A very warm welcome to all
Refrain for Psalm 71:
“O God, be not far from me.”
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Gospel: Luke 4: 21-30
In our Gospel today
Candlemas is known by various names. The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ; the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the Feast of the Holy Encounter.
Judaism’s purity laws required a sacrifice 40 days after a birth. Birth is a messy business, and cleanliness was marked by careful ritual. Life is messy and often things do not go to plan. The world is messy. We all have things we would like to straighten out.
The Feast of the Purification, with its scene of Mary and Joseph coming to the Temple to do what was required to handle the messiness is something we can identify with.
The Jewish Law also required an offering to redeem the firstborn son. The first of everything was to be given to God. There is so much joy around a birth that to give something to say, “Thank you” seems appropriate.
It is so hard to give God the first of everything. Time gets swallowed up in busy-ness or exhaustion. Attention is taken up with worry about this or fretting about that. Money never goes as far as it should. Mary and Joseph offering to God what they can is a gentle reminder that saying “Thank you” is important in our lives.
As Simeon takes the baby in his arms and looks down into the face of God; as Anna bursts out with joy that the Messiah has come, everything turns around. No longer is this a story about us giving what we can to God. We are not the one doing the presenting here. It is God who encounters us. The divine has become human, the immortal has been born. The light of Christ has come into the world, and we see and follow.
Thursday @ 7
Thursday @ 7 is now running again through to 27th February. We will be looking at Luke’s gospel which is key book for this year’s lectionary. Bible and prayer in small group discussion for an hour followed by a cuppa if you have time to stay. Venue is the Crypt – enter church by side door, through kitchen, down the stairs. Each week’s material is free-standing so it is fine if you can only join us for one or more weeks. Revd Roger Dyer (Assistant Priest).
Advent to Candlemas Course
If you are looking for spiritual focus during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany you might like to try the Diocesan ‘Advent to Candlemas’ course that has been prepared by our friend Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden the Diocesan Advisor for Christian Life. There is a little something to stimulate thought and prayer each day. The link to this from the Diocesan website is below. I warmly commend this to you. Revd Roger Dyer (Assistant Priest).
https://aoepiscopal.scot/diocesan-advent-to-candlemas-course-2025/
Tin Christmas Tree
Thank you very much to everyone that donated tinned food for our Tin Christmas Tree in 2024. We’ve decided to keep the tin tree going until Candlemas, so if you are still interested in providing a donation please do so up until 2nd February. Thank you!
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Annual General Meeting
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Annual General Meeting will take place after the 10am Service this Sunday 2nd February. Bishop Anne Dyer will be with us for the service and the AGM. Reports for the AGM have been emailed to all congregation members and paper copies will be available on the day.
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Sunday 2nd February 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Reverend Roger Dyer
Sunday 2nd February 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Bishop Anne Dyer
Wednesday 5th February 10am Holy Communion: Reverend Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Friday 7th February 6pm Compline: Iain Stewart
Sunday 9th February 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Reverend Jason Hobbs
Sunday 9th February 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Reverend Jason Hobbs
Next Sunday’s readings: Isaiah 6: 1-8, (9-13); Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
Gospel: Luke 5: 1-11
“If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there’ll be twa winters in the year.”
(Old Scottish rhyme)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd Roger Dyer on 07719 458571 or revrogdyer@btinternet.com