Service for Candlemass Sunday – 28th January 2024
Welcome to St. Paul’s Church. All are invited to come forward to receive bread and wine at the table of Christ. This Feast is properly kept on Feb 2nd.
Please join us for refreshments after the service.
Presiding Priest: Fr. Bjorn Kling
Deacon & Preacher: Revd Deacon Christine Saccali
Introit: 156 (Diva Servatrix) Sing how the age-long promise of a Saviour
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
Introduction
Priest: Dear friends, some 40 days ago we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now we recall the day on which he was presented in the Temple, when he was offered to the Fatherand shown to his people. As a sign of his coming among us, his mother was purified, and we now come to him for cleansing. In their old age Simeon and Anna recognized him as their Lord, as we today sing of his glory. In this eucharist, we celebrate both the joy of his coming and his searching judgement, looking back to the day of his birth and forward to the coming days of his passion.
Confession
Deacon: Jesus said, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’. So
let us turn away from sin and turn to Christ, confessing our sins in
penitence and faith.
Silence is kept
Deacon: For turning away from you, and ignoring your will for our lives;
All (sing): Kyrie Eleison.
Deacon: For behaving just as we wish, without thinking of you;
All (sing): Christe Eleison.
Deacon: For failing you by what we do, think and say;
All (sing): Kyrie Eleison.
Absolution
May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life.
All: Amen
Collect The priest says ‘let us pray’, then prays the Collect for the day:
Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: make your home among us, and present us pure and holy to your heavenly Father, your God and our God. 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. Amen
1st Reading
Malachi 3:1-5
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Resp. Psalm: 535 (Psalm 98) All the ends of the earth have seen: the salvation of our God
2nd Reading Hebrews 2, 14-18
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Gradual: 44 (Pastor Pastorum) Faithful vigil ended
Deacon: The Lord be with
All: and also with you
Deacon: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke (2. 22-40)
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.” There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
At the end of the gospel
Deacon: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, O Christ
Please be seated for The Sermon. Deacon Christine Saccali
Profession of Faith (please stand)
Priest: Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
All: I believe and trust in him.
Priest : Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
All: I believe and trust in him.
Priest: Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
All: I believe and trust in him.
Priest: This is the faith of the Church.
All: This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Intercession: Lord, in your mercy
All: Hear our prayer
The Peace (Please stand): In the tender mercy of our God the dayspring from on high has broken upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide us into the way of peace.
Priest: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: and also with you.
Deacon: Let us greet one another with a sign of Christ’s peace.
Offertory hymn: Offertory: (SHEET) Lord, the light of your love is shining
(the Collection will be taken)
Lord, the light of your love is shining,
in the midst of the darkness, shining:
Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us;
set us free by the truth you now bring us;
shine on me, shine on me:
Chorus:
Shine, Jesus, shine,
fill this land with the Father’s glory
blaze, Spirit, blaze,
set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow,
flood the nations with grace and mercy;
send forth your word, Lord,
and let there be light.
Lord, I come to your awesome presence,
from the shadows into your radiance;
by your blood I may enter the brightness:
search me, try me, consume all my darkness –
shine on me, shine on me:
As we gaze on your kingly brightness
so our faces display your likeness,
ever changing from glory to glory:
mirrored here, may our lives tell your story –
shine on me, shine on me:
© 1987 Make Way Music (ASCAP) (admin. by Music Services, Inc. in the Western Hemisphere)
The bread and wine are presented at the table – signs of our life, our work, and our offering to God.
Priest: Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour, and
the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All: All things come from you,
and of your own do we give you
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, always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ, who is one with you from all eternity. For on this day he appeared in the temple in substance of our flesh to come near to us in judgement. He searches the heart of all your people and brings to light the image of your splendour. Your servant Simeon acclaimed him as the light to lighten the nations while Anna spoke of him to all who looked for your redemption. Destined for the falling and rising of many, he was lifted high upon the cross and a sword of sorrow pierced his mother’s heart when by his sacrifice he made our peace with you. And now we rejoice and glorify your name that we, too, have seen your salvation and join with angels and archangels in their unending hymn of praise:
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 the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Priest: We praise and bless you loving Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; and as we obey his command, send your Holy Spirit, that broken bread and wine outpoured may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son. On the night before he died he had supper with his friends and, taking bread, he praised you. He broke the bread, gave it to them and said, Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
When supper was ended he took the cup of wine. Again he praised you, gave it to them 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 your drink it, in remembrance of me.
So Father, we remember all that Jesus did, in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross. Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation, we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory.
Deacon: Great is the mystery of faith
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Priest: Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day when your kingdom comes and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth. Look with favour on your people, gather us in your loving arms and bring us with the Holy Mother of God, Paul and all the saints to feast at your table in heaven. Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father, for ever and ever. All: Amen
Please sit or kneel
All pray together: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.
Agnus Dei: Jesus Lamb of God, have mercy on us
Sung Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace, grant us peace.
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.
Communion hymn: 307 (Divine Mysteries) Sweet Sacrament divine
Priest: Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna, who lived to welcome the Messiah; may we who have received these gifts beyond words, prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes to bring us to eternal life.
All: Amen.
We pray together:
We thank you, Lord, that you have fed us in this sacrament and united us with Christ and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet prepared for all peoples. Amen.
Post-Communion: 439 (Gerontius) Praise to the Holiest in the height
Blessing: Christ the Son of God, born of Mary, fill you with his grace to trust his promises and obey his will; and the blessing…..
Deacon: Go in the light and peace of Christ.
All: Thanks be to God.
Notices:
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on 4th February, with Fr Bjorn Kling presiding
Morning prayer on Wednesdays at 10 a.m
We are expecting Fr Marcus Ronchetti from 9th February to 9th April
Palm Crosses – please return any Palm Crosses from 2023. These are burned to make the Ash for Ash Wednesday this year (Feb 14th ).
Coffee Mornings Thursday 8th February, at the Swedish Centre, 10.30-12.30 Contact Anne Dedes if you need information.
Electoral Roll Forms are available – if you are regularly at St. Paul’s please complete one of these and hand it in
Monthly Giving envelopes – it is never too late to join this scheme – please ask about it.
Quiz Nights – look out for the monthly dates
Weekly Prayer on-line. Check the website for the details. Anyone can join.
A POS is available so you can make your Sunday donation by card
Deacon Chris: 22950 53164: Day Off: Fridays
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
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