Prayers: The Presentation of Christ (Candlemas)
2 February
Heavenly Father,
who gave your Son as the light to lighten the Gentiles
and the glory of your people Israel:
sustain and guide your church,
and look with mercy on the nations,
changing hearts set on violence and oppression,
and giving to all people a longing for justice and righteousness,
together with the blessing of peace.
Be merciful to all who feel weak and impoverished,
and look with compassion on all who are exploited,
that your love may reach those who need you most,
and all humanity rejoice in your salvation;
through Jesus Christ, in whom your promises are fulfilled. Amen.
We praise and bless you Father,
for you have enlightened the world with the gift of your Son
who, sharing in our humanity, has come to set us free.
May we, who carry these candles,
walk in the joy of his presence
and, singing his praises,
proclaim him the King of glory.
We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
God our Father,
from age to age and in every generation
you have guided your people from darkness to light.
Now, in Christ, the brilliance of your light
shines out for all the world to see.
As we carry these candles
deliver us from the dominion of darkness
to go up to meet the Lord,
who comes in humility to set his people free.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
God our Father, source of all light,
today you revealed to Simeon
the light of revelation to the nations.
May we who carry these candles,
walk as children of the light
with the flame of faith alive in our hearts,
so that when the Lord comes
we may be ready to greet him.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God of the Universe,
As your Son Jesus was humbly presentedin the Temple by his eathly parents,
grant that we may always humbly come into your presence with pure and clean hearts.
We ask this in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Collect 27
Almighty and everliving God,
clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple,
in substance of our fl esh:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Post Communion Prayer 28
Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna,
who lived to welcome the Messiah:
may we, who have received these gifts beyond words,
prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes
to bring us to eternal life;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.