

Community Connect Coffee Morning: Thurs. 8th January (10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; Apollonos 6)

Study group & pilgrimage walking group: details from Fr. Benjamin

Donate electronically by scanning the QR code

the Church does not receive any funding from the

Church of England or the British Government and is reliant on the goodwill of congregants and visitors. We thank you for your support

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury SSC

frbenjamindrury@gmail.com;

Home tel.: 210 72 14 906

anglican@otenet.gr

Assistant Chaplain: Deacon Christine Saccali: 697 737 7655

Church of Sweden: Fr. Bjorn Kling: 694 6072428

Facebook @AnglicanAthens                    www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

saintpaulsathens.bsky.social

Recorded Sermon for the feast of Epiphany – 4th January 2026

Fr Leonard Doolan – St Thomas Anglican Church, Crete

Sermon for the feast of Epiphany – 4th January 2026

Fr Leonard Doolan – St Thomas Anglican Church Crete

The Three Kings, as they are commonly referred to, are a popular part of the persona dramatis of the Nativity. Their noted presence is due only to St. Matthew’s gospel. The journey of these kings, wise men, or Magi, represent a piece of gospel material, a pericope, unique to Matthew. Why did St. Luke say nothing of them? There is some overlapping of material in both gospels, of course, and between Luke and Matthew we have traditionally built up our common understandings of the events surrounding the birth of Christ. Did Luke say nothing because it was not a part of the jigsaw puzzle that he possessed? Or was this specific information deliberately omitted by St. Luke? His gospel is characterized by themes of poverty – so maybe some rich guys turning up with the tokens of worldly wealth left Luke feeling uncomfortable? Who knows – and the good news is that I’m not going to try and solve this question.

Whatever the discrepancies and differences in the material used by the gospel writers – a challenge that runs right through the first three of the gospels – today we are reflecting on the travellers who attended the new-born Christ lying in his food trough. In the Liturgical Calendar of the western Church we refer to our celebration as Epiphany and traditionally this is celebrated on January 6^th at that time often referred to as Twelfth Night. (Please don’t try to calculate when Twelfth Night actually is – you will only end up frustrated).

For Orthodox Christian friends who hear this sermon, or read it, a brief word of explanation is needed, and the longer explanation you can check out for yourselves.

On January 6^th, when the western Christians are telling the story of the Wise Men arriving at the house where the Christ-child is laying, the Orthodox Church, in Greece at least, is celebrating the Theophania – the revelation of God, not through star-led chieftans following a star, but in the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan. Put simply, this is caused because some Orthodox nations follow the Gregorian Calendar, while others keep to the original Julian Calendar. So it is that Many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas 12 days later than the West (and Greece), not for a theological reason, but because of adherence to different calendars.

This difference of date has been used as political statement – such as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church recently deciding to keep Christmas on the Western date, December 25^th, as a clear statement of their distance from the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate. However, enough of that explanation – it is almost more of a mystery than the Word of God becoming Man in Christ Jesus.

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Service Sheet for Sunday 28th December – The Feast of the Holy Family

Celebrant Fr Benjamin Drury

Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

Processional: Sheet (In Dulci Jubilo) Good Christian men, rejoice

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 128

Gradual: 28 (Puer Nobis) Unto us a Boy is born

Offertory: Sheet (Angels From the Realms) Angels from the realms of glory

Communion: Sheet (Humility) See amid the winter’s snow

Recessional: Sheet (Tempus Adest Floridum) Good King Wenceslas All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy.

Please remember that the chaplaincy in Athens neither receives funding from the British Government nor from the Church of England. All donations are, therefore, very gratefully received.

A reading from Eccesiasticus (3: 2-6, 12-14)

The Lord honours the father in his children,

and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons. Whoever respects his father is atoning for his sins,

he who honours his mother is like someone amassing a fortune. Whoever respects his father will be happy with children of his own,

he shall be heard on the day when he prays. Long life comes to him who honours his father,

he who sets his mother at ease is showing obedience to the Lord.

My son, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life.

Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength;

for kindness to a father shall not be forgotten but will serve as reparation for your sins.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

Psalm 128: O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!

O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!

By the labour of your hands you shall eat.

You will be happy and prosper. (Response)

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house;

your children like shoots of the olive, around your table. (Response)

Indeed thus shall be blessed

the man who fears the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion

all the days of your life! (Response)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians (3: 12-21)

You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentle-

ness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete

them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one

body. Always be thankful.  Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs

to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!

May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts;

let the message of Christ find a home with you. Alleluia!

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (2: 13-15, 19-23)

Glory to you, O Lord.

After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up

and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:

I called my son out of Egypt.

After Herod’s death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Jo- seph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee.

There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spo-

ken through the prophets were to be fulfilled:

He will be called a Nazarene

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

The setting of the Nicene Creed is on page 562 in the New English Hymnal.

O Almighty God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths: Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith, even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP Collect; The Innocents’ Day)

My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest (Exod. 33: 14)

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

Services: Unless noted, liturgies are followed by refreshments

Wednesday 31st December: 10 a.m.; Low Mass

Sunday 4th January: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Epiphany) Wednesday 7th January: 10 a.m.; Low Mass

Sunday 11th January: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Baptism of the Lord)

Study group & pilgrimage walking group: details from Fr. Benjamin

The next community connect coffee morning shall be held on the 8th of January.

We thank all those who have supported the chaplaincy and its ministry this past year. May we have an excellent 2026 together!

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Donate electronically by scanning the QR code

the Church does not receive any funding from the

Church of England or the British Government and is reliant on the goodwill of congregants and visitors. We thank you for your support.

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury SSC

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

anglican@otenet.gr

Assistant Chaplain: Deacon Christine Saccali: 697 737 7655

Church of Sweden: Fr. Bjorn Kling: 694 6072428

Facebook @AnglicanAthens                    www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

saintpaulsathens.bsky.social

Service Sheet for Christmas Day 2025

Celebrant: Fr Benjamin Drury

Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

Processional: 24 (Yorkshire) Christians awake! salute the happy morn

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 98 (535 in the New English Hymnal)

Gradual: 25 (God Rest You Merry) God rest you merry, gentlemen

Offertory: 30 (Adeste Fideles) O come, all ye faithful

Communion: 31 (O Jesulein Suss) O Little One sweet, O Little One mild

Recessional: 32 (Forest Green) O little town of Bethlehem

All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy.

Please remember that the chaplaincy in Athens neither receives funding from the British Government nor from the Church of

England. All donations are, therefore, very gratefully received

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (52: 7- 10)

How beautiful on the mountains,

are the feet of one who brings good news, who heralds peace, brings happiness, proclaims salvation,

and tells Zion, ‘Your God is king!’

Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices, they shout for joy together,

for they see the Lord face to face, as he returns to Zion.

Break into shouts of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem;

for the Lord is consoling his people, redeeming Jerusalem.

The Lord bares his holy arm in the sight of all the nations,

and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. (text at 535 in the New English Hymnal

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (1: 1-6)

At various times in the past and in various different ways, God

spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything and through whom he made

everything there is. He is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature, sustaining the universe by his powerful

command; and now that he has destroyed the defilement of sin, he has gone to take his place in heaven at the right hand of divine Maj- esty. So he is now as far above the angels as the title which he has

inherited is higher than their own name.

God has never said to any angel: You are my Son, today I have

become your father; or: I will be a father to him and he a son to me. Again, when he brings the First-Born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God worship him.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! A hallowed day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, worship the Lord,

for today a great light has shone down upon the earth. Alleluia!

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (1: 1-18)

Glory to you, O Lord.

In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was

the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that dark- ness could not overpower.

A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a wit- ness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might

believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light.

The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world. He was in the world that had its being

through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who

believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself. The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John appears as his witness. He proclaims: ‘This is the one of whom I said: He who comes after me ranks before me because he existed before me.’

Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received – yes, grace in return for grace, since, though the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ. No one has ever

seen God; it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

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

The setting of the Nicene Creed is on page 562 in the New English Hymnal.

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure

Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (BCP Collect; The Nativity of Our Lord)

He shall send them a Saviour, and a great one, and He shall deliver them. (Isaiah 18: 20)

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

Services: Unless noted, liturgies are followed by refreshments

Friday 26th December: 10 a.m.; Low Mass (St. Stephen)

Sunday 28th December: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Holy Family) Wednesday 31st December: 10 a.m.; Low Mass

The next community connect coffee morning shall be held on 8th January (Apollonos 6) 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Thanks to those who have supported these during the past year.

Study group & pilgrimage walking group: details from Fr. Benjamin

Anyone who would like to lead the intercessory prayers, serve dur- ing Mass, serve as an usher (sidesperson), assist with refreshments &c. should speak to Father Benjamin, or to Oliver Knight.

Donate electronically by scanning the QR code

the Church does not receive any funding from the

Church of England or the British Government and is reliant on the goodwill of congregants and visitors. We thank you for your support.

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury SSC

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

anglican@otenet.gr

Assistant Chaplain: Deacon Christine Saccali: 697 737 7655

Church of Sweden: Fr. Bjorn Kling: 694 6072428

Facebook @AnglicanAthens                    www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

saintpaulsathens.bsky.social

Christmas Reflections from a Greek Island – recorded by Fr Leonard Doolan

Christmas Reflections 2025 – by Fr Leonard Doolan

Christmas Reflection from a Greek island.

‘And there was with the angel a company of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to all men’ (Luke 2, 13-14).

This is the great news that is the very heart of Christmas – the song of praise that repletes heaven and earth that Christ is born – that God’s Messiah is among us – that, in the profound words of St. John, ‘the Word was made flesh and dwells among us.’ (John 1)

This is the historical daily reality that we celebrate very intently at Christmas  – but it is a reality that had been foretold by generations of Godly people, and a reality that is told now, and by Godly people in generations to come, because the birth of the Christ-child is an action of God, as real as God’s act of Creation itself. The story, mostly detailed in St. Matthew and St. Luke, captivates us – so familiar that we hardly need to double check it, and in our mind’s eye there are subliminal reminders from generations of artists in both the eastern and western traditions. Some of the most beautiful of our Christmas cards will capture the details of this event. Nativity plays in churches and schools will bring delight to those in attendance and anguished nerves to parents hoping their child will remember words, actions, movements – Mary, Joseph, a donkey, shepherds, hundreds of sheep, Wise Men – all dramatically presenting this best known of universal stories. And of course an angel of God, an angel who is surrounded by a heavenly host. The child is born.

‘And they wrapped him in cloths and placed him in the food trough because the guest room was full.’ (Luke 2, 7).

I’m grateful to one Orthodox commentator for the archaeological insight that leads me to this translation. Fr. Mark Sietsema* sets the scene for the arrival of the Holy Family in Bethlehem. In this culture it is unheard of to travel back to one’s family town and not stay there in the family home. However, everyone was returning home for the census, so St. Luke informs us that Joseph’s family home – which would have been modest – was already full up, so the late arrivals had to use the slightly sunken part of the home where there would have been some domestic animals, living cheek by jowl with the family. Archaeologists have found eating troughs hewn out of the floor space in houses in this area and period. So it is perhaps possible that the baby Jesus was placed into the feeding trough in that part of the house rather than in the living quarters.

The same commentator gives some hints too about the language used by St. Luke. In Greek the word for an ‘inn’, as in Luke’s story of the Good Samaritan is pandocheio. Any tourist visiting Greece now will be familiar with the modern Greek word for a hotel – zenodocheio – not so remote from the word used by Luke in his very famous Good Samaritan parable that illustrates ‘love in action’. However, in his description of the details surrounding the birth of Jesus, it is not the word for inn or hotel that is used by St. Luke, but rather kataluma. This can translated as a guest accommodation. So just perhaps there was no room left in the family guest quarters, thus Jesus was born in the domestic animal lower quarter of the house, and placed either in a trough hollowed out in the ground or even a stone-hewn trough on the ground.

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Service Sheet for Sunday 21st December – Fourth Sunday of Advent

Celebrant Fr Benjamin Drury

Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

Processional: 11 (Veni Emmanuel) O come, O come, Emmanuel!

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 24

Gradual: 180 (Ave Maris Stella) Hail, O Star that pointest

Offertory: 33 (Divinum Mysterium) Of the Father’s heart begotten

Communion: 4 (Gabriel’s Message) Gabriel’s message does away

Recessional: 9 (Helmsley) Lo! he comes with clouds descending

All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy.

Please remember that the chaplaincy in Athens neither receives funding from the British Government nor from the Church of

England. All donations are, therefore, very gratefully received.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (7: 10-14)

The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’

Then Isaiah said:

‘Listen now, House of David:

are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men

without trying the patience of my God, too? The Lord himself, therefore,

will give you a sign.

It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel,

a name which means “God-is-with-us.

”’ The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24: Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples.

It is he who set it on the seas;

on the waters he made it firm. (Response)

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?

Who shall stand in his holy place?

The man with clean hands and pure heart,

who desires not worthless things. (Response)

He shall receive blessings from the Lord

and reward from the God who saves him.

Such are the men who seek him,

seek the face of the God of Jacob. (Response)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans (1: 1-7)

From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News that God promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures.

This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human nature he took was a descendant of David: it is about Jesus Christ our Lord who, in the order of the spirit, the spirit of holiness that was in him, was proclaimed Son of God in all his power through his resurrection from the dead. Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name. You are one of these nations, and by his call belong to Jesus Christ. To you all, then, who are God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace and peace.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel,

a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’. Alleluia!

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (1: 18-24)

Glory to you, O Lord.

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was

betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Jo-

seph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity,

decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and

said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy

Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus,

because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through

the prophet:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel,

a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’ When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to

his home.

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

The setting of the Nicene Creed is on page 562 in the New English Hymnal

O Lord, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our

sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the

race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speed- ily help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our

Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end. Amen. (BCP Collect; Fourth Sunday in Advent)

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

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

Services: Unless noted, liturgies are followed by refreshments

Wednesday 24th December: 10 a.m.; Low Mass

Wednesday 24th December: 6 p.m.; Nine Lessons & Carols Wednesday 24th December: 11:30 p.m.; Midnight Mass (Sung) Thursday 25th December: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Christmas Day) Friday 26th December: 10 a.m.; Low Mass (St. Stephen)

Sunday 28th December: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Holy Family)

Bishop’s Advent Appeal: Al-Ahli Anglican Hospital, Gaza; details on how to donate are to be found on the notice board, or may be had from treasurer Nelly Paraskevopoulou.

Mission to Seafarers collection: details from Nelly Paraskevopoulou.

Study group & pilgrimage walking group: details from Fr. Benjamin

Any who are interested in serving at mass (acolyte, thurifer &c.) should speak to Father Benjamin, or Oliver Knight.

Donate electronically by scanning the QR code

The Church does not receive any funding from the

Church of England or the British Government and is reliant on the goodwill of congregants and visitors.

We thank you for your support

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury SSC

frbenjamindrury@gmail.com;

Home tel.: 210 72 14 906

anglican@otenet.gr

Assistant Chaplain: Deacon Christine Saccali: 697 737 7655 Church of Sweden: Fr. Bjorn Kling: 694 6072428

Facebook @AnglicanAthens                    www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

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Service Sheet for Sunday 14th December – Third Sunday of Advent

Celebrant Fr. Benjamin Drury

Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

Processional: 12 (Winchester New) On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 146

Gradual: 14 (St. Thomas) The advent of our God

Offertory: 7 (Little Cornard) Hills of the north, rejoice

Communion: 16 (Wachet Auf ) Wake, O wake! with tidings thrilling

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

All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy.

Please remember that the chaplaincy in Athens neither receives funding from the British Government nor from the Church of

England. All donations are, therefore, very gratefully received.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (35: 1-6, 10)

Let the wilderness and the dry-lands exult, let the wasteland rejoice and bloom, let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil, let it rejoice and sing for joy. The glory of Lebanon is bestowed on it, the splendour of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of the Lord, the splendour of our God.

Strengthen all weary hands, steady all trembling knees and say to all faint hearts, ‘Courage! Do not be afraid. ‘Look, your God is coming, vengeance is coming, the retribution of God; he is coming to save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf un- sealed, then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy for those the Lord has ransomed shall return.

They will come to Zion shouting for joy, everlasting joy on their faces; joy and gladness will go with them and sorrow and lament be ended. The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146: Come, Lord, and save us.

It is the Lord who keeps faith forever,

who is just to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry,

the Lord, who sets prisoners free, (Response) It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,

who raises up those who are bowed down, the Lord, who protects the stranger

and upholds the widow and orphan. (Response)

It is the Lord who loves the just

but thwarts the path of the wicked.

The Lord will reign for ever,

Zion’s God, from age to age. (Response)

A reading from the Letter of James (5: 7-10)

Be patient, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. Think of a farmer: how patiently he waits for the precious fruit of the ground until it has had the autumn rains and the spring rains! You too have to be

patient; do not lose heart, because the Lord’s coming will be soon. Do not make complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be seen waiting at the gates. For your example, brothers, in submitting with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me.

He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor. Alleluia! The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (11: 2-11)

Glory to you, O Lord.

John in his prison had heard what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?’ Jesus answered, ‘Go back and tell

John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame walk,

lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised to

life and the Good News is proclaimed to the poor; and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.’

As the messengers were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the breeze? No? Then what did you go out to see? A man wearing fine clothes? Oh no, those who wear fine clothes are to be found in palaces. Then what did you go out for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet: he is the one of whom scripture says:

‘Look, I am going to send my messenger before you;

he will prepare your way before you.

‘I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the king- dom of heaven is greater than he is.’

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

The setting of the Nicene Creed is on page 562 in the New English Hymnal.

O Lord Jesu Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee: Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (BCP Collect; Third Sunday in Advent)

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

Services: Unless noted, liturgies are followed by refreshments

Sunday 14th December: 6 p.m.; All-Age Carol Service (see below)

Wednesday 17th December: 10 a.m.; Low Mass & Rosary Sunday 21st December: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Advent III) Wednesday 24th December: 10 a.m.; Low Mass

Wednesday 24th December: 6 p.m.; Nine Lessons & Carols Wednesday 24th December: 11:30 p.m.; Midnight Mass (Sung) Thursday 25th December: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Christmas Day)

All-Age Carol Service this evening (14th December) at 6 p.m.: mulled wine and panettone served; five euro contribution (no charge for children)

Bishop’s Advent Appeal: Al-Ahli Anglican Hospital, Gaza; details on how to donate are to be found on the notice board, or may be had from treasurer Nelly Paraskevopoulou.

Mission to Seafarers collection: details from Nelly Paraskevopoulou. Study group & pilgrimage walking group: details from Fr. Benjamin

Donate electronically by scanning the QR code

the Church does not receive any funding from the

Church of England or the British Government and is reliant on the goodwill of congregants and visitors. We thank you for your support.

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury

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

anglican@otenet.gr

Assistant Chaplain: Deacon Christine Saccali: 697 737 7655 Church of Sweden: Fr. Bjorn Kling: 694 6072428

Facebook @AnglicanAthens                    www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

saintpaulsathens.bsky.social

Service Sheet for Sunday 7th December – 2nd Sunday of Advent

Celebrant: Fr Benjamin Drury

Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

Processional: 5 (Merton) Hark! a herald voice is calling

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 72

Gradual: 3 (Cross of Jesus) Come, thou long-expected Jesus Offertory: 1 (Conditor Alme) Creator of the stars of night Communion: 170 (Lindeman) Lo, in the wilderness a voice Recessional: 10 (Personent Hodie) Long ago, prophets knew

All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy.

Please remember that the chaplaincy in Athens neither receives funding from the British Government nor from the Church of

England. All donations are, therefore, very gratefully received

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (11: 1-10)

A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him the spirit of the Lord rests, a spirit of wisdom and insight,

a spirit of counsel and power, a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. (The fear of the Lord is his breath.) He does not judge by appearances, he gives no verdict on hearsay, but judges the wretched with integrity, and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the land.

His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless, his sentences bring death to the wicked. Integrity is the loincloth round his waist, faithfulness the belt about his hips.

The wolf lives with the lamb, the panther lies down with the kid,

calf and lion feed together, with a little boy to lead them. The cow and the bear make friends, their young lie down together. The lion eats straw like the ox. The infant plays over the cobra’s hole; into the viper’s lair the young child puts his hand. They do no hurt, no harm, on all my holy mountain, for the country is filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters swell the sea. That day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples.

It will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72: In his days justice shall flourish, and peace till the moon fails.

O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice,

that he may judge your people in justice

and your poor in right judgement. (Response)

In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails.

He shall rule from sea to sea,

from the Great River to earth’s bounds. (Response)

For he shall save the poor when they cry and the needy who are helpless.

He will have pity on the weak

and save the lives of the poor. (Response)

May his name be blessed for ever and endure like the sun.

Every tribe shall be blessed in him,

all nations bless his name. (Response)

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans (15: 4-9)

Everything that was written long ago in the scriptures was meant to teach us something about hope from the examples scripture gives of how peo- ple who did not give up were helped by God. And may he who helps us when we refuse to give up, help you all to be tolerant with each other, fol- lowing the example of Christ Jesus, so that united in mind and voice you may give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It can only be to God’s glory, then, for you to treat each other in the same friendly way as Christ treated you. The reason Christ became the

servant of circumcised Jews was not only so that God could faithfully car- ry out the promises made to the patriarchs, it was also to get the pagans to give glory to God for his mercy, as scripture says in one place: For this I shall praise you among the pagans and sing to your name.

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!

Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight,

and all mankind shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia! The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (3: 1-12)

Glory to you, O Lord.

In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’ This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he

said: A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusa- lem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him,

and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for

baptism he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers, who warned you to f ly from the retribution that is coming? But if you are repentant, produce the appro-

priate fruit, and do not presume to tell yourselves, “We have Abraham for our father,” because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees, so that

any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire. I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who follows

me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his

hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.’

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

The setting of the Nicene Creed is on page 562 in the New English Hymnal.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them,

read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer Collect; Second Sunday in Advent)

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

Services: Unless noted, liturgies are followed by refreshments

Wednesday 10th December: 10 a.m.; Low Mass

Sunday 14th December: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Advent III) Sunday 14th December: 6 p.m.; All-Age Carol Service Wednesday 17th December: 10 a.m.; Low Mass & Rosary

Bishop’s Advent Appeal: Al-Ahli Anglican Hospital, Gaza; details on how to donate are to be found on the notice board, or may be had from treasurer Nelly Paraskevopoulou.

Mission to Seafarers: collection for Christmas boxes for seafarers: leaflets are available.

Please refer to the notice board for the dates and times of Advent and Christmas services.

The Friends of St. Paul’s: please speak to Dimitris Ramantanoglou about becoming a Friend of St. Paul’s Church.

Study group & pilgrimage walking group: details from Fr. Benjamin

Servers’ Group: details from Fr. Benjamin or Oliver Knight

Donate electronically by scanning the QR code

the Church does not receive any funding from the

Church of England or the British Government and is reliant on the goodwill of congregants and visitors. We thank you for your support.

Priest Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury SSC

frbenjamindrury@gmail.com;

Home tel.: 210 72 14 906

anglican@otenet.gr

Assistant Chaplain: Deacon Christine Saccali: 697 737 7655

Church of Sweden: Fr. Bjorn Kling: 694 6072428

Facebook @AnglicanAthens                    www.anglicanchurchathens.gr

saintpaulsathens.bsky.social                                     anglican@otenet.gr