Morning Service for Candlemas 2022
HYMN – Christ is the world’s light H&S 19
- Christ is the world’s light,
he and none other;
born in our darkness, he became our brother.
if we have seen him,
we have seen the Father:
Glory to God on high.
2. Christ is the world’s peace,
he and none other;
no man can serve him and despise his brother
who else unites us, one in God the Father?
Glory to God on high.
3. Christ is the world’s life,
he and none other:
sold once for silver, murdered here,
our Brother –
he who redeems us,
reigns with God the Father:
Glory to God on high.
4. Give God the glory, God and none other:
give God the glory, Spirit, Son and Father:
give God the glory, God in Man my brother:
Glory to God on high.
.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
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.
Lord of grace and truth, we confess our unworthiness
to stand in your presence as your children.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
The Virgin Mary accepted your call to be the mother of Jesus.
Forgive our disobedience to your will.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
The wise men followed the star to find Jesus the King.
Forgive our reluctance to seek you.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
Your Son our Saviour in humility accepted the baptism of John.
Forgive our pride and rejection of your ways.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
At a wedding in Cana Jesus changed water into wine.
Forgive our failure to let your transforming presence change us.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by his Spirit
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen
THE COLLECT
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. Amen
FIRST READING – Malachi 3.1-5
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.
HYMN – Born in the night H&S 17
1. Born in the night,
Mary’s child,
a long way from your home:
coming in need,
Mary’s child,
born in a borrowed room.
2. Clear shining light,
Mary’s child,
your face lights up our way:
light of the world,
Mary’s child,
dawn on our darkened day.
3. Truth of our life,
Mary’s child,
you tell us God is good:
prove it is true,
Mary’s child,
go to your cross of wood.
4. Hope of the world,
Mary’s child,
you’re coming soon to reign:
King of the earth,
Mary’s child,
walk in our streets again.
GOSPEL -Luke 2.22-40
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him 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 turtledoves 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 worshiped 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.
SERMON
Why do we make a fuss of this passage in Luke’s gospel, why do we give it a special day, light lots of candles and keep the crib out till now? Because this is the last story of Jesus’ infancy and with it we turn from considering Jesus’ birth towards Lent and the journey to the cross. Simeon’s words were prophetic as he holds the baby he foresees the suffering to come, and so do we.
The power of the words of Simeon, ‘Lord now letest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation’ is that they were not only intensely personal to him, they can also be intensely personal to us. Because they are in a very real way, a declaration of the meaning and the purpose of our own lives. To see the salvation of our God.
To look at life in all its fierceness, its anger and its pain, all its sorrow and bewildering suffering – and yet then to see also the salvation of our God. To see the incredible paradox of life – the world as we know it, and the God that we come to know as its creator – the journey of accepting, even embracing such a paradox, is the journey of seeing the Christ of God. The Christ born to heal, to forgive, to teach, to pray, and to be tortured, scourged, lashed and crucified and ultimately to be resurrected.
It is the journey of becoming aware that God embraces this world he made so completely that he would become its victim as well as its creator – would become so one with it that it was his blood that would flow to its earth, to join that of his own people. When we have truly accepted that, taken it into our soul, made it one with ourselves then we will truly ‘depart in peace’ – and give glory to this mysterious God as Simeon and Anna did before us.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the scriptures;
he was buried;
he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles:
this we have received,
and this we believe. Amen.
1 Corinthians 15.3-7
INTERCESSIONS – Katherine Royle
Father, as we come before you to pray in a world that seems to be full of wars, famine and corruption we can be tempted to wonder what difference our prayers can make. It is important to remember that through Jesus our relationship with you has been restored and not only do you listen but you have graciously chosen to work and act through our prayers. Help us to faithfully hold on to your promise that when we meet together to worship and pray you are here with us.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for our government. Thank you that in this country we are blessed with democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of worship. We pray that those who have been entrusted with positions of authority will act responsibly and with integrity. Please help Members of Parliament and all who work for government to reflect on their actions and work together with wisdom and sensitivity. We ask that you influence the decisions they make as they resolve to tackle major issues such as the threat of European war, climate change, the economy, recovery from Covid, world poverty and famine.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for Elizabeth our Queen who has so faithfully served you and this country for seventy years. We thank you for her faith in you and ask that you will strengthen, comfort and guide her at all times.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and those in position of leadership in the Church of England, along with leaders of all Christian denominations throughout the world. Help them to give wise and strong leadership in this turbulent time. Thank you for William and everyone who works hard to keep our worship alive in this benefice. Help each of us in our daily lives to reflect you in the decisions we make and the way we behave towards others.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father, you know what burdens each of us are carrying at the moment. We may be worried about world events, a loved one, a friend or even ourselves. Help us to give our burdens to you, trusting in your perfect love, your provision and your timing. You are our solid foundation and in you we can find peace and have hope.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
HYMN – Longing for light, we wait in darkness H&S 60
1.Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
2. Longing for peace, our world is
troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.
Chorus
3. Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.
Chorus
4. Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stones.
Chorus
5. Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
Making your kingdom come.
Chorus
BLESSING
May he who who by his incarnation
gathered into one things earthly and heavenly,
grant us the fullness of peace and goodwill
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon us and remain with us always. Amen
HYMN – Walk in the light H&S 92
1. The Spirit lives to set us free,
walk, walk in the light.
He binds us all in unity,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, walk in the light,
walk in the light, walk in the light of the Lord.
2. Jesus promised life to all,
walk, walk in the light.
The dead were wakened by his call,
walk, walk in the light.
Chorus
3. He died in pain on Calvary,
walk, walk in the light,
to save the lost like you and me,
walk, walk in the light.
Chorus
4. We know his death was not the end,
walk, walk in the light.
He gave his Spirit to be our friend,
walk, walk in the light.
Chorus
5. By Jesus’ love our wounds are healed,
walk, walk in the light.
The Father’s kindness is revealed,
walk, walk in the light.
Chorus
6. The Spirit lives in you and me,
walk, walk in the light.
His light will shine for all to see,
walk, walk in the light.
Chorus
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen