We say together
The light and peace of Jesus Christ be with you
All: And also with you.
The Lord bless you
Dear friends: 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
In this Eucharist, 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 passion.
A candle may be lit.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world;
All: Jesus is our Way.
With Jesus even dark places are light;
All: Jesus is the Truth.
In Jesus we shall live for ever;
All: Jesus is our Life.
Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts.
In His light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.
Christ came in humility to share our lives:
Forgive our pride.
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy
Christ came with good news for all people:
Forgive our silence.
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you our failure to protect resources for others.
All: Lord, have mercy.
May the God of all healing and forgiveness draw us to Himself, and cleanse us from all our sins that we may behold the glory of His Son, the Word made flesh,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Gloria in Excelcis
All: Glory to God in the highest,
And peace to His people on earth.
Lord God, Heavenly King, almighty God and Father
We worship You, we give You thanks,
We praise You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world:
Have mercy on us;
You are seated at the right hand of the Father:
Receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit,
In the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Collect for Candlemass
Almighty Father, whose Son Jesus Christ
was presented in the Temple and acclaimed
the glory of Israel and the light of the nations:
grant that in Him we may be presented to You
and in the world may reflect His glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever.
All: Amen.
Our First Reading is taken from – Hebrews Chap: 2
14 Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death,
15 and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.
16 For it is clear that it is not the angels that he helps. Instead, he helps the descendants of Abraham.
17 This means that he had to become like his people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people’s sins would be forgiven.
18 And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself was tempted and suffered.
This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Hear the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to – Luke Chap: 2
22 The time came for Joseph and Mary to perform the ceremony of purification, as the Law of Moses commanded. So they took the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
23 as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every first-born male is to be dedicated to the Lord.”
24 They also went to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as required by the law of the Lord.
25 At that time there was a man named Simeon living in Jerusalem. He was a good, God-fearing man and was waiting for Israel to be saved. The Holy Spirit was with him
26 and had assured him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s promised Messiah.
27 Led by the Spirit, Simeon went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus into the Temple to do for him what the Law required,
28 Simeon took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God:
29 “Now, Lord, you have kept your promise, and you may let your servant go in peace.
30 With my own eyes I have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:
32 A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles and bring glory to your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother were amazed at the things Simeon said about him.
34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God which many people will speak against
35 and so reveal their secret thoughts. And sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart.”
36 There was a very old prophet, a widow named Anna, daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She had been married for only seven years and was now eighty-four years old. She never left the Temple; day and night she worshiped God, fasting and praying.
38 That very same hour she arrived and gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for God to set Jerusalem free.
39 When Joseph and Mary had finished doing all that was required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee.
40 The child grew and became strong; he was full of wisdom, and God’s blessings were upon him.
This is the Gospel of Christ
All: Praise to Christ our Lord
Sermon
Have you ever waited for something?
- Waited for a really long time for
- something you were really excited?
- something you really wanted?
- Waited so long you almost missed it when it arrived?
- The anticipation had led to impossible fantasies so that the real thing almost slipped under your radar.
- Or perhaps your attention drifted just at the moment you needed to be alert.
Simeon was waiting to see the Messiah,
- Don’t know how long he had been waiting.
- The Holy Spirit promised it would happen before he died and
- He was an old man.
- His song sounds like the song of someone who had been waiting a long time – someone who had been filled with anticipation and is now filled with long- awaited joy as he takes the infant Jesus into his arms and knows him to be the one he has been waiting for.
- Amazing to me that Simeon recognized the Messiah in the baby Jesus at all.
- He must have seen lots of babies, 40 days old, tiny and wrinkly, carried into the temple by insignificant but devout mothers and fathers.
- All babies look the same to me
- I wonder how many of God’s promises we don’t see fulfilled simply because we aren’t paying attention or because we don’t have eyes and hearts,
- Simeon was prepared to see God at work in unexpected places.
- Or we are more comfortable in the waiting than in uncertainty of what comes after.
- Today, Candlemas, is the day that really ends the Christmas season.
- Nativity scene should be taken down.
- O half-way between Christmas and Good Friday – /
- Half-way between Jesus’ birth and Jesus’ death.
- Simeon’s story contains this pivot.
- Holding the infant Messiah, Simeon knows his wait is over,
- God’s promise fulfilled.
- He praises God and sings of light and glory.
- Then Simeon turns to Mary – tone changes:
“This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed to that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Would have preferred to just keep waiting – to hold on to the sense of hopeful anticipation rather than the perhaps more complicated emotions after the arrival of the Messiah.
- But following Jesus is not just about Christmas – not just light and joy and celebration.
- Today, we let Simeon turn us in the direction of the cross, remembering that following Jesus is also about sacrifice and faithfulness in the face of suffering.
- Perhaps this is why Candlemas is the day on which candles are blessed, marked as signs of the light of Christ in the world – we know we still have need of such signs to get us through the darkness ahead.
- So, on this seasonal pivot day, we turn not simply from cradle to cross but from cradle through cross to the empty tomb, already visible, albeit dimly through the darkness
- Still to come. Following Jesus is not just about Christmas; not just about Good Friday. Following Jesus is also about the hope and freedom of Easter.
- Simon had the recognition of the arrival of the messiah and the pain to come
- We have that hope and freedom because we’ve seen Christ’s resurrection account
- May we live in hope and freedom
- Attentive to Christ at work in our world o in our lives
- And the lives of the ones we love
Amen
Let us declare our faith in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
All: I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
All: Though He was divine,
He did not cling to equality with God,
But made Himself nothing.
Taking the form of a slave,
He was born in human likeness.
He humbled himself
And was obedient to death
Even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has raised Him on high
And given Him the name above every name:
That at the name of Jesus
Every knee should bow,
And every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
To the glory of God the Father.
Amen
Prayers of Intercession
Let us pray to the Father through Christ who is our Light and Life.
Father, Your Christ is acclaimed as the glory of Israel: Look in mercy on Your church, sharing His light.
Lord, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Father, Your Christ in His temple brings judgement over the world:
Look in mercy on the nations, who long for His justice. Lord, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Father, Your Christ who was rich, for our sakes became poor: Look in mercy on the needy, suffering with Him.
Lord, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Father, Your Christ is the one in whom faithful servants find their peace: Look in mercy on the departed, who see Your salvation. Lord, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Father, Your Christ is revealed as the one destined to be rejected: Look in mercy on us who now turn toward His passion. Lord, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Lord God, You kept faith with Simeon and Anna and showed them the infant King. Give us grace to put all our trust in Your promises, And the patience to wait for their fulfilment; Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen
In the tender mercy of our God, The dayspring from on high shall break upon us, To give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you
All: And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace
Offertory Hymn is – Take My Life and Let It Be
- Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
- Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
- Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
- Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
- Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
- Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. (by Frances R. Havergal – 1838 to 1870)
All: Yours, Lord is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour, and the majesty. For everything in heaven and on earth is Yours. All things come from You, and of Your own do we give You.
Prayer of consecration
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world:
All: A light no darkness can quench.
The Word was made flesh and lived among us
All: And we have seen his glory.
Christ has brought us out of darkness
All: To dwell in His marvellous light
The glory of the Lord has been revealed
All: And all flesh shall see it together.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world,
All: A light no darkness can quench.
The darkness is not dark to you
All: The night is as bright as the day.
Let you light scatter the darkness
All: And fill your Church with your glory.
Gracious God, we give you thanks and praise for Jesus Christ our Lord, for He was the Word before all creation. Through Him all things come to be; not one thing has its being but through Him.
Jesus, Light of the world,
All: We worship and adore you.
His life is the light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness cannot overpower. Jesus, Light of the world,
All: We worship and adore you.
The Word was the true light coming into the world. He was in the world that had its being through Him, and the world did not know Him. Jesus, Light of the world,
All: We worship and adore you.
He came to his own, and they did not accept Him. But to all who accept Him he gives power to become children of God. Jesus, Light of the world,
All: We worship and adore you.
The Word was made flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus, Light of the world,
All: We worship and adore you.
To God our creator, Born as one of us, Be all praise and glory.
With all the company of heaven, we worship You, Saying:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
All: Hosanna in the highest.
Lord you are holy indeed, the source of
all holiness, Grant that by the power of Your Holy Spirit and according to Your Holy will these gifts of bread and wine
May be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the Lord Jesus on the night He was betrayed, took a piece of bread; gave thanks to God, Broke it and said ‘This is My body which is given for you
Do this in memory of Me’
In the same way; after supper, He took the cup and said ‘This cup is God’s new covenant Sealed with my Blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of Me’
Great is the mystery of faith
All: Christ has died
Christ is risen
Christ will come again.
Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day when Your kingdom comes and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.
Look with favour on Your people, gather us in Your loving arms and bring us with all Your faithful people to feast at your table in heaven.
Through Christ, and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are Yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever.
All: Amen
As our Saviour taught us so, we pray
All: 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.
Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread
To share in the body of Christ.
All: Though we are many, we are one body,
Because we all share in one bread.
Draw near with faith.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which He gave for you,
and His blood which He shed for you.
Eat and drink in remembrance that He died for you, and feed on Him in your hearts by faith and with thanksgiving.
All: We do not presume to come to this Your table, merciful Lord,
trusting in our own righteousness,
but in Your manifold and great mercies.
We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Your table.
But you are the same Lord
whose nature is always to have mercy.
Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of Your dear Son Jesus Christ and to drink His blood,
that our sinful bodies may be made clean by His body and our souls washed through His most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in Him and He in us.
Amen
We break the bread of life,
And that life is the light of the world.
All: God here among us,
Light in the midst of us
Bring us to light and life.
Post Communion Prayers
This child is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected.
And a sword shall pierce your own soul also
All candles are lit
All: Lord God, the springing source of everlasting light. Pour into the hearts of Your faithful people the brilliance of Your eternal splendour, that we, who by these kindling flames light up this temple to Your glory, may have the darkness of our souls dispelled. And so be counted worthy to stand before You in that eternal temple where You live and reign,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever.
Amen
Hymn is – Faithful Vigil Ended
Father, here we bring to an end our celebration of the Saviour’s birth.
All: Help us, in whom He had been born,
To live His life that has no end.
Here we have offered the Church’s sacrifice of praise.
All: Help us, who have received the bread to be thankful for Your gift.
Here, we have rejoiced with faithful Simeon and Anna.
All: Help us, who have found the Lord in His temple,
To trust in your eternal promises
Here we have greeted the Light of the world.
All: Help us, who now extinguish these candles, never to forsake the light of Christ.
All candles are now extinguished
Here we now stand near the place of baptism.
All: Help us, who are marked with the cross, to share the Lord’s death and resurrection
Here we turn from Christ’s birth to His passion.
All: Help us, for whom Lent is near,
to enter deeply into the Easter mystery.
Here we bless one another in Your name.
All: Help us, who now go in peace, to shine with Your light in the world
Thanks be to God!
Amen.
© 702211