The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple is marked on this day, February 1, 2026 (although transferred from February 2nd in the liturgical calendar).
During this service, the congregation are invited to bring in their own candles to be blessed at the same time as the candles to be used in the church during the coming year are blessed at the beginning of the liturgy, and hand candles distributed to the people are then lit, and a procession made into the church. Hence, the old name for the day: “Candlemas”.
We also include a bulletin insert with a special hymn sung during the lighting of the candles.
Bulletin cover (image) is from a Memorial stained glass window at Christ Church.