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Minister's letter, 2 February 2025

Dear Friends,

This coming Sunday is 'Candlemas'. The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (and the purification of Mary 40 days after giving birth). Where Anna, a prophet, and Simeon a righteous and devout man, met them in the Temple, recognised who Jesus was and proclaimed that salvation was coming. But also identified the pain and challenge that Mary would face, as Jesus' ministry unfolded (see Luke 2:22-38).

In many church traditions it is the time when all the church candles for the year are blessed. It is also the date when you are supposed to finally take down all your Christmas decorations (if you missed the 6th January or Epiphany expectation).

As is usual, many aspects of Candlemas have been adapted from pagan festivals, this one perhaps unsurprisingly the festival of light, the time that marks the halfway point between the winter equinox and the spring equinox.

It is a call back to the older Christian traditions, a connection with our diverse past and with Jesus' story and a symbol of hope, that there will be light no matter how thick the shadows seem to fall, no matter that things will come to an end as well as a beginning.

We hold onto the image of Jesus as the light of the world, in all of our being and in our doing. We pray that this light will bring clarity when things just do not seem to make sense; reassurance when we feel everything pressing in and hope, that Jesus' light remains steady and strong in all that we are presented, whether we see it or not.

So light a candle or shine a light and spend time intentionally, in the presence of Jesus.

Every blessing


Rev Karen

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