On Thursday 4th February the King's Junior School took part in an inspirational and uplifting Candlemas Service at the Cathedral.
The story of Candlemas, or the Presentation of Christ, is found in St. Luke’s Gospel. We are told that Jesus was taken to the temple in Jerusalem to be blessed by God when he was a few weeks old. In the Temple are two people, Simeon and Anna, who tell Mary and Joseph that Jesus will be very special indeed. Simeon speaks the words now known as the Nunc Dimittis, sung every day at the Cathedral Evensong, and which formed the conclusion to the service.
In many respects, Candlemas marks the end of the Christmas cycle of stories – the next we hear of Jesus is when he is 12 years of age, discussing things with the religious leaders in the Temple. Candlemas reminds us that Jesus is the light for all the world and that we are called upon to reflect that light in our own lives.