Newsletter - February 2026
Those of you who pass the church regularly may have noticed that this year we’ve kept our outdoor crib scene up later than usual. That’s because we’ve been waiting for Candlemas before we take it down. Candlemas falls at the beginning of February (2nd Feb) – 40 days after Christmas – and is a significant turning point.
We remember how Mary and Jospeh took the infant Jesus to the temple for the rites of purification, and of how the baby was greeted with joy, delight and thanksgiving by the elderly prophets, Simeon and Anna.
At Candlemas we turn our attention away from Christmas and the cradle, and prepare for the Lenten journey ahead to the cross. We remember that just as Christ came to be the Light of the World, so it is up to us to be bearers of that light in our world today. Candlemas derives its name from the custom of blessing candles for use throughout the year.
February is an especially important month for us this year, as for the 4 Thursdays in the month, we will be a host venue for the Renewed Hope Winter Night Shelter. We will be welcoming up to 10 guests to spend the night in our church hall, where they will benefit from a hot cooked supper, breakfast and somewhere warm and safe to sleep. We are grateful to our Venue Co-ordinators, Anthony and Jason, and to all the volunteers who make this important ministry possible.
It is during February that Lent begins. There will be a Eucharist with the imposition of ashes at 7pm on Ash Wednesday (18 February), to which all are welcome. It’s a quiet, reflective service to help us begin Lent prayerfully. This Lent, Lindsay will be offering an interactive study of The Lord’s Prayer on WhatsApp. The prayer, given to us by Jesus, is for many of us so familiar that it so often trips off our tongues and we don’t always take time to really sit with it and fully understand or appreciate its richness. If you would like to join the group, please text Lindsay on 07780 144448 with your name and mobile number.
On Sunday 8 February, we are teaming up with St Mark’s Reigate and St Matthews Redhill to take a group of 21 youngsters for an adventurous afternoon at the climbing wall at The Light in Redhill. We hope that this partnership will develop to benefit our young people and form friendships across the 3 parishes.
Our friends at Abbeyfield are holding a Scam Awareness talk on the morning of Wednesday 25 February, given by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards. If you’d like to attend or learn more, please let Lindsay know.
We wish you a good and fruitful Lent.
