Led by Clare Weaver, Reception Class Teacher
Today we celebrate the final feast day of the Church’s Christmas season, which commemorates the day when Jesus was taken to the temple by Mary and Joseph forty days after his birth.
In Churches candles are blessed in honour of the fact that Jesus has been recognised as the Light of the World – which is why the feast is also known as Candlemas. The St Patrick’s Teaching Assistants led us in prayer.
The very gifted children told the story of the Presentation of Jesus through their own medium. We were overwhelmed by their creativity!
Gospel Luke 2:23-38
The law says that the eldest boy in each family must be taken to the temple to be presented to God. The family must also offer a pair of doves or two pigeons.
Mary and Joseph travelled with Jesus to the temple.
When they arrived at the steps of the temple, they saw an old man there called Simeon, who was a good and holy person. He often went to the temple to pray. As they drew closer Simeon was filled with joy and knew Jesus was the one!
Mary offers Jesus to Simeon and Simeon took Jesus in his arms and blessed God, saying ‘Now I can die a happy man because you have kept your promise. I am holding the one who will save us and who is to be light for everyone in the world’.
After that they met Anna, who was an old lady of 84. She too spent all her time in the temple praying to God.
She thanked God from the bottom of her heart as she knew Jesus would save the world.
She then went out and told everyone about Jesus and said that he would bring happiness to all those who love God.
Simeon and Anna were so pleased to see the saviour of the world.
The Gospel of the Lord
Our liturgy finished with this prayer:
