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This Week Marks The End Of The Christmas Season In The
Church Calendar

It is good to be back with you all at St Mary’s after the Christmas holidays. We enjoyed some very nice time away as a family and feel refreshed for the start of a special year for us—the only one with all of our children at school. Making lunches for all five is quite a task!
This week also marks the end of the Christmas season in the Church calendar. The readings for Tuesday tell the story of Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus to God in the Temple as a young baby. This was the custom for families at that time, but when Jesus entered the Temple, something unusual happened. He was greeted by two devout elderly people, Anna and Simeon. They recognized him as the One who would bring hope and salvation to the world, the Messiah. From this meeting in the Temple comes Simeon’s beautiful song,
“Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which Thou has prepared for all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel”.
Both Anna and Simeon said that God’s glory came to the Temple when the baby Jesus entered. Isn’t that remarkable, that even as a baby, some recognized that God’s glory dwelt in Jesus? For so long, the Temple had been the place where God’s glory dwelt and now it dwelt in Jesus. It is in Him that we see what God is like and in Him we know the power and extent of his love for us.
The Christian belief is that God’s glory also dwells in His people, those who through faith have become part of the Body of Christ, His Temple on earth. If this is true, then people should be able to see what God is like in us, they should experience his love and healing through us, the body of Christ. People should enter this place when we gather and see God glorified , not just in our words and worship, but in the way we love one another. We can do many things well as a church, maintain a beautiful building and have eloquent worship and a vibrant Sunday School, but none of it matters if we do not have love! Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that our main task should be to improve our loving so that it reflects God’s perfect love!
Last Saturday, the Parish Council met to think and pray about the coming year at St Mary’s. It promises to be an exciting and challenging year ahead with the nomination of a new Rector and plans for renovation to the rectory well underway. In the midst of this planning, the Parish Council felt that our priorities this year should be first, to grow in faith through regular Sunday worship and by taking up opportunities for learning through Bible study and discussion. Second, the Parish Council thought the other priority should be to go through change well as a community this year. That through good consultation, careful listening and speaking the truth with love, we should work together for the future of St Mary’s.
The Bishop expressed his enjoyment of leading worship here over the holidays and of hearing many speak of their faith which has grown here over the years. Please join him and make it your prayer that God’s glory will continue to be seen here. Pray that as people come here to worship and join our community, they will know the love of God, found in Jesus and made known by His Spirit working through his Body, his Temple, here at Waverely.

Rev’d Beth Spence

• Pray for Rev Dave Rogers, to be inducted as Curate-In-Charge of St Luke’s, Clovelly on Tuesday 2nd February at 7:45pm.
• There will be a “Books, Toys & Puzzles” stall at Saint Mary’s on Saturday, February 27th. Bring your books for sale and be sure to come along on the day for bargains, fun and fellowship.
• Patience Light sends her thanks for the prayers and support offered by her SMV friends. She expects to return to regular services late in February

Flowers in the church this week are in memory of Alex Li