Service for the First Sunday of Christmas – 31st December 2023
The Anglican Church in Greece – St Paul’s Athens
Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. The presiding priest and preacher is Fr. Terry Hemming. The deacon is Deacon Christine Saccali
Hymn: 39 (Puer Nobis) Unto us a boy is born
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
Priest: Hark! the herald angels sing
All: Glory to the newborn King.
Priest: As we come to the Lord at the start of this New Year
Let us seek his grace to number our days
That we may apply our hearts to wisdom
As we confess our sines in penitence and faith
A period of silent stillness follows
Deacon: God our Father, you sent your Son, full of grace and truth: forgive our failure to receive him.
Kyrie eleison.
All: Kyrie eleison.
Deacon: Jesus our Saviour, you were born in poverty and laid in a manger: forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.
Christe eleison.
All: Christe eleison
Deacon: Spirit of love, your servant Mary responded joyfully to your call: forgive our hardness of heart.
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.
Song for the Gloria Angels from the realms of glory
wing your flight through all the earth;
heralds of creation’s story
now proclaim Messiah’s birth
Come and worship
Christ the new born King;
Come and worship,
worship Christ the new born King.
Shepherds in the field abiding,
watching by your flocks at night,
God with man is now residing:
see, there shines the infant light. Refrain
Wise men, leave your contemplation
brighter visions shine afar:
seek in him the hope of nations,
you have seen his rising star. Refrain
Though an infant now we see him
He will share his father’s throne,
gather all the nations to him:
every knee shall then bow down. Refrain
Collect: Let us pray (remain standing as the priest says the Collect of the Day)
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
First Reading (please sit) Isaiah 61. 10-62.3
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication
and all the kings your glory,
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a beautiful crown in the hand of the Lord
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Psalm: 535 (Psalm 98) All the ends of the earth have seen: the salvation of our God
2nd Reading: Galatians 4.4-7
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir through God.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Gradual: 42 (Winchester Old) While shepherd’s watched their flocks by night
Gospel
Deacon: Alleluia, Alleluia. I have called you friends, says the Lord, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
All: 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 2. 15-21)
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
When the eighth day came, it was time to circumcise the child, and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Deacon: This is the gospel of the Lord
All: Praise to you, O Christ
Sermon (please sit) FR. Terry Hemming
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.
Intercessions: Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
The Peace: (please stand)
May the God of peace sanctify you; may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before him at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with the saints. The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: and also with you
Offertory Hymn: 40 (Greensleeves) What child is this, who, laid to rest
(During this hymn your donations will be collected)
Priest: Word made flesh, life of the world, in your incarnation you embraced our poverty; by your Spirit may we share in your riches.
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 have redeemed our time
And have given us this year of grace to proclaim you favour
And celebrate your steadfast love
The priest then continues the prayer to which we all listen with prayerful hearts
It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise, Almighty God and everlasting Father, through Jesus Christ your Son. For when he humbled himself to come among us in human flesh, he fulfilled the plan you formed before the foundation of the world to open up for us the way of salvation. Confident that your promise will be fulfilled, we now watch for the day when Christ our Lord will come again in glory. And so as we join our voices with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven to proclaim your glory for ever praising you and singing:
Holy, holy, holy, God ever reigning, filling all the universe with glory, power and light.
Blest is our Redeemer, sent from God to save us. Hail and hosanna, glory in the height.
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 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: Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
Invitation to Holy Communion
Priest: God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people
All: Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins 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 come forward to receive the body and blood of Christ.
Communion hymn: 44 (Glenfinlas) Faithful vigil ended
Post Communion Prayer: Let us pray (please stand)
Priest: Heavenly Father,
whose blessed Son shared at Nazareth the life of an earthly home:
help your Church to live as one family,
united in love and obedience,
and bring us all at last to our home in heaven;
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: 33 (Divinum Mysterium) Of the Father’s heart begotten (verses 1, 4, 5, 6, & 7)
The Blessing and Dismissal
Priest: God give you grace to follow his saints in faith and hope and love: and the blessing….
Deacon: Go in the peace of Christ
All: Thanks be to God.
Notices:
Bishop Robert’s Advent Appeal – see the link for details
Join the online Prayer Group each Tuesday morning at 09.00 – see website for the Zoom link.
Community Connect Coffee Mornings – January 11th 2024 -Swedish centre – 10:30 am until 12:30pm. Contact Anne Dedes if you need information.
We have a POS and you can make your donation by card
Deacon Chris: 22950 53164: Day Off – Friday.
Swedish Church: contact Fr. Bjorn on 694 607 2428
View our Website: www.anglicanchurchathens.gr
Or “Like” us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnglicanAthens/
Or ‘follow’ us on Twitter: @AthensAnglican
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 the account with Piraeus Bank is: The Anglican Church in Greece, St. Paul’s Athens GR 820172 0500 0050 5008 6327 479
Liturgical material © the Archbishops’ Council.
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