Pause for Thought: Let It Shine!

Candlemas is on 2 February 2022

by Brian Radcliffe

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To consider the festival of Candlemas.

Preparation and materials

• The story of Jesus’ presentation at the temple is found in Luke 2.22-40.
  
  You will need to read the story in the ‘Assembly’, Step 3. Alternatively, you may wish to ask a child to prepare it and read it during the assembly.

Assembly

1. Ask the children, ‘Can anyone name any festivals that we might celebrate?’
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   Suggestions might include Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, Diwali and so on.
   
   
2. Ask the children, ‘Has anyone heard of the festival of Candlemas?’
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   Ask the children, ‘What do you think Candlemas might be a celebration for?’
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
3. Candlemas celebrates the presentation of Jesus at the temple when he was a baby, which was part of Jewish religious ritual. His parents, Mary and Joseph, took Jesus to present him to God, in the same way that parents today might have their child christened or dedicated, although in those days, the ritual also involved the sacrifice of a pair of doves or two small pigeons.
   
   Read the story of Jesus’ presentation at the temple, or ask a child to do so.
   
   
4. As we have just heard, during Jesus’ presentation at the temple, a man called Simeon, a stranger to Mary and Joseph, took the baby Jesus in his arms and prophesied that he would be a light to help the people of the world to understand about God.
   
   Candlemas became the festival in the Christian Church when Jesus is celebrated as a light, so lots of candles are lit in homes and churches. 
   
   
5. Before Christians celebrated the festival of Candlemas, the festival was held to mark the midway point between winter and spring.

Time for reflection

Read the following Bible verses.

- Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world.’ (John 8.12)
- Jesus said, ‘You are the light of the world.’ (Matthew 5.14)

The festival of Candlemas helps Christians to remember that Jesus is the light of the world, but it is also a reminder that we can all be lights to those around us.

Ask the children, ‘How can we be lights in the world?’

Listen to a range of responses.

We can all be lights in the world by the way in which we live and how we treat others. We can all be kind, generous, helpful and so on.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for all the people who bring light to our lives.
Thank you for those who help us and care for us.
Please help us to be lights for other people.
Please help us to be friendly, to care and to take the time to listen.
Thank you that you always care for us.
Amen.

Song/music

‘This little light of mine’, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKkbIZtqhyQ (3.30 minutes long) or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCN893hzueQ (2.22 minutes long)