St Clement Church Epiphany 4 Service
Candlemas - The Presentation of Christ
Good morning and welcome to our service on this, the Presentation of Christ also known as Candlemas. Our tradition at St Clement Church is to keep our stable scene and Christmas trees up until Candlemas, so this week they will be taken down until next Christmas. So, as we begin the next part of the year, may we put our trust in the Lord that things will improve and we can bring back all our church activities.
With love Liz
Let us pray
Dear Lord, as we rise to meet each day, please let us be filled with Your Spirit. Wherever we go, let us spread love, joy, peace, goodness and faithfulness. Let us desire to become more like You and to worship You in all that we do. Help us desire these things so much more than the sin that entices us. Thank You for always going before us.
Amen
Hymn: 55 Hail to the Lord’s anointed (tune: Cruger)
A prayer of Penitence
Father of mercy, like the prodigal son I return to you and say: ‘I have sinned against you and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ Christ Jesus, Saviour of the world, I pray with the repentant thief to whom you promised Paradise: ‘Lord, remember me in your kingdom.’ Holy Spirit, fountain of love, I call on you with trust: “Purify my heart, and help me to walk as a child of light.”
Lord Jesus, you opened the eyes of the blind, healed the sick, forgave the sinful woman, and after Peter’s denial confirmed him in your love. Listen to my prayer: forgive all my sins, renew your love in my heart, help me to live in perfect unity with all my fellow Christians that I may proclaim your saving power in all the world.
Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.
Amen
Let us pray the Collect for Epiphany 4
God our creator, who in the beginning commanded the light to shine out of darkness: we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief, shine into the hearts of all your people, and reveal the knowledge of your glory in the face of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
Readings
Malachi 3. 1 - 5
Hebrews 2. 14 - 18
Hymn: 374 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds (tune: St Peter)
Gospel of Luke 2. 22 - 40
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Response: ‘Praise to you, O Lord’)
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
(This is the Gospel of our Lord Response: Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
Simeon took (the child Jesus) in his arms and praised God saying, ’Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation.’
These words stand at the centre of Candlemas, the Presentation of Christ. They are beautiful words by which Simeon tells the story of his life. But, what about us? What about our story and our life? It is one thing for Simeon to receive the child Jesus into his arms but what good is it to us – we don’t. Simeon’s eyes see salvation but what good is that to us if our eyes don’t. What good is it to us if Simeon is free to go in peace if we’re not?
It’s not enough for us to come here this morning to simply celebrate Simeon receiving the child, his eyes seeing salvation and he being set free to go in peace. If that’s all we do, if that’s all Candlemas is about, then we have bound this story, this celebration, this good news, to a time long ago in a place far away and it doesn’t have much to do with our lives. We need to let the truth of this story transcend its history.
While there is an historical truth to this story there is also a truth that is not limited by time and place. This story is an archetypal experience that is happening in all times and all places for all people. The truth of this story is happening here and now for you and for me. It is as much our story as it is Simeon’s.
If we want to understand and claim this story as our own and not just Simeon’s, then we need to know a bit more about Simeon. Tradition says that Simeon is one of seventy translators of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek, which is known as the septuagint. That translation is said to have begun around the third century before Christ and have been completed in the year 132 before Christ. Now if you’re keeping up with me, a quick mathematical calculation will tell you that Simeon is a really, really old man. One strand of tradition says Simeon is 270 years old when Jesus is presented in the temple. Another strand says Simeon dies at the age of 360.
Now, let’s not get hung up on his age; whether he is really this old or how could someone live to this age. That isn’t the point. The better question is, what does it mean that Simeon is that old? What is the tradition trying to tell us? Well, there is another part to the story.
Tradition says that Simeon, in his translation work, comes to the verse in Isaiah that says, ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.’ This makes no sense to Simeon so he is going to substitute ‘a young woman’ for ‘a virgin,’ when an angel stops him and declares the verse to be true, and promises that before he dies Simeon will see the child of this virgin.
Think about what this means. Simeon is promised that he will see the Messiah, the Christ, the one whose name means salvation and that promise is made nearly two hundred years before it is fulfilled. Simeon must be living those days, years, decades, centuries with hope, trust, expectation and anticipation. Every day for weeks, months, years, decades, centuries Simeon is left waiting and wondering, ‘Is this the day? Is this the day I will see salvation or is this the day I give up hope? Is this the day I will experience the fulfilment of the promise or is this the day I despair of it ever being fulfilled?’
Simeon’s life is one of expectation, anticipation and waiting. Who among us has not had his or her life characterised by expectation, anticipation and waiting? We’ve all stood in that place waiting for and needing something to happen, living in expectation and hope, anticipating the future and wondering if today is the day.
We all know what it’s like to wait – waiting for life to change, for the grief to go away, for a prayer to be answered, for joy to return, for forgiveness and reconciliation, for clarity about a decision, for meaning and purpose, for healing and new life. We wait and hope for all sorts of things.
We have all sorts of hopes and expectations for what God is doing in our lives and our world. I suspect that we’ve all come here this morning with some hope, some need, some expectation – I know that I have. We come here this morning trusting and anticipating the promise that God is present and working in our lives even if we can’t see or clearly understand what it may be. So, we show up and wait for the miracle. That’s what Simeon does.
So, what’s the miracle for Simeon – for us? I don’t think it’s that Simeon has lived to such a great age and it’s not that Simeon has held the baby Jesus. It’s not that Simeon’s eyes have seen salvation or that he is set free to go in peace. These things are happening all the time. The presentation of Jesus is all around us. Rather, it is that Simeon continues to show up. He continues to be vigilant and attentive. He continues to trust the promise. He continues to wait with hope and expectation. He never despairs. He never walks away from the promise. The miracle for Simeon and us is in the showing up.
Sometimes showing up is the most difficult work we do and it takes all we have to show up. But it’s always the question before us. Will we continue to show up? Will we be awake and vigilant? Will we live in hope and trust? Showing up is the means through which God fulfils the promise to us and Simeon.
Simeon thinks he is waiting for the child to show up but what if it is really Jesus waiting for Simeon to show up? Simeon thinks he is presenting the child to God but what if it is really the child presenting the old man to God? Every day that Simeon shows up the child Jesus is seeing and upholding Simeon. That’s what Candlemas is about.
What Simeon experiences can be ours too if we but show up. The presentation of Jesus doesn’t happen in the Jerusalem temple but in the temple of our lives, every moment of every day, day after day, month after month, year after year, decade after decade. It happens in the midst of waiting. It happens every time we show up to the reality of our lives.
Amen
Affirmation of our Faith
Do you believe and trust in God the Father? I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ? 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.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit? 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
Hymn: 52 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (tune: Was Lebet)
Intercessions by Helen Dunbar
Lord, your faithful servants Simeon and Anna watched in hope for the fulfillment of your promises. Give to the Church the same patience and trust, that today, as we recall the presentation of Christ in the Temple, and the beginnings of a life of love and service to all men and women, we open our hearts and minds to him and bring our cares and concerns for your world and your people.
As we gather in Christ’s name, let us bring to mind those who particularly need our prayer and support.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
Dear Lord, help us to learn how to put the needs of others more firmly before our own. We think of those in positions of authority and influence in this country and in all societies, that needs may be noticed and addressed, good values upheld and all people respected. May those who exercise power and authority in our communities use it wisely, and may we, and they, serve the Lord with gladness.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
The world into which Jesus was born was like our own, divided by war and pestilence. We read daily or hear news of fighting in so many places and pray for all those in distress as the result of war. We pray that the desperate may find new hope, and lives torn apart can be restored.
Lord, the God of righteousness and trust, grant to our Queen and her government, to Members of Parliament and all in positions of responsibility, the guidance of your spirit. May they never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of mankind.
We pray for our Archbishop Justin and our own Bishop Philip here in the diocese of Truro and our Suffragan Bishop Hugh. Lord watch over them and guide them as they go about their work. We pray for our much-loved Diane and her family and ask God to help her in the difficult work she has to undertake and also with her heavy workload.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
Comfort all those who suffer in body or mind or spirit.
We pray in the quietness of our minds for all, who we know have need of You. Those who are sick, in hospital; those who are badly affected by financial problems; those who are lonely or depressed, or have no family to help and support them. Bless them and give them comfort and assurance and give us courage to do what we can to help. Give grace and strength to all whose lives are lived caring for others. We pray for Ken and Diane, Daphne and Dave, Ollie, Liz, Margaret, Brian, Alison and Rob, Sandra and Roger.
We remember those who have finished their lives on earth and commit them to your everlasting care and protection. We ask you to keep us faithful to the end of our lives.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us pray with confidence as Jesus taught 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.
A poem for Candlemas by Malcolm Guite
They came, as called, according to the Law. Though they were poor and had to keep things simple, They moved in grace, in quietness, in awe, For God was coming with them to his temple. Amidst the outer court’s commercial bustle They’d waited hours, enduring shouts and shoves, Buyers and sellers, sensing one more hustle, Had made a killing on the two young doves. They come at last with us to Candlemas And keep the day the prophecies came true. We glimpse with them, amidst our busyness, The peace that Simeon and Anna knew. For Candlemas still keeps His kindled light Amidst the dark our Saviour’s face is bright.
The Peace
God is love and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them. The peace of the Lord be always with us. Amen
Hymn: 362 Glorious things of thee are spoken (tune: Abbot’s Leigh)
For your goodness and generosity in giving us all we need, help us to praise you, O God. In every circumstance of life, in good times and bad, help us to trust you, O God. In love and faithfulness, in all that we have and all that we are, help us to serve you, O God. As we speak or write or listen to those nearby or far away, help us to share your love, O God. In our plans and work for ourselves and for others, Help us to glorify you, O God. In every thought and word and deed, by the power of your Holy Spirit, this week, may we live for you, O God
Blessing
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen