Reflecting with Pamela – February 2010

Reflecting with Pamela

January has parted company with us in great haste. It hardly seems as if yesterday we were preparing for the great festival of Christmas and here we are at the end of January bringing Christmas to a close with the celebration of the Christ Child in the Temple.

In the Gospel of St. Luke (Luke 2. v22-40), we read the story of Mary and Joseph taking their first born Son to the Temple and offering him to the Lord. It was a custom of ancient Law that the first fruit offerings, whether this be the first male child born or the first offerings of a crop yield, should always be presented to the Lord with thanksgiving. It was also at this time that the naming of the child would take place.

Later on in the Gospel we read that God was faithful to his longstanding servant Simeon and granted him his hearts desire which was the longing to see the promised messiah who would bring justice, healing, love and peace to all the worlds people.

As it had been revealed to Mary by the angel and anointed by the Holy Spirit that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, the Son of the most high, so it was that the Holy Spirit gave special insight to Simeon that he would recognise the ‘Christ’ (Jesus) when he was brought to the Temple. Simeon then took the child into his arms and gave thanks to God that before he came to the end of his life he had his longing fulfilled.

At the festival of Candlemas, we bring our Service to a close holding the light of Christ ( small lit candles). Each person among many gathers together waiting in a sense of awe and great wonder as the Christ child is lifted tenderly from his crib and placed on a table central to the congregation symbolising that although Christmas has come to a close, Jesus remains in our midst.

The candles at the crib are then blown out and the procession of priests and people gather at the Font for the closing words; the Song of Simeon which is otherwise known as the Nunc Dimittis. The hand held candles by the congregation are then blown out.

For me, as well as the Spiritual enlightenment of this beautiful Service, there is also the practical aspect to consider and that is, how to provide a way to round off a Season of celebrations in the fullest and most meaningful way. By the natural invitation of the church structure from the start of Christmas to its completion, there is ample time to give every attention to fine detail and for the climax to be memorable.

In the next couple of weeks, we have turn around time in the church which we use in both literal and Spiritual terms. It is a good time to make an inventory of items used for our major festivals and to order in more communion bread, wine and candles for example. It is also the time of year, in preparation for our Annual Church meeting, that the Church wardens walk around the church making an inventory of all items present and hopefully not missing.

Spiritually people have time to reflect, taking stock of what has been happening to them over the past busy months and looking towards the season of Lent preparing for the great church festival of Easter.

From the feed back I get at All Hallows, I believe that people appreciate structure which provides all of us with a means to keeping track of our Spiritual journey and having stopping places along the, way during the various Seasons to appreciate and digest the purpose of it all.

It is hoped that our publicity can be enhanced for Easter via banners which are in the process of being created. Having visited a church in Northolt last week, I sat in my car reading the words of their Christmas banner hung prominently for all to see. The words welcomed people to come and worship with them and celebrate the Good News. All Hallows extends that invitation too.

The mention of publicity calls me to ‘go public’ in this edition of Reach Out by extending my gratitude to those who have already been involved in printing, collating and stapling our Parish booklet; advertising to every home in the parish what will be taking place over Lent and Easter with the inclusion of what else All Hallows has to offer via Services and community outreach. Thank you too to the many others, who will walk the streets from house to house in the next few weeks ensuring that relevant publicity is distributed.

Here is wishing you the very best of health and happiness as we go together on our journey of exploration praying that we will both give and receive in our relationships.

Blessings,    Pamela