Service for Advent Sunday – 27th November 2022
Welcome to all as we begin to worship in this holy season of Advent. The presiding priest and preacher is Fr. Leonard.
There is coffee after our Liturgy. Please note the church has a POS if you wish to donate by card.
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 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
[There is no Gloria in Advent)
Collect: Let us pray (remain standing as the priest prays the Collect of the Day)
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in all humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you in the power of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Reading (please sit) Isaiah 2, 1-5 (Jane Mandalios)
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches
All: Thanks be to God.
Hymn: 8 Lift up your heads (Tune Gonfalon Royal 128)
Second Reading (please sit) Romans 13, 11-14 (Oliver Knight)
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us walk decently as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in illicit sex and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches
All: Thanks be to God
Gradual Hymn: 341 Blest are the pure in heart
Gospel Reading
Deacon: Alleluia! Alleluia! Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia!
Deacon: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
Deacon: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew (Mt. 24, 36-44)
All: Glory to you, O Lord
Jesus said, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Deacon: This is the gospel of the Lord
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon (Please sit) Sermon available in print and on the website – also recorded
Offertory Hymn 16 Wake, O wake (The Collection will be taken)
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer. Fruit of the field and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
All: Blessed be God for ever!
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer. Fruit of the field and work of human hands, it will become for us the cup of salvation.
All: Blessed be God for ever!
The Great Thanksgiving Prayer (please remain standing for this)
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
It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise, Almighty God and everlasting Father, through Jesus Christ your Son. For when he humbled himself to come among us in human flesh, he fulfilled the plan you formed before the foundation of the world to open up for us the way of salvation. Confident that your promise will be fulfilled, we now watch for the day when Christ our Lord will come again in glory. And so as we join our voices with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven to proclaim your glory for ever praising you and singing:
Sanctus: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Priest: continues
Deacon: Praise to you Lord Jesus
All: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life: Lord Jesus come in glory.
And so, Father… by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. All: AMEN
The Lord’s Prayer: (you may pray this in the language of your choice)
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 Christ
All: Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
Said: Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us. Jesus bearer of our sins, have mercy on us. Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace, grant us peace.
Invitation to Holy Communion
Priest: God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people
All: Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
All baptized Christians may come forward to receive the body and blood of Christ. If you wish you may receive a blessing. Please let the Sidespeople guide you forward.
Communion: organ music
Post Communion Prayer: Let us pray (please stand)
Priest: O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep us faithful as we await the coming of your Son our Lord; that when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin but active in his service and joyful in his praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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
Post Communion Hymn: 388 Jesus shall reign
The Blessing and Dismissal
Priest: Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you, scatter the darkness from
before your path, and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory;
and the blessing…
Deacon: Go in the peace of Christ
All: Thanks be to God.
Fr. Leonard’s usual Day Off – Monday and Tuesday
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
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. We have a POS and you can make your donation by card – or pay for ‘Opening the Doors’ by card.
Notices : Bishop Robert’s Advent Appeal – see the link for details
- This year’s online Christmas fundraiser features the Herald Angels in the sky over Bethlehem. With each donation one more angel is added to the heavenly host. For more details visit our website.
- The new church history and guide book ‘OPENING the DOORS’ is now available at the cost of €10,00.
- A POS is available if you wish to buy one of the books or make your Sunday donation to St. Paul’s.
- Join the online Prayer Group each Tuesday morning at 09.00 – see website for the Zoom link.
- Community Connect Coffee Mornings – every second Wednesday 11.00-13.00. Dec 14th (in Swedish Centre). Contact Anne Dedes if you need information.
- Christmas Bazaar – at the Foyer of the Amphitheatre of the War Museum – December 4th.
- Christmas Services: Sunday 18th December 18.00 Carols Sing-a-long – (Admission €5 per adult).
Saturday 24th December 18.00 Lessons and Carols
Sunday 25th December 10.00 Christmas Morning Liturgy
- View our Website: anglicanchurchathens.gr
- Or “Like” us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnglicanAthens/
- Or ‘follow’ us on Twitter: @AthensAnglican
- Liturgical material © the Archbishops’ Council.
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