Church Festivals in February
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February 2: The Presentation of Our Lord

Forty days after the birth of Christ we mark the day Mary and Joseph presented him in the temple in accordance with Jewish law. There in the temple, a prophet named Anna began to speak of the redemption of Israel when she saw the young child. Simeon also greeted Mary and Joseph. He responded to the presence of the consolation of Israel in this child with the words of the Nune Dimittis. His song described Jesus as a “light for the nations.” Because of the link between Jesus as the light for the nations, and because an old reading for this festival contains a line from the prophet Zephaniah, “I will search Jerusalem with candles,” the day is also known as Candlemas, a day when candles are blessed for the coming year.

February 17: Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent with ash on our foreheads. This cross echoes our baptismal anointing, when we were buried with Christ. The ash is a chilling reminder of our mortality, but because our death is now in Christ, our endings are beginnings. The Lenten disciplines of acts of kindness, prayer, and fasting are tools of discipleship that can lead us to renewal as we bury all that is holding us back from being truly alive.

February 24: Matthias, Apostle

After Christ’s ascension, the apostles met in Jerusalem to choose a replacement for Judas. Matthias was chosen over Joseph Justus by the casting of lots. Little is known about Matthias, and little is reported about him in the account of his election in Acts 1: 15-26. Matthias had traveled among the disciples from the time of Jesus’ baptism until his ascension. His task, after he was enrolled among the eleven remaining disciples, was to bear witness to the resurrection.

  Lessons for February

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany February 7, 2010
Isaiah:1-8 [9-13]
Psalm 138
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11

Transfiguration of Our Lord Last Sunday after Epiphany February 14, 2010
Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2
Luke 9:28-36 [37-43a]

Ash Wednesday February 17, 2010
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12
Psalm 51:1-17 (1) or Psalm 103:8-14
2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

First Sunday in Lent February 21, 2010
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 (11)
Romans 10:8b-13
Luke 4:1-13

Second Sunday in Lent February 28, 2010
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27 (5)
Philippians:17--4:1
Luke 13:31-35

Third Sunday in Lent March 7, 2010
Isaiah 55:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8 (1)
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9