4th Sunday after Epiphany
‘The Presentation of Christ in the Temple’
St Mary’s and St Andrew’s Worshipping Together
A very warm welcome to all
Readings:
Malachi 3: 1-5; Psalm 24: 1-6; 1 Hebrews 2: 14-18; Gospel: Luke 2: 22-40
Our Gospel reading today
In our Gospel reading today, we meet Simeon and Anna; two God-fearing, elderly people who had been waiting for the Messiah to come. We hear that “Simeon took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God”. We also hear that “Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for God”. Now, I don’t question their faith or their joy for one moment. But I do recognise that they are both in their mid-80s and had been waiting their whole lives for this moment. That is a long time to wait! Sometimes, I pray for things, and if I don’t think God has responded within a week, I get impatient. But Anna, we are told, was 84 years old, so she hadn’t waited one week for her prayer to be answered. Anna had waited at least 4,368 weeks – that’s 733,824 hours if you are interested in the maths! That’s a long time to wait for God to answer your prayer, isn’t it? And Simeon and Anna were only humans, just like you and I – and I don’t believe for one moment that they didn’t doubt God during that time of waiting.
Online Holy Communion Service 31st January
Our online pre-recorded service today (Sunday 31st Jan) is again, presided over by Bishop Anne and can be accessed, either through the Diocesan Face-Book page (searching under St Mary’s Carden Place), or via the Diocesan Website at https://aoepiscopal.scot A copy of the liturgy is also included with your email so that you can follow the service.
St Andrew’s Extraordinary General Meeting
There will be an Extraordinary General Meeting for St Andrew’s congregation, via Zoom, on Sunday 31 January at 1pm. The meeting will be concerned with revising the Constitution. St Andrew’s congregation are encouraged to attend.
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Annual General Meeting
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place via Zoom, next Sunday the 7th of February, commencing at 1230 pm. Even though we may well be experiencing lockdown, I fully intend to ensure that the AGM will go ahead as planned. I will circulate the necessary correspondence prior to that date along with the Zoom Link required to join in. Watch this space and our website, https://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/ for further updates.
No Zoom Brunch on 7th February
There will be no Zoom Brunch on Sunday the 7th February due to the AGM taking place.
LayRep and Alternate Lay Rep posts
The roles of Lay Rep and Alternate Lay Rep are posts that are open, annually, to any member of St Mary’s Congregation who wishes to put their names forward. The positions are currently occupied by Dr Nicola Mills (Lay Rep), and Dr Elizabeth Smyth (Alternate Lay Rep), who, if unopposed, are happy to continue. Should anyone put their name forward for either role, then this will require a ballot to take place at the AGM. If anyone wishes to know more about the Lay / Alternate Lay Rep positions, please let me know. Normally I would be placing a sheet in the Church for anyone who wishes to put their name forward, however, due to the current lockdown situation, this will not be possible. Therefore I would also ask that you contact me via this medium and I will maintain an electronic list should it be required. It is also incumbent upon me to ensure that this information reaches as many of those who are on the St Mary’s Congregational role as possible, so if you know of anyone who should be aware of this information and is not receiving newsletters, would you please let me know at your earliest convenience.
Fr Terry’s calendar this week coming
I may have to travel south to England at very short notice this week due to a family matter, but I will be contactable via my mobile and email. Therefore, any live face-book prayer broadcasts planned might suffer as a result.
Lent
Lent begins on the 17th of February, and all being well I intend to do some Lenten devotions throughout the 40 days. This will be carried out via Zoom and will last no longer than 45 minutes. I will also endeavour to email some Lent material to assist anyone who is interested and might find it helpful.
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the 28th of March and should we still be in the present lockdown situation I will try to hand deliver the Palm Crosses as I did last year.
Services week commencing Sunday the 31st January 2021
Sunday the 31st of January at 10 am – Pre Recorded Holy Communion (+Anne Presiding)
Sunday the 31st of January at 12.30 pm – Sunday Zoom Brunch
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
(Isaiah 6: 8)
Blessings Always
Rev’d Canon Terry Taggart
Rector