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Dear Friends,

Well if you are not a "cradle Anglican" like me - or even if you are - perhaps the word Candlemas is new to you, as it was to me!  

Candlemas is on February 2 (which also happens to be Groundhog Day!). 

If you've seen the movie, Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, you will know that while stuck in an endless cycle of repeating the same day over and over again, the cycle presents the opportunity for the main character to eventually "get it right", in that, by shifting his attitudes and behaviours day by day, he finds that ultimately his destiny shifts as his priorities become reordered.  

Some of us may feel like it's "groundhog day" as during covid isolation, every day seems much the same, and many of the things we used to be able to do are not options at this time.  Despite the mundane repetition of each day, this presents an opportunity to reach out to others, to spend time with God in prayer and in the Word, and to find creative options within our own homes.  In Lamentations 3:22-23 we read, "His mercies are new every morning", and so each day is indeed a fresh day with new opportunities to know and serve the Lord.  

The episode of Songs of Praise link below, filmed in Salisbury Cathedral, outlines the meaning of Candlemas, and offers us a glimpse of the symbolism of candles.  You will hear a lovely arrangement of the Graham Kendrick hymn, Like a Candle Flame, as well as the wonderful group Voces8 singing Lux Aeterna by Elgar.

In these dark and difficult times, we can take comfort in the knowledge that Christ is the light of the world, and we can share that light with others.  The Dean of Salisbury says, "Life will always overcome death; light will always overcome darkness."  This is our hope in Jesus Christ, and so we can ask ourselves, "What can I do today to bring light and life to someone else?"

Peace,

Joanne.