Service for Ascension Sunday, 21st May 2023 – 7th Sunday of Easter
Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. Welcome to members of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers (City of London) visiting Athens for a few days. After the Liturgy we gather in the church garden for coffee and refreshments. You can make a donation by card – we have a POS.
The presiding priest and preacher this morning is The Revd. Canon Leonard Doolan, Senior Chaplain. The Assistant is Angelos Palioudakis.
Entrance Hymn 453 Stand up, stand up for Jesus!
Priest: Alleluia! Christ is risen
All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
The priest then welcomes the people of God and then the Assistant leads us into Confession.
Silence
Assistant: Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life.
Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Assistant: Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins.
Christe eleison
All: Christe eleison
Assistant: Lord Jesus, you feed us with the living bread.
Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Absolution: May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in 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
are the most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God
the Father. Amen.
Collect: Let us pray (remain standing as the priest prays the Collect of the Day)
Risen, ascended Lord, as we rejoice at your triumph, fill your Church on earth with power and compassion, that all who are estranged by sin may find forgiveness and know our peace, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
First Reading (please sit) Acts 1, 6-14 (Jane Mandalios)
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Psalm (Green Book): 540 I will bless your name for ever, my God and King.
2nd Reading 1 Peter 4, 12-14 (Jean Mertzenakis)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God
Gospel Hymn 391 King of glory
Gospel Reading
Deacon: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Lord is risen. Alleluia!
All (sung): Alleluia
Assistant: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
Assistant: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John (John 17, 1-11)
All: Glory to you, O Lord
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
At the end of the Gospel
Assistant: This is the gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, O Christ. Alleluia
Sermon (Please sit) Most sermons are available on the website
Creed
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: (sit) Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer (Cees van Beek)
Peace: Alleluia! Alleluia! The risen Lord came among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you’. Then were they glad when they saw the Lord! Alleluia!
Priest: Alleluia! Alleluia! The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Offertory Hymn : 271 Alleluia, sing to Jesus The Collection will be taken
Priest: Be present, be present Lord Jesus Christ, our risen high priest: make yourself known in the breaking of bread. Amen.
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
The priest then continues singing the prayer to which we all listen with prayerful hearts until
‘for evermore praising you and singing’…
All: 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
Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord, hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the
highest.
The prayer continues until the Acclamation:
Assistant: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
At the end of the Thanksgiving Prayer 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: 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: Alleluia! Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us
All: Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
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 Sides-people guide you forward.
Communion Hymn: 463 Thine for ever
Post Communion Prayer: Let us pray (please stand)
Memorial Prayers for Linda Paparsenos.
Priest: Eternal God, giver of love and power, your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world to preach the gospel of his kingdom; confirm us in this mission, and help us to live the good news we proclaim; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All: You have opened to us the Scriptures, O Christ, and you have made yourself known in the breaking of bread. Abide with us, we pray, that blessed by your royal presence, we may walk with you all the days of our life, and at its end behold you in the glory of the eternal Trinity, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Notices
Post Communion Hymn: 443 Rejoice the Lord is king
Priest: The Spirit of truth lead you into all truth, give you grace to confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, and strengthen you to proclaim the word and works of God;
and the blessing …
Assistant: Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Notices
Post Communion Hymn: 443 Rejoice the Lord is king
Priest: The Spirit of truth lead you into all truth, give you grace to confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, and strengthen you to proclaim the word and works of God;
and the blessing …
Assistant: Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Fr. Leonard’s usual Day Off – Monday (in emergencies contact Deacon Christine)
Home tel : 210 72 14 906; email anglican@otenet.gr
Deacon Chris: mobile 6977377655 Please avoid contacting Chris on Fridays.
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
Notices:
- Monthly Giving envelopes – it is never too late to join this scheme. Just ask about it.
- Coffee Mornings (now on Thursdays!!!): June 8th, July 13th. These are in the Church Garden
- Quiz Nights – these are monthly. Listen out for the dates!
- Coronation Bazaar: May 27th in the church garden – look out for details
- We are glad to have welcomed you to St Paul’s today but remember you can keep in touch with us wherever you are you are in the world. See our e-mag on the website.
- From Thursday 18h May-Sunday 21st May a group of 38 members of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers (City of London) are visiting Athens to look at buildings that have interesting stained glass. They will visit both the Anglican and German churches among other places.
- Because of the General Election date the usual commemoration of the Battle of Souda Bay has been moved to the following weekend, so Fr. Leonard will be with the Ambassador and Embassy Defence Team in Crete from Friday 26th May – Sunday 28th
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