Service for the 4th Sunday of Advent – 18th December 2022
Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens. Please join us after the Liturgy for refreshments in the garden. The notices are at the end. The presiding priest is Fr. Leonard. The deacon and preacher is The Revd. Deacon Christine Saccali. Water is available at the back of church. We have a POS machine for payments. Coffee is provided after the Liturgy.
Entrance (all are invited to stand and face the door)
Minister: Lift up your heads, O gates: be lifted up you everlasting doors; and the King of
glory shall come in.
All: Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord who is mighty
in battle.
Minister: Lift up your heads, O gates: be lifted up you everlasting doors; and the King of
glory shall come in.
All: Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Entrance Hymn 185 Sing we of the Blessed Mother
Priest: Blessed be the kingdom of God
All: Now and for ever.
Priest: 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 Jesus, light of the world, blessed is Gabriel, who brought good news; blessed is Mary, your mother and ours. Bless your Church preparing for Christmas; and bless your children, who long for your coming. Amen
The priest then welcomes the people of God and the deacon then leads us into Confession.
Deacon: 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
Priest: 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 eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Collect: Let us pray (remain standing as the priest sings the Collect of the Day)
Eternal God, as Mary waited for the birth of your Son, so we wait for his coming in glory; bring us through the birth pangs of this present age to see, with her, our great salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
First Reading (please sit) Isaiah 7, 10-18
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Gradual Hymn The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
‘All hail’ he said ‘thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favoured lady. Gloria!
‘For know, a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honour thee,
thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold;
most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
‘To me be as it pleaseth God’ she said.
‘My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name’;
most highly favoured lady. Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born
in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say,
‘most highly favoured lady’. Gloria!
2nd Reading (please sit) Romans 1, 1-7 (Reader: Oliver Knight)
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the gentiles for the sake of his name, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Hymn: 10 Long ago
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 1, 18-end)
All: Glory to you, O Lord
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
Deacon: This is the gospel of the Lord
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Creed (please stand as we declare our historic faith in the Trinitarian God)
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 and the Son, 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: Maranatha! Response: Come Lord Jesus!
The Peace: (please stand)
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest. The peace of the Lord be always with you
All: and also with you
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!
Offertory Hymn 271 Alleluia sing to Jesus (The Collection will be taken)
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. He is the one foretold by all the prophets, whom the Virgin Mother bore with love beyond all telling. John the Baptist was his herald and made him known when at last he came. In his love Christ fills us with joy as we prepare to celebrate his birth,
so that when he comes again he may find us watching in prayer, our hearts filled with wonder and praise. And so, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your glory, and join 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: Lord, you are holy indeed… the prayer continues until
Deacon: Great is the mystery of faith
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Priest: And so, Father…. The priest continues with our prayer. At the end 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 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. 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
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 Hymn: 272 All for Jesus
Post Communion Prayer: Let us pray (please stand)
Priest: Heavenly Father, who chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of the promised Saviour: fill us your servants with your grace, that in all things we may embrace your holy will and with her rejoice in your salvation, 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
Notices
Post Communion Hymn 9 Lo, he comes with clouds descending
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: Our Lord says, “I am coming soon”
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Deacon: May the Lord, when he comes, find us watching and waiting.
All: Amen.
Dismissal
Deacon: Go in the peace of Christ
All: Thanks be to God.
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
- 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.
- Christmas Services:
- Sunday 18th December 18.00 Carols Sing-a-long
- Saturday 24th December 18.00 Lessons and Carols
- December 25th 00hrs Christmas Morning Liturgy and carol
- December 26th 00hrs Feast of St. Stephen
- December 27th 00hrs Feast of St. John the Evangelist
- December 28th 00hrs Feast of the Holy Innocents
- December 29th 00hrs Feast of St. Thomas Becket
- Sunday 1st Jan 00hrs Service of the Word (New Year’s Day) Feast of St. Basil.
- Bishop Robert’s Advent Appeal: see the link for details
https://www.facebook.com/AnglicanAthens/
@AthensAnglican
e-Mag available on the website
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