Knowlton Circle Benefice

The Quiver           

                  The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
                                       February 2nd, 2025
What was once called the ‘purification’ of Mary is now the ‘presentation’ of Christ. Purification is not a comfortable idea for us: childbirth is no longer seen as requiring purification. Behind the archaic language a reality remains. Even things that are not concrete or physical can do real harm: things like words or attitudes. People who do wrong or go astray may need a time of separation and reformation before we feel comfortable with them. Often this is really about change: we find it hard to process – like realizing that Jesus is a light for the Gentiles, not just for Israel.

SERVICES TODAY

9.30am Breakfast Church at Gussage St Michael Village Hall
9.30am Service of the Word at Woodlands 234 44 408
11.00am High Mass at Wimborne St Giles 33* 234 338 341
6.00pm Evensong at Cranborne Ps 24 (p.373) H 408 246 244
Anthem: Make me a Light – Philip Wilby

Give praise and thanks to God and pray for his help and healing:
For the Church: The Diocese of Salisbury and the Deanery of Wimborne
The Episcopal Church of Sudan (Diocese of Nzara & Deanery of Yabongo)
For the World: Nations and their leaders; justice, peace and development. Refugees and victims of war. the dispossessed, the hungry, the persecuted. The Middle East

The housebound: Gerry & Pat Cope Geoff Phillips

Those in need : Hayley Loader Katherine Woodland Zachary Jackson Sylvia Gray Frank Russell Gill Lee Andrew Sawyer Michael Goold
Hilary & Guy Cherry Thick Jax Sharp Jim Bolton Clifford House Tereasa Harrison Sheila & Jerry Laker Gary Snelling Becky Gates Martin Instone Diana & Ian Mashford Tim Bastable Donovan Docherty Fiona Armstrong Pearl Dickinson Jean & Alan Elliott Stuart Harding Rocco MacAndrew Declan Connolly

For those who have died Ken: Wise

THIS WEEK
Monday            7.00pm Bell Ringing at Cranborne
                            Pray for the Church in Denmark & Sweden
Tuesday            Pray for victims of abuse, violence, intolerance and prejudice
Wednesday     10.00am Holy Communion at Woodlands
                            Pray for Embrace the Middle East. our Charity of the Month
Thursday          5.30pm Benefice Council at Woodlands
                            7.30pm Choir Practice at Cranborne
                            Pray for Local government, community leaders
Friday                   Pray for prisoners, refugees and homeless people
Saturday            Pray for the worship of the Church

SERVICES FOR NEXT SUNDAY – 4 BEFORE LENT
9.30am Benefice Communion at Cranborne
11.00am Morning Worship at Gussage St Michael
11.00am Elevenses at Wimborne St Giles
Isaiah 6.1-8 1 Corinthians 15.1-11 Luke 5.1-11

There is a basket available at the back of church for the Charity of the Month. During February and March this will be for Embrace the Middle East a Christian charity who partner with Christians in the Middle East as they work to transform lives and restore the dignity of the most excluded and marginalised communities It is possible to donate online; bit.ly/DQchofm. Choose the amount and add Gift Aid. Donations by 31/3, Thank you.

Lent begins on March 5. Please return your Palm Crosses to church so that they can be turned into ash for the Ash Wednesday services.

COLLECT
Almighty and ever-living God,
clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple,
in substance of our flesh:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, now and for ever.

FIRST READING       Malachi 3.1-5
This says the LORD God: See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight-indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

SECOND READING       Hebrews 2.14-end
Since the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

GOSPEL Luke 2.22-40

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."
And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

POST COMMUNION
Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna,
who lived to welcome the Messiah:
may we, who have received these gifts beyond words,
prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes to bring us to eternal life;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.