Service Sheet for Sunday 28th December – The Feast of the Holy Family
Celebrant Fr Benjamin Drury
Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)
Processional: Sheet (In Dulci Jubilo) Good Christian men, rejoice
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 128
Gradual: 28 (Puer Nobis) Unto us a Boy is born
Offertory: Sheet (Angels From the Realms) Angels from the realms of glory
Communion: Sheet (Humility) See amid the winter’s snow
Recessional: Sheet (Tempus Adest Floridum) Good King Wenceslas All are welcome to stay for refreshments after the liturgy.
Please remember that the chaplaincy in Athens neither receives funding from the British Government nor from the Church of England. All donations are, therefore, very gratefully received.
A reading from Eccesiasticus (3: 2-6, 12-14)
The Lord honours the father in his children,
and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons. Whoever respects his father is atoning for his sins,
he who honours his mother is like someone amassing a fortune. Whoever respects his father will be happy with children of his own,
he shall be heard on the day when he prays. Long life comes to him who honours his father,
he who sets his mother at ease is showing obedience to the Lord.
My son, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life.
Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength;
for kindness to a father shall not be forgotten but will serve as reparation for your sins.
The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God
Psalm 128: O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat.
You will be happy and prosper. (Response)
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive, around your table. (Response)
Indeed thus shall be blessed
the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion
all the days of your life! (Response)
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians (3: 12-21)
You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentle-
ness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete
them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one
body. Always be thankful. Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs
to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.
The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!
May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts;
let the message of Christ find a home with you. Alleluia!
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (2: 13-15, 19-23)
Glory to you, O Lord.
After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up
and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:
I called my son out of Egypt.
After Herod’s death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Jo- seph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee.
There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spo-
ken through the prophets were to be fulfilled:
He will be called a Nazarene
The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, O Christ
The setting of the Nicene Creed is on page 562 in the New English Hymnal.
O Almighty God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths: Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith, even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP Collect; The Innocents’ Day)
My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest (Exod. 33: 14)
Church Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Services: Unless noted, liturgies are followed by refreshments
Wednesday 31st December: 10 a.m.; Low Mass
Sunday 4th January: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Epiphany) Wednesday 7th January: 10 a.m.; Low Mass
Sunday 11th January: 10 a.m.; Sung Mass (Baptism of the Lord)
Study group & pilgrimage walking group: details from Fr. Benjamin
The next community connect coffee morning shall be held on the 8th of January.
We thank all those who have supported the chaplaincy and its ministry this past year. May we have an excellent 2026 together!
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
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.
Priest 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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