Candlemas Monday 1st February Candlemas marks the 40th day after Christmas and is important to Christians as the last day of Christmas. We remember on this day when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem, as Jewish law demanded.

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; Canticle of Simeon: Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled. My eyes have seen the salvation You have prepared in the sight of every people, A light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people, Israel. Reflect! For Simeon, knowing the Messiah was born was enough to let him be at peace to die. What would you be content to have achieved in life, in order to be at peace at the end of your life? What are your hopes and dreams?

to deliver us from the power of darkness Prayer: Holy Jesus, to deliver us from the power of darkness you humbled yourself to be born among us and laid in a manger. Let the light of your love always shine in our hearts, and bring us at last to the joyful vision of your beauty; for you are now alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen

Tuesday 2nd February Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Shine in your church gathered today. Bernadette Farrell Reflect! Where do we need the light of Christ today?

from whom comes every good and perfect gift: Prayer: God of light, from whom comes every good and perfect gift: keep us in the light of Christ, to shine in your world, that all may believe in you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

‘Allah is the Light of the heavens and Earth.’ Wednesday 3rd February AN-NUR - The Light ‘Allah is the Light of the heavens and Earth.’ (Surat an-Nur, The Qur’an) Reflect! How can this quote help us all to live peacefully in our multi-faith community?

(Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) Prayer: Put light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my sight, light in my hearing, light on my right, light on my left, light above me, light beneath me, light in front of me, and light behind me. Put light in my soul, and give me great light. Amen. (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

Thursday 4th February Psalm 27:1 The Psalms though contained in the Christian Bible, are prayed by Jews in their synagogues and homes and will have been prayed by Jesus himself. Psalm 27:1 Light, space, zest— that's God!     So, with him on my side I'm fearless,        afraid of no one and nothing. Reflect! What fears do I carry today? Take a moment to hand them over to God.

- from the Prayer of St. Patrick May the Light of God be before us. the Light of God be behind us, the Light of God be above us, the Light of God be beside us, the Light of God be within us, today and all my days. Amen. - from the Prayer of St. Patrick

Friday 5th February  9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 Reflect! When you think about yourself as actually chosen by God, how do you feel?

I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection Prayer: God has created me to do him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told of it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught, I shall do good, I shall do his work. Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever happens, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. Amen. - adapted from Cardinal Newman