The Anglican Church in Greece Celebrating the Saints (July 26th 2020)
Welcome to our Sunday worship which this morning is a Service of the Word. As July is a month of saints like Thomas (3rd), Benedict (11th), Margaret of Antioch (20th), Mary Magdalene (22nd), Bridget of Sweden (23rd) , James (25th) and others our worship will focus on celebrating the saints.
We are not yet encouraged to sing in our churches because of virus transmission.
The preacher this morning is Deacon Christine.
Deacon: Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
All: and also with you.
Deacon: Our Lord Jesus Christ said; the first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
All: Amen. Lord have mercy.
There is a short period of silence, followed by Confession.
All: Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.
Deacon: May the God of love and power forgive us and free us from our sins, heal and strengthen us by his Spirit, and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gloria: 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.
Collect: Let us pray TOGETHER (Collect of the Day)
God of holiness, your glory is proclaimed in every age: as we rejoice in the faith of your saints inspire us to follow their example with boldness and joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Reading (Roman 8, 26-end)
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercede with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reader: This is the word of the Lord All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 131
O Lord, my heart is not proud; ♦ my eyes are not raised in haughty looks.
I do not occupy myself with great matters, ♦ with things that are too high for me.
But I have quieted and stilled my soul, like a weaned child on its mother’s breast; ♦so my soul is quieted within me.
O Israel, trust in the Lord, ♦ from this time forth for evermore.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
Gospel Reading
Deacon: Alleluia, alleluia, You did not chose me, but I chose you, and I appointed you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that shall last. Alleluia.
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. Matthew
All: Glory to you, O Lord
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Deacon: This is the gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon The Reverend Deacon Christine Saccali
Creed
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: (kneel or sit) Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
(Intercessor: – Alice Karanja)
Deacon: The kingdom of God is a kingdom of justice, love and peace. The peace of the Lord
be always with you.
All: And also with you.
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.
O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining and whose power we cannot comprehend: show us your glory as far as we can grasp it, and shield us from knowing more than we can bear until we may look upon you without fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us always. Amen
Deacon: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: In the name of Christ. Amen.
Next Week’s Readings (8th Sunday after Trinity Romans 9, 1-5; Matthew 14, 13-21)
Fr. Leonard’s usual Day Off – Monday (in emergencies contact Deacon Christine)
Home tel : 210 72 14 906; email anglican@otenet.gr
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
- View our Website: anglicanchurchathens.gr
- Or “Like” us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnglicanAthens/
- Or ‘follow’ us on Twitter: @AthensAnglican
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Fundraising and Special Services for Autumn 2020
Saturday 26th September – there will be a church garden Autumn Sale from 10.00-15.00 hours. Usual stall holders will have time to prepare for this.
Sunday 4th October – Feast of St. Francis. At noon there will be a Blessing of Pets service in St. Paul’s. Gift envelopes will be printed up and available for donations. 10% of the collection should go to an animal charity.
Saturday 10th October – ‘Gift Day’ from 11.00-13.00hrs Fr. Leonard will be at the church to receive donations from individuals in thanksgiving for St. Paul’s Church. Envelopes will be available and a ‘Giving Blessing’ will be offered.
Christmas Bazaar – 22nd November. We must assume it will go ahead as normal. There will be an open meeting for stall holders/interested individuals on Saturday 17th October at 11.00 in St. Paul’s. We co-ordinator/s.
Quiz Nights – Jean Mertzenakis has arranged four nights before Christmas. Sept 11th, Oct 16th, Nov 13th, Dec 4th.
Community Connect Coffee Mornings: at the Swedish Centre Sep 9th, Oct 14th, Nov 11th. (others may be arranged for the church garden)
Wine Tasting- Anne Kokotos has agreed an Autumn wine tasting. The date is to be confirmed.
Christmas Carol Singalong – 2 December dates proposed this year, Dec 6th and 20th both at 18.30.
An Autumn season of concerts is planned as usual, and Community Connect Coffee Mornings will be planned.
We have more than 1,000 Facebook followers – we are focusing our need for income to this group, and a PAYPAL facility is now available on our website.
Council Fundraising Committee June 2020
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