Thousands of years ago when animalism and nature worship were prevalent, people in the part of Europe where Germany is today, believed that the badger had the power to predict the coming of spring. They watched the badger to know when to plant their crops.

This tradition was brought over to North America, where it was the groundhog, not the badger, which made these “predictions”.

According to folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow on February 2 it will return to its burrow, indicating that there will be six more weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow, then spring is on the way.

Some Christian churches also celebrate Candlemas on this day, 

Candlemas is a Christian holiday celebrated annually on February 2 commemorating the occasion when the Candlemas primarily focuses on Jesus’ early life. Virgin Mary, in obedience to Jewish law, went to the Temple in Jerusalem both to be purified 40 days after the birth of her son, Jesus, and to present him to God as her firstborn (Luke 2:22–38). In the Anglican church it is called the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. .

According to a New Testament gospel, a Jewish man named Simeon held the baby in his arms and said that he would be a light for the Gentiles (Luke 2:32). It is for this reason that this event is called Candlemas.

Candlemas occurs at a period between the December solstice and the March equinox, so many people traditionally marked that time of the year as winter’s “halfway point” while waiting for the spring. traditionally the 40th day of and the conclusion of the Christmas-Epiphany season.

While it is customary for Christians in some countries to remove their Christmas decoration on Twelfth Night (Epiphany Eve), those in other Christian countries historically remove them after Candlemas. On Candlemas, many Christians also take their candles to their local church, where they are blessed and then used for the rest of the year; for Christians, these blessed candles serve as a symbol of Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World.

Snowdrops (galanthas nivalis) are known as Candlemas Bells because they often bloom early in the year, even before Candlemas. Some varieties bloom all winter (in the northern hemisphere). The superstitious used to believe that these flowers should not be brought into the house prior to Candlemas.  However, it is also believed in more recent times that these flowers purify a home.

The Candlemas Bells, also known as Snowdrops, symbolize hope according to Christian belief.

First reading and Psalm
Malachi 3:1-4
Psalm 84

Second reading
Hebrews 2:14-18

Gospel Reading
Luke 2:22-40

Please submit to Rev Jonathan at rector@staugustinesedmonton.com or post into the office.

There is a very special event happening at St.A's Kids Church on February 11th.

We will have a party with clowns, games and face painting.

We are asking that everyone, including the adults upstairs, please dress up to celebrate!!

Further details will follow in next week's newsletter.

We are happy to welcome our neighbours from Grace United to dine with us.

Hoping everyone will be able to attend!!

Pray for yourself.

Pray for the world.

Make for yourself a holy Lent.

Join us Ash Wednesday, February 14th at St. Augustine's 7pm as we enter the season of Lent with the imposition of ashes.

In this service we gather in God's name, we reflect on the call to live autentic lives, we recieve ashes marked in a cross on our forehead with the words, "you are dust, and to dust you shall return," we share in holy communion as we draw near to God.

A time to join with friends old and new over a simple meal.

This month's menu will be available in next week's newletter - stay tuned!!

The Hanley Home Group welcomes you to join us weekly as we share lives,fellowship, and discussion on scripture, church topics, and anything else we find interesting!

These cold winter afternoons give us a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a relaxing time ofconversation with friends.

This session we will focus on a another one of Rev. Dr. BarbaraBrown Taylor’s well-known books. Holy Envy is filled with warmth and humour as Taylorrecounts her experiences of discovering the sacred in unexpected places while teaching the aWorld Religions course to undergraduates in rural Georgia. Her deep and reflective thoughtsreveal how God delights in confounding her expectations! We will also include material from other sources to add richness to our conversation.

Sharing in circle has a long history of transformation and community strength in both indigenous and addictions recovery traditions.

Administration, address updates, etc: Cheryl at office@staugustinesedmonton.com, 780-466-5532

First reading and Psalm