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”.

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Service for All Souls – 5 November 2023

Α warm welcome to Fr. Terry Hemming and his wife Ruth, from Hampshire, who will be with us until January. Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens.   There are Communion books for children available for use.  There is coffee in the garden after the Liturgy. St. Paul’s has internet – ask the sidespersons for the password.

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

Entrance Hymn

Introit: Introit: 327 (Grafton) Christ, enthroned in highest heaven (verses 1, 4, 5, and 6)

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

Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you

All   and also with you.

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

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 the Feast of All Saints – 29th October 2023

Fr Leonard Doolan – St Paul’s Athens

The Sermon on the Mount – we imagine Jesus atop a small mountain somewhere beside the Sea of Galilee. He looks out over those who have gathered to hear his words, most of them sitting below him on the slopes of the mount. He preaches as if he were high above everyone else, like a preacher in a lofty pulpit.

This may be picture that requires correction. A visit to the site beside the sea indicates that this even was not so much a pulpit experience, but rather a theatre experience. Jesus treats his location like it was a Greek or Roman theatre – a sort of Galilean Epidavros. He sits below them, like the protagonist of a Greek play, with his audience ranged in front of him spreading upwards. Like any good classical theatre, we know the effect of how a single voice carries to the very back row, to the ‘one and sixpence’ cheap seats furthest from the action. Whether front row or back row, no one is cheated of the performance. This we can imagine being the setting for Jesus and his Sermon on the Mount.

Alternatively, each of these sayings of Jesus could be part of a collection – a collection of sayings gathered together by the gospel writer from across the rich teaching material of our Lord and hung together like a string of pearls – each a pearl of great price. Also plausible, but I prefer to imagine Jesus at the centre stage of a dramatic event.

The Sermon on the Mount – also known as The Beatitudes, a name derived from the Latin word beatus, which is the Latin Vulgate translation of the Greek New Testament word μακάριος – the introductory word to each of the stanzas of the teaching.

Some contemporary translations have preferred to translate this word as ‘happy’ – ‘Happy are the meek’ etc etc. Indeed we should be happy if we are blessed – in sense of being inwardly glad – ‘I was glad when they said unto me, we will go into the house of the Lord (Psalm 122) from Psalm 122, made familiar to us not so long ago as it was sung to Hubert Parry’s tremendous musical setting as Charles III entered Westminster Abbey for his coronation.

But the word ‘happy’ just doesn’t quite cut the mustard. The Archbishop of Athens and All Greece is referred to as Makariotatos, from this word makarios, and rendered into English as ‘Your Beatitude’. I don’t think I would dare to have an audience with him at the Archbishopric Residence and greet his as ‘Your Happiness’.

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