Saturday 4th January 2025
In the dark days of January I’m glad that my Christmas tree and lights stay up until Candlemas (2nd February) as they remind me constantly that the Light of Christ has come into this dark world and that we see him in everyone around us and in all situations and circumstances.
Read Luke 2: 22 – 38
Mary and Joseph visit the Temple to perform the rituals required following the birth of a baby. There they encounter two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, who both recognise that the baby Jesus is someone special, indeed someone they have been longing to meet for many years.
The faithfulness of both Simeon and Anna is a reminder to us of those in our churches, and in our Methodist Women in Britain family, who for so many years have kept the faith, have kept alive the Light of Christ in their communities – and we give thanks for their faithfulness and example to us. Many of us would not be where we are today without our mothers and fathers in the faith, their witness and their steadfastness to the Gospel.
We pray:
Light of the World, Emmanuel, God with Us,
We thank you for those people who have dedicated their lives to your service, faithfully carrying out your work, often unseen and unnoticed. New ideas come and go but their faithfulness to the Gospel story continues and we are so grateful for their example to us.
Bless all those known personally to us who have been a Christian influence in our lives and bless all who have kept your light of life glowing in our church communities over many years.
Amen.
Bronwen Braisdell Communications Officer
