Service for the 4th Sunday of Epiphany – 30th January 2022
St Paul’s Athens
Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. We have a POS facility now, so payments can be made to the church by bank cards.
The presiding priest and preacher is The Revd. Canon Leonard Doolan; the deacon is the Revd. Christine Saccali. The preacher this morning is Angelos Palioudakis.
Entrance Hymn 388 (1st tune) Jesus shall reign
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 people of God and then the deacon leads us into Confession.
Silence
Deacon: God be gracious to us and bless us, and make his face to shine upon us:
Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Deacon: May your ways be known on earth, your saving power among the nations:
Christe eleison
All: Christe eleison
Deacon: Lord, you have made known your salvation, and reveal your justice in the sight of the nations:
Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Absolution we hear the words of God’s forgiveness to those who are truly penitent
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 Father. Amen.
Collect: Let us pray (remain standing as the priest sings the Collect of the Day)
Go our creator, who in the beginning commanded the light to shine out of darkness; we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief, shine into the hearts of your people, and reveal the knowledge of your glory in the face of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Reading (please sit) Ezekiel 43, 27-4,4 (Lynn Stavrou)
When these days are over, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer upon the altar your burnt offerings and your offerings of well-being; and I will accept you, says the Lord God. Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east; and it was shut. The Lord said to me: This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it; for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it; therefore it shall remain shut. Only the prince, because he is a prince, may sit in it to eat food before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way. Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; and I looked, and lo! the glory of the Lord filled the temple of the Lord; and I fell upon my face.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm (Green Book) 535 All the ends of the earth have seen; the salvation of our God
Second Reading 1 Cor 13, 1-13 (Cees van Beek)
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Gospel Hymn 365 God moves in a mysterious way
Gospel Reading
Deacon: Alleluia. There is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all. Alleluia.
All: Alleluia! (sung)
Deacon: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
Deacon: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke (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.”
Deacon: This is the gospel of the Lord
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon: please sit (sermons appear on our website in printed and recorded versions)
Nicene Creed (please stand to declare our historic faith)
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.
Intercession: Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer (Intercessor: Josh Barley)
The Peace: (please stand)
Our Saviour Christ is the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. The Peace of the Lord be always with you. The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: and also with you
Offertory Hymn 336 Angel voices (The Collection will be taken)
The bread and wine are placed on the table; signs of our work, our lives, our total giving of ourselves to God.
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 vine 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
Priest: All honour and praise be yours always and everywhere, mighty Creator, ever-living God,
through Jesus Christ your only Son our Lord: for at this time we celebrate your glory made present in our midst. In the coming of the Magi the King of all the world was revealed to the nations. In the waters of baptism Jesus was revealed as the Christ, the Saviour sent to redeem us. In the water made wine the new creation was revealed at the wedding feast. Poverty was turned to riches, sorrow into joy. Therefore with all the angels of heaven we lift our voices to proclaim the glory of your name and sing our joyful 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.
Priest: continues with the Eucharistic Prayer
Deacon: Great is the mystery of faith
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Priest: continues with the Eucharistic Prayer. At the end: All: 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.
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.
Priest: Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; happy are
those who are called to his supper.
All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed
All baptized Christians may come forward to receive Holy Communion. If you wish you may receive a blessing. Please let the Sidespeople guide you forward.
Communion Hymn:
Post Communion Prayer: Let us pray (please stand)
Priest: Generous Lord, in word and eucharist we have proclaimed the mystery of your love: help us so to live out our days that we may be signs of your wonders in the world; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 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
Priest: Christ the Son of God perfect in you the image of his glory and gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom; and the blessing…
Deacon: Go in the peace of Christ
All: Thanks be to God.
Next Week’s Readings: 4 before Lent – Is 6, 1-8; 1 Cor 15, 1-11; Luke 5, 1-11
Fr. Leonard’s usual Day Off – Monday. 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
Notices:
- Fr Leonard has announced that at his 65th birthday (July) he will take his Church pension and work for one more year as chaplain without the salary. He will reduce from 6 days to 5 working days. Expenses and allowances will continue to be paid. In one year this will be a saving of €39,000 to the chaplaincy (salary, pension payments, employers tax, EKA etc). This has been agreed by the Council and approved by Bishop Robert.
- COVID Certificates!!! Everyone should be responsible for the validity of their own certificates. Note that if you don’t have the booster your COVID certificate is time-limited. If you don’t have a valid certificate you will have to show a copy of a valid Rapid Test result or we will have to ask you to sit outside.
- Quiz Night: 4th February at 7.30pm in the Swedish Centre. Speak to Jean Mertzanakis. Valid COVID Certificates only – and these will be checked. From 1st Feb all 2 dose certificates more than 7 months old will be INVALID!!! This is a Government regulation.
- Council Meeting: February 5th at 14.30 in the Swedish Centre
- Bishop’s Advent Appeal – if you have been collecting small change for the Appeal, please hand it in now to Nelly (already counted please).
https://www.facebook.com/AnglicanAthens/
@AthensAnglican
Liturgical material Copyright the Archbishops’ Council
No Comments