Service Sheet for the Second Sunday in Advent – 8th December 2024

St Paul’s Anglican Church Athens

Celebrant Fr Benjamin Drury

Welcome to our Liturgy of Holy Communion (Sung Mass)

Entrance: 15 (St. Stephen) The Lord will come and not be slow

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 126

Gradual: 4 (Cross of Jesus) Come, thou long-expected Jesus Offertory: 13 (Melita) O quickly come, dread Judge of all Communion: 14 (St. Thomas) The advent of our God Recessional: 16 (Wachet Auf) Wake, O wake! with tidings thrilling

 

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 the Book of Baruch (5: 1-9)

 

Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow and distress,

put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever,

wrap the cloak of the integrity of God around you,

put the diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head:

since God means to show your splendour to every nation under heaven, since the name God gives you for ever will be,

‘Peace through integrity, and honour through devotedness.’

Arise, Jerusalem, stand on the heights and turn your eyes to the east:

see your sons reassembled from west and east

at the command of the Holy One, jubilant that God has remembered

them.Though they left you on foot, with enemies for an escort, now God brings them back to you like royal princes carried back in glory. For God has decreed the flattening of each high mountain, of

the everlasting hills, the filling of the valleys to make the ground level so that Israel can walk in safety under the glory of God.

And the forests and every fragrant tree will provide shade for Israel at the command of God; for God will guide Israel in joy by the light of his glory with his mercy and integrity for escort.

 

The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

 

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 126 What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

 

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage it seemed like a dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter on our lips there were songs. (Response)

 

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels

the Lord worked for them!’

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad. (Response)

 

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land.

Those who are sowing in tears

will sing when they reap. (Response)

 

They go out, they go out, full of tears,

carrying seed for the sowing

they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves. (Response)

 

A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Philippians (1: 3-6, 8-11)

 

Every time I pray for all of you, I pray with joy, remembering how you have helped to spread the Good News from the day you first heard it right up to the present. I am quite certain that the One who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes; and God knows how much I miss

you all, loving you as Christ Jesus loves you. My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.

 

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Prepare a way for the Lord,

make his paths straight,

and all mankind shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia! The Lord be with you. And also with you.

+ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (3: 1-6)

Glory to you, O Lord.

 

(after the Gospel reading): The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

 

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them,

read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our

Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer Collect)

 

Church Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Services: Unless noted, liturgies are followed by refreshments

Weds. 11th December: 10 a.m. Low Mass

Sun. 15th December.: 10 a.m. Sung Mass (Advent III)

 

Coffee Morning: Thursday 12th December (10:30 a.m.)

Carol ‘sing along’: Sunday 15th Dec. (6:00 p.m.)

Choral Evensong: Sunday 22nd Dec. (6:00 p.m.)

Service of Nine Lessons & Carols: Sunday 24th Dec. (6:00 p.m.)

Midnight Mass: Tuesday 24th Dec. (11:30 p.m.)

Christmas Day: liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

 

Study Group: details from Fr. Benjamin

Walking Group: details from Fr. Benjamin

 

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 frbenjamindrury@gmail.com;

Home tel.: 210 72 14 906

Deacon Christine Saccali : (Day Off: Friday)           697 737 7655 anglican@otenet.gr (Church e-mail address)

Church of Sweden: Fr. Bjorn Kling  694 6072428

Facebook @AnglicanAthens                    www.anglicanchurchathens.gr