Service for the Third Sunday of Easter – 14th April 2024
Welcome to St. Paul’s Athens especially if you are here for the first time or visiting Athens. There is coffee in the garden after the Liturgy.
The presiding priest this morning is Fr Terry Hemming, the deacon is Revd. Deacon Christine Saccali
We will be celebrating a Baptism during the Service this morning.
The Greeting
Priest: Alleluia! Christ is risen
All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
HYMN Introit: 103 (Lux Eoi) Alleluya! Alleluya!
Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us that to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be born again of water and the Spirit, and has given us baptism as the sign and seal of this new birth. Here we are washed by the Holy Spirit and made clean. Here we are clothed with Christ, dying to sin that we may live his risen life. As children of God, we have a new dignity and God calls us to fullness of life.
Gloria in Excelsis
Glory to God in the highest, and 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 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.
The Collect
Risen Christ,
you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope:
strengthen us to proclaim your risen life
and fill us with your peace,
to the glory of God the Father.
The Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Acts 3. 12-19
When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “Fellow Israelites] why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the holy and righteous one and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.
“And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,
Reader: This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
HYMN Gradual: 351 (Neander) Come, ye faithful, raise the anthem
Gospel Reading
Deacon: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Lord is risen. Alleluia!
All (sung): Alleluia
Deacon: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (Mark 10.13)
Glory to you, O Lord.
People were bringing children to him in order that he might touch them, and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Deacon: This is the gospel of the Lord, Alleluia!
All: Praise to you O Christ. Alleluia
Address
Anthem: Lead me, Lord (Samuel Sebastian Wesley
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Hath this child been already baptized or no?
If they answer, No : Then shall the Priest proceed as followeth
Beloved in Christ Jesus, seeing that all men are from their birth prone to sin, but that God willeth all men to be saved, for God is love: and that our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be born anew of water and of the Holy Ghost; I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will grant to this child, that thing which by nature he cannot have, that he may be baptized with water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ’s Holy Church, and be made a living member of the same.
Then shall the Priest say, all standing,
Almighty and everlasting God, who by the Baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the river Jordan, didst sanctify water to the mystical washing away of sin; Mercifully look upon this child. Wash him and sanctify him with the Holy Ghost; that he may be received into the ark of Christ’s Church; and being steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally he may come to the land of ever lasting life, there to reign with thee world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace and faith in thee; increase this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit to this child that he may be born again, and be made and heir of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
THE PROMISES.
Then shall the Priest speak unto the Godfathers and Godmothers on this wise,
Dearly beloved, ye have brought this child here to be baptized, ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe* to receive him, to cleanse him, and to sanctify him. Our Lord hath promised in his Gospel to grant all these things that ye have prayed for; which promise he, for his part, will most surely keep and perform.
Ye, on your part, must undertake on behalf of this infant three things: first, that he will renounce the devil and all his works; secondly, that he will constantly believe God’s holy Word; and thirdly, that he will obediently keep his commandments.
I demand therefore,
Dost thou, in the name of this child, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the sinful desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be led by them?
Answer. I do.
Dost thou in his name profess the Christian faith?
Answer. I do.
Then shall be said by the Priest and the Godparents the Apostles’ Creed as followeth:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried, He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the Life everlasting. Amen.
Dost thou in the name of this child promise obedience to God’s holy will and commandments?
Answer. I do.
Dost thou in the name of this child ask for baptism?
Answer. I do.
Then shall the Priest say,
Merciful God, grant that the old Adam in this child may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in him. Amen.
Grant that all evil desires of the flesh may die in him, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him. Amen.
Grant that he may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph, against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen.
Grant that whosoever is here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live, and govern all things, world without end. Amen.
THE BAPTISM.
Then shall the Priest take the child by the hand, and shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers,
Name this child.
And then naming it after them, he shall dip it in the water, or pour water upon it, saying,
Arthur Phoebus
I baptize thee In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then shall the Priest say,
We receive this child into the congregation of Christ’s flock, and do sign him with the sign of the Cross, in token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner, against sin, the world, and the devil; and to continue Christ’s faithful soldier and servant unto his life’s end. Amen.
THE THANKSGIVING.
Then shall the Priest say,
Seeing now, dearly beloved brethren, that this child is born again, and received into the family of Christ’s Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits; and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that this child may lead the rest of his life according to this beginning.
Then shall be said by all, standing,
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done; In earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that 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.
Then shall the Priest say,
We yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this infant with thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church. Amen.
Grant, O Lord, that, being buried with Christ by baptism into his death, he may also be made partaker of his resurrection; so that, serving thee here in newness of life, he may finally, with the rest of thy holy Church, be an inheritor of thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE DUTIES OF THE GODFATHERS AND GODMOTHERS.
Then the Priest shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers and Parents this Exhortation following,
You who have brought this child to be baptized into the family of Christ’s Church, must see that he be taught the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, as set forth in the Church Catechism, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul’s health.
See also that he be virtuously brought up to lead a godly and christian life.
See also that he be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed by him; so that, strengthened with the gift of the Holy Spirit, he may come with due preparation to receive the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, and go forth into the world to serve God faithfully in the fellowship of his Church
Will you help him to learn and to do all these things?
Answer. I will, the Lord being my helper.
Remember always that Baptism doth represent unto us our Christian profession, which is to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto him; that as he died and rose again for us, so should we, who are baptized, die unto sin and rise again unto righteousness, continually mortifying all evil desires, and daily advancing in all virtue and godliness of living.
Then may follow this Prayer for the Home.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son did share at Nazareth the life of an earthly home; Bless, we beseech thee, the home of this child, and grant wisdom and understanding to all who have the care of him: that he may grow up in thy constant fear and love; through the same thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Peace
We are all one in Christ Jesus. We belong to him through faith, heirs of the promise of the Spirit of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
OFFERTORY HYMN 115 (Noel Nouvelet) Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
Preparation of the Table
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you and also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is right to praise you, Father, Lord of all creation; in your love you made us for yourself. When we turned away you did not reject us but came to meet us in your Son. You embraced us as your children and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.
In Christ you shared our life that we might live in him and he in us. He opened his arms of love upon the cross and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin.
On the night he was betrayed, at supper with his friends he took bread, and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his body
is the bread of life.
At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, he gave you thanks, and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins; do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his blood is shed for all.
As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory, send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son.
As we eat and drink these holy gifts make us one in Christ, our risen Lord.
With your whole Church throughout the world we offer you this sacrifice of praise and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Breaking of the Bread
The president breaks the consecrated bread.
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
Giving of Communion
Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you. Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.
The president and people receive communion.
COMMUNION HYMN 275 (Liebster Jesu) Blessed Jesu, Mary’s
Prayer after Communion
Living God,
your Son made himself known to his disciples
in the breaking of bread:
open the eyes of our faith,
that we may see him in all his redeeming work;
who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Silence is kept.
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.
HYMN 117 (Ellacombe) The Day of Resurrection
Giving of a Lighted Candle
God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has given us a place with the saints in light.
You have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life. Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.
The Blessing
God, who through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us the victory, give you joy and peace in your faith. And the blessing…
The Dismissal
Deacon: Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
NOTICES
Deacon Chris: 22950 53164: 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
-Advance Notice – the Spring Bazaar will be on Saturday 25th May. Speak to Lynn Stavrou about how you can help.
–Coffee morning May 9th in the church garden, ask Anne Dedes for information
–Next quiz on Friday April 19th at the new Swedish Centre, 6 Apollonos Street, at the bottom of Nikis Street and near Syntagma Post Office. Please see Jean for further information and if you want to be included on her mailing list.
-Check out our new contactless card reader if you would like to make a donation
-please look after your personal belongings as thieves are known to operate in this area
–A POS is available so you can make your Sunday donation by car
-A QR code is now functioning, you can donate simply by scanning it. It can be found at the back of the church and on the noticeboard.
– Weekly ‘online’ Prayer Group on Tuesdays at 09.00 a.m. Zoom login is on our website.
https://www.facebook.com/AnglicanAthens/
@AthensAnglican
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000 Advent 2 (C): © The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1928)
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