Service for the feast of SS. Peter & Paul - 30th June 2024 - St. Paul’s Anglican Church

27/06/2024

Service for the feast of SS. Peter & Paul – 30th June 2024

Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. Please stay coffee in the garden after the Liturgy.

The presiding priest this morning is Fr. Benjamin Drury, who is also preaching. The deacon is Revd. Deacon Christine Saccali

Entrance Hymn : 214 Let the round world with songs rejoice

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 welcomes the people of God and invites us to confess

Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed.

We have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

In your mercy forgive what we have been,

Help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be;

That we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God.

Amen.

Absolution: May almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.. 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.

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,

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,

In the glory of God the Father. AMEN

Collect: Let us pray (remain standing as the priest prays the Collect of the Day)

Amen.

A reading from the book of the Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11

King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod meant to try Peter in public after the end of Passover week. All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly.

On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. ‘Get up!’ he said ‘Hurry!’ – and the chains fell from his hands. The angel then said, ‘Put on your belt and sandals.’ After he had done this, the angel next said, ‘Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.’ Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed through two guard posts one after the other and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. ‘Now I know it is all true’ he said. ‘The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me.’ The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

Psalm 125: Response: Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion that stands for ever.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

Which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.

As the hills stand about Jerusalem,

So the Lord stands round about his people,

From this time forth for evermore. R

The sceptre of wickedness shall not hold sway

Over the land allotted to the righteous,

Lest the righteous turn their hands to evil. R

Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,

And to those who are true of heart.

Those who turn aside to crooked ways

The Lord shall take away with the evildoers;

But let there be peace upon Israel. R

A reading from St Paul’s 2^nd Letter to Timothy 4:6-8,17-18

My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.

The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

Gradual Hymn : 137 Come down O Love Divine

Gospel acclamation Alleluia, Alleluia, alleluia

You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

Deacon :The Lord be with you

And also with you.

+ A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Glory to you, O Lord.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord : Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Sermon (Please sit) Fr. Benjamin Drury

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

Peace: The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of justice, love and peace.

Priest: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All: And also with you.

Offertory Hymn 311 We Pray thee Heavenly Father (The Collection will be taken)

The Priest completes additional personal preparatory rites, and the people rise as he says: Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

All : May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his Holy Church.

Then the Priest says the Prayer over the Offerings, at the end of which the people acclaim: Amen.

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

The Priest says or sings the Preface

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.

The priest continues the Eucharistic prayer

Priest: The Mystery of Faith

All: When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,

until you come in glory.

The priest continues the prayer concluding with

Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever.

All : Amen

The priest introduces the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer: (to be prayed in the language of your own choice)

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: 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: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are we who are called to the supper of the Lamb.

All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but speak the word only and my soul 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.

Communion Hymn: 310 We Hail thy Presence Glorious

Post Communion Prayer: Let us pray (please stand to pray)

All :Amen.

Notices

The Priest gives The Blessing

Deacon: Go in the peace of Christ

All: Thanks be to God

Recessional Hymn: 215 Captains of the saintly band

Deacon Chris: Day Off – Friday 697 737 7655

Swedish Church: Fr. Bjorn 694 6072428

Church History and Guidebook ‘Opening Doors’ available for sale. €10,00 a copy,
Tuesday Morning Zoom Prayer Connect – see the website for details
Community Connect Coffee Mornings , July 11th, 10.30-12.30 in the Church Garden ask Anne Dedes for info. These are in the Church Garden

-please look after your personal belongings as thieves are known to operate in this area

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

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