31st December

​As we prepare to welcome 2024, perhaps it’s time to pause and take stock.

​In the beginning was the Word.
Let your presence be known to be me now, dear God, by the grace of the words, the music,
the silence and the reflection of this time of worship.
As you were made known to us in the presence of Christ,
May I know your presence amongst me this day,
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
 Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen

Glory be to God on high Stf 199

​
Luke 2:22-40 New International VersionJesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him
to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to
be consecrated to the Lord” 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair
of doves or two young pigeons.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for
the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that
he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple
courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said
to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that
will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your
own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived
with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never
left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of
Jerusalem.39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to
Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and
​the grace of God was on him.

​stf 330 joy to the world.

​Reflections on the reading
Simeon and Anna are similarly blessed by their encounter with the infant Jesus – ‘newness’
reaches them, in their old age.
As we stand on the cusp of a new year, today’s Gospel story bring to mind a line from
Psalm 85:
I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people.
But let them not return to their foolish ways.
Do you start the year with the best intentions, and set yourself the loftiest of goals? Are you
going to lose half your body weight by May? Or start a punishing gym routine? Are you
going to start keeping a journal, committing to at least five full pages per day? In the vast
majority of cases, it’s not too long before we “return to our foolish ways,” and settle back
into old habits.
No doubt, we all have improvements we can make to the way we live, and it’s good to use
the beginning of the year as an opportunity to do just that; we have a ‘clean slate’, and a
duty to begin a new year on the right footing. However, how many of us set the bar far too
high?
In today’s reading, Simeon and Anna encounter a radical change in their lives very late –
but it doesn’t motivate a ‘fad diet’ in them, rather a deep contentment with who they are and
their ministry coming to an end.
I can’t help but feel that our shame takes the wheel at this time of year. We use the notion
of, ‘New Year, New Me’ to pick ourselves apart and jab at the aspects we’re ashamed of.
These things become sticks we can beat ourselves with, driving our self-esteem into the
ground as we bemoan our apparent lack of willpower.
As we prepare to welcome 2024, perhaps it’s time to pause and take stock. Let’s take a
moment to hear this verse from the psalmist again:
I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people.
The Lord speaks peace to his faithful people.
Peace.
Peace be with you.
My peace I leave with you.
May the Lord look upon you with favour, and grant you peace.
Let us learn to be at peace with ourselves.
Let us learn to be at peace with one another.
Amen.

190 STF – Angels, from the realms of glory -

Blessing
As you go out into this new year, may you be encouraged and inspired by your encounter
with the Spirit of God,
As you face difficult times and joyful moments in 2024, may God be your guide and your
companion
And may you know the miracle of Immanuel, God with us.
Amen.