Zoom Service for Sunday 21st February 2021 at 12.00 noon
We are following the Orthodox date for Easter this year. Today is the
4th Sunday before Lent.
Welcome to our worship brought to our homes by Zoom. After the worship we can have a short chat together. The hymns and other shared texts you might know by heart, or you can print out this service, or you may have a hymn book at home, or you may be happy to listen in silence.
The Sunday worship login will remain the same until the end of April. See notices at end of sheet.
Fr. Leonard will lead the worship today, assisted by Deacon Chris who is the preacher. On the keyboard is Christina Antoniadou.
Priest: Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
All: and also with you.
1 Morning has broken
Like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing
Fresh from the Word!
2 Sweet the rain’s new fall
Sunlit from Heaven,
Like the first dewfall
On the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness
Of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness
Where his feet pass.
3 Mine is the sunlight,
Mine is the morning,
Born of the one light
Eden saw play.
Praise with elation,
Praise every morning,
God’s re-creation
Of the new day!
The priest then welcomes the people of God and the deacon leads us into Confession.
The deacon leads us into a short period of silence, followed by Confession.
All: Almighty God, long suffering and of great goodness: I confess with my whole heart my neglect and forgetfulness of your commandments, my wrong doing, thinking, and speaking; the hurts I have done to others, and the good I have left undone. O God forgive me, for I have sinned against you; and raise me to new life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Deacon: Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Priest: May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gloria (tune Cwm Rhrondda)
Glory be to God in heaven, song of joy and peace we bring,
Thankful hearts and voices raising to creation’s Lord we sing:
Lord we thank you. Lord we bless you,
Glory be to God our King. Glory be to God our King.
Lamb of God, who on your shoulders bore the load of this world’s sin,
Only Son of God the Father, you have brought us peace within:
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Now your glorious reign begin,
Now your glorious reign begin.
Collect: Let us pray (Collect of the Day)
O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
First Reading Isaiah 43, 18-25 (Reader: Lynn Stavrou)
Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise. Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honoured me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities. I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
1 Your hands, O Lord, in days of old
Were strong to heal and save;
They triumphed o’er disease and death,
O’er darkness and the grave.
To you they went, the blind, the deaf,
The palsied, and the lame,
The leper set apart and shunned,
The sick and those in shame.
2 And then your touch brought life and health,
Gave hearing, speech, and sight;
While strength renewed and health restored
Acclaimed you Lord of light;
And so, O Lord, be near to bless,
With all your healing pow’r,
In troubled home, in crowded street,
In sorrow’s saddest hour.
3 O be our mighty healer still,
Great Lord of life and death;
Restore and strengthen, soothe and bless,
With your almighty breath;
On hands that work and eyes that see,
Your healing wisdom pour,
That whole and sick, and weak and strong,
May praise you evermore.
Collect: Let us pray (Collect of the Day)
O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
First Reading Isaiah 43, 18-25 (Reader: Lynn Stavrou)
Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise. Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honoured me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities. I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
1 Your hands, O Lord, in days of old
Were strong to heal and save;
They triumphed o’er disease and death,
O’er darkness and the grave.
To you they went, the blind, the deaf,
The palsied, and the lame,
The leper set apart and shunned,
The sick and those in shame.
2 And then your touch brought life and health,
Gave hearing, speech, and sight;
While strength renewed and health restored
Acclaimed you Lord of light;
And so, O Lord, be near to bless,
With all your healing pow’r,
In troubled home, in crowded street,
In sorrow’s saddest hour.
3 O be our mighty healer still,
Great Lord of life and death;
Restore and strengthen, soothe and bless,
With your almighty breath;
On hands that work and eyes that see,
Your healing wisdom pour,
That whole and sick, and weak and strong,
May praise you evermore.
Gospel Reading
Deacon: Alleluia, alleluia. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
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. Mark (Mark 2, 1-11)
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.”
Deacon: This is the gospel of Christ
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Fr. Leonard
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)
Peace: Christ is our peace. He has reconciled us to God in one body by the cross. We meet in his name and
share his peace. The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you. You might like to scroll along the gallery of the participants to see who you are sharing the peace with – remember to put your Sunday collection aside or send it by bank transfer.
1 Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for his own abode;
on the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
thou may’st smile at all thy foes.
2 See the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters,
and all fear of want remove;
who can faint while such a river
ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.
3 Round each habitation hov’ring,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a cov’ring,
showing that the Lord is near;
thus deriving from their banner
light by night and shade by day,
safe they feed upon the manna
which he gives them when they pray.
4 Saviour, if of Zion’s city
I, thro’ grace, a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name;
fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
all his boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasure
none but Zion’s children know.
The Lord’s Prayer: (to be prayed in whichever language you chose)
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.
All: ; Lord God, you have renewed us with Christ, the living bread from heaven, increase our hope, and strengthen our love; teach us always to hunger for Christ, and enable us to live by every word that proceeds from your mouth. Amen.
1 Lord of our life and God of our salvation,
Star of our night and Hope of ev’ry nation:
Hear and receive Your Church’s supplication,
Lord God Almighty.
2 See round Your ark the hungry billows curling;
See how Your foes their banners are unfurling
And with great spite their fiery darts are hurling,
O Lord, preserve us.
3 Lord, be our light when worldly darkness veils us;
Lord, be our shield when earthly armor fails us;
And in the day when hell itself assails us,
Grant us Your peace, Lord:
4 Peace in our hearts, where sinful thoughts are raging,
Peace in Your Church, our troubled souls assuaging,
Peace when the world its endless war is waging,
Peace in Your heaven.
Priest: The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge
And love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing …..
Deacon: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
All: In the name of Christ. Amen
Notices
- Next Sunday Zoom is the same login address, and right until the last Sunday of April. The order of service is also on the website each week.
- The church is closed until at least the end of February.
- Saturday Weekly Meditations – 09.00 on Deacon Chris’s Facebook.
- Book of Common Prayer Evensongs: Wednesdays at 19.00 from 13th Jan-24th Order of service is on the website or email Fr. Leonard in good time and he will send it. Same format each week. A chance to use the 1662 Book of Common Prayer!
- Book Study Group: We are studying Rowan Williams Book Meeting God in Paul. Fridays: 19th, 26th February; 5th, 12th, 24th I have 2 copies of the book left for sale (€10,00) – please let me know if you would like me to reserve you a copy (until you can collect it/receive it).
- Celebrating Easter in a time of COVID
Easter 2021 will be the second Easter in this long period of the COVID pandemic. The Greek Government approaches COVID restrictions and the Church in its own distinct national way. Due to these two factors St. Paul’s Athens will align itself this year with the Greek date for Easter. This is for 2021 only and it is hoped that by celebrating Pascha almost a month later than the western date there will be more favourable conditions for worship in St. Paul’s. We sought permission for this, and the Church Council was unanimous in its vote to make this change. St. Thomas’s Crete, and Holy Trinity Corfu will also follow this practice.
Key dates: Ash Wednesday March 17th
Palm Sunday April 25th
Holy Thursday April 29th
Good Friday April 30th
Easter Sunday May 2nd
Ascension Day June 10th
Pentecost June 20th
Times of the Liturgy and Zoom services for Greet Week and Easter will be announced and publicised via the Website.
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
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