Since (according to Punxsutawney Phil) there will be six more weeks of winter, you might as well spend some of it learning something!

Besides being Ground Hog's Day, today is also the feast day of St. Brigid, the matron saint of Ireland. Brigid (also spelled as Brigit, or Bridget) is a mystical figure tied to both early Christianity and Celtic Druidic mythology. She is known as both goddess and saint by those who venerate her, and is a fascinating person to discover.

Brigid was known as the Celtic goddess of fire and light—and maybe also poetry. The name Brigid was more of a title than a true name. It meant "strength" as it related to the goddess, and "the exalted one" as it related to the Christian saint.

As the founder and leader of the Church of Kildare, Brigid may well have been ordained a bishop. She was most definitely the abbess at a monastery she founded, which had both female and male religious, and though there was a male abbot, Brigid was the senior leader of all professed members of the monastery, men and women alike.

Want to know more? Click on the link below to read an article about a lovely brief film, Finding Brigid, which aired in Ireland in late January. Ireland, by the way, just declared a national St. Brigid's holiday. You may watch Finding Brigid by clicking on the link at the end of the article.

Click to read the article, "Siobhán McSweeney goes in search of the real St. Brigid." After reading, scroll to the bottom of the article and watch the film!

And of course, let us not forget that today is Candlemas, the celebration of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Forty days after Jesus' birth, Mary and Joseph followed the Torah and presented themselves at the Temple. There they encountered Simeon (and Anna, too). Simeon, whose eyesight was limited, nonetheless saw that the babe Jesus was sent by God, and so sang out the beautiful song we have come to know as the Nunc Dimittis: “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” (Luke 2:29-32 NRSV).

For an interesting story on how Groundhog Day and Candlemas are linked, click here. You know what they say . . . "The more you know . . ."

Blessings,

Annual Meeting was held last Sunday, January 29, after the 10:30 Eucharist. It was a great event, with a lovely meal and a spirit of joy at our first public Annual Meeting since 2020!

Photos of the Annual Meeting, along with a link to the Annual Meeting Bulletin, may be found by clicking here. Thanks to Kay Mackewicz for her beautiful photos!

Another Game Night is planned for Friday, February 10, at 5:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The first Game Night held late last year was a great success, and by popular demand, it will become a semi-regular event on the Trinity FUN calendar! (Did you know we had a FUN calendar? You do now!)

So mark your calendar, bring along a board game if you have one, bring a snack to share, and join the Game Crew on February 10.

We need MORE Bulletin Board Magic! Help Kay Mackewicz, our Church Administrator, spruce up the Bulletin Board outside the Rector's office for February—a month associated with love, and with Presiding Bishop Curry's Way of Love emphasis. Send or bring Kay photographs of whatever represents love in your life: wedding photos, photos of grandchildren, animal companions, anything with the "Awwww" factor. Or if you have photos of being at church, of praying, singing, bring those as well to the church office, or email them to churchadmin@trinitybeth.org.

We need more volunteers to help with providing and preparing snacks for our hospitality hour after the 10:30 service. Text or email Sister Ruth at (484.707.2304 or studycindy20@gmail.com) if you would like to take a shift!

If you rearrange your date(s) of service as reader, intercessor, usher, Altar Guild, or hospitality person, please inform Kay Mackewicz so she can change names in the worship bulletin.

Kay can be reached at (610) 867-4741 or by email at churchadmin@trinitybeth.org.

Holy Eucharist

Listen to last Sunday's Sermon! All sermons are now recorded and available on the website.

Jan and Flex Ilick, February 7