Presentation of The Lord

Saturday 14th February 2026 ad at 7pm

Good Shepherd Chapel, Abbotsford

The evening began quietly, with Metropolitan Raffaele at the organ, filling the chapel with gentle music as parishioners arrived and searched for parking. His singing accompanied the clergy as they entered, setting a peaceful and prayerful tone for the feast.

Father Mark led the congregation in the Common Prayer, and Metropolitan Raffaele sang the Kyrie and Gloria while Father Mark incensed the altar and the holy icons. The fragrance of incense rose steadily, marking the sacredness of the moment.

A joyful milestone followed as Patrick was elevated to the ministry of Reader, a sign of growth and service within our community.

Patrick then proclaimed the Epistle, and the Prokiminon was sung by Metropolitan Raffaele at the organ.

The Gospel was carried among the people, and Father Matthew read from St Luke, recounting the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. We heard of the righteous and devout Simeon, who had long awaited the consolation of Israel. When the infant Christ was brought into the Temple, Simeon recognised Him as the promised Messiah, blessing God for allowing him to behold salvation with his own eyes.

In his homily, Father Mark reflected on the expectations of the time. Many were waiting for a political leader, a warrior who would raise an army and overthrow the Romans. Instead, a humble family entered the Temple carrying a child.

Christ did not come with force or spectacle. He came in humility — to serve.

Father Mark reminded us that we, too, are called to serve with love. Since the 1960s, he said, many have drifted from faith, influenced by culture, media, and distorted images of Christianity. Sometimes Christians are caricatured — Ned Flanderised, reduced to stereotypes rather than seen as people of depth and joy. Our task is to break that image, not through argument, but through authentic love. If we live with joy and kindness, others may discover that Christ is worth knowing.

He spoke also of the negativity that fills online spaces, and encouraged us instead to be people of joy. As the feast coincided with Valentine’s Day, he wished everyone a happy day of love, reminding us to pray for one another and to show love in tangible ways.

The liturgy continued and the Kyrie was chanted again as the altar was prepared, and the gifts were brought forward while Metropolitan Raffaele sang.

The Creed was proclaimed together, followed by the Sanctus, sung with reverence as the organ resounded.

Through prayer, the gifts were blessed and transfigured — the heart of the liturgy, where heaven and earth meet.

We honoured the Theotokos with hymn and prayer, and then prayed the Our Father together. The Agnus Dei was sung as the Lamb was prepared, and the clergy received Holy Communion.

While Father Mark prepared communion, Metropolitan Raffaele shared the story of St Valentine. He approached a quarrelling couple in his rose garden — fragrant, vibrant, alive. He snipped a rose and presented it to them, and their anger softened. The rose, he explained, teaches us something: the green stem represents life, the colour its beauty and gifts, and the thorns protect what is precious.

So too in our lives — we must nurture the gifts God has given us, protect what is sacred, and learn to stand firm without losing gentleness. “Turn the other cheek,” he said, does not mean weakness. It means remaining calm and faithful, even while standing your ground.

We also commemorated St Blaise, with the blessing of candles and the anointing of throats — prayers for healing and protection. After all had received Communion, we sang the Thanksgiving Hymn, and Father Mark blessed the candles and anointed the faithful.

The liturgy concluded with song, and the community gathered afterward for fellowship and refreshments.

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