28 January 2024

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Bible readings for today

• Deuteronomy 18:15-20
• Psalms 111:1-10
• 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
• Mark 1:21-28

Liturgical Colour: WHITE or GREEN

If the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is celebrated today, see below for details

Collect

Jesus, you spoke with passion,
you acted without fear, and we remember.
Help us when we have to speak out,
to speak the truth and without malice to speak.
Hear this prayer for your name’s sake. Amen. 
​
E Īhu, hihiri ana āu kōrero,
​whakamanawanui e koe, ka maumahara mātou.
Āwhinatia mai mātou ki te kōrero kia rongo te katoa,
ki te whakahua i te pono kia kaua e mauāhara.
Whakarongo ki tēnei īnoi i runga i tōu ake ingoa.
Āmine.

Jesus drives out an impure spirit (Mark 1:21-28)

Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland have prepared some great sermon resources for the 4th Sunday of Epiphany here, which help unpack the four readings. Really helpful for those writing sermons or preparing services. ​

Additional Collect

Holy One of God, 
as healer and teacher of the faith, 
your words astound, and transform the lives of many. 
May we teach your word and be bold in our actions
so that your presence will be revealed. 
For you are alive and reign with the Father 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and for ever. 
Amen

Psalm 111

"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom; all who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!" Psalm 111:10

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas)

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Bible readings for today

• Malachi 3:1-4 
  
• Psalm 84:1-12 or Psalm 24:7-10 
  
• Hebrews 2:14-18 
  
• Luke 2:22-40 
  

Liturgical Colour: WHITE 

Collect

Everliving God,
your Son Jesus Christ was presented as a child in the temple to be the hope of your people;
grant us pure hearts and minds that we may be transformed into his likeness,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever.
Amen. 

E te Matua ora tonu,
i tāpaea nei tāu Tama, a Īhu Karaiti, i te temepara i a ia e tamariki ana, hei tūmanakotanga mō tāu iwi;
Hōmai he ngākau mā, he hinengaro mā ki a mātou,
Kia whakaahuatia kētia mātou ki tōna āhua, ko ia e ora ana, e kīngi tahi ana me koe me te Wairua Tapu,
kotahi anō Atua, ināianei, ā, mō ake tonu atu.
Āmine. 

Jesus Presented in the Temple (Luke 2:22-40)

When Joseph and Mary took their infant Jesus to the temple to dedicate Him to God, they met Simeon and Anna—two senior adults who knew who Jesus really was. They rejoiced in seeing Jesus and in what He would accomplish in and for God’s kingdom.

Simeon and Anna 

Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to the temple because God commanded his people to do that.  They were being obedient and faithful to God.  They weren't expecting anything  amazing to happen. But something amazing did happen.  

There was a man named Simeon who was living in Jerusalem, where the temple was. Sometimes he went to the temple and sometimes he didn't, but on the day that baby Jesus was going to be there, God told Simeon to go to the temple. God didn't say why, but Simeon obeyed! You see, many years earlier, the Holy Spirit had come to Simeon and told him that before he died, he was going to see the Saviour, the Messiah-- in other words, Jesus, but Simeon didn't know his name! Simeon believed what God had said.  He had faith.  Do you know what faith is? (allow answers). Well faith is believing in something you can't see.  

Simeon believed that the Saviour was coming in his lifetime because God told him that, but he hadn't see the Saviour with his own eyes. THAT was about to change. Simeon went to the temple and when he saw Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus, he went right up to them and asked to hold the baby. He said, 'Now I've seen my saviour. Now whatever happens to me is ok."  Then he turned to Mary and Joseph and told them how special their baby was, how he was going to be a bright light in the world and save people.  Then Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph-- and Mary and Joseph were amazed!  God had kept his promise to Simeon!

Nearby there was someone else who was going to know who Jesus was. Anna. Anna was 84 years old.  She'd been serving God and praying in the temple for many years. Maybe she heard Simeon praising God, or maybe God just led her to where Mary and Joseph and Jesus were, but Anna also was so excited about seeing Jesus. Imagine spending years and years and years serving and loving God and then suddenly seeing the baby that was going to grow up and free people from their sins.  Not only did she praise God, but she started talking about Jesus to everyone who wanted to be free! 
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Anna and Simeon both recognized that Jesus was a king, and Mary and Joseph understood even more just how important their baby was!

Activities

Simeon and Anna Puzzle (Sunday School Zone)
Secret Code Activity (Sunday School Zone)
Wordsearch (Sunday School Zone)
Wordsearch (Bible Explore)
Puppets (Sunday school zone)
Colouring in (Higher Praise)

Quick questions

• I wonder how Mary and Joseph felt when they heard all that Simeon and Anna said.
• I wonder how Simeon felt waiting and waiting to see the saviour.
• I wonder how you'd feel if you had to wait a long time for something promised to happen.

Story resource

Story and questions(Ministry to Children)