Candlemas
It is forty days since Jesus’ birth, and today we celebrate Candlemas. Forty days was the time for the ritual presentation of a baby to God, and so we read of Jesus’ presentation at the temple and the witness of the elderly Simeon and Anna. Before electricity, people would bring candles to church on this day to be blessed in recognition of Jesus as the light to all nations, echoing the words spoken by Simeon.
Becoming ready for worship
You are invited to light a candle
As we light a candle, light in our hearts a flame of love for all we meet this day.
Lighten our darkness.
Light in us a flame of love for family, friends and neighbours.
Lighten our darkness.
Light in us a flame of love for people near and far, friend or enemy.
Lighten our darkness.
We light our candle in the presence of our creator, who separated the light from the darkness.
We light our candle in the presence of the Son, who is the light of the world.
We light our candle in the presence of the Holy Spirit, with us at all times and in all places.
Hymn: STF 175 – Light of the world, you stepped down into darkness
Light of the world,
you stepped down into darkness,
opened my eyes, let me see
beauty that made this heart adore you,
hope of a life spent with you.
So here I am to worship,
here I am to bow down,
here I am to say that you’re my God,
and you’re altogether lovely,
altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me.
King of all days
oh so highly exalted,
glorious in heaven above.
Humbly you came
to the earth you created,
all for love’s sake became poor.
So here I am to worship …
And I’ll never know how much it cost
to see my sin upon that cross.
And I’ll never know how much it cost
to see my sin upon that cross.
So here I am to worship …
Tim Hughes
Prayers:
God of light and love,
warming February’s chill, tempering the winds,
peppering hard ground with early shoots of green and hints of blossom,
we lift to you the cold bones of winter and hearts aflame with hope.
We praise you
for the Light that has arrived with Jesus,
shining in the darkness, unquenchable and true.
We praise you
for the hope of his presence,
guiding our feet, lighting our pathway,
casting warming rays and the glow of fulfilment.
We praise you
for the discomfort of his searchlight beams,
concealing nothing,
truth-telling, life-changing.
Examine us and know us, O God.
Drive out the darkness,
turn our hearts to you and fill our souls with the song of salvation,
with the message of your love.
Holy God, we worship you!
We sing your praise now and forever.
Amen.
Readings: Psalm 24
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Saviour.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty –
he is the King of glory.
Hymn: 727 – God in his love for us
1 God in his love for us lent us this planet,
gave it a purpose in time and in space:
small as a spark from the fire of creation,
cradle of life and the home of our race.
2 Thanks be to God for its bounty and beauty,
life that sustains us in body and mind:
plenty for all, if we learn how to share it,
riches undreamed-of to fathom and find.
3 Long have our human wars ruined its harvest;
long has earth bowed to the terror of force;
long have we wasted what others have needed,
poisoned the fountain of life at its source.
4 Earth is the Lord’s: it is ours to enjoy it,
ours, as God’s stewards, to farm and defend.
From its pollution, misuse, and destruction,
good Lord, deliver us, world without end!
Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000)
Reading: Luke 2.22-40
Jesus presented in the temple
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.’
The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Reflection
Who is he?
It is perhaps the biggest question that we can ask about Jesus. Who is he?
I imagine it was just an ordinary day at the Temple. People would be coming and going, milling about. The traders would be doing their deals, exchanging the temple money at an extortionate rate. There’d be visitors and locals, priests and ordinary folk. There would be the aroma of incense, and the smell of animal dung.
Mary and Joseph had probably been before with family for the major festivals. Nevertheless it must have been a daunting place for a young couple from the backwater of Nazareth with their precious child.
In the midst of all this two people unexpectedly take centre stage. Not young, nor powerful, nor in positions of authority: instead we meet elderly Simeon, waiting to die, and Anna, who has probably been widowed for over fifty years. The anonymous couple shuffling through the crowds catches their attention.
‘Moved by the Spirit’ is the phrase associated with Simeon. It is the Spirit that guided him to the Temple that day, and the Spirit that brought him to Jesus.
Who is he? He is the Messiah, the longed-for salvation for God’s people. He is light and glory, for Gentiles and Jews. He will reveal the thoughts of people’s hearts, bringing the falling and rising of many. For his mother, he will pierce her heart (so prophetically revealed by his death on the cross).
For Anna the day is more ordinary still. She worshipped day and night in the temple, fasting and praying. Yet it is a God-given moment that she comes upon them – the old man Simeon talking with the young couple, and the baby Jesus in his arms.
Who is he? He is the redeemer of Jerusalem. Words flow from her mouth, so that all will hear who this child is.
The psalmist asks the question directly. Who is he, the King of glory? And (thank you, psalmist) promptly answers it: it is the Lord Almighty. This same Lord who is the creator of the universe, the founder of the seas and owner of the lands… this Lord is the King of glory. There is such a grand image of regal gates being opened, the path being cleared for the most high God and the most mighty warrior.
The events in the Temple may not have been so grandiose or regal, but here we have two ordinary people, on an ordinary day, affirming the identity of the Christ-child.
Who is he? Saviour. Redeemer. King.
Questions for further thought:
- It is an ordinary day. How can we respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit? Where do you see God in ordinary, everyday things?
- Ask God for the daily patience and prayerfulness of Anna, that the Lord may be revealed.
- Who is Jesus to you?
Hymn: STF 13 – Sing of a God in majestic divinity
1 Sing of a God in majestic divinity,
seeding the heavens with numberless stars,
forming our dust and our dreams of infinity,
God of our lives and the judge of our wars.
2 Sing of a Child who was cradled so tenderly,
sing of a boyhood by Galilee’s lake;
sing of a cross and a Saviour who wondrously
suffered and died for humanity’s sake.
3 Sing of a Spirit who daily addressing us,
lives in our sciences, nature, and arts;
moving through all of creation and blessing us,
guiding our minds and engaging our hearts.
4 Sing of this God who in glory and mystery
chooses to lie in humanity’s womb,
enters the prison and pain of our history,
rises triumphant and opens the tomb.
Thomas Herbert O’Driscoll (b1928)
Prayers of intercession
Light of the world,
Shine into the places of darkness today.
We pray for those areas where there is conflict and war, longing for peace. We pray that the ceasefire in Gaza will hold, that there will be an end to fighting in Goma in the DRC, and that there may be peace talks over Ukraine.
We pray for the church across the world. May it be the voice of truth and justice and mercy. Grant its leaders integrity and courage as they speak out for those who have no voice in public discourse.
We pray for our own government and all in authority. Give them the discernment needed to govern for everyone, and to bring laws for the justice and equity of all people. May they have wisdom in all the difficult decisions they have to make.
We pray for all who are struggling at this time, due to economic uncertainties, job loss or problems with the benefit system. We pray for those who are victims of crime.
We pray for those suffering from physical or mental illness, and those who are grieving. We remember in particular those we know, naming them now…
We pray for ourselves, holding all our own concerns before you. May your Spirit fill us anew, that we may see you working in and through our lives.
Light of the world,
Shine into the places of darkness today.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer.
Hymn: 317 – At the name of Jesus
1 At the name of Jesus
every knee shall bow,
every tongue confess him
King of Glory now.
‘Tis the Father’s pleasure
we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning
was the mighty Word.
2 Humbled for a season,
to receive a name
from the lips of sinners
unto whom he came,
faithfully he bore it
spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious
when from death he passed:
3 Bore it up triumphant
with its human light,
through all ranks of creatures
to the central height,
to the throne of Godhead,
to the Father’s breast;
filled it with the glory
of that perfect rest.
4 In your hearts enthrone him;
there let him subdue
all that is not holy,
all that is not true;
crown him as your captain
in temptation’s hour:
let his will enfold you
in its light and power.
5 For this same Lord Jesus
shall return again,
with his Father’s glory,
with his angel train;
all the wreaths of empire
meet upon his brow,
and our hearts confess him
King of Glory now.
Caroline Marie Noel (1817-1877)
Sending prayer:
Lord, light up the path for me wherever I may go,
that I may know your presence,
and be grateful for your love. Amen.
Acknowledgements:
Becoming ready for worship and Sending prayer – from Roots on the Web (https://www.rootsontheweb.com/media/26195/2024-candlemas.pdf)
Opening prayers – by Louise Gough, from ‘Spring’ (Wild Goose Publications, 2019)
