St Nicholas: January 2015

Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. Psalm 118:19

Pray

Lord give us the eyes of faith,

to see your presence in the world.

Where fear closes our eyes, help us.

Where tears blind us, heal us.

Where busyness keeps us from noticing, slow us.

Where pride gets in the way, release us

Set us free to see your love at work in the world. Amen

Introduction

Dear Friends: just over forty days ago we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now we recall the day on which he was presented in the Temple, when he was offered to the Father and shown to his people. As a sign of his coming among us, his mother was purified, as we now come to him for cleansing. In their old age Simeon and Anna recognised him as their Lord, as we today sing of his glory. Today we celebrate both the joy of his coming and his searching judgement, looking back to the day of his birth and forward to the coming days of his passion. For this reason it has been called a ‘bitter-sweet Sunday.’ This feast of Candlemas which we celebrate today can be traced to at least 543. The Feast of Lighted candles is mentioned by Bede and St. Eligius, who was bishop of Noyon from 640 to 648.

Collect for The Presentation of Christ

Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings for Today:

New Testament Reading: Hebrew 2: 14 - 18

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 22- 40

When Jesus When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, 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 upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 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 now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to 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 prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, 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 upon him.

Post Communion Prayer

Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna, who lived to welcome the Messiah: may we, who have received these gifts beyond words, prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes to bring us to eternal life; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.. Amen

Services Next Week: February 8th

8.00 am Holy Communion LC (JW)

10.30am       Sung Eucharist                                   LC (AB)
10.00am       Matins                                                 NW (RSB)
10.00am       Morning Celebration                        CH (Lay Led)
12.30pm       Holy Baptism                                      LC (JW)
6.00pm         Evensong                                         CH (JW)

The Departure Lounge

Before Christmas, I announced that I would be retiring this summer (2015). Although we will not be leaving The Vicarage until the end of August, my last ‘official’ Sunday will be July 19th, when there will be a United Benefice Service at St. Mary’s, Long Crendon. I will probably take a few of the weddings that have been booked at the end of July and in August – but otherwise I will be off-duty for those closing weeks. I will keep you posted on the arrangements for departure and also the Church of England process for appointing a successor…It does’t happen quickly! There are many worthy jokes about exits…a lady saying to the Vicar, ‘so sorry you are leaving, we didn’t know what sin was before you came!’ John

Lent 2015

A leaflet will be out shortly that will give notice about services and events over Lent and Easter. I have written a 4/5 week course on Hymns – entitled, ‘Hymns of Faith and Love’ – which I hope you enjoy.

Meditation

Today we focus on Luke's story of the meeting between the Child Jesus and the aged Simeon. In the Greek-speaking world the feast was called HYPAPANTI (the encounter). At Candlemas the Church sees the encounter between the world without Christ and the world with a new beginning in Christ, between the fading age of the Old Covenant and the new era of the Church of all nations. Simeon calls Jesus "a light to enlighten the Gentiles." Accordingly this day was made into a feast of candles. The warm candlelight is meant to be a tangible reminder of that greater light which, for and beyond all time, radiates from the figure of Jesus.We ourselves are reminded of the need to be prepared to burn brightly ourselves in the midst of this dark world. We take a light, but it is not our own light, no light of our own would be bright enough, rather it is the light of Christ. The light which at the beginning of creation shined in the darkness and which no darkness, no blindness, could overcome, and this light was a light to lighten the gentiles, the nations, all the nations and races and culture of people.

The Candlemas Prayer

Lord God, you are the source of everlasting light. Your son, our beloved Lord Jesus was presented in the temple 40 days after his birth. He was recognised by Simeon and Anna, and welcomed as the promised Messiah. May we like them, behold the glory of the Lord Jesus. Grant that we may stand before you with hearts cleansed by your forgiving love. May we serve you all our days and make your name known as we worship you as our Lord. So may we come by your grace to eternal life . Amen.

The task ahead is never as great as the Power behind us

Prayer: Don’t give God instructions, just report for duty!

God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

When you get to your wit’s end, you’ll find God there.