This is the last Sunday of Epiphany (Revelation) as we come to the end of the Christmas Season. It was traditionally the Sunday when the Church blessed its candles for the year ahead, known as Candlemas and celebrated by the lighting of candles.A candle is a simple commodity but even the smallest candle lights up the darkness. Advent candles reminded us that the patriarchs and prophets prepared the way for Jesus, the light of the world. So the Christmas season begins and ends with candles.In our Gospel Reading Luke tells of the Presentation of the baby Jesus and Purification of Mary in the Temple. This was a Jewish requirement of the law 40 days after the birth of a first born male to offer him to God and to give thanks.Just as with the 5 Advent Candles we could think about each of the 5 characters in the story as candles of light as we move forward out of Epiphany.Simeon was righteous and devout and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah and he had been waiting. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts on this day, held the baby Jesus and spoke the words known as the Nunc Dimittus meaning ‘now you let depart’. He was able to let go of his life, knowing he had seen the Messiah. He expressed thanks and left us his song! Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at his words.Anna a prophetess, had been waiting around the temple in the dark for 60 years, worshipping, fasting and praying. When nothing made sense, when each day seemed the same. She now sees the light! When we are in the dark and we do not see the light we need faith and trust to know it’s there. Coming up to the Holy Family she gives thanks to God, recognises and prophesies about the child who will bring light to the world.Mary lets go of her baby because the first born belongs to God. To love is to let go to allow the person to be free. At his arrest and crucifixion Mary had to let Jesus go. She pondered things in her heart. Mary had been visited by an angel, the shepherds, the Magi ! Simeon blesses Mary and tells her that a sword will piece her heart.Joseph had to let go of his own perceptions, follow dreams and visions, take on a child who was not his, trusting in God’s revelations of light.Jesus enters the temple as a babe in arms and his spirit brings in the light of revelation. According to the Hebrew covenant, the temple was where God could be found but under the new covenant of Christ our bodies become temples of the Holy Spirit. We too meet with Jesus in our hearts where he dwells if we let him in. He let go of his divinity to share in our humanity to bring light and revelation to our darkness. Jesus brings the new covenant to love God and one another. The Temple was seen as the place where God’s feet are present but now Christ has his feet in us and his hands and mouth too! Our challenge is to let go of our own understanding, to trust in the Lord and encourage one another in our temples. As Quakers put it, to see that of God in everyone.Let us let go of our own perceptions, wills and desires and take the mystery of the Christmas story with its visions, dreams, angels and stars with us into the year, as we leave Christmas behind. If we meet with and recognise Jesus as Simeon, Anna, Mary and Joseph did, like them we will receive spiritual gifts enabling us to perceive the light that shines in the darkness. Malachi foretold: ‘Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you’ve been looking for will enter his Temple, the Messenger of the Covenant, he will be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry, cleansing and purifying’. Angela Stewart, Lay Minister
Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ‘Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.’ (Psalm 24:7)Hymn: Be Thou my Vision...Malachi 3:1-5; Hebrews 2: 14-18The sun of righteousness has dawned with healing in his wings. Let us come to the light of Christ, confessing our sins in penitence and faith: Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen. May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer for the day: Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: make your home among us, and present us pure and holy to your heavenly Father, your God, and our God. Amen.Luke 2: 22-40Please see the message from the minister.Let us join in prayer, with our focus on Christ our Lord:We pray for St Peter’s Church and the Church throughout the world, for peace and joy;We pray for our world, that the Earth and all of its creatures will thrive;We pray for our friends, families and neighbours - may we all share the love of Christ; We pray for people who are sick or suffering, to know the Holy Spirit’s healing presence; We remember the departed, and pray for all who mourn.Let us join in the words of the Lord’s prayer, whoever and wherever we are: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.Hymn: Praise, my soul, the King of heaven...Father of all, you have given us your Son to be the Saviour of the world. Welcome us as your children into your kingdom, to enjoy your presence forever. May the blessing of God Almighty who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon us and remain with us always.Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
What does it mean to be a member of the Christian Church, to be a follower of Christ, to be a disciple of Jesus? Just a few of the ways we can talk about ourselves - those of us here in Church this morning whether actual or in the Spirit. Are we members of a club? The thing about clubs is that they have something external that links and holds them together - golf at the Golf Club, knitting at the knitting club, football for Norwich City Supporters or which ever club or team they support and so it goes on the lust is endless. It is the external ‘thing’; golf, knitting, football that is the link for them.So are we a club? What links us together? For some it can be something external the love of the building, the love of music, the love of ritual. But none of these things makes the Christian Church. At Baptism we are made one with Christ so that the Spirit can dwell in us. What binds us together is something we all share internally, the Spirit of God. When we come to worship, we are looking outwards to Almighty God but also inwards to the Holy Spirit which dwells in all of us.That is the challenge that we are all trying to live up to. As Paul also says in the first letter to the Corinthians the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is quite a challenge, is it not? ‘But’, there’s always a ‘But’ the greater challenge is as I look at you, can I look beyond the frail human body to the body which is the temple of God? This is what makes us a community and not simply a club - anyone is welcome, because all have the Spirit of God in them.How do we make disciples? We don’t. All we have to say is ‘Come and see’ at one level they will see a motley crew but do they, do we go beyond this and see the God who loved us so much - he was willing to come to this earth to live and die for us and now through his resurrection dwells in each one of us.Praise and thanks to our God. AmenAndrew SSL
Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!’ (Ps 27:1, 13-14)Hymn: Dear Lord and Father of mankind...Isaiah 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18The grace of God has dawned upon the world through our Saviour Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself for us to purify a people as his own. Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith:Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for the day: God of all mercy, your Son proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed: anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord. Amen.Matthew 4:12-23Please see the Message from the Minister.Let us pray, asking for the light of the Lord to be known to everyone: We pray for St Peter’s Church and the Church throughout the world, that we may be starlight beams of his love shining in the darkness. We pray for our planet, that lessons will be learned so that the Earth and all of its creatures will thrive, and that all people will work together in peace. We pray for our friends, families and neighbours - that we may all share the love of Christ and build relationships.We pray for people who are sick or suffering, and for those on our hearts and minds today, that they will know our Lord’s healing presence.We pray for the departed, remembering all who mourn.Let us join in prayer for the coming of God’s kingdom in the prayer that Jesus taught Peter and all of us: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.Hymn: Will you come and follow me...May Christ the Son of God perfect in us the image of his glory and gladden our hearts with the good news of his kingdom; and may the blessing of God Almighty who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon us and remain with us always.Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
