St. Cross Church ​Clayton, Manchester
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February 2018

A message from Fr. Chris as we approach Lent ...

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Having reflected on the season of Epiphany in my last posting, we now come to the season of Lent. Jesus’s sojourn in the wilderness immediately follows his baptism. The celebration of Christ’s baptism at the hands of John, when the heavens were opened and a voice from heaven declared Jesus to be God’s beloved Son, is an important part of the ‘manifestation’ of Epiphany and so, in one sense, Epiphany looks forward to Lent. And so as we enter Lent we take with us all that has been revealed to us about Christ during Epiphany; that Christ is God's own Son; that He is revealed as a Saviour to the Gentiles and the whole world and that He has come to give us abundance of life. 

Lent is a forty-day period of self-examination, penitence, self-denial, study and preparation for Easter as we remember the forty days that our Lord spent in the wilderness, being tested by Satan. For those of you wishing to join a study group, we will be joining our brothers and sisters from the Church of the Resurrection every Thursday evening at 7pm at St Cross Church in a six-part course for parishes and Lent groups based on Pope Francis’ recent reflections on mission and evangelism, published as Evangelii Gaudium (‘The Joy of the Gospel’).

Ashes are an ancient sign of penitence; from the middle ages it became the custom to begin Lent by being marked in ash with the sign of the cross.  This ash is traditionally made from the burnt palm crosses from the previous year. And so the beginning of Lent is known as Ash Wednesday.  We will celebrate Ash Wednesday with an evening Holy Communion Service at 7.30pm at St Cross Church which will include an opportunity to receive ashes. All are welcome to this service – whether regular members of St Cross or visitors, and all are welcome to come and worship and receive Holy Communion regardless of the denomination a person is a member of.

Along with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to get ready for Easter, we also fast from saying or singing the word as well as singing the Gloria. As one perceptive music minister put it: The church doesn’t sing these great words during Lent for the same reason the church don’t sing Jesus Christ Is Risen Today—until we get there liturgically. In addition to this, the church will be kept bare of flowers and decoration.   

The Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare or Refreshment Sunday) is traditionally allowed as a day of relief from the rigour of Lent.  At St Cross we will observe Mothering Sunday on this Sunday (11th March) which will be a family service in which the children will take an active role in leading parts of the service. 

Holy Week approaches, the atmosphere of the season darkens; the readings begin to anticipate the story of Christ’s suffering and death and the reading of the Passion Narrative will take place on the Fifth Sunday (Passion Sunday).  

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  • Home
  • Covid-19 Info & Updates
    • Latest Message from Fr Chris
    • Blog - Coronavirus - Latest Info & Updates
    • Helplines & Support
  • Worship from Home
    • This Week's Live Service
    • Ash Wednesday Live Service
    • Deanery Worship >
      • Deanery Christmas Online Act of Worship
      • Deanery All Saints Act of Worship
      • Deanery Pentecost Service
  • Services
    • Worship for Everyone
  • Events
    • Past Events >
      • 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
    • 2019 >
      • Reflections on Holy Week & Easter
      • Lenten Reflections
    • 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
  • Reflections for Advent
  • 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 >
      • Film Nights 2018
    • 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