But, in Christ that we are not alone as we are united to Christ. It is in union with Christ that we face temptation and receive salvation.

By the 6th Century ashes were an important part of the Lenten journey in public acts of penance. The practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of all believers on the first day of Lent (Ash Wednesday) became common by the 10th century.

The Church uses the term Ordinary Time to the order of Sundays in the church year that do not fall into the major liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, or Easter.

Candlemas is one of the oldest Feast Days from the ancient Christian Church, dating back to at least the fourth century (The pilgrim Egeria recorded its celebration in Jerusalem in the 380s...)

Thankfully, now Lent is generally observed as a time of restraint from excess, by almsgiving, and by devoting more than the usual time to religious exercises such as prayer.

We pray to God, knowing our illumination, restoration and our salvation, depends on God. So it is in trust as well as longing that we cry out to God who is tenacious in faithfulness to us all.

This Sunday we celebrate the third Sunday in Advent. This is often called Gaudete (meaning rejoice) Sunday.

The season of Advent, the season of waiting in Hope, Peace, Joy and Love is in opposition to the frenzy that the lead up to Christmas can easily be. It is a time of year in that the regular rhythm of prayer can be of particular importance.

Advent teaches us that God is our source of Hope and the foundation of our love in our lives.

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King which reaffirms that the Kingship of Christ holds the place of ultimate authority over all aspects of human life