Worshipping at Home 30th January 2022
Home Worshipping 

Anticipating Candlemas - 30th January 2022 

The Service

The above video is 20 minutes & 52 seconds long
The First Hymn
Welcome!

The 2nd February is called Candlemas and marks the 40th day of Christmas. We recall Joseph and Mary taking the baby Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple to undergo various religious rituals. There they meet Simeon and Anna, two elderly saintly characters. I wonder how many people noticed their little huddle in the temple courts. We now focus on them and we share in their wisdom and joy.


Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favour and honour. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.

Acclamation

In the tender compassion 
of our God
the dawn from on high 
has broken upon us,
to shine on those 
who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet 
into the way of peace

The Collect Prayer

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

Sharing the Peace

We are the Family of God;
In the one Spirit we were all baptised
into one body.

Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.

(At this point please think of others
and in your heart send them
the message: Peace be with you.)

Bible Reading

Luke 2: 22-32 (Jesus is presented in the Temple.)

 

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’), 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. 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

Mind games and illusions – we are often fascinated by those who get us to say things and do things by planting images and ideas in our minds. Then we watch those programmes that explain how the trick is done, and we are amazed. These masters of Magic rely on that ability we all have of taking in scenes from around us without realising. The busyness of life normally pushes us along, but if we were to stop and think about it there is a lot going on all around us which we see but don’t realise, register or understand. Unlike Sherlock Holmes, we make no deductions from endless tell-tale signs around us. It’s a funny thought, but we go through each day, oblivious of much of what’s going on around us. 

One day, a long time ago, a young couple walked into the Temple at Jerusalem, holding a little baby. An old man confronted them with clear delight. Soon afterwards an old woman did the same. Many would have seen these events without stopping to realise, register or understand what has happening before their very eyes. If only they knew that here was the Son of God, the Saviour of the World on display for all to see – if only they had eyes to see. 

In a similar way, under the very noses of friends and neighbours, people are meeting Jesus through prayer and meditation. They are popping into churches for Services of worship. Like Simeon and Anna in the Temple, they are having Jesus presented to them, and they are responding with clear delight. And the world continues to pass by, busy and preoccupied. 

Candlemas is a time for us to dedicate ourselves to let our light so shine that through us people may be drawn to the glorious presence of God amongst us.

Let us Pray

Worthy of praise from every mouth, of confession from every tongue, of worship from every creature, is your glorious name, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: who created the world in your grace and saved the world by your compassion. To your majesty, O God, ten thousand times ten thousand bow down and adore, singing and praising without ceasing and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts; heaven and earth are full of your praises; hosanna in the highest. Amen.

Lord God, you are the source of everlasting light. Your son, our beloved Lord Jesus was presented in the temple 40 days after his birth. He was recognised by Simeon and Anna, and welcomed as the promised Messiah. May we like them, behold the glory of the Lord Jesus. Grant that we may stand before you with hearts cleansed by your forgiving love. May we serve you all our days and make your name known as we worship you as our Lord. So may we come by your grace to eternal life. Amen.

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.

(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.)
The Blessing

Christ the Son of God, born of Mary , fill you with his grace to trust his promises and obey his will; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.



Amen.

 The Second Hymn

Bible Readings for the Week

Monday: 1 Kings 17:8-16; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Tuesday: 2 Kings 5:1-14; 1 Corinthians 14:13-25

Wednesday: Jeremiah 1:11-19; Luke 19:41-44

Thursday: Numbers 20:22-29; Acts 9:19b-25

Friday: Numbers 27:12-23; Acts 9:26-31

Saturday: Judges 3:7-11; Luke 4:42-44

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

For a full list of church contact details please click here
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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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