 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri February 2, 2022 The Presentation of Jesusin the Temple the birthday of Ezra Whatley  Happy birthday, Ezra!May you have the most adventuresome year yet!  Bob Jackson and Becca Cox They spent much of yesterday trying to sync the camera, computer and microphone/sound system. It wont be ready for this Sunday – but soon. Our sound system is – old – and a little less receptive to change than we might wish.   The Presentation comes 40 days after Christmas – because that is when women were “purified” after giving birth to a male child, and when the child was presented to the Lord and “redeemed” by the sacrifice of a pair of doves. The day is also sometimes called, Candlemas – when candles are blessed for the rest of the year’s use. Every child is vulnerable. Every newborn especially is. That is why we present them to God, pray for them, protect and nurture them. Today police in Memphis, Tennessee are searching for two-day old Kennedy, whose mother was found shot to death beside her own car. Please pray that she is found safe and returned to her family.  This is part of the set of figures carved and dressed by Gertrud Nelson’s mother, Therese Mueller in Germany in 1928-9. They have wire limbs, so they can be positioned in various ways to tell the whole story of the Incarnation. The cover picture is of the cardboard figures made by Gertrud for her own children years ago, now available as the set, Build Your Own Bethlehem. Most families have these already. But if you’ve put yours away after Christmas, this snow day is a good one to drag them out again and set up today’s story!  The Presentation of Jesus in the TempleLuke 2:22-40 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it was 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’sMessiah. 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, you are now 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 mother and father 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, and 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 favor of God was upon him. |
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