Greetings friends of The Valley
Please find attached Pews News for this week and helpful info from Bruce regarding isolation.
This week brings the church’s year to Candlemas. We are at a pivotal point in the Christian year. Forty days have passed since Christmas. Ash Wednesday is on the horizon. Candlemas is like a bridge between the Christmas season and Lent, Good Friday and Easter.
The lovely feast of Candlemas marks the end of Christmas as we recall the account in Luke’s Gospel of Mary and Joseph taking Jesus, aged forty days, to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate him to God. Luke tells of old Simeon, mindful of a promise that he would live to see the Messiah, taking the baby in his arms and composing the poem we know as the Nunc Dimittis, prophesying that the child would be a light to lighten the nations of the earth.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace:
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles:
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Simeon’s linking of the Christ child with light gave rise to the custom of blessing candles, vital for illumination in the ancient world, on the Feast of the Presentation/Candlemas. Candlelight, an essential aid to Christian worship, also gladdens our homes on dark, winter evenings!
In other news the Plan B restrictions have come to an end and a 12-page guidance paper COVID-19 Opening and managing church buildings v2.4 (25 January 2022) is available for those interested. It takes into account the removal from 27th January of the additional restrictions in England that were brought in under the Government’s Plan B.
Bishop Sarah, who leads the House of Bishops recovery group writes: “As ‘plan B’ restrictions come to an end the future remains uncertain and we must continue to be cautious. In our churches government rules have been eased but I would still encourage congregations to consider what mitigation can best protect others. As we look now towards spring and the vivid demonstration of new life it offers us, my prayer is that we won’t forget what we’ve learnt; that we take this opportunity to thank others and that we look with hope to the future.
In response and for the time being in the Valley, we are suggesting that we remain cautious over the next few weeks as we are reminded within the Church that we believe that everyone is known and loved individually by God and that as many members within one body we are called to be responsible to, and for one another, respecting the more vulnerable whose suffering is our suffering (1 Cor 12:12-27).
I was hoping that we could resume Wednesday @ 7 this week but despite my best intentions regretfully this will not be possible.
Finally, thank you very much for your kind messages for my recovery following my unexpected stay in hospital and recovery from the operation. I remain under the Bishop and Dr’s orders with continued convalescence.
From Monday this week Christine will not be available so in case of urgency please do be in touch with me via The Vicarage phone number 01488 208467 and Mr Vicarage will field your call.
With best wishes
Julie