Dear All,
During the week we celebrated the Feast of the Presentation, also known as Candlemas. We meet Simeon & Anna, two elderly people, & hear the Nunc Dimittis or Song of Simeon:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The pieces we have chosen for today centre on the theme of light. You might like to light a candle to have beside you whilst you look at them. Alternatively, if it is one of those bright sunny days that some of us have enjoyed lately, that natural light may be sufficiently symbolic.
The blessing this week is Rutter’s ‘Go Forth’ – Let’s pray it for all who are searching for light from a very dark place as well as for ourselves, our friends & families.
Go forth into the world in peace;
Be of good courage, Hold fast that which is good,
Render to no one evil for evil; go forth into the world in peace.
Strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak, help the afflicted,
Honour all persons. Love and serve the Lord,
Rejoicing in the power of the Spirit,
And the blessing of God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit
be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
With our love & wishing you a good journey towards spring
Psalm 26 (27)
The Lord is my light, my light & salvation.
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is my light, my light & salvation.
Why should I be afraid?
God of light and glory,
we look at the world you created and we rejoice.
We rejoice in the sunshine and winter birds,
the taste of coffee, hot chocolate, and warm winter stews,
the scent of woodfire stoves and evergreen trees,
the feel of the cold wind on our faces and the wet snow in our shoes.
In the face of the busyness that crowds our lives,
keep us attentive to the beauty around us,
fashioned and illuminated by your love.
God of light and glory,
we look at the way we live in the world and we weep.
We weep for the life threatening political instability in Myanmar and Haiti,
for workers in illegal underground factories in India
for the fighting in Yemen
for the loss of life and loss of trust,
for a fallen, broken humanity
and our persistence in pursuing our own interests
at the expense of others’ needs.
Through the darkness and tears of those who are
wounded, bereaved, and afraid,
shine your healing, restoring light.
God of light and glory,
we remember before you those we know who are in need.
We think of those who are in nursing homes, hospital, and hospices
and those who care for them.
We think of the emergency services,
who come to our aid when our pastimes falter and turn to pain.
Strengthen and comfort them with your loving presence.
God of light and glory,
we thank you above all that in Jesus you have revealed yourself to us,
and that through the Holy Spirit you are with us still,
a lamp shining in a dark place,
until the day dawns
and the morning star rises in our hearts.
Amen.
Cally Booker
A reflection by Rabindranath Tagore
The lamp contains its oil, which it holds securely in its close grasp and guards from the least loss. Thus is it separate from all other objects around it and is miserly. But when lighted it finds its meaning at once; its relation with all things far and near is established, and it freely sacrifices its fund of oil to feed the flame.
Such a lamp is our self. So long as it hoards its possessions it keeps itself dark, its conduct contradicts its true purpose. When it finds illumination it forgets itself in a moment, holds the light high; and selves it with everything it has; for therein is its revelation. This revelation is the freedom which Buddha preached. He asked the lamp to give up its oil. But purposeless giving up is a still darker poverty which he never could have meant. The lamp must give up its oil to the light and thus set free the purpose it has in its hoarding. This is emancipation. The path Buddha pointed out was not merely the practice of self-abnegation, but the widening of love.
When we tend our soul, we tend to our portion of ocean. When we give complete attention to our portion of God’s Being, we take up space and emanate the depths of our original energy. It’s how we shine within. And at the edge, where the individual soul meets the world, where the pitcher meets the ocean, where inner light meets outer light, there is a kinetic border we can’t resist, a rim called wonder that draws us back into the Whole.
Mark Nepo