Harpley, My Life is my Message." Mahatma Gandhi
Joy Smith LLM
February 2025
Dear Friends
We are now well and truly into the New Year, although it has been rather damp and cold. I must admit that the sight that greeted us on
Sunday 12th January was a beautiful hoar frost where everything sparkled white, a magical sight that reminded me very much of Narnia in The Lion,
The Witch and The Wardrobe by C S Lewis, one of my favourite books.
It is New Year and although there is no snow lying on the ground the earth still looks damp and bear. Yet under the soil the snowdrops are waiting to burst forth, they are often called Candlemas Bells.
Candlemas is celebrated on the 2nd February being 40 since Jesus was born and marking that point in the biblical story when Mary, with Joseph, following the Jewish custom of her day, presents herself for purification at the Temple in Jerusalem – and who together as proud and loving parents present their new born son to Simeon the elderly priest for his blessing.
A priest who had been told that he would not die until he had witnessed the Lord's comfort and the consolation of Israel.
Consolation springing from the same word as comfort. It is the time when churchcandles, symbolic of the baby Jesus as 'the light of the world' are brought into church and literally blessed for their use throughout the rest of the year just as Jesus was blessed by that elderly priest.
And of course, for us back home, this conveniently fits with the appearance of Snowdrops breaking through the soil, signifying that winter is
past and that spring is just around the corner.
Did you know that the protruding shoots of the snowdrop are particularly hard and capable of breaking through the frost hardened soil, and not only that but the energy generated by the little snowdrop is capable of melting the snow under which it may find itself. It's no wonder that snowdrops were very quickly perceived to be little white symbolic beacons of hope transforming a dark world into one of light.
Indeed, some have thought that these Candlemas bells look like little lamps shining in thedarkness.
We are seeing signs of hope in our World, the ceasefire has been announced between Israel and Gaza, signs that some peace may come to that area where
our Lord lived.
Let us hope that this year of 2025 may bring health, happiness and peace to us all.
Joy Smith
Licensed Lay Minister