Service for the feast of All Saints – 30th October 2022

 

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens.  Please note that the church has a POS facility. Drinking water is always available at the back of the church, and bottles for sale. Names of our departed loved ones will be read out in our prayers today. The deacon is Deacon Christine and Fr. Leonard will preside and preach. We welcome Katia Papakonstantinou and her son Konstantinos who have been outreach partners of St. Paul’s for many years.

 

Entrance Hymn             O when the saints go marching in 

1. Oh, when the saints Go marching in Oh, when the saints go marching in

Oh how I want to be in that number, When the saints go marching in

 

2. Oh, when the drums begin to bang Oh, when the drums begin to bang

I want to be in that number,  When the saints go marching in

 

3. Oh, when the stars fall from the sky Oh, when the stars fall from the sky

I want to be in that number, When the saints go marching in

 

4. Oh, when the trumpet sounds its call Oh, when the trumpet sounds its call

I want to be in that number When the saints go marching in

 

5. Oh, when the saints go marching in Oh, when the saints go marching in

I want to be in that number, When the saints go marching

 

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

 

The priest then informally welcomes the people of God and the deacon leads us into Confession.

Deacon: We run the race set before us, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Therefore let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, bringing them to Jesus in penitence and faith.                            (A short period of stillness and silence)

 

Deacon:            Your raise the dead to life in the spirit.

Kyrie eleison              All: Kyrie eleison

Deacon:            You bring pardon and peace to the broken in spirit.

                           Christe eleison          All: Christe eleison

Deacon:            You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided.

                           Kyrie eleison             All:  Kyrie eleison

 

Absolution: Almighty God, who forgives all 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 life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Gloria:  Glory to God in the highest, 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, 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 prays the Collect of the Day) 

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those inexpressible joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; 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  Daniel 7, 1-3, 15-18  (please sit)                 Reader:  Oliver Knight

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: “As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever—forever and ever.”

Reader:                   This is the word of the Lord.

All:                           Thanks be to God.

 

Psalm: (hymn Book) 539   This is the day of Lord: we rejoice and are glad

 

Second Reading     Ephesians 1, 11-end                                Reader:  Magdalene Imarhiagbe

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Reader:              This is the word of the Lord.

All:                      Thanks be to God.

 

Gospel Hymn    231  Who are these like stars appearing

Gospel Reading        (turn towards the gospel book)

Deacon:       Alleluia! Speak Lord, for your servant is listening. You have the words of eternal life.

All (sung):   Alleluia      

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 6, 20-31)

All:                Glory to you, O Lord.

Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

At the end of the Gospel

Deacon:  This is the gospel of the Lord

All:           Praise to you, O Christ. 

Sermon  (Please sit) 

 

Creed      (Please stand)

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.

 

Intercessions:  (kneel or sit) Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer             (Alice Karanja)

 

Peace:  To crown all things there must be love, to bind all together and complete the whole. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

All:        And also with you.

Offertory Hymn            295 Let all mortal flesh keep silent                            The collection is taken

 

The Great Thanksgiving Prayer        (Please remain standing)

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

The priest sings the preface for All Saints

 

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: Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;

who in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: 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.

Nelly:         Great is the mystery of faith

All:             Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again

Priest: And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption. As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.

Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of the Holy Mother of God, St. Paul, all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer:              (to be prayed in whichever language you choose)

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 the risen Christ.

All:       Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

 

Sung:   Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,

have mercy on us, have mercy on us          (sing twice)

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, 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 the body and blood of Christ. If you wish you may receive a blessing. Please let the Sides-people guide you forward.

Communion hymn:      272 All for Jesus      If you wish to receive the wine from the cup, you are free to do so, otherwise the priest will instinct (dip) your bread in the wine.

 

Post Communion Prayer:  Let us pray     (please stand)

Priest: God, the source of all holiness and giver of all good things: may we who have shared at this table as strangers and pilgrims here on earth be welcomed with all your saints to the heavenly feast on the day of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

All. We thank you, Lord, that you have fed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet prepared for all peoples.  Amen.

 

The names of the Departed will be read out

 

Notices

 

Post Communion Hymn:   394  Let all the world

 

Blessing and Dismissal

Priest:       God grant you grace to follow his saints …..

Deacon:    Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

All:             In the name of Christ. Amen.

Fr. Leonard’s usual Days Off – Monday & Tuesday  (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

 

Notices :

• The new church history and guide book ‘OPENING the DOORS’ is now available at the cost of €10,00.
• Remembrance Sunday – November 13^th. Poppies are for sale now.
• A POS is available so you can make your Sunday donation by card
• Join the online Prayer Group each Tuesday morning at 09.00 – see website for the Zoom link.
• Community Connect Coffee Mornings – every second Wednesday 11.00-13.00. Nov 9^th; Dec 14^th (both in Swedish Centre). Contact Anne Dedes if you need information.
• Christmas Bazaar – at the Foyer of the Amphitheatre of the War Museum – December 4^th.
• Christmas Services:
• Sunday 18^th December 18.00 Carols Sing-a-long

           Saturday 24^th December 18.00  Lessons and Carols

           Sunday 25^th December 10.00  Christmas Morning Liturgy

• View our Website:   anglicanchurchathens.gr
• Or “Like” us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnglicanAthens/
• Or ‘follow’ us on Twitter:       @AthensAnglican

 

• Liturgical material © the Archbishops’ Council.