People across the diocese, and beyond, are invited to join a service of Solemn Evensong from Lincoln Cathedral, which will be streamed live on Facebook at 5.30pm on Tuesday 2 February.
Candlemas, more formally called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple or The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, falls 40 days after the celebration of the nativity. It recalls the journey made by Mary and Joseph to give thanks at the Temple and the words of Simeon – that Christ shall be ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles’ and those of Anna who, pointing toward the passion of Christ speaks of ‘the sword that shall pierce Mary’s heart’.
Candlemas was (until the Victorian reinvention of the Christmas season) the point at which the greenery and decoration of Christmastide was taken down, and marks for us a liturgical and spiritual tipping point as we turn from celebrating the birth of Christ toward the self-examination that will lead us toward the commemorations of Holy Week and the celebration of Easter.
The service will be streamed on the our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Lincoln.Cathedral
During the service, the Lay Vicars of the cathedral choir will sing the following music:
Senex puerum portabat Byrd
Lloyd Responses
Evening Canticles in E Howells
Quod Chorus Vatum Tallis
This service forms a part of the regular routine of prayer and worship that is offered at the Cathedral for and on behalf of the family of parishes that make up the Diocese of Lincoln.
As well as being streamed live, the service will be available on the Cathedral’s Facebook page afterwards.
