11. 02 Feb - Presentation of Our Lord

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VERSION: 9 April 2002

FESTIVAL OF THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD

(2 February)

THE FESTIVAL OF THE PRESENTATION

The festival of the Presentation marks the close of the Christmas cycle, coming 40 days after Christmas. This day is a festival of our Lord, commemorating the presentation of Jesus in the temple by his parents; in the Eastern churches it is called the 'Meeting' (of Christ with Simeon, of God with humankind). It is sometimes called Candlemas after the tradition of blessing all the candles for use in the coming year on this day. This tradition arose from the gospel for the day, in which Simeon speaks of Christ as a light to enlighten the Gentiles.

LITURGY

SENTENCES

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

The Lord will come with mighty power,

and give light to his servants. Alleluia. (traditional text)

OR

This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel,

and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.

And a sword will pierce your own soul too. (Luke 2:34,35 NIV)

OR, use the standard Christmas Sentence in the document 'Christmas season', under 'Sentence', or the Epiphany Sentence in the document 'Epiphany season and time after', under 'Sentence' (both in the 'General and seasonal' folder).

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PROCESSION WITH CANDLES

After the confession and absolution, a blessing of the candles for use in the coming year may take place. As well as altar candles, include any other candles that may be used from time to time, eg the candles for the Advent wreath or for the Easter vigil. Also have enough hand-held candles for the gathered congregation. These are all placed (unlit) on a table near the altar. The blessing prayer is as follows.

Lord God, heavenly Father,

your Son Jesus Christ is the true light

who has come into the world.

May these candles be a sign of Christ

who sacrificed himself

to shine his light on us.

As we light them

when we gather to hear your word

and to receive your holy sacraments,

may your Holy Spirit enlighten our hearts

with the fire of his love.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Then the hand-held candles are distributed to those who are present and lit. The congregation may follow the minister(s) in procession around the church, during the singing of an appropriate hymn, eg one of those listed below under 'Hymns and songs'.

At the end of the procession, the following may be said or sung:

Your light has come, Jerusalem!

And the glory of the Lord has risen over you!

Lord Jesus Christ,

you are the temple of the heavenly city

and you are its light and splendour.

As we worship you in this earthly house,

bring us in peace

to see your glory in heaven,

where you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

The congregation may then extinguish their candles, and the service then continues with the 'Lord, have mercy'.

Traditionally the candles are lit again for the reading of the gospel and for the liturgy of the Lord's supper (from the preface until the end of the singing of the Song of Simeon after communion).

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

EITHER, traditional

Almighty and everliving God,

your only Son was presented in the temple as a child.

May we be presented to you with clean hearts.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

Almighty Father,

your Son Jesus Christ

was presented in the temple

and acclaimed as light to the nations.

Help us to present ourselves

to you through him

and to bring light to the world.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING

Malachi 3:1-4 The Lord will suddenly come to his temple

PSALM

Psalm 84

Antiphon:

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! (Ps 84:1 NRSV)

OR

Psalm 24:7-10

Antiphon:

Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! (Ps 24:10 NRSV)

SECOND READING

Hebrews 2:14-18 Jesus became like his brothers and sisters so that he might serve as high priest

(In the opening sentence, put 'Jesus' instead of 'he')

ALLELUIA VERSE (based on Luke 2:32)

Alleluia, alleluia.

Christ is the light for revelation to the nations

and for glory to God's people Israel.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Luke 2:22-40 Simeon and Anna receive Jesus at his presentation in the temple

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The acclamations may be modified as follows.

Glory to you, O Lord, Light of the world.

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ, Light of the world.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Our Lord Jesus is the light of the world. Let us pray to the Father in his name.

Response

The regular response, OR:

Lord, shine in our hearts,

so that we may shine in the world.

Suggested petitions

Concluding prayer

Heavenly Father, you revealed your Son to Simeon and Anna. May we trust in your promises and look to you in hope as we wait for their fulfilment in Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL PREFACE

The preface for Christmas is used at this festival.

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You have revealed your glorious presence to us

in a new way

through the mystery of the Word made flesh,

so that as we see you in your Son,

we are drawn to love you

whom we cannot see.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION

The invitation is the invitation for Christmas.

Jesus says: 'I am the living bread

that came down from heaven.

The bread that I will give you is my flesh,

which I give so that the world may live.'

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE

Whichever order is used, use the Song of Simeon for the post-communion canticle. Versions of this canticle may be found in:

Service with Communion (Supplement, page 20)

The Service - Alternative Form (Supplement, page 74)

Sing the Feast, Setting One

Modern Liturgy (originally from Worship Today )

Also reprinted in LHS 898 and ATN 104 and on disk (and coil bound print-out) of Approved Worship Services

LHS 900        O Lord, now let your servant

TIS 324        Lord, bid your servant go in peace

TIS 733        Lord God, you now have set your servant free

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

For a post-communion prayer, see the document 'Christmas season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use this prayer.

Lord, you fulfilled the hopes of Simeon and Anna,

who lived to receive the Messiah in their arms.

As we have received the body and blood

of your Son Jesus Christ here today,

may we be ready to receive him

when he returns to take us to himself.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL BLESSING

The Christmas seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

(May) Christ the Son of God give you joy and peace by his presence with you; . . .

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading: Malachi 3:1-4

LHS

AT

TIS

-

Second reading: Hebrews 2:14-18

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 84

For musical settings of Psalm 84, see Music Packages 4 and 6 (or for Ps 84:1-7, Music Package 9).

TIS 44 is a hymn paraphrase of Psalm 84:1-7,10-12.

Here is a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 84 by David Sch¸tz, which may be sung to the tune Wie lieblich ists hienieden (LH 621). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling,

O Lord of heav’nly hosts!

I long with deepest yearning

to stand inside its courts;

for there with all my being

I sing with joy to God.

The sparrow makes her nest there

and there she lays her young

in safety by your altar,

O Lord, my God and king.

How happy those who live there -

they never cease to sing.

You strengthen those who journey

to Zion, your abode;

your gentle rain refreshes

them on the desert road.

They long to see your face there -

O hear my prayer, O Lord.

We pray for your anointed,

our King, who shields us well.

One day within your temple,

if only at the door,

is worth a thousand elsewhere,

where sin and evil dwell.

You honour us with favour,

you are our sun and shield.

You keep no good thing from those

who joy to do your will.

O Lord of hosts, how happy

are those who trust in you.

PSALM 24:7-10

For musical settings of Psalm 24:7-10, see Music Packages 4 and 6. Music Package 6 also contains some settings of the whole psalm.

TIS 12 is a hymn vesion of Psalm 24:7-10, and TIS 13 is a version of the whole psalm. Note also that the hymn 'Lift up your heads' (LH 18 [modernised], TIS 267) is based on Psalm 24.

SONG OF SIMEON

For versions of the Song of Simeon, see above under 'Post-communion canticle'.

FROM THE HYMNALS AND SONGBOOKS

Other hymns and songs that could be considered for the Presentation are:

LHS

AT

TIS

*Modernised version available

HAIL TO THE LORD WHO COMES

This hymn, by John Ellerton (d. 1893), has been modernised and may be sung to the tune Old 120th (LH 375).

Hail to the Lord who comes,

comes to his temple gate,

not with his angel host,

not in his kingly state;

no shouts proclaim him near,

no crowds his coming wait;

but carried on the throne

of Mary's gentle breast,

watched by her faithful love,

in her strong arms at rest;

thus to his Father's house

he comes, the heavenly guest.

There Joseph at her side

in reverent worship stands;

and, filled with holy joy,

old Simeon in his hands

takes up the promised Child,

the glory of all lands.

Hail to the great First-born

whose ransom-price they pay,

the Son before all worlds,

a human child today,

that he might ransom us

who still in bondage lay.

O Light of all the earth,

your children wait to see

you in your temple here,

that we, from sin set free,

before your Father's face

may all presented be!

VISUAL

SYMBOLS

Symbols of the Virgin Mary are appropriate on this day. A heart, pierced with a sword, is also sometimes used (following Simeon's prediction). Two doves are also an appropriate symbol of this day.