Sermon for the Fouth Sunday of Advent – 24th December 2023

St Paul’s Athens

Well done for being in church on Christmas Eve – so many things to do. Sure there are many snowed under with shopping, cooking etc. but you have made it. Usually this is the cue for the preacher to talk about the true meaning of Christmas  being spiritual. I want to say the opposite- Christmas is not about spirituality but about physicality.

I want to avert your gaze from the spiritual to the flesh.

Now I admire and learn from my friends who are Muslims and Jews but find the idea of God becoming man not only nonsensical but blasphemous and I have sympathy with them. How can this thing be? It is too much for our little brains but I hope not for our hearts.

For many the spiritual and the material are at war. There is a permanent divide but not in Christianity. When God created everything he declared it good and at the end with men and women very good. That is why at Christmas the mingling of divine and human is possible. Emmanuel God is with us, God is in us God is one with us.

This is shocking. Jesus was a human as a baby, as he grew, as he died and now after his resurrection and ascension.

1. Christmas celebrates the physical and the bodily.

The Word made flesh who dwelt among us. But let’s not romanticise it. I am glad I was born in the 20th century and live in the 21st century. We live in an age of shampoos and deodorants Jesus was born into a world where there was no remedial surgery or cosmetic dentistry where those disfigured displayed their handicaps to get alms from passers by. The fishermen did not smell of Chanel or Rive Gauche but of an earthier river bank! The animals who were there as an early form of central heating smelt of farmyard. It was a lip-smacking, belching, coughing and crying humanity to which Jesus came. One of our priests at Andover is a woman in her 20s experiencing her first pregnancy and she wrote this week, “I have become struck by…how polished our versions of this story have become…In reality, Jesus’s birth would have been much messier and much more human than we’ve really even allowed ourselves to imagine – a night of noise and discomfort resulting in a baby who emerged into the world naked and wailing. It all seems a little less twinkly when you think of it like that.” No crying he makes was not true.

2 Christmas shows us God values us as embodied human beings.

Not only in creation did God declare it was good when he created Adam and Eve but he gave his only son to rescue the physical.The Word made flesh came as the second Adam. The Word not on the printed page, not in angelic voices but in flesh and blood.

Later on the story will tell us how this physical body was raised from the dead and is ascended into heaven. There is a human who is our high priest in the courts of heaven

This coming week.

Remember how God chose to bring in his kingdom with a weak and helpless child. He continues to use the weak and helpless – that is you and me. Read Mathew 25 and the parable of the sheep and goats. The judgement is not about belief but about behaviour. We are to love as St James tells us not only in word, but in deed and action. Who goes to the bathroom mirror and says I love you, I love you. every morning?

How do we do that as individuals and as a church?

Remember God is not embarrassed by your weakness, the aches and pains you bring to church this morning, the fallibility and forgetfulness, the tiredness and anxiety which is part of our being in a body. Bring them all before God tell your Brother in heaven. He understands. He is not looking for super spiritual beings. As the church fathers said He became human so that we can become divine. Priests use a silent prayer as we prepare the communion cup, By the mystery of this water and wine, May we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

Service for Christmas Day – 25th December 2023

Liturgy for the Nativity of Christ.

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens for Christmas. Happy Christmas! The presiding priest and the preacher is Fr. Terry Hemming.  Lay Reader Nelly Paraskevopoulou is assisting.

Entrance Hymn    36 (The First Nowell) The first Nowell the angel did say

Priest:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

The Lord be with you.

 All:      and also with you

Priest:   Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts. Let us turn to the light and confess our sins.                     A period of silent stillness follows

Assistant:  God our Father, you sent your Son, full of grace and truth: forgive our failure to

receive him.

Kyrie eleison.

All:           Kyrie eleison.

Assistant:  Jesus our Saviour, you were born in poverty and laid in a manger: forgive our

greed and rejection of your ways.

Christe eleison.

All:           Christe eleison

Assistant:  Spirit of love, your servant Mary responded joyfully to your call: forgive our

hardness of heart.

Kyrie eleison.

All:           Kyrie eleison

Absolution we hear the words of God’s forgiveness to those who are truly penitent

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 of Nine Lessons & Carols – 24th December 2023

Processional Carol:  Once in Royal David’s City – choir/soloist to sing the first verse

1. Once in royal David’s city 2. He came down to earth from heaven
   stood a lowly cattle shed,                                                                   who is God and Lord of all,
   where a mother laid her baby                                                            and his shelter was a stable,
   in a manger for his bed:                                                                      and his cradle was a stall:
   Mary was that mother mild,                                                               with the poor, and mean, and lowly,
   Jesus Christ, her little child.                                                                lived on earth our Saviour holy.

3. And thro’ all his wondrous childhood 4. And our eyes at last shall see him,
   he would honour and obey, thro’ his own redeeming love;
   love and watch the lowly maiden                                                     for that child so dear and gentle
   in whose gentle arms he lay:                                                             is our Lord in heav’n above:
   Christian children all must be                                                            and he leads his children on
   mild, obedient, good as he.                                                               to the place where he is gone.

5. Not in that poor lowly stable,
   with the oxen standing by,
   we shall see him, but in heaven,
   set at God’s right hand on high;
   when like stars his children crowned
   all in white shall wait around.

                                                            Welcome and Introduction

All:                      Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;

                             Thy kingdom come, thy will be done; in earth as it is in heaven.

                             Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our

                             trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

                             And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil;

                             For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,

                             For ever and ever.  Amen.

O God the Son, highest and holiest, who humbled yourself to share our birth and our death: bring us with the shepherds and wise men to kneel before you at your holy cradle, that we may come to sing with your angels your glorious praises in heaven: where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, God, world without end.  Amen

Choir – Laudate Dominum

1^st Reading      Genesis 3 (8–15, 17-19) God declares the consequences of human sin.

At the end of the Reading, the reader will say:

God’s word is a lantern to our feet

All:  and a light to our path.

Carol: Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come                                                    2. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let earth receive her King!                                                                Let men their songs employ,
Let every heart prepare Him room,                                                  while fields and floods,
and heav’n and nature sing,                                                              rocks, hills, and plains                       

and heav’n and nature sing,                                                              repeat the sounding joy,                  

and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.                                          repeat the sounding joy,                                                                                                                                           repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3. He rules the world with truth and grace,
   and makes the nations prove
   the glories of His righteousness
   and wonders of His love,
   and wonders of His love,
   and wonders, wonders of His love.

2^nd Reading     Genesis 22 (15–18) God promises to faithful Abraham that in his descendants the nations of the world will be blessed.

At the end of the Reading, the reader will say:

God’s word is a lantern to our feet

All:  and a light to our path.

Carol: In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter                                                                      2. Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
frosty wind made moan,                                                                   nor earth sustain;
earth stood hard as iron,                                                                   heaven and earth shall flee away
water like a stone:                                                                             when he comes to reign:
snow had fallen,                                                                                 in the bleak midwinter
snow on snow, snow on snow,                                                         a stable place sufficed
in the bleak midwinter,                                                                     the Lord God Almighty,
long ago.                                                                                             Jesus Christ.

3. Angels and archangels 4. What can I give him,
   may have gathered there, poor as I am?
   cherubim and seraphim                                                                     If I were a shepherd,
   thronged the air,                                                                                I would bring a lamb,
   but only his mother,                                                                          if I were a wise man
   in her maiden bliss,                                                                            I would do my part,
   worshiped the Beloved                                                                      yet what I can I give him,
   with a kiss.                                                                                          give my heart.

3^rd Reading   Isaiah 9 (2, 6–7) Isaiah proclaims the lasting rule of a king from the line of David.

At the end of the Reading, the reader will say:

God’s word is a lantern to our feet

All:  and a light to our path.

Carol:  Unto Us a Child is Born

1. Unto us a child is born!
   King of all creation,
   Came he to a world forlorn,
   The Lord of ev’ry nation.

The Lord of ev’ry nation.

3. Now may Mary’s son, who came
   So long ago to love us,
   Lead us all with hearts aflame
   Unto the joys above us.

Unto the joys above us.

2. Cradled in a stall was he
   With sleepy cows and asses;
   But the very beasts could see
   That he the world surpasses.

That he the world surpasses.

4. Alpha and Omega he!
   Let the organ thunder,

While the choir with peals of glee
Shall rend the air asunder.

Shall rend the air asunder.

4^th Reading     Isaiah 11 (1–3a, 4a and 6-9a) The prophet declares that Christ’s rule will bring peace.

At the end of the Reading, the reader will say:

God’s word is a lantern to our feet

All:  and a light to our path.

Carol: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

1. God rest you merry, gentlemen, 3. The shepherds at these tidings
   let nothing you dismay, rejoiced in heart and mind,

for Jesus Christ our Savior                                                                 and on the darkened hillside,
was born on Christmas Day                                                               they left their flocks behind,
to save us all from Satan’s pow’r                                                      and went to Bethlehem straightway,
when we had gone astray.                                                                this blessed Babe to find. [Refrain]

Refrain:                                                                                               4. And when to Bethlehem they came
O tidings of comfort and joy,                                                             where Christ the infant lay,
comfort and joy;                                                                                 They found him in a manger

O tidings of comfort and joy.                                                             Where oxen fed on hay

                                                                                                            And there beside her new-born child

2. From God our heav’nly Father His mother knelt to pray: [Refrain]

a holy angel came

and unto certain shepherds                                                              5. Now to the Lord sing praises

brought tidings of the same;                                                             all people in this place,
that Christ was born in Bethlehem                                                   With Christian love and fellowship

And Jesus is his name:                                                                       each other now embrace,     

[Refrain]                                                                                             and let this Christmas festival          

                                                                                                            all bitterness displace. [Refrain]

5^th Reading     Luke 1 (26-35 and 38)    The Annunciation

At the end of the Reading, the reader will say:

God’s word is a lantern to our feet

All:  and a light to our path.

Carol:  See Amid the Winter’s Snow

1. See, amid the winter’s snow,
   born for us on earth below,
   see the tender Lamb appears,
   promised from eternal years.

Refrain:
Hail, thou ever blessed morn!
Hail, redemption’s happy dawn!

Sing through all Jerusalem,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”

2. Lo, within a manger lies
   He who built the starry skies;
   He who, throned in height sublime,
   sits amid the cherubim! [Refrain]

3. Say, ye holy shepherds, say,
   what’s your joyful news today?
   Wherefore have ye left your sheep
   on the lonely mountain steep? [Refrain]

4. “As we watched at dead of night,
   Lo! we saw a wondrous light;
   angels singing ‘Peace on earth’
   told us of the Savior’s birth.” [Refrain]

5. Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,

by Thy face so meek and mild,
teach us to resemble Thee,

in Thy sweet humility! [Refrain]

6^th Reading       Luke 2 (1 and 3-7a) St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus At the end of the Reading, the reader will say:

God’s word is a lantern to our feet

All:  and a light to our path.

Choir – O little One sweet, O little One mild

Carol: Away in a Manger (Soloist to sing the first verse)

Solo: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

2. The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes
   But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes,

I love You, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

3. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask You to stay
   Close by me forever and love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children in Your tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with You there

Carol:  While shepherds watched their flocks by night

1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
   all seated on the ground,
   an angel of the Lord came down,
   and glory shone around. 

3. “To you, in David’s town, this day
   is born of David’s line
   a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
   and this shall be the sign: 

5. Thus spoke the angel. Suddenly
   appeared a shining throng
   of angels praising God, who thus
   addressed their joyful song:

2. “Fear not,” said he for mighty dread
   had seized their troubled mind 

“glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind. 

4. 
   “The heavenly babe you there shall find
   to human view displayed,
   all simply wrapped in swaddling clothes
   and in a manger laid.” 

6. “All glory be to God on high,
   and to the earth be peace;
   Goodwill henceforth from Heaven to all
   begin and never cease.” 

8^th Reading     Matthew 2(1–12)   The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.

At the end of the Reading, the reader will say:

God’s word is a lantern to our feet

All:  and a light to our path.

Choir – All my heart this night rejoices (Ebeling)

Carol: O Little Town of Bethlehem

1. O little town of Bethlehem,
   How still we see thee lie!
   Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
   The silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

3. How silently, how silently
   The wondrous gift is giv’n!
   So God imparts to human hearts
   The blessings of his heav’n.
   No ear may hear his coming,

But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

2. For Christ is born of Mary
   And, gathered all above

While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wond’ring love.

O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to all on earth!

4. O holy Child of Bethlehem,
   Descend to us, we pray;
   Cast out our sin and enter in,
   Be born in us today.
   We hear the Christmas angels
   The great glad tidings tell;
   O come to us, abide with us,
   Our Lord Immanuel!

7^th Reading     Luke 2 (8–16a) The shepherds go to the manger.

At the end of the Reading, the reader will say:

God’s word is a lantern to our feet

All:  and a light to our path.

Carol:  Good King Wenceslas

1. (ALL) Good King Wenceslas looked out
   On the Feast of Stephen
   When the snow lay round about
   Deep and crisp and even
   Brightly shone the moon that night
   Though the frost was cruel
   When a poor man came in sight
   Gathering winter fuel
2. (MEN) Bring me flesh and bring me wine
   Bring me pine logs hither

Thou and I shall see him dine
When we bear them thither.
(ALL) Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude winds wild lament
And the bitter weather

2. (MEN) Hither, page, and stand by me,
   If thou knowst it, telling
   Yonder peasant, who is he?
   Where and what his dwelling?
   (LADIES) Sire, he lives a good league hence,
   Underneath the mountain

Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes fountain.

4. (LADIES) Sire, the night is darker now
   And the wind blows stronger
   Fails my heart, I know not how
   I can go no longer.
   (MEN) Mark my footsteps, good my page
   Tread thou in them boldly
   Thou shall find the winters rage
   Freeze thy blood less coldly.

5. (ALL) In his masters step he trod
   Where the snow lay dinted
   Heat was in the very sod
   Which the Saint had printed Therefore, Christian men, be sure
   Wealth or rank possessing
   Ye, who now will bless the poor
   Shall yourselves find blessing.

9^th Reading   John 1 (1–14) St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

At the end of the Reading, the reader will say:

God’s word is a lantern to our feet

All:  and a light to our path.

O come, all ye faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold him, born the King of angels; 

Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! 

2. God of God, Light of Light eternal, 

Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created,

[Refrain]

3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
   Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above:
   “Glory to God, all glory in the highest!”

[Refrain]

The Collect of Christmas Eve;

Almighty God,

as we prepare with joy

to celebrate the gift of the Christ-child,

embrace the earth with your glory

and be for us a living hope

in Jesus Christ our Lord:  who is alive and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing:

May the Father, who has loved the eternal Son from before the foundation of the world, shed that love upon us his children. Amen.

May Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one, things earthly and heavenly, fill us with joy and peace. Amen.

May the Holy Spirit, by whose overshadowing Mary became the Godbearer, give us grace to carry the good news of Christ. Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon us and upon everyone we love, this Christmas time and always. Amen.

Carol:  Hark! The herald angels sing

1. Hark! the herald angels sing,
   “Glory to the newborn King:

peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;

with th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”

2. Christ, by highest heaven adored,
   Christ, the everlasting Lord,
   late in time behold him come,
   offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
   veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
   hail th’incarnate Deity,
   pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
   Jesus, our Immanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

3. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
   Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
   Light and life to all he brings,
   risen with healing in his wings.
   Mild he lays his glory by,
   born that we no more may die,
   born to raise us from the earth,
   born to give us second birth.

                                                Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

All:  In the name of Christ.  Amen

Process out to Laudate Dominum

Happy Christmas to one and all! Love, health and peace for 2024.

Our next service:

Christmas Morning                10.00

Service for the Fourth Sunday of Advent – 24th December 2023

Welcome to Saint Paul’s especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. The presiding priest is Fr. Terry Hemming, who is also preaching. The deacon is Deacon Christine Saccali.

Entrance Hymn: Introit: 2 (St Gregory) Creator of the stars of night

Priest:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

The Lord be with you.

             All:      and also with you

Lighting of the Advent Candle

People of God prepare!

God above, maker of all,

Is one with us in Christ.

Maranatha!

Come Lord Jesus!

God the mighty God,

Bends down in love to earth.

Maranatha!

Come Lord Jesus!

God with us, God beside us,

Comes soon to the world he has made.

Maranatha!

Come Lord Jesus!

We are God’s children,

We seek the coming Christ.

Maranatha!

Come Lord Jesus!

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

Priest: When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.

A period of silent stillness follows

Deacon:  Turn us again, O God our Saviour, and let your anger cease from us.

Kyrie eleison

All:           Kyrie eleison.

Deacon: Show us your compassion, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

Christe eleison

All:          Christe eleison

Deacon: Your salvation is near to those that fear you, that glory may dwell in your land.

Kyrie eleison.

All:          Kyrie eleison

Absolution we hear the words of God’s forgiveness to those who are truly penitent

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 the Third Sunday of Advent – 17th December 2023

Welcome to Saint Paul’s especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. The presiding priest is Fr. Terry Hemming. Lay Reader Nelly Paraskevopoulou is preaching.

Entrance Hymn: Introit: 10 (Personent Hodie) Long ago, prophets knew

Priest:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

The Lord be with you.

      All:      and also with you

Lighting of the Advent Candle

People of God return! You are called to be God’s own. From the mountains announce the good news. God comes in justice and pace, to all who follow his ways. You are God’s children.

All. Lord make us one in the peace of Christ

Today and for ever Amen

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

Priest: When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.

A period of silent stillness follows

Deacon:  Turn us again, O God our Saviour, and let your anger cease from us.

Kyrie eleison

All:           Kyrie eleison.

Deacon: Show us your compassion, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

Christe eleison

All:          Christe eleison

Deacon: Your salvation is near to those that fear you, that glory may dwell in your land.

Kyrie eleison.

All:          Kyrie eleison

Absolution we hear the words of God’s forgiveness to those who are truly penitent

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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Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent – 10th December 2023: ISAIAH 40:1-11, MARK 1:1-8, 2 PETER 3:8-15

Deacon Chris Saccali – St Paul’s Athens

A FOR ADVENT

May the words of my lips and the meditations of our hearts always be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord our strength and Redeemer.

That’s it then Bazaar done and dusted for another year, and we are so grateful to all those who prepped, organised and turned up on the day plus cleared away. Christmas is on the horizon. That’s the trouble, isn’t it? We think and act as if we already know the end of the story. Most of us missed the service here last week, through other duties, so we neglected the Church New Year beginning in Advent.

Actually, Mark 13 was the set reading last week. Go back and read the sermon and service sheet on the church website if you like. It was all about waking up and staying alert. We might not feel like doing that towards the end of the secular year but this is one of the themes of Advent.

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Service for the Second Sunday of Advent – 10th December 2023

Welcome to Saint Paul’s especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens.  The presiding priest is Fr. Terry Hemming, Deacon Christine Saccali is the preacher.

Entrance Hymn: Introit: 188 (Daily Daily) Ye who own the faith of Jesus

Priest:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

The Lord be with you.

             All:      and also with you

The priest then welcomes the people of God.

Priest: When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.

A period of silent stillness follows

Deacon:  Turn us again, O God our Saviour, and let your anger cease from us.

Kyrie eleison

All:           Kyrie eleison.

Deacon: Show us your compassion, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

Christe eleison

All:          Christe eleison

Deacon: Your salvation is near to those that fear you, that glory may dwell in your land.

Kyrie eleison.

All:          Kyrie eleison

Absolution we hear the words of God’s forgiveness to those who are truly penitent

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 Advent. Sunday – 3rd December 2023

Welcome to all as we begin to worship in this holy season of Advent. The presiding priest and preacher is Fr. Terry Hemming.

Entrance Hymn: 11   O come, O come Emmanuel

Priest:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

The Lord be with you.

 All:      and also with you

Lighting of the Advent Candle

Priest: People of God, awake! The day is coming soon when you shall see God face to face. Remember the ways and works of God. God calls you out of darkness to walk in the light of his coming. You are God’s children.

All:      Lord, make us one as we walk with Christ today and forever. Amen]

The priest then welcomes the people of God.

Priest: When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.

A period of silent stillness follows

Deacon:  Turn us again, O God our Saviour, and let your anger cease from us.

Kyrie eleison

All:           Kyrie eleison.

Deacon: Show us your compassion, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

Christe eleison

All:          Christe eleison

Deacon: Your salvation is near to those that fear you, that glory may dwell in your land.

Kyrie eleison.

All:          Kyrie eleison

Absolution we hear the words of God’s forgiveness to those who are truly penitent

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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Sermon for the Feast of Christ the King – 25th November 2023

Fr Terry Hemming – St Paul’s Athens

We live in an age of democracy so to end the church’s year with a celebration of Christ the King may seem an oddity and perhaps even a mistake of the church.

Yet the idea of government and the state is not. It was a privilege to be at Alimos Military Cemetery for the Armistice commemoration. Ambassadors and representatives of many countries there to acknowledge the service and sacrifice given by many to their countries. Loyalty to their government, fidelity to their friends was uppermost in our minds.

God shows himself in many ways but king is one of them and we are therefore his subjects, citizens of his kingdom.

In the Old Testament the people of God were warned against seeking a king like those of the surrounding nations. Our Old Testament reading shows how the rulers were meant to be shepherds and it is with that in mind as we think of Christ the King. He is both the Good Shepherd and the King. Both care for their flock, their nation as a parent for the family. However, this morning let us think of how we respond to his kingship.

We remind ourselves

1 Loyalty to Christ.

We remind ourselves of our baptism and the mark which says we belong to him. This is our first call. We belong to many “kingdoms” families, neighbourhoods, work, choirs, societies, countries, but for us the first is we belong to Christ, the Creator, the Redeemer and the one bringing all things under him. Just as we had Remembrance Sunday so we have had All Saints and All Souls to remind us of those who have served loyally in the past, some to the cost of their lives, some sacrificing much to serve him.

Duty is not the opposite of love. We can be dutiful because we love. We can be loyal because we love. Fidelity is a sign of love. If you love me keep my commandments.

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