Service for the feast of Christ the King – 26th November 2023
Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. Coffee is served after the Liturgy in the garden.
The presiding priest this morning is Fr. Terry Hemming, who is also preaching, the deacon is Deacon Christine Saccali.
Entrance Hymn Introit: 345 (Vulpius) Christ is the King
Priest: Blessed be the kingdom of God
All: Now and for ever.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: and also with you
The priest welcomes the people of God and the deacon then leads us into Confession.
Deacon: Lord, you are gracious and compassionate:
Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Deacon: You are loving to all and your mercy is over all your creation:
Christe eleison
All: Christe eleison
Deacon: Your faithful servants bless your name and speak of the glory of your kingdom:
Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Absolution we hear the words of God’s forgiveness to those who are truly penitent
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 in the highest to the God of heaven;
Peace to all your people through the earth be given.
Mighty God and Father, thanks and praise we bring,
Singing Alleluia to our heavenly King.
Jesus Christ is risen, God the Father’s Son;
With the Holy Spirit, you are the Lord alone.
Lamb once killed for sinners, all our guilt to bear,
Show us now your mercy, now receive our prayer
Christ the world’s true Saviour, high and holy one,
Seated now and reigning from your Father’s throne
Lord and God, we praise you! Highest heaven adores
In the Father’s glory, all the praise be yours!
Collect: Let us pray (remain standing as the priest prays the Collect of the Day)
God the Father,
help us to hear the call of Christ the King
and to follow in his service,
whose kingdom has no end;
for he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, one glory. Amen.
First Reading (please sit) Ezekiel 34.11-16,20-24
For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep and will sort them out. As shepherds sort out their flocks when they are among scattered sheep,[a] so I will sort out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them into their own land, and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strays, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged, and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them; he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm: 531 (Psalm 47) Jesus reigns our Lord and King
Second Reading Ephesians 1. 15-23
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[a] 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[b] 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,[c] 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 Gradual: 498 (Everton) Son of God, eternal Saviour
Gospel Reading
Deacon: Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus Christ is the firstborn from the dead; to him be glory and power for ever and ever.
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. Matthew (25. 31-46)
All: Glory to you, O Lord
When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”
Deacon: This is the gospel of the Lord
All: Praise to you, O Christ
Sermon Fr. Terry Hemming (Please sit
Creed (please stand as we declare our 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.
Intercessions: (kneel or sit) Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
The Peace: (please stand)
Priest: The kingdom of God is a kingdom of justice, love and peace. The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: and also with you
Offertory Hymn 352 (Diademata) Crown him with many crowns (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
And now we give you thanks
Because you anointed Jesus Christ, your only Son,
As priest and King.
Crowned with thorns, he offered his life upon the cross,
That he might draw all people into that kingdom
Where he now reigns in glory.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For with the oil of gladness you have anointed Christ the Lord, your only Son, to be our great high priest and king of all creation. As priest, he offered himself once for all upon the altar of the cross and redeemed the human race by this perfect sacrifice of peace. As king he claims dominion over all your creatures, that he might bring before your infinite majesty a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace. And so with angels and archangels and all the heavenly host
we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise:
Sanctus: 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 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.
Deacon: Great is the mystery of faith
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
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, and 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 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
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.
We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord,
trusting in our own righteousness,
but in your abundant and great mercies.
We are not worthy so much as to gather up
the crumbs under your table;
but you are the same Lord
whose character is always to have mercy.
Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord,
so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ,
and to drink his blood,
that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body,
and our souls washed through his most precious blood,
and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.
All baptized Christians may receive Holy Communion.
Communion Hymn: 285 (England’s Lane) For the beauty of the earth
Post Communion Prayer: Let us pray (please stand)
Priest Stir up, O Lord,
the wills of your faithful people;
that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded;
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
Post Communion hymn: To God be the glory
- To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus, the Son,
and give Him the glory! Great things He hath done!
- O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To ev’ry believer the promise of God!
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus forgiveness receives. [Refrain]
- Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. [Refrain]
The Blessing and Dismissal
Priest: Christ our King make you faithful and strong to do his will, that you may reign
with him in glory; and the blessing….
Deacon: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
All: In the name of Christ. Amen
Deacon Christine Saccali: Day off – Friday 697 737 7655
Swedish Church: contact Fr. Bjorn Kling 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
Notices: Bishops’ Advent Appeal (check the Diocesan website for more details).
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: Sunday 3rd December beginning at 11.00-16.30. Held at the War Museum. All help gladly received! Raffle tickets are now for sale.
- Sunday 3rd Dec: although it is the Bazaar there is still a service at 10.00 in St. Paul’s but shorter than usual.
- Coffee morning December 14th at the Swedish centre – 10:30 until 12:30. Contact Anne Dedes if you need information.
- You can join our prayer connect group on Tuesdays at 09.00 on Zoom, the link can be found on the website
- POS- the church has a POS machine, so donations and payments can be done by debit or credit card.
- Specials in December: Christmas programme:
- December 17th Singalong at 18.00 hrs. Entrance 5 Euro. Mulled wine and panettone will be served afterwards.
- December 24th: Carol Service at 18.00hrs
- December 25th 00hrs Christmas Morning Liturgy and carols
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- Liturgical material © the Archbishops’ Council.
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