St. Mark's Crescent Methodist Church

02/06/2026

24/05/2026

St Mark's celebrating Pentecost. Choir singing Pentecost songs. A great Spiritual service.

27/01/2026

More art at Art, Bites and Crafts

27/01/2026

Friends 👋
The 2 nd of February marks the celebration of Candlemas 🕯️, the official end
of the Christmas/Epiphany season ✨. Last week, I was invited to St.
George’s with colleagues from other churches in Windsor ⛪, and we were
shown around, had tea ☕ with the new Canon (Revd Dr. Nick Brown) and
joined the congregation for evensong 🎶. I was struck by the fact that some
Christmas decorations 🎄, including the nativity scene, were still up.
Having grown up in a tradition where Christmas decorations went up on
Christmas Eve and came down on 12 th Night, I was interested to
discover that for many people, the correct day to take them down is the
2 nd of February 📅. The feast of Candlemas marks the day when Mary
returned to the temple for ritual purification, 40 days after the birth of her
child, and Jesus was presented on that moving occasion when both
Simeon and Anna finally met him 💛.
Symbolising Jesus as the Light of the World 🌍🕯️, it is the day when many
churches bless all candles that will be used for the coming year 🙏, lit
candles are placed in windows 🪟 and (particularly in France 🇫🇷) pancakes are
eaten 🥞. If you like pancakes, this is a good excuse to have them twice in
February 😄!
There is a folk tradition that bright weather on Candlemas ☀️ signifies a
longer winter ❄️, which is interesting when we consider that the 2 nd of
February in the USA marks Groundhog Day 🐿️, when it is believed that
groundhogs come out of their burrows at the end of hibernation and if
they see their shadow (i.e. it is sunny) then they go back to sleep for
another six weeks thus forecasting six more weeks of winter 😴. Currently,
the forecast for Monday is cloudy ☁️, so perhaps winter will end earlier this
year 🌱.
Candlemas is one of those church days that I have only discovered
through conversation with ecumenical partners 🤝. Still, it feels like an
important day: the first story that we have of Jesus after the birth
narrative, and one of very few mentions of Joseph ✨. This year I plan to
light a candle 🕯️ and place it in my window to remember all of those who
have waited, like Simeon and Anna, for hope to come into their lives 💖.
Perhaps you might like to join me 🙏.
God bless ✝️,
Vicci

18/12/2025

Deacon Margaret Chipandambria enjoying the Christmas tree at St Mark's

18/12/2025

Carol Singing outside St Marks Crescent Methodist Church 17th December. Thank you all who came and enjoyed the Carols with hot drinks and Christmas Mince Pies afterwards.

07/12/2025

St Mark's Christmas tree being decorated