Weekly letter from St Luke's - 30th January 2026

Dear friends

Today we step back to the end of the nativity narrative in Luke's gospel to the account of Jesus being brought to the temple to be dedicated to God. By Jewish custom this took place 40 days after the birth, hence the celebration is actually on 2nd February. But we keep the Epiphany theme of the revelation of the nature of Jesus. Here two devout people, Simeon and Anna, who had long awaited this moment, have their waiting rewarded with a glimpse of Jesus and the promises that he brings. Simeon's song (which we often know by its Latin name Nunc Dimittis), is a prayer of thanks and of prophecy. His assertion that Jesus would be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles" encouraged the church in the 4th or 5th century to begin the custom of observing the festival with lighted candles, and from this the other name for this festival 'Candlemas' originated.

We will keep the festival this Sunday and you are invited to bring a candles to church, to light it from the Paschal Candle, and take it back hope as a reminder of Christ, the light of the world (spare candles will be available at church if you don't have one). Our services on Sunday are as usual at 7am and 9am (with Zoom streaming). The weekly notices and the 9am service sheet are available via the buttons below.

Children's Church restarts this weekend during the 9am service, which will also include the commissioning of our new Children's Church leadership team.

With blessings,

Rev'd Timothy