Bowland Benefice
Pews News 2 February 2025
Presentation of Christ in the Temple
also known as Candlemas

Collect
Almighty and ever-living God,
clothed in majesty,

whose beloved Son was this day presented

in the Temple,
in substance of our flesh:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
This week in the Benefice

Sunday
2 February

10.30am

Family Service
in Upton
Snodsbury

11.00am

Holy
Communion
In Peopleton

6.00pm

Songs of Praise
in White Ladies
Aston

Friday
7 February

7.30pm

Film Night in
The Parish
Room, White
Ladies Aston

Saturday
8 February

10.30am

Coffee
Morning in the
Parish Room,
WLA

Sunday
9 February
4 th Sunday
before Lent

10.30am

Holy
Communion in
Upton
Snodsbury

10.30am

Family Service
in White Ladies
Aston
Everyone will be made very welcome in The Parish
Room in White Ladies Aston on Friday night for the
film Roman Holiday. A fun film for a February evening

with ice cream included!
A Prayer for Candlemas
Heavenly Father,
in a world full of darkness and fear,
your Son is a beacon and the light of the world.
We pray for his light to shine strongly
and for darkness to disappear.
In our jobs, careers, education, business, and family,
let his light shine and the darkness disappear.
Your glory shall rise upon us and all our doings today.

Amen.

So what is Candlemas all about?
Candlemas is celebrated on 2 February and finds some
of its roots in our pagan past. The pagan Festival of
Light has been incorporated into the remembrance of
the baby Jesus’ ritual presentation to God in the
Temple. This takes place on the 40 th day of the
Christmas/Epiphany Season.

Jesus was cradled by Simeon in the temple and called
the Light of the World and, having seen Jesus, Simeon
then prepared for death by reciting the Nunc Dimittis,
which begins now lettest thou thy servant depart in
peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen

thy salvation…

This ‘Song of Simeon’ is still a very meaningful part of
the traditional Anglican Service of Evensong.
Luke portrays Simeon as a devout and righteous man
waiting in Jerusalem, longing expectantly for the
Scripture’s fulfilment as foretold in by the Isaiah.
Candlemas also marks the Purification of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. This is an ancient tradition when women
have to be ‘purified’ before they are allowed, after
giving birth, to take part in religious services again.
This tradition was upheld in Christian churches,
certainly up until my Mother’s generation.
In the Church of England, women were "churched"
after giving birth as a ritual of purification and
thanksgiving to God for the safe delivery of their child.
Also, whereas, in our tradition Christmas decorations
are taken down before 12 th Night (eve of the Feast of
the Epiphany), in other traditions, they are removed

at Candlemas.

It was the custom too, in former times, to take
candles to church at Candlemas to have them blessed
before they were used throughout the rest of the

year.
Report from Revd Claire

Our first Café Church at St Nicholas Church, Peopleton

was a great success last week.
Thank you to our churchwarden Shirley and to the
rest of the PCC for their help in putting on an excellent
display of pastries and refreshments.  
Community is at the heart of our church and it was
good to see so many of you there.  Hopefully, those
of you who don't often come to church felt
welcomed and at home - it is after all your church.
 We heard some unexpected music, sang a modern
worship song, thought about and discussed our faith
and what prayer is, all in an informal setting.  
We will be doing this again - keep your eyes open for
Cafe Church posters and for notices in the Pews News.
 The Light of God surrounds me,
The Love of God enfolds me,
The Power of God protects me,
The Presence of God watches over me,
Wherever I am – GOD IS.