Service of Holy Eucharist for Candlemas

Candlemas marks the end of Christmastide.  The Gospel reading from Luke tells the account of Mary and Joseph taking the baby Jesus, just 40 days old, to the Temple.40 days after Christmas, the Church celebrates Candlemas, or the Presentation in the Temple. While the Holy Family was in the Temple, two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, saw the infant Jesus and proclaimed to everyone that he was God's promised Messiah - the one who would be a light to the world.