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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Service for the feast of Christ the King – 26th November 2023

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

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

Entrance Hymn   Introit: 345 (Vulpius) Christ is the King

Priest:  Blessed be the kingdom of God

All:       Now and for ever.

Priest:  The Lord be with you.

 All:      and also with you

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

Deacon: Lord, you are gracious and compassionate:

Kyrie eleison

All:          Kyrie eleison

Deacon: You are loving to all and your mercy is over all your creation:

Christe eleison

All:          Christe eleison

Deacon: Your faithful servants bless your name and speak of the glory of your kingdom:

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 Second Sunday before Advent – 19th November 2023

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

The presiding priest this morning is Fr. Terry Hemming, who is also preaching, the deacon is Deacon Christine Saccali. Please join us for coffee in the garden after the Liturgy. St. Paul’s has internet – ask the sidespersons for the password. There are Communion books for children available for use. 

Entrance Hymn  : 476 (Paderborn) Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim          

Priest:    Blessed be the Kingdom of God

All:         Now and for ever

Priest:    Our help is in the name of the Lord

All:         Who has made heaven and earth

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

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)

Deacon:                 Your raise the dead to life in the spirit.

Kyrie eleison              All: Kyrie eleison

Deacon:                 You bring pardon and peace to the broken in spirit.

                           Christe eleison          All: Christe eleison

Deacon :                 You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided.

                           Kyrie eleison             All:  Kyrie eleison

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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Sermon for Remembrance Sunday – 12th November 2023

Revd. Fr Terry Hemmings – St Paul’s Athens

I have a confession to make I am an agnostic. There are lots of things I don’t know and there are lots of things I think I can’t know. It’s true of science – I love what we are learning about black matter but I shall never have the maths to understand it fully – it’s true of life and of the life to come. I am sure of the life to come but what it will be like I do not know and I suspect if I did would not have the language to explain it.

Therefore I am treading on holy ground when I talk of the life to come and of those whom we love but now worship on a different shore.

Jesus taught that there was a life to come.

You will remember there were two groups who had difficulties with Jesus. The Pharisees and the Sadducees. They had a large argument because the Sadducees had a spirituality which was only for this life. The Pharisees firmly believed in a resurrection. You will remember how Paul, brought up a Pharisee, used this when he was accused of preaching against the Hebrew Scriptures.

This is something we repeat in our creed every week for as Paul wrote, 1Cor. 1619 “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised. And if Christ is not raised your faith is vain/useless; you are still in your sins. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished”.

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Service for Remembrance Sunday – 12th November 2023

Welcome to our worship on this Remembrance Sunday. A particular welcome to His Excellency Matthew Lodge, British Ambassador, and Sub-Lieutenant Elliott Joiner Royal Navy. This Worship is led by The Revd. Fr. Terry Hemming, who is also the preacher. Lay Reader Nelly Paraskevopoulou will assist. There is coffee in the garden after the Liturgy.

Hymn:   introit 490 (Rhuddlan) Judge eternal, throned in splendour

Priest:      Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

All:            and also with you.

Priest:      O Lord, open our lips

All:            and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Priest:      Give us the joy of your saving help

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

The priest welcomes people informally and then prays:

Ever- living God, we remember those whom you have gathered from the storm of war into the peace of your presence; may that same peace calm our fears, bring justice to all peoples, and establish harmony among the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Assistant leads us into confession.

Lord, you promise a place in paradise to all who call to you in penitence and faith.

Lord, have mercy.

All   Lord, have mercy.

Lord, you bring comfort to those who mourn and have suffered loss.

Christ, have mercy.

All   Christ, have mercy.

Lord, you speak your word of peace in times of conflict and calm our fears.

Lord, have mercy.

All   Lord, have mercy.

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.

Absolution:      May the Father of all mercies cleanse you from your sins, and restore you

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

All:            Amen

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Sermon preached on All Souls Sunday – 5 November 2023

Revd. Fr Terry Hemming – St Paul’s Athens

I have a confession to make I am an agnostic. There are lots of things I don’t know and there are lots of things I think I can’t know. It’s true of science – I love what we are learning about black matter but I shall never have the maths to understand it fully – it’s true of life and of the life to come. I am sure of the life to come but what it will be like I do not know and I suspect if I did would not have the language to explain it.

Therefore I am treading on holy ground when I talk of the life to come and of those whom we love but now worship on a different shore.

Jesus taught that there was a life to come.

You will remember there were two groups who had difficulties with Jesus. The Pharisees and the Sadducees. They had a large argument because the Sadducees had a spirituality which was only for this life. The Pharisees firmly believed in a resurrection. You will remember how Paul, brought up a Pharisee, used this when he was accused of preaching against the Hebrew Scriptures.

This is something we repeat in our creed every week for as Paul wrote, 1Cor. 1619 “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised. And if Christ is not raised your faith is vain/useless; you are still in your sins. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished”.

READ MORE