Zoom Service for Sunday 7th March 2021
2nd Sunday before Lent
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 remains the same until the end of April. Always double check for information on our website. This year we are aligned to the Greek Orthodox date for Easter.
Deacon Chris will lead the worship today, assisted by Nelly. The preacher this morning is Fr. Leonard
Deacon: Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
All: and also with you.
1 All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing,
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
2 Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice,
ye lights of evening, find a voice,
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
3 Dear mother earth, who day by day,
unfoldest blessings on our way,
alleluia, alleluia!
The flow’rs and fruits that in thee grow,
let them God’s glory also show,
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
4 Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship God in humbleness,
alleluia, alleluia!
To God all thanks and praise belong!
Join in the everlasting song:
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The deacon 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.
Assistant: God be gracious to us and bless us, and make your face to shine upon us:
Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison
Assistant: May your ways be known on the earth, your saving power among the nations
Christe eleison
All: Christe eleison
Assistant: 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 God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ, your Son, 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 Romans 8, 18-25
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Man shall not live by bread alone
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Ask and it shall be given unto you
Seek and ye shall find
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Gospel Reading
Assistant: Alleluia, alleluia. Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will
be given to you.
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. Matthew (Matthew 6, 25-34)
All: Glory to you, O Lord
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Assistant : This is the gospel of Christ
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Fr. Leonard
Creed
Deacon: Do you believe and trust in God the Father, source of all being and life, the one for whom we
exist?
All: We believe and trust in him.
Deacon: Do you believe and trust in God the Son, who took our human nature, died for us and rose again?
All: We believe and trust in him.
Deacon: Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God, and makes
Christ known in the world?
All: We believe and trust in him.
Deacon: This is the faith of the Church.
All: This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Intercessions: (kneel or sit) Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
Peace: God has made us one in Christ. He has set his seal upon us and, as a pledge of what is to come, he has given us the Spirit to dwell in our hearts. 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 Thou whose almighty word
Chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight:
Hear us, we humbly pray,
And where the gospel-day
Sheds not its glorious ray,
Let there be light!
2 Saviour, you came to give
Those who in darkness live
Healing and sight,
Health to the troubled mind,
Sight to the inward blind:
Now to all humankind
Let there be light!
3 Spirit of truth and love,
Life giving, holy dove,
Speed on your flight!
Move on the water’s face
Bearing the lamp of grace
And, in earth’s darkest place,
Let there be light!
4 Holy and blessed Three,
Glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might!
Boundless as ocean’s tide,
Rolling in fullest pride,
Through the world, far and wide,
Let there be light!
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: God our Creator, by your gift the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise, and the bread of life at the heart of your Church; may we who share the table of worship on earth be transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s cross and enjoy the delights of eternity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
1 O praise ye the Lord! Praise God in the height!
Rejoice in His word, you angels of light.
You heavens, adore Him by whom you were made,
And worship before Him in brightness arrayed.
2 O praise ye the Lord! Praise God upon earth,
In tuneful accord, you saints of new birth.
Praise Him who has brought you His grace from above,
Praise Him who has taught you to sing of His love.
3 O praise ye the Lord, all things that give sound,
Each jubilant chord, re-echo around.
Loud organs, His glory tell forth in deep tone,
And trumpets, the story of what God has done.
4 O praise ye the Lord! Thanksgiving and song
To Him be outpoured all ages along.
For love in creation, for heaven restored,
For grace of salvation, O praise ye the Lord!
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…..
Assistant: 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. Look out for new regulation.
- 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. Final meeting is Friday 12th March
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- Lent Bible Studies: looking at the Letter to the Galatians. Fridays – March 26th, April 2nd, April 9th, 16th, 23rd. All at 19.00hrs. See Zoom link or contact Fr. Leonard.
- Lent Night Prayer: Wednesdays at 21.00. March 24th, 31st; April 7th, 14th, 21st,
The church is closed until at least the end of February. Look out for new regulations.
- Annual Parochial Church Meeting: Sunday 21st March online – join the Sunday Worship login address to take part in the Annual Meeting. The meeting will begin at 13.00
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- 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 publicized 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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