St. Cross Church ​Clayton, Manchester
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March 2018

A message from Fr. Chris as we enter Holy Week...

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
On the first day of Holy Week, in our Palm Sunday Service (25th March, 10.30am), we remember how Jesus and his friends enter Jerusalem. Riding abreast the humble donkey Jesus enters this holiest of cities in defiant criticism of the power that oppresses it and he confirms his role as the one who is destined to suffer at the hands of this same imperial power. While Jesus does promise kingship, he promises a different kind of kingship.  One which willingly and non-violently accepts the judgement and violence of those who demand to be served for their own purposes. As we gather at the door of St Cross Church on Palm Sunday and as we process in, we align ourselves with this Jesus, and with this kind of kingship. We bear public witness to God’s rule, with its non-violent, creative movement of peace, justice and love.
 
On Monday (26th March) and Tuesday (27th March) evenings at 7.30pm and again on Friday (30th March) at 1pm we will walk the Stations of the Cross: Stations is a beautiful, meditative devotion often used at Passiontide.  Its purpose is to help us engage with the path of suffering walked by Jesus, from Pilate’s house to Calvary. The Tuesday service has been adapted to be suitable for all ages including children.
 
During our service on Maundy Thursday (Thursday 29th March at 7.30pm) we remember afresh what God has done for us in instituting the Eucharist and what we are called to do for each other, symbolised so poignantly in the Washing of Feet. 
 
During our Good Friday Liturgy at 2pm on Friday 30th March, we proclaim the power of Jesus to save; the power to save every single one of us, irrespective of the number and seriousness of our sins and irrespective of how late we leave our true moment of repentance.  On the cross Jesus demonstrates the cornerstone of his royal power, which is the power and authority to forgive sin. This service will be preceded by a Children’s Good Friday service at 12noon and Stations at 1pm.
 
Although our Easter Vigil service (Saturday 31st March at 8pm) will begin in complete darkness, this is essentially a service of light; light from the New Fire, light from the Paschal candle, and finally, after the Easter Acclamation and the fanfare and during the Gloria, all the lights in the church will be turned on and all around there will be signs of life, in the form of beautiful flowers. These are some of the ways we try to capture the truth of Easter in our worship. During this Service of Light, we will be called to renew our baptismal promises, remembering that only through baptism are we brought into the power of the light of resurrection.
 
On Easter Morning (April 1st at 10.30am) we will celebrate the awesome reality of the resurrection, by which God invites us all to let Him live in our hearts and minds through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. At Easter we are invited to open ourselves afresh to the risen Jesus. To welcome Him as a friend, with trust, and to see that only He is life.

Wishing you a blessed Easter,
Fr. Chris

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© COPYRIGHT ST. CROSS PARISH CHURCH, CLAYTON, MANCHESTER 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Worship from Home
    • This Week's Live Service
  • Covid-19 Info & Updates
    • Latest Message from Fr Chris
    • Blog - Coronavirus - Latest Info & Updates
    • Helplines & Support
  • Services
    • Worship for Everyone
  • Events
    • Past Events >
      • 2022 >
        • Lent, Holy Week & Easter at St Cross 2022 >
          • Palm Sunday
          • Stations of the Cross
          • Good Friday Liturgy
          • Easter Vigil & Service of Light
          • Easter Sunday
      • 2021 >
        • Ash Wednesday Live Service
        • Mothering Sunday
        • Holy Week & Easter at St Cross >
          • Palm Sunday
          • Maundy Thursday
          • Stations of the Cross (Good Friday)
          • Good Friday Liturgy
          • Easter Day
        • All Souls’ Day
        • Christmas Services (and Livestreams) >
          • Nativity Service (& Holy Communion for Advent 4)
          • The First Mass of Christmas (8pm Christmas Eve)
          • Christmas Day Eucharist, 10am
          • Epiphany Eucharist - Thurs. 6th, 7:30pm
      • 2020 >
        • Ash Wednesday
        • Holy Week & Easter at St Cross
        • Remembrance Sunday 2020
        • Advent Santa Sack Foodbank Appeal
        • Christmas Day Live Service
      • 2019 >
        • Coffee Morning
        • Spring Craft Market
        • Mothering Sunday
        • Lent, Holy Week & Easter 2019 >
          • Lenten Stations of the Cross
          • Easter Egg Tombola
          • Holy Week & Easter Services Explained
          • Palm Sunday
          • Maundy Thursday
          • Good Friday Liturgy
          • Easter Vigil
          • Easter Day
        • Songs for Summer Concert
        • Summer Fair
        • Harvest Festival
        • Parish International Day
        • Pet Blessing Service
        • Christmas at St. Cross 2019 >
          • Christmas Craft Market
          • Christmas Fair
          • Advent Santa Sack Foodbank Appeal
          • Christmas Tree Fesitival
          • Deanery Christmas Tea Dance
          • Christingle Service
          • Crib Service
          • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Eucharists
      • 2018 >
        • Mothering Sunday 2018
        • Holy Week & Easter 2018 >
          • Holy Week & Easter Services Explained
          • Lent Course
          • Palm Sunday
          • Stations of the Cross
          • Maundy Thursday
          • Children's Service
          • Good Friday Liturgy
          • Easter Vigil
          • Easter Day
        • Summer Fair 2018
        • Heritage Weekend
        • Harvest Festival
        • Child Friendly Church Award Presentation & Little Stars' 1st Birthday
        • Pet Blessing Service
        • Shoebox Appeal
        • Christmas Craft Market
        • Remembrance Sunday 2018
        • Christmas at St. Cross 2018 >
          • Advent Santa Sack Foodbank Appeal
          • Christmas Fair
          • Advent Course
          • Deanery Christmas Tea Dance
          • Christingle Service
          • 9 Lessons & Carols
          • Crib Service
          • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Eucharists
      • 2017 >
        • Women's World Day of Prayer 2017
        • Spring Coffee Morning 2017
        • Thy Kingdom Come Prayerwalk
        • Summer Fair
        • Heritage Weekend
        • Renaissance in Concert
        • Confirmation Service
        • Pet Blessing Service
        • Remembrance Sunday 2017
        • Christmas at St. Cross >
          • Christmas Fair
          • Advent Santa Sack Foodbank Appeal
          • Advent Course
          • Deanery Christmas Tea Dance
          • Christingle service
          • 9 Lessons & Carols
          • Crib Service
          • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Eucharists
      • 2016 >
        • Easter 2016
        • Harvest Festival Appeal 2016
        • Remembrance Sunday 2016
        • Christmas Fair 2016
      • 150th Year Celebrations >
        • 150th Year Memorabilia
  • Rector's Reflections
    • Reflections for Maundy Thursday
    • Reflections for Passion Sunday
    • 2020 >
      • Reflections for Advent
    • 2018 >
      • Christmas Reflections
      • Reflections on our Child Friendly Church Award and Children in Church Life
      • Reflections at Pentecost
      • Holy Week & Easter Reflections
      • Lent Reflections
      • Reflections at Epiphany
    • 2017 >
      • Christmas Reflections
      • Reflections on Advent
      • Taking Care of God's Vineyard >
        • The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
      • Introducing MAP through Romans
      • 'Growing Our Mission'
      • 'Ordinary Time' Pt. 2
      • 'Ordinary Time'
      • Eastertide
      • Holy Week & Easter
  • Baptisms & Marriages
  • Room Hire
  • Community
    • The Beacon Centre
    • Community News
    • Get Involved >
      • Volunteering
      • Fundraising >
        • 150th Year Memorabilia
    • Foodbank
    • St. Cross Singers
    • St. Cross Little Stars Sunday School
    • Deanery Dancing Lessons
    • Friday Film Nights
    • Bible Study Group
    • Links >
      • Neighbouring Churches >
        • Ardwick Deanery Churches
        • Churches Nearby - CofE
        • Nearby Churches - Other Denominations
      • Nearby Community Organisations
    • Church Centre Activities
    • Plans to re-open Barrington Street Community Centre
    • Manchester Arena Attack >
      • Prayers for Manchester
      • Messages from the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester and Fr. Chris
  • Stewardship & Donations
    • Stewardship (Regular Giving)
    • Donations
  • Our MAP
    • Preliminary Stage >
      • Preliminary Stage: Part 1 >
        • Part 1: Review
    • Stage 1: Review >
      • Stage 1: Parts 2-6
    • Stage 2: Create a Vision and Prioritse >
      • Stage 2: Part 7
    • Stage 3: Plan >
      • Stage 3: Part 8
    • Stage 4: Do
    • Our MAP
  • Blog
  • About
    • Tour St. Cross >
      • Jigsaws of St. Cross
    • Who's Who
    • Church Repairs & Improvements
    • History of St. Cross
    • Safeguarding
    • Data Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Newsletter Sign-Up