The Parish of Green Street Green and Pratts Bottom

To Follow and Worship Jesus, Sharing His Love

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WELCOME TO ST MARY'S AND ALL SOULS


Poverty and Hope Appeal 2024/25: Loving our neighbours around the world

This year it has been agreed that our Parish Lent Appeal will be for the Diocese’s Poverty and Hope Appeal. Visit the News page to find out more


 

 

 


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Take a look at the churches in the Benefice from the air  


 

 

 

Visit St Martin Of Tours Church Website

 

 

 



St Mary's and All Souls Services

We will post any revisions to services here and on our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/StMarysAndAllSouls


 

 

 

 St Mary's and All Souls latest Newsletter

 

 

 

PCC Papers

You can now download minutes and other PCC documents from the PCC page


 

 

 

Food Bank latest needs:

https://bromleyborough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/

*PLEASE DON'T SEND US FROZEN OR CHILLED ITEMS AS WE DON'T HAVE THE CORRECT STORAGE FOR IT AND IT SPOILS BEFORE WE CAN DISTRIBUTE IT*

WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF PASTA, CEREAL & BISCUITS


Thank you!

Judith Simmonds will be taking the Parish contributions towards the end of the month so please drop your donations into our box in the porch before then.

 

 

 


 

 

 

The Church Of England Daily Prayer

 

 

 


 

 

 


Gillian Garman writes:

The feast of Candlemas is celebrated on 2nd February in the Church of England lectionary cycle and this year is a Sunday. Candlemas is seen as an important and fully integrated festival in the Christmas cycle.

It is not some optional extra but the natural climax, after forty days, of the Christmas and Epiphany season, a fitting end to it and an important point in the Christian year.

This is a feast rich in meaning, with several related themes running through it – presentation, purification, meeting and light for the world.

The strongest attraction of Candlemas is the bitter sweet nature of what it celebrates. It is a feast day, and the revelation of the child Jesus in the Temple, greeted by Simeon and Anna, calls for rejoicing.

Nevertheless, the prophetic words of Simeon, which speak of the falling and rising of many and the sword that pierces, lead on to the passion and Easter.

Coming as they do at the very end of the Christmas celebration and with Lent nearly always very close, they make Candlemas a kind of pivot in the Christian year.

It is almost as if we are encouraged, on 2nd February, to have one last look back at Christmas, and now, turn towards the Cross.

The liturgical colour changes after the Communion Services at Candlemas from the white of Epiphany tide to a more penitential colour as Lent approaches.

The scriptures and liturgy of the Christmas season have several pointers to the suffering of Jesus, but none more potent than the words of Simeon.

We read in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 2 how Simeon went to the Temple, led by the Holy Spirit:

27 He came to the house of God being led by the Holy Spirit. The parents took Jesus to the house of God. They came to do what the Law said must be done.28 Then Simeon took Jesus in his arms. He gave honour to Him and thanked God, saying,29 “Lord, now let me die in peace, as you have said. 30 My eyes have seen the One who will save men from the punishment of their sins. 31 You have made Him ready in the sight of all nations.32 He will be a light to shine on thew people who are not Jews. He will be the shining-greatness of your people the Jews.” 33 Joseph and the mother of Jesus were surprised and wondered about these words which were said about Jesus. 34 Simeon honoured them and said to Mary the mother of Jesus, “See! This Child will make many people fall and many people rise in the Jewish nation. He will be spoken against. 35 A sword will cut through your soul. By this the thoughts of many hearts will be understood.”

You may be familiar with the Song of Simeon as the “Nunc Dimittis”.

I write this in mid- January, with the prospect of a change of President in the United States, with flood and other weather warnings, with wild fires in various countries throughout the world, wars and rumours of wars, everything changing and in a state of flux it would seem.

Perhaps our prayers should be a reflection of Simeon’s words when he saw Jesus in the Temple and realised who he was:

“My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for the sight of all people, a light to lighten the nations” and pray that, Jesus, the light of the world will be reflected in our lives, our county and our world. 

Amen.

Gillian Garman

Adapted from “The Power of His Glory”



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