Holy Cross Sunday (September 13th 2020)

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here

for the first time or visiting Athens. We will have some gentle singing this morning – masks must be worn at all times in the church and in the garden and we must attempt to keep 1.5m distance. People from the same household can sit normally together. One of the sidespeople will direct you forward for Holy Communion. Your collection should be placed in the envelope provided and placed in one of the offering bags as you leave. There is coffee again in the garden after the Liturgy – masks and social distancing please! Coffee is €1,00 (to help church finances)

 

The presiding priest and preacher is Fr. Leonard.

 

Entrance Hymn:  the organ will play two verses of hymn 237

 

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

All:         Amen

Priest:    The Lord be with you

All:         And also with you

 

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

Silence and stillness follows

 

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

Absolution: Almighty God, who forgives all those  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.

 

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

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,

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

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

you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;

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

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

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God, the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

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

Almighty God, who in the passion of your blessed Son made an instrument of painful death to be for us the means of life and peace; grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we gladly suffer for his sake; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one god, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Reading                                                                                        Philippians 2, 6-11

Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself  and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Reader:  This is the word of the Lord

All:          Thanks be to God

 

Gospel Hymn: The organ will play a verse of hymn 92  

Gospel Reading        (turn towards the gospel book)

Priest:       Alleluia! Alleluia! The word of the Lord endures for ever. The word of the Lord

is good news announced to you.  Alleluia!

All (said): Alleluia            

Priest:       The Lord be with you

All:             and also with you

Priest:       Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John (John 3, 13-17)

All:             Glory to you, O Lord  

No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

At the end of the Gospel

Priest:      This is the gospel of the Lord

All:            Praise to you, O Christ. 

The organ will play a well known Alleluia tune

 

Sermon  (Please sit)  Most sermons are available on the website in print and pre-recorded

 

Creed   (Please stand)  We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father: through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

 

Intercessions: Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer  (Magdalen Imarghiagbe)

 

Peace:  Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be called children of God. We meet in the name of Christ and share his peace. The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All:        And also with you.

We are currently not shaking hands with ours neighbours, but please greet each other.

 

(The bread and wine, signs of our work and life, are brought forward to the altar and received with the words)

 

The organ will play three verses of hymn 295

 

Priest:  Wise and gracious God, you spread a table before us; nourish your people with the word of life and the bread of heaven.

All:       Amen.

 

The Great Thanksgiving Prayer    ( Please remain standing for this- in the responses please sing gently while keeping your mask on)

Priest:  The Lord be with you

All:        and also with you

Priest:  Lift up your hearts

All:       We lift them to the Lord

Priest:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

All:        It is right to give thanks and praise

Priest:  It is indeed right and good, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Today we celebrate with songs of praise the cross, the victory-sign of Christ. Once through the fruit of the forbidden tree we fell, now through this tree our Saviour cancels all our sin. An instrument of shameful death has become for Christ a throne of glory. The power of the life-giving cross reveals the judgement that has come upon the world and the triumph of Christ crucified. And so, with choirs of angels and with all the heavenly host, we proclaim your glory and join their unending hymn of praise:

All: (sing gently) Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

 

Priest: How wonderful the work of your hands, O Lord! As a mother tenderly gathers her children you embraced a people as your own. When they turned away and rebelled your love remained steadfast.  From them you raised up Jesus our Saviour, born of Mary, to be the living bread, in whom all our hungers are satisfied.  He offered his life for sinners and with a love stronger than death he opened wide his arms on the cross. On the night before he died, he came to supper with his friends, and taking bread, he gave you thanks. He broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me.  At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, he gave you thanks, and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Priest:     Christ is the bread of life

All:           When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,

                 until you come in glory.

Priest: Father, we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all on the cross: we remember his dying and rising in glory, and we rejoice that he prays for us at your right hand. Pour out your Holy Spirit as we bring before you these gifts of your creation; may they be for us the body and blood of your dear Son. As we eat and drink these holy things in your presence, form us in the likeness of Christ, and build us into a living temple to your glory. Remember Lord your Church in every land. Reveal her unity, guard her faith, and preserve her in peace with our Bishop Robert and all the congregations of this diocese; bring your people at the last with the Holy Mother of God, Paul, and all the saints to the vision of that eternal splendour for which you have created us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom and with whom and in whom, with all who stand before you earth and heaven, we worship you in songs of everlasting praise;

All:    Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer:  (to be prayed in your own language)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on 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.

 

Priest: We break this bread to share in the body of the risen Christ.

All:       Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

 

Sung:   (sung gently)

             Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us

             Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us

             Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace

 

Invitation to Communion

Priest:  Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Happy are those

who are called to his supper.

All:       Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed

All baptized Christians may come forward to receive the body of Christ. If you wish you may receive a blessing. Please let the Sides-people guide you forward.  

 

Communion Hymn:  the organ will play hymn 307

 

Post Communion Prayer:  Let us pray     (please stand)

Faithful God, whose Son bore our sins in his body on the tree and gave us this sacrament to show forth his death until he comes: give us grace to glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life and our hope, who reigns as Lord, now and forever. Amen.

All: Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory.  Amen.

 

Blessing and Dismissal

Priest:        Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

All:              In the name of Christ. Amen.

 

Next Week’s Readings: Trinity 15    Philippians 1, 21-end; Matthew 20, 1-16

 

 

Fr. Leonard’s usual Day Off – Monday  (in emergencies contact Deacon Christine)

Home tel :  210 72 14 906;  email anglican@otenet.gr

Deacon Chris: 22950 53164: Day Off – Friday.

Swedish Church: contact Fr. Bjorn on  694 607 2428

For all concert bookings and enquiries:  6937257578 and see booking form on website.

 

The Anglican Church in Greece (including St. Paul’s) is self- financing, and receives no income other than from the generosity of those who worship here. We are a legal body and we pay tax. Our tax number is 997073090. If you wish to donate direct to our bank (IBAN) the account with Piraeus Bank is:  The Anglican Church in Greece, St. Paul’s Athens  GR 820172 0500 0050 5008 6327 479  Swift code is  PIRB GRAA income other than from the generosity of those who worship here.

 

1. Notices : The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be on Sunday 20^th Nomination forms for Council Membership and Church Wardens will be available soon.
2. Easter – Virtual and Viral A book of sermons preached by Fr. Leonard during the first weeks of lockdown. Cost €5,00 – all income from sales will go to St. Paul’s Church.
3. Church Council will meet on Saturday 12^th at 10.30am in St. Paul’s.
4. Community Connect coffee Morning – this Wednesday at 11.00-12.30
5. If you feel competent to ‘run’ Zoom in church so we can livestream our services, please speak with Fr. Leonard this morning. 

6. FUNDRAISING AND SPECIAL SERVICES FOR AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

7. Saturday 26^th September – there will be a church garden Autumn Sale from 10.00-15.00 hours. (Planning Meeting after Liturgy on 13^th)
8. Sunday 4^th October – Feast of St. Francis. At noon there will be a Blessing of Pets service in St. Paul’s. Gift envelopes will be printed up and available for donations. 10% of the collection will go to an animal charity.

   Saturday 10^th October – ‘Gift Day’ from 11.00-13.00hrs Fr. Leonard will be at the church to receive donations from individuals in thanksgiving for St. Paul’s Church. Envelopes will be available and a ‘Giving Blessing’ will be offered.

   Christmas Bazaar – 22^nd November. We must assume it will go ahead as normal. There will be an open meeting for stall holders/interested individuals on Saturday 17^th October at 11.00 in St. Paul’s. We need a co-ordinator/s.

   Quiz Nights – Jean Mertzenakis has arranged three nights before Christmas. Sept 11^th(cancelled), Oct 16^th, Nov 13^th, Dec 4^th.

   Community Connect Coffee Mornings: Sept 9^th (Church Garden) Oct 14^th, Nov 11^th venue to be confirmed (Other Coffee Mornings – the last Sunday of each month in the Church garden)

   Wine Tasting- Anne Kokotos has agreed an Autumn wine tasting. The date is to be confirmed and we hope it will be in the Garden of the British Residence

   Christmas Carol Singalong – 2 December dates this year, Dec 6^th and 20^th both at 18.30.