Zoom Service for Sunday 31st January 2021, Presentation of Christ at the Temple
The priest then welcomes the people of God and the assistant leads us into Confession.
The assistant leads us into a short period of silence, followed by Confession.
Deacon: God be gracious to us and bless us, and make your face to shine upon us:
Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Deacon: May your ways be known on the earth, your saving power among the nations
Christe eleison
All: Christe eleison
Deacon: You, Lord, have made known your salvation, and reveal your justice in the sight of the nations:
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 Skye Boat Song)
Glory to God in the heaven above, peace to his friends on earth.
Lord God of hosts, and our heavenly King, Father and mighty God.
We worship you, we give you thanks, praise to your holy name.
‘Glory to God’ heaven declares ‘Glory’ creation sings.
Refrain: Glory to God in the heaven above, peace to his friends on earth.
God, ever three, yet eternally one, glorious Trinity.
Son of the Father, and Lord of us all, holy eternal Lamb,
Christ, who has carried the sin of the world, mercy on us, we pray.
Jesus our God, Saviour and Judge, answer us when we cry;
Seated on high, reigning with God, hear and receive our prayer. Refrain.
You, Jesus Christ, are the Lord, the Most High, you are the Holy One.
You, only you, with the Spirit divine, reign in the Father’s love.
Blessed are you, Father and Son, Spirit of grace and truth;
Myst’ry profound, veiled yet revealed, hidden in depths of light. Refrain
Collect: Let us pray (Collect of the Day)
Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son 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 Malachi 3, 1-5
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
Christ, whose glory fills the skies
Christ, the true, the only Light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near,
Daystar, in my heart appear.
Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day’s return,
Till Thy mercy’s beams I see,
Till Thou inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
Gospel Reading
Assistant: Today the Lord is presented in the Temple in substance of our mortal nature.
All: Alleluia.
Assistant: Today the Blessed Virgin comes to be purified in accordance with the law.
All: Alleluia.
Assistant: Today old Simeon proclaims Christ as the light of the nations and the glory of Israel.
All: Alleluia.
Assistant: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you
Assistant: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke (Luke 2, 22-40)
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Assistant: This is the gospel of Christ
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Deacon Chris
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: Angelos Palioudakis)
Peace: In the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high has broken upon us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of 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 The people that in darkness sat
a glorious light have seen;
the light has shined on them who long
in shades of death have been.
2 To hail thee, Sun of Righteousness,
the gath’ring nations come;
they joy as when the reapers beat
their harvest treasures home
3 To us a Child of hope is born,
to us a Son is giv’n,
and on his shoulder ever rests
all pow’r in earth and heav’n.
4 His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
the Everlasting Lord,
the Wonderful, the Counsellor,
the God by all adored,
the God by all adored.
5 Lord Jesus, reign in us, we pray,
and make us thine alone,
who with the Father ever art
and Holy Spirit, one.
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, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna who lived to welcome the Messiah:
may we, who have received gifts beyond words, prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes
to bring us eternal life; for he is alive and reigns now and for ever. Amen.
1 Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord and precious,
binding all the church in one;
holy Zion’s help forever,
and her confidence alone.
2 All that dedicated city,
dearly loved of God on high,
in exultant jubilation
pours perpetual melody;
God the One in Three adoring
in glad hymns eternally.
3 To this temple, where we call thee,
come, O Lord of hosts, today:
with thy wonted loving-kindness
hear thy people as they pray;
and thy fullest benediction
shed within its walls alway.
4 Here vouchsafe to all thy servants
what they ask of thee to gain,
what they gain from thee forever
with the blessed to retain,
and hereafter in thy glory
evermore with thee to reign.
5 Laud and honour to the Father,
laud and honour to the Son,
laud and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One,
One in might, and One in glory,
while unending ages run.
Priest: Christ the Son of God perfect in you the image of his glory and gladden your hearts with the
good news of his kingdom: and the blessing…..
Deacon: We stand at the place of new birth
All: Let us shine with the light of your love
Deacon: We turn from the crib to the cross
All: Let us shine with the light of your love
Deacon: We go to carry his light
All: Let us shine with the light of your love. Thanks be to God.
Notices – more information is on the website including Zoom login details. Next Sunday Zoom is the same login address.
From Wednesday 3rd February the 10.00 Liturgy will resume. Only 5 people (25sqm calculation) can attend. To register your attendance, please email Fr. Leonard in advance to avoid disappointment of being turned away.
Saturday Weekly Meditations – 09.00 on Deacon Chris’s Facebook.
Epiphany Bible Studies: Fridays at 19.00. Jan 15th, Jan 22nd, Jan 29th, Feb 5th. Texts for study are on the website, or email Fr. Leonard and he will send them to you.
Book of Common Prayer Evensongs: Wednesdays at 19.00 from 13th Jan-24th March. 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!
Lent Study Group: Limited to 12 people. We will study Rowan Williams Book Meeting God in Paul. Copies are on sale from Fr. Leonard (€10,00). Fr. Leonard will confirm the dates.
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
No Comments