Celebration of post-Christmas/pre-Easter

We will be celebrating post-Christmas/pre-Easter in a new way this year @Bringhurst Community Church: On February 2nd - 40 days after Christmas - the Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, calling to mind the Holy Family's observance of the Mosaic Law (see Leviticus 12:1-8). Mary comes to the Temple forty days after giving birth to Jesus, and she and Joseph offer for her purification a sacrifice of two turtledoves, the offering prescribed for the poor. In addition, Mary and Joseph present and dedicate Jesus to God, as he is Mary's firstborn Son (see Exodus 13:2-16).

Candlemas and the Presentation of the Lord

We read about Jesus' presentation in Luke's Gospel, where we also learn of the Holy Family's encounter with a man named Simeon, who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. Simeon recognizes in this ordinary-looking baby the Son of God, and as he takes him in his arms, he utters the canticle prayed during Night Prayer by millions of faithful throughout the world:

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled:

my own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

a light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)

You are cordially invited to celebrate with us on

Thursday, February 2nd @ 7pm