Dear friends: forty days ago we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Candlemas marks the end of the Christmas season, now we recall the day on which he was presented in the Temple, when he was offered to the Father and shown to his people. As a sign of his coming among us, his mother was purified, as we now come to him for cleansing. In their old age Simeon and Anna recognised him as their Lord, as we today sing of his glory.
Today we celebrate both the joy of his coming and his searching judgement, looking back to the day of his birth and forward to the coming days of his passion.
From ThisIsChurch.com
Light of the World Phos hilaron
Light of the world, in grace and beauty, Mirror of God’s eternal face, Transparent flame of love’s free duty, You bring salvation to our race.
Now, as we see the lights of evening, We raise our voice in hymns of praise; Worthy are you of endless blessing, Sun of our night, lamp of our days.
God our Father, source of all light, today you revealed to the aged Simeon your light which enlightens the nations. Fill our hearts with the light of faith, that we who bear these candles may walk in the path of goodness, and come to the Light that shines for ever, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Optional Vigil PrayerDear Ones It is time for our nightly Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil. Let us light our candles and be at prayer and give thanks to God for the rich and beautiful diversity of all God's creation. We celebrate our differences with CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) Hearts. We pray that these differences may unite us together as one beautiful human family made in the image and likeness of God.
Psalm 84
Quam dilecta!
1 | How dear to me is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts! * |
| My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord; |
| my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. |
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2 | The sparrow has found her a house |
| and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; * |
| by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts, |
| my King and my God. |
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3 | Happy are they who dwell in your house! * |
| they will always be praising you. |
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4 | Happy are the people whose strength is in you! * |
| whose hearts are set on the pilgrims’ way. |
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5 | Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs, * |
| for the early rains have covered it with pools of water. |
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6 | They will climb from height to height, * |
| and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion. |
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7 | Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; * |
| hearken, O God of Jacob. |
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8 | Behold our defender, O God; * |
| and look upon the face of your Anointed. |
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9 | For one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own room, * |
| and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God |
| than to dwell in the tents of the wicked. |
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10 | For the Lord God is both sun and shield; * |
| he will give grace and glory; |
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11 | No good thing will the Lord withhold * |
| from those who walk with integrity. |
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12 | O Lord of hosts, * |
| happy are they who put their trust in you! |
1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NRSV)
Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.”
Or this
Malachi 3:1-4 (NRSV)
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.
Psalm 24:7-10
7 | Lift up your heads, O gates; |
| lift them high, O everlasting doors; * |
| and the King of glory shall come in. |
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8 | “Who is this King of glory?” * |
| “The Lord, strong and mighty, |
| the Lord, mighty in battle.” |
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9 | Lift up your heads, O gates; |
| lift them high, O everlasting doors; * |
| and the King of glory shall come in. |
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10 | “Who is he, this King of glory?” |
| “The Lord of hosts, |
| he is the King of glory.” |
1 John 3:1-8 (NRSV)
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
Hebrews 2:14-18 (NRSV)
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
A Song of the Heavenly City
Revelation 21:22-26, 22:1-4
I saw no temple in the city, *
for its temple is the God of surpassing strength and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to light it, *
for the glory of God shines on it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light the nations shall walk, *
and the rulers of the world lay their honor and glory there.
Its gates shall never be shut by day, nor shall there be any night; * into it they will bring the honor and glory of nations.
I saw the clean river of the water of life, bright as crystal, * flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
The tree of life spanned the river, giving fruit every month, * and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of nations.
All curses cease where the throne of God and the Lamb stands, and all servants give worship there; * there they will see God’s face, whose Name shall be on their foreheads.
John 8:31-36 (NRSV)
Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
Or this
Luke 2:22-40 (NRSV)
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Jesus’ parents 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 favor of God was upon him.
The Song of Mary Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *you, the Almighty, have done great things for me, and holy is your name.
You have mercy on those who fear you *from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm * and scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones * and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things * and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the help of your servant Israel, * for you have remembered your promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears, * to Abraham and his children for ever.
The Presentation,
Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
O God, you have made this day holy by the presentation of
your Son in the Temple, and by the purification of the
Blessed Virgin Mary: Mercifully grant that we, who delight in
her humble readiness to be the birth-giver of the Only begotten,
may rejoice for ever in our adoption as his sisters
and brothers; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We have waited in silence on your loving-kindness, O Lord,
in the midst of your temple. Your praise, like your Name, O
God, reaches to the world’s end; your right hand is full of
justice.
God we thank you for creating us in your image and likeness.
We pray for those who feel invisible and out of touch. Help us to know who we are and whose we are.
God we thank you for creating us out of love and may we love like you.
We pray for all who are unloving. May we love the unlovable.
God we thank you for making us worthy of your promises.
We pray that we may be worthy and up to the tasks that you call us to do.
God we thank you that you have counted each hair on our heads and made us precious.
We pray for the least of these and our most vulnerable family members. We remember all those who are facing another night in the bitter cold.
God we thank you that you have made us a family and your beloved children.
We pray for all children and animals who are in need of loving and forever homes.
God we thank your for allowing us to bring ourselves and our gifts to you your table.
We pray that we may allow all of our family members to bring themselves and their gifts to the table without judgement.
God we thank you for empowering us to be a vital presence to others and our family members.
We pray that we may speak truth to power and do justice, love, mercy and be a voice for the voiceless.
God we thank you for giving us hearts to love and heart homes to hold our family members tightly
We pray for all who are mourning, ill, and in need. May we give them love and along with you hold them lovingly with compassion.
God we thank you for giving us the courage to be authentically who we are.
We pray for an end to all bullying of all of our family members.
God help us to make peace, bring joy, bear hope , and shine lights.
All this we ask in Jesus' most holy name. Amen.
Today's resources are from
Book of Occasional Services
Lectionarypage.net
Satucket lectionary pages
Book of Common Prayer
Walk With Me on Our Journey original prayers and vigils.
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