{"id":27418,"date":"2025-01-25T20:32:51","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T20:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ducklingtonchurch.org.uk\/?post_type=ctc_event&p=27418"},"modified":"2025-01-25T20:33:27","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T20:33:27","slug":"candlemas-service-a-service-of-the-word","status":"publish","type":"ctc_event","link":"https:\/\/www.ducklingtonchurch.org.uk\/?ctc_event=candlemas-service-a-service-of-the-word","title":{"rendered":"Candlemas Service (A Service of the Word)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Sunday we celebrate Candlemas. Candlemas is a festival, full of Christian symbolism, folk tradition, and church history, which means there is a wealth of images and themes to explore. It marks a turning point in three ways – within the Church it is the moment we take a last look at Christmas and the infant Jesus before turning towards the cross; in the northern hemisphere, it marks the turning from winter toward spring; and it also marks the shift from darkness to light. It is called Candlemas because long ago churches would bless all the
\ncandles which would be used throughout the church year, a tradition adapted in this service. There are several folk sayings and traditions linked to Candlemas, some of which pick up the theme of change and transition. Candlemas also marks the Presentation of Christ in the temple 40 days after Jesus was born. Jesus the light of the world was presented in the Temple where Simeon and Anna recognised the baby Jesus as \u2018a light for revelation to the Gentiles\u2019 (Luke 2:32).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 The church is warm, with toilet facilities and, we hope, a warm welcoming environment<\/p>\n

Covid-19 remains with us for the forseeable future. 
\nThe Wardens have decided that mitigating measures should remain where possible. 
\nThe current rules are:-<\/p>\n