Sunday after Christmas (Luke 2: 22-40)

Number of Readers: 5 (3 women, 2 men)

All Readers:
From Luke 2:22-40:
Reader 1:
When the time came for their purification
Reader 3:
(according to the law of Moses),
Reader 4:
Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord –
Reader 2:
(as it is written in the law of the Lord,

Reader all:
Every first born male shall be designated as holy to the Lord," )
Reader 1:
and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord,
Reader 2:
"a pair of turtledoves
Reader 3:
or two young pigeons."
Reader 4:
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;
Reader 5:
this man was righteous and devout,
Reader 1:
looking forward to the consolation of Israel,
Reader 5:
and the Holy Spirit rested on him.
Reader 1:
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
Reader 4:
Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple;
Reader 2, 3:
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,

Reader 5:
(to do for him what was customary under the law,)
Reader 1:
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
Reader 4:
"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
Reader 2, 3:
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
Reader 1:
Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary,
Reader 4:
"This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
Reader 5:
There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
Reader 1:
She was of a great age,
Reader 5:
(having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then alone as a widow to the age of eighty-four.)
Reader 4:
She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day.
Reader 5:
At that moment she came, and began to praise God
Reader 2, 3:
and to speak about the child

Reader all:
to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Reader 1:
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord,
Reader 4, 5:
they returned to Galilee,
Reader 2, 3:
to their own town of Nazareth.

(Pause)

Reader 2:
The child grew
Reader 3:
and became strong,
Reader 4, 5:
filled with wisdom;

Reader all:
and the favor of God was upon him.