Worshipping at Home 29th January 2023
Home Worshipping 

29th January 2023

Welcome to Home Worshipping 29th January 2023!

Bible Reading

Malachi 3 vs. 1-5 - Luke 2 vs. 22-32



When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’[a]), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’. Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

 

When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’

Thought for the Day

Mary and Joseph were simply carrying out the rituals and sacrifices that were expected of them according to Jewish religious laws and customs when they took their first-born baby son Jesus to the Temple for presentation to God. They certainly didn’t make a special trip to show him off to the world as being the long-awaited Messiah.

Just imagine the shock and surprise then of a strange old man suddenly stepping forward and taking hold of their precious first-born son and declaring him to be ‘a light for revelation to the nations and a glory of the people of Israel.’ Well, if Mary wasn’t certain how special her son was to be before this rather bizarre occurrence she surely must have been afterwards!

Here was a man who had been waiting to meet the saviour of the world (not just of the Jewish race either) for most of his life and had no other reason to live after he had taken him in his arms and made his proclamation. ‘Take me now Lord I have seen this child I’m ready to go; I have given my testimony in front his parents and witnesses in the temple.’

So it was true; all those encounters with Angels; the visit of the shepherds and the visit of the Magi. They all pointed to the same thing. The incredible fear and jealousy that gripped Herod on hearing that there was a new-born baby who would become The King of the Jews. There was no escape, no chance of going back to just being a normal married couple with a typical baby boy with no fixed prospects in life and no responsibilities.

How would the Romans react as he grew up; how would the priests and religious authorities deal with someone like their son? Would he have friends, would he get a job and get married; what sort of a person would he turn out to be?

If we look back at the Old Testament prophecies then of course the arrival of new Messiah had been foretold for thousands of years so in some respects the event should have been expected. But God acts in mysterious ways and sometimes the most unlikely people in the most unlikely of circumstances are chosen to be his agents of action. Furthermore God’s timescales are beyond our comprehension and we may have given up hope of expecting him to act only to find he is already acting through us without us having even realised!

So as we pray for our Lord to act let us listen and watch very carefully for his reply or his call to action and be ready to follow his commands without question, just like Simeon, Mary and Joseph, who unwittingly encountered each other in fulfilment of the first stages of God’s plan on that momentous day.

Let us Pray

Heavenly Father we thank you for your grace in our lives and all of the opportunities that you have presented to us even though we may not have realised that these were part of your plan for our lives. We have learned to heed your call when it comes just like Mary and Joseph; we have learned that things happen in your good time as we marvel at the patience and perseverance of Simeon who spent much of his life just waiting to proclaim Jesus Christ your son as saviour of the whole world. 

Grant Lord that we may recognize your call and find the courage, patience and fortitude to act as you would have us do in your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
The Blessing

Christ the Son of God gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among us and remain with us always.


Amen

 The Collect Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel; make your home among us and present us as pure and holy to your heavenly Father, your God and our God.


Amen

If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact us

Henley in Arden The incumbent/priest in charge John Ganjavi
telephone 01564 792570 or email Incumbent / Priest in charge

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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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