Saint Mary's Episcopal Church Newsletter, January 30, 2025
From the Rector's Desk
The Feast of Candlemas at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
This coming Sunday, February 2nd, has long been known as Candlemas. In the church, this day is also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, and the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple by Joseph and Mary. It is based upon the account of the presentation of Jesus in Luke 2:22–40. You will see that this Sunday’s liturgy will be a bit different than our usual liturgy, and will include a procession and the blessing of candles.
Candlemas day by Marianne Stokes, 1901
The feast falls on the 2nd of February. On Candlemas, over the course of many centuries, Christians brought their candles to their local church, where they were blessed and then used for the rest of the year. These blessed candles serve as a symbol of Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the Light of the World. This Sunday, we will have candles for you, as well as LED “candles” which we will bless and have for you.
Interestingly, for us, we probably think of February 2nd as Groundhog Day, and not many folks may realize that Groundhog Day has its roots in the observance of Candlemas. The Roman church's custom of blessing candles by the clergy found its way to Germany. The Germans developed a tradition that if the sun appeared on Candlemas, a hedgehog would cast a shadow, making a "second winter." German immigrants to Pennsylvania brought this tradition to the United States, and the hedgehog was somehow morphed into the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil.
So, join us this Sunday, bring your candles, and pray that we will be emboldened by the Light of Christ throughout the year!
In God’s blessed Light and Peace,
The Very Reverend Peter Carey, Rector
