Service Sheet for Sunday 25th January 2026 – Conversion of St Paul
Celebrant Fr Benjamin Drury
Sung Mass for the Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul
Processional: 154 (Wellington) A heavenly splendour from on high
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 117
Gradual: 155 (King’s Lynn) We sing the glorious conquest
Offertory: 205 (Westminster Abbey) Christ is made the sure foundation
Communion: 258 (Londonderry Air) O Christ the same
Recessional: 204 (Regent Square) Blessed City, heavenly Salem All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy.
The chaplaincy is entirely reliant on the goodwill and support of its congregation and visitors; all donations towards its running are, therefore, vital to its ministry and very gratefully received indeed
The setting of the Gloria is at page 559 in the New English Hymnal.
The setting of the Nicene Creed is on page 562. The setting of the Sanc- tus-Benedictus is on page 567. The setting of the Agnus Dei on page 569
This entire Communion Service was set by John Merbecke in 1550
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (22: 3-16)
Paul said to the people, ‘I am a Jew and was born at Tarsus in Cilicia. I was brought up here in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was taught the exact observance of the Law of our ancestors. In fact, I was as full of duty towards God as you are today. I even persecuted
this Way to the death, and sent women as well as men to prison in
chains as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify, since they even sent me with letters to their brothers in Damascus. When I set off it was with the intention of bringing prisoners back from there to Jerusalem for punishment.
‘I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when about midday a bright light from heaven suddenly shone round me. I fell to the
ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecut- ing me?” I answered: Who are you, Lord? and he said to me, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.” The people with me saw the light but did not hear his voice as he spoke to me. I said: What am I to do, Lord? The Lord answered, “Stand up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told what you have been appointed to do.” The light had been so dazzling that I was blind and my com- panions had to take me by the hand; and so I came to Damascus.
‘Someone called Ananias, a devout follower of the Law and high- ly thought of by all the Jews living there, came to see me; he stood beside me and said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” Instantly my sight came back and I was able to see him. Then he said, “The God
of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Just One and hear his own voice speaking, because you are to be his witness
before all mankind, testifying to what you have seen and heard.
And now why delay? It is time you were baptised and had your sins washed away while invoking his name.”’
The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 117: Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him all you peoples! (Response)
Strong is his love for us;
he is faithful for ever. (Response)
A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1: 10-13, 17)
I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing among yourselves, to be united again in your belief and practice. From what Chloe’s people have been telling me, my dear brothers, it is clear that there are serious differences among you. What I mean are all these slogans that you have, like: ‘I am for Paul’, ‘I am for Apollos’, ‘I am for Cephas’, ‘I am for Christ.’ Has Christ been parcelled out? Was it Paul that was crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed.
The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!
I chose you from the world to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last,
says the Lord. Alleluia!
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (16: 15-18)
Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus showed himself to the Eleven and said to them:
‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’
The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, O Christ
Prayer after communion
O God, who, through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout
the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP Collect; The Conversion of St. Paul)
Church Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Services: Unless noted, liturgies are followed by refreshments
Wednesday 28th January: 10 a.m.; Low Mass
Sunday 1st February: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Candlemas)
Wednesday 4th February: 10 a.m.; Low Mass
Sunday 8th February: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (5th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Study group & pilgrimage walking group: details from Fr. Benjamin
Community Connect Coffee Morning: 12th February (10:30 a.m.), Apollonos 6)
Quiz Night: 30th January (7:30 p.m.), Apollonos 6.
Shrovetide Book Sale: Saturday, 14th February (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.), church garden.
Saints’ Days in January: 26th January (St. Timothy & St. Titus);
28th January (St. Thomas Aquinas); 30th January (King Charles the Martyr); 31st January (St. John Bosco)
Donate electronically by scanning the QR code
the Church does not receive any funding from the
Church of England or the British Government and is reliant on the goodwill of congregants and visitors. We thank you for your support.
Senior Chaplain: Fr. Benjamin Drury SSC
frbenjamindrury@gmail.com; Home tel.: 210 72 14 906
Assistant Chaplain: Deacon Christine Saccali: 697 737 7655
Church of Sweden: Fr. Bjorn Kling: 694 6072428
Facebook @AnglicanAthens www.anglicanchurchathens.gr
saintpaulsathens.bsky.social
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