Service for Palm Sunday – 10th April 2022
Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. Great (Holy) Week begins today in the ‘Latin Calendar’. We will begin outside with the blessing of palm crosses and process into church. Do stay for coffee in the church garden after the Liturgy.
The presiding priest and preacher is Fr. Leonard, Senior Chaplain. The deacon is The Revd. Deacon Christine Saccali.
Liturgy of Palms (in the Garden)
All: Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Priest: Behold your king comes to you, O Zion, meek and lowly, sitting upon an ass. Ride on in the cause of truth and for the sake of justice. Your throne is the throne of God, it endures for ever; and the sceptre of your kingdom is a righteous sceptre. You have loved righteousness and hated evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
All: Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Priest: Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing by works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of our Lord’s death and resurrection. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the Church throughout the world. Christ enters his own city to complete his work as our Saviour, to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us go with him in faith and love, so that, united with him in his sufferings, we may share his risen life.
The people hold up palms or branches while this prayer is said by the priest
God our Saviour, whose Son Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem as Messiah to suffer and to die; let these palms + be for us signs of his victory and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
We now process around the church, and as we do so we sing:
We have a King who rides a donkey, we have a King who rides a donkey
We have a King who rides a donkey, and his name is Jesus.
Jesus the King is with us, Jesus us the King is with us, Jesus the King is with us
Riding on a donkey.
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 household of faith and then the deacon leads us into Confession.
Silence and stillness
Deacon: We confess to you our selfishness and lack of love: fill us with your Spirit.
Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Deacon: We confess to you our fear and failure in sharing our faith: fill us with your Spirit.
Christe eleison
All: Christe eleison
Deacon: We confess to you our stubbornness and lack of trust: fill us with your Spirit.
Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Absolution: Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and bring to everlasting life. Amen.
Collect: Let us pray (remain standing in silence as the priest prays the Collect of the Day)
True and humble King, hailed by the crowd as Messiah: grant us the faith to know and love you, that we may be found beside you on the way of the cross, which is the path of glory; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Reading (please sit) Isaiah 50, 4-9 (Lynn Stavrou)
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Hymn 509 All glory Laud and honour (omit the * verses)
Gospel Reading
Deacon: Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory. The Lord is a great God, O that today you would listen to his voice. Harden not your hearts.
All: Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
Deacon: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
Deacon: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew (Matt 21, 1-11)
All: Glory to you, O Lord
After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Deacon: This is the gospel of the Lord
All: Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
Sermon (Please sit) Most sermons are available on the website
Affirmation of Faith (please stand as we declare our historic faith in the Trinitarian God)
Priest: Let us declare our faith in God.
All: We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Intercessions: Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer (Intercessor: Virginia Stevens)
The Peace: (please stand)
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ who has given us access to his grace. The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: and also with you
Offertory Hymn 273 And now, O Father The Collection will now be taken and offered
The bread and wine, the offering of our life and work, will be brought to the altar.
[Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
All: 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. Blessed be God for ever!
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
All: 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. 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
Priest: It is indeed right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. For as the time of his passion and resurrection draw near the whole world is called to acknowledge his hidden majesty. The power of the life-giving cross reveals the judgement that has come upon the world and the triumph of Christ crucified. He is the victim who dies no more, the Lamb once slain, who lives for ever; our advocate in heaven to plead our cause, exalting us there to join with angels and archangels, for ever 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 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.
Deacon: 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 her 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: Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup
All: we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Sung: Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
Invitation to Holy Communion: Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you. Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.
All baptized Christians may come forward to receive the body and blood of Christ. If you have a cough or cold, receive only the bread –you may wish to do this anyway because of the virus.
Communion Hymn: 94 We sing the praise
Post Communion Prayer: Let us pray (please stand) Lord Jesus Christ, you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant, and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation: give us the mind to follow you and to proclaim you as Lord and King, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
All: Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Post Communion Hymn: 373 How shall I sing (tune 376)
Priest: May the Father, who so loved the world that he gave his only Son, bring you by faith to his eternal life. All Amen.
Priest: May Christ, who accepted the cup of sacrifice in obedience to the Father’s will, keep you steadfast as you walk with him the way of his cross. All Amen.
Priest: May the Spirit, who strengthens us to suffer with Christ that we may share his glory, set your minds on life and peace. All Amen.
Priest: And the blessing of God almighty…
Deacon: Go in the peace of Christ
All: Thanks be to God.
Next Week’s Readings (Easter Sunday): Isaiah 65, 17-end; Acts 10, 34-43; Luke 24, 1-12
Fr. Leonard’s usual Day Off – Monday (in emergencies contact Fr. James)
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. Please use our monthly envelope scheme if you can.
Notices:
- Easter this year is April 17th (Orthodox Easter is 24th April) – there will be an Easter Breakfast in the garden after the Liturgy. Contact Linda Paparsenos or Jane Mandalios if you can help.
- Easter Candle Fund raising – you can make an Easter donation to St. Paul’s by adding and lighting a candle with your gift – see the website for information.
- Easter Lilies – see the website to pay for a lily. A real lily will be part of the flower displays on Easter Sunday. A register of people’s ‘in memory’ names will be produced by Mary Pelides.
- There is now a weekly ‘online’ Prayer Group. Speak to Nelly Paraskevopoulou or Deacon Chris about the details. Zoom login is on our website.
- Congratulations to Lynn Stavrou and Trevor Kamuzonde who were elected as Churchwardens at last week’s APCM. Cees van Beek was elected to the Council.
- Holy Week (Great Week):
Holy Wednesday Liturgy: 10.00hrs
Holy Thursday Liturgy: 19.00hrs
Good Friday Liturgy: 14.00hrs
Holy Saturday Liturgy: 20.00hrs
- 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.
- View our Website: anglicanchurchathens.gr
- Or “Like” us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnglicanAthens/
- Or ‘follow’ us on Twitter: @AthensAnglican
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