I am beyond excited about the celebration of the Feast of Candlemas this weekend. For me it is the heady mix of brilliant bible readings, babies, candles, blessings and so much more. The feast centres around Mary and Joseph as they bring Jesus to be presented in the Temple, where all Jewish parents went to give an offering of thanksgiving to God. It is such a vivid scene which on the one hand I imagine as being chaotic, busy and messy (Sacrificing animals normally is). Yet it holds within it this beautiful intimacy of parents wanting to give thanks for the most precious of gifts, a child. There is tenderness in the way in which the older generation of faithful people, Simeon and Anna, come to greet Jesus and make their own proclamations about this child.
For the church it is a reminder that we are intimately linked to our Jewish heritage, and yet at the same time we look to the “light which lightens all nations”. It is a turning point, a pivot, a crossroads and it falls at a time when we also turn from the crib to the cross, from Christmas to Easter. I look forward to celebrating this great feast with you all in some way this weekend.
SUNDAY WORSHIP 29th JANUARY 2023
8am – BCP HOLY COMMUNION – ALL SAINTS – REVD DIANE
10am – BENEFICE SUNG HOLY COMMUNION – REVD LIZZIE AND REVD DIANE WITH ST MARYS KIDS
2pm – BAPTISM OF ALFRED – ALL SAINTS – REVD LIZZIE – (ALL WELCOME)
Please do bring your own candle with you to the 10am service to be lit and blessed!
THE WEEK AHEAD
Wednesday 1st Feb 9.15am – Celtic Morning Prayer (Change of venue) See Notice sheet for details
Thursday 2nd Feb 10am – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church
Sunday 5th Feb 10am – Open Church St Marys
10.30am – Sung Holy Communion at All Saints with Junior Church
6.30pm – Choral Evensong for Candlemas at St Marys
I want to signpost you to the letter by the Bishop of Bristol – The Rt Revd Viv Faull in regards to her response to the Church of England’s recent communications. It is available here
Also do keep an eye out for lent group information. We are hoping to host a day time group on Wednesday afternoons and also an evening group on a Tuesday.
Candlemas – Malcolm Guite
They came, as called, according to the Law.
Though they were poor and had to keep things simple,
They moved in grace, in quietness, in awe,
For God was coming with them to his temple.
Amidst the outer court’s commercial bustle
They’d waited hours, enduring shouts and shoves,
Buyers and sellers, sensing one more hustle,
Had made a killing on the two turtle doves.
They came at last with us to Candlemas
And keep the day the prophecies came true;
We share with them, amidst our busyness,
The peace that Simeon and Anna knew.
For Candlemas still keeps his kindled light:
Against the dark our Saviours face is bright.
Blessings as always
Revd Lizzie
St Mary's, Fishponds 