The Presentation of Christ in the Temple will be celebrated at the Family Service at St George’s on Sunday 1st February.
 
We find an account of this event in Luke’s Gospel (chapter 2 verses 22-40). Luke’s writings (his gospel and the Acts of the Apostles) are dedicated to someone called Theophilus – a Greek name. This suggests that his audience are people who probably don’t know much about Jesus’ Jewish background.
 
In his gospel Luke presents an attractive picture of Judaism and Jewish life and customs. In this story we see Jesus’ parents following the conventions of their time, taking Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, offering the poor-people’s sacrifice for Mary’s ritual purification after childbirth, and dedicating Jesus to God.
 
In the Temple Mary and Joseph meet Simeon and Anna, two people characterised by theirdevotion to God, sharing a recognition that Jesus will be the fulfilment of Jewish hopes for a Messiah. Simeon’s song, known as the Nunc Dimittis, gives voice to his belief that Jesus will be important not just for Jews, but for the whole world.
 
‘A light to reveal you to the nations,’ Simeon says of Jesus, which is why the old name for this festival is Candlemas. Historically this was the day when people brought their candles to church to be blessed, symbolising the light of Christ shining in their homes throughout the year.  The light of Jesus Christ can never be extinguished by any gloom, it shines out as our hope for the future.  
May His light shine upon you now and always.
 
God Bless,
 
Revd George Heighton
Email re********@*****ok.com
Telephone 01295 680 201