This Sunday, we’re celebrating the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also called Candlemas! Our passages from Holy Scripture, Sermon, Hymns, Prayers, and Closing Blessing all reflect this theme. We’re also observing a Candle Blessing at the beginning of the Service. Everyone is invited to light a candle at this part of the Service, and then use the candle in times of worship in the home (for example, when watching Sunday Services online) for the rest of the year. Many thanks to Norman for this and other parts of our Candlemas Liturgy. Speaking of blessing, we’re most blessed to have Deacon Bob with us to preach, lead us in the Children’s Time Song on guitar, and assist; our Virtual Choir to lead us in 4 Hymns, and “Virtual Paul” to play our Offertory Instrumental; Dan and Debra to share our First and Second Readings from Holy Scripture; and Murray in-person to lead us in the Prayers of the People, which include a Prayer in Response to COVID-19 from the Episcopal Church. We have the awesome privilege of receiving our Lord’s light within, feeding on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving, as we share Communion physically or spiritually together. Last, our Liturgy ends, and the service begins, with a “Sending” forth to help spread the love of the Lord throughout the world, overcoming the darkness as we let our lights shine. It promises to be a special time of fellowship with the Lord and one another!
Today’s Service of Holy Eucharist will be livestreamed on our main Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/stpaulscalgary) at 9:30 am. Following the service, the video will be posted on our YouTube Channel, and a link to the service will be added here. To watch this service in full screen mode, please click on the “Watch on YouTube” button in the lower left-hand corner of the video. Please download the Order of Service in the Sermon Notes above if you would like to follow along. If you are sharing this Service online and don’t have Reserved Sacrament, you are invited to say the Prayer for Communion for those receiving Spiritual Communion also available above.
Permission to reprint, podcast, and/or stream the music in this service obtained from:
(a) ONE LICENSE with license # A-713985, and/or
(b) CCLI with Streaming License # 20351479.
All rights reserved.