On a bitterly cold morning our church provided warmth and a welcome to Robert Williams to lead our worship. Neil and Jill Barnett provided musical accompaniment. We read Psalm 95 together and Gerry and Margaret Maxwell read from Luke 2 – baby Jesus is dedicated to the Temple in Jerusalem; later, aged 12, he tarries there when his unaware parents leave to return to Nazareth.

In prayer Robert gave thanks to our Creator for everything we enjoy and especially for sending his son, our saviour. Later we prayed for the truce in the Holy Land and for the sick and bereaved.

Robert asked what we had done with our Christmas gifts – tokens of esteem and care. Have we thanked God for his gift of Jesus Christ, showing our gratitude by offering ourselves to his service? We live in turbulent times but, in the peace of the Temple, Simeon and Anna recognised the Messiah offering hope and salvation for all people. Mary and Joseph were overwhelmed by the awesome responsibility to bring up Jesus but God equipped them for it. He will do this for us if we open our hearts to him and trust him. Like Simeon we must allow him to hold us and focus entirely on Jesus.