Dear friends
This Sunday we celebrate Candlemas, or as otherwise known, The Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Jesus is 40 days old and, as per the Jewish tradition of the day, Mary and Joseph take him to the Temple to thank God. At the Temple the Holy Family meet the priest Simeon and the prophetess Anna. Simeon recognises the baby as the Messiah and proclaims that Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles”. As such, for hundreds of years, it has also been the tradition to bless candles during the service to celebrate the Presentation, and for this reason it is also called Candle-Mass, or Candlemas!
We will be celebrating Candlemas at St Mary’s Thorncombe this year, with a special service of Holy Communion at the end of which we carry the light into the world. All are very welcome – the service is at 10am on 28 January and there will be children’s activities at the back for church for younger ones and the young at heart!
SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE FOR THE COMING FORTNIGHT:
Sunday 28th January
8am – Holy Communion; St John’s, Tatworth
10am – Holy Communion for Candlemas; St Mary’s, Thorncombe
6:30pm – BCP Evensong; St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe
6:30pm – Service of Light; St Stephen’s, Winsham
Sunday 4th February
8am – BCP Holy Communion; Forde Abbey
10am – Holy Communion; St Stephen’s, Winsham
10:30am – Emmaus Service; St John’s, Tatworth (Refreshments from 10:30, service starts at 11am)
Winsham School Pupil Chaplains & Faithful Friends!
Today it was wonderful to celebrate the commissioning of 5 pupil chaplains in Winsham Primary School. 5 children have volunteered to be pupil chaplains within the school, helping to look out for their peers and each other and be at the forefront of our strong relationship with the school. Helping them on that journey are three ‘faithful friends’ from within the St Stephen’s church family. Thank you to all of them for embarking on this new wonderful journey! Also, thank you to Rev’d Michelle and the head of Winsham School, Emma Johns, for spearheading the work to get the scheme going – and for the excellent support of the Diocese through Rev’d Mike Haslam.
RSPB Birdwatch 2024
This weekend is the annual RSPB Birdwatch survey where we are all invited to spend an hour outside and count birds that land in our area! It’s a really important bit of work to help get an understanding of bird populations and therefore inform how we can respond positively ecologically. It is actually one of the 5 Marks of Mission (key focusses) of the Church of England – the 5th of which is “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”. It is also a lot of fun – so do please have a go! Here is a link with the information you need…
Prayers
We hold in our prayers all those we know who are ill or struggling in any way, and we are asked to pray by name for the following. If you would like to add someone. or yourself, to this list, then please do get in touch.
Margaret Bandy, Dave Boyland, Andrew De-pury.
In memoriam:
We remember in our prayers all those whom we love but see no longer. Particularly at this time we remember Sylvia Massey, Denis Hunt, and Mona Harding.
The collect for Candlemas
Lord Jesus Christ,light of the nations and glory of Israel:make your home among us,and present us pure and holyto your heavenly Father,your God, and our God.
Amen.
Blessings
Philip & Michelle
The Reverend Philip Butcher
Rector – Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie)
The Vicarage
3 Home Farm
Tatworth
Chard
TA20 2SH
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