Candlemas is always a special day in the church year. It is when the story of Christmas finally reaches its conclusion as after the weeks of Epiphany we go back to the birth of Jesus and remember him being presented in the Temple as a tiny baby. At the centre of the service is the recognition from Anna and Simeon that this child is to be a light to lighten the nations. Traditionally candles are blessed at this service so we chose this year to use Christingles.

It was a bitter sweet occasion as it was also the last Sunday that Revd Emily was with us as our Pionner Curate. Emily preached and encouraged us to keep being a church that offers a welcome to everyone. We presented her with gifts of plants and herbs (very appropriate for our Eco Champion and Parish Green gardener) and a beautiful hand made textile icon. We prayed for her as she begins her new ministry focussed on supporting pioneering ministry across a wider area and groups of churches.

We shall miss Emily but shall continue the work she started amongst us particularly in the areas of our Eco Church commitments and in continuing to grow and nurture Children's Church. Emily is not going very far away and no doubt will come and visit us and enourage us in our mission and ministry over the coming years.