Baptism of Christ Blog
08/01/2022

Service for the Baptism of Christ 1st Sunday after Epiphany – 9th January 2022

St Paul’s Athens

 

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. Please stay and have coffee after the liturgy. Masks are required at all times – and social distancing.

 

The presiding priest and preacher is Fr. Leonard, assisted by Nelly Paraskevopoulou.

 

[Minister:  We will go unto the altar of God

All:            Even unto the God of our Joy and gladness

Minister:  Our help is in the name of the Lord

All:            Who has made heaven and earth.

Minister:  O Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness

All:            Let the whole earth stand in awe of him]

 

Entrance Hymn    55  Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

 

Priest:     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All:          And also with you

Priest:     The Lord be with you

 All:          and also with you

The priest then welcomes the people of God.

 

Silence   (Then a Minister leads us in the words of the Confession)

 

All:   Father eternal, giver of light and grace, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour, in what we have thought, in what we have said and done, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We have wounded your love, and marred your image in us. We are sorry and ashamed, and repent of all our sins. For the sake of Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past; and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light.  Amen.

 

Absolution: May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life.

All:   Amen.

 

Gloria:   Glory to God in the highest, peace to his people on earth.

               Glory to God in the highest, peace to his people on earth.

  1. Lord God heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
  2. 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, have mercy on us,

You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive, receive our prayers.

  1. 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 says the Collect of the Day)   

Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with your Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; through 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)                                                                       Isaiah 43, 1-7  (Oliver Knight)

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Reader:  This is the word of the Lord

All:          Thanks be to God

                                                                                                                

Psalm:     540 (Green book)

 

Second  Reading                                                                        Acts 8, 14-17

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Reader:  This is the word of the Lord

All:          Thanks be to God

 

Gospel Hymn  58    (tune Gonfalon Royal)

 

Gospel Reading        (turn towards the gospel book)

Minister:  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)

Minister: The Lord be with you

All:            and also with you

Minister: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke     (Luke 3, 15-17, 21-22)

All:           Glory to you, O Lord

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”  Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Minister: This is the gospel of the Lord

All:           Praise to you, O Christ.    

Sermon  (Please sit) sermons are available on the website in print and pre-recorded.

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, 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:  (kneel or sit) Lord in your mercy   All:   hear our prayer   (Lynn Stavrou)

 

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.

All:        and also with you   

Offertory Hymn  310    We hail thy presence        (The Collection will be taken)

 

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!

 

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

All honour and praise be yours always and everywhere, mighty Creator, everliving 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, hosanna , hosanna in the highest. Blessed, blessed is he who comes, comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna , hosanna, 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 on us and on these gifts that broken bread and wine out-poured 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, shared it with 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 a cup of wine. Again he gave you thanks, shared it 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.  So, Father, as we remember all that Jesus did, 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.

Minister: 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 justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth, and your kingdom comes.  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 be with you for ever 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. AMEN

 

The Lord’s Prayer:  (to be prayed in your own first 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.

 

Invitation to Holy Communion

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. Please let the Sides-people guide you forward.  

 

Communion Hymn:  376   I heard the voice of Jesus say

 

Post Communion Prayer:  Let us pray     (please stand)

Priest: Lord of all time and eternity, you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son: by the power of your Spirit complete the heavenly work of our rebirth through the waters of the new creation: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

All:  Faithful God, in baptism you have adopted us as your children, made us members of the body of Christ and chosen us as inheritors of your kingdom: we thank you that in this Eucharist you renew your promises within us, empower us by your Spirit to witness and to serve, and send us out as disciples of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Notices (see below)

 

Post Communion Hymn:  345  Christ is the King

 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…

Minister: Go in the peace of Christ

All:           Thanks be to God.

 

Fr. Leonard’s usual Day Off – Monday

Home tel :  210 72 14 906;  email anglican@otenet.gr

Deacon Chris: 22950 53164: usual 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

 

  • The Church of England is going through a period of Diocesan discussions on a report called Living in Love and Faith (LLF). This report opens discussions about human sexuality and relationships, and what the church’s response might be. Fr. Bruce, our priest in Crete, is leading a series of discussion evenings online (Zoom) which will allow us all to take part in and express our views on human sexuality. To find out how to join in this discussion please see the St. Paul’s website for the Zoom link. This is an important matter for discussion, and we are opening it up to people of all opinions.

 

 

 

 

 

No Comments

Post a Comment