St. Cross Church ​Clayton, Manchester
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November 2017

A message from Fr. Chris as we prepare to enter Advent ...

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​Dear Brothers and Sisters

We are approaching Advent and the beginning of another liturgical year.  During Advent, we prepare to celebrate the coming (adventus) of Christ from three different perspectives; in his humble birth in a manger (incarnation), in our hearts daily and in glory at the end of time. Seen from all three perspectives, the season offers us the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming.

The readings and liturgies of the season of Advent will direct us towards the  birth and the second coming of our Lord, as anticipated by the patriarchs and prophets of old, which include John the Baptist, who spoke of how a Saviour would be born in the line of King David.  Our services during Advent also pay close attention to Mary’s role as Christ-bearer and the joy she felt at being chosen to carry and birth the word of God become flesh.

During the Advent season, the decorations around St Cross will be simpler and purple become our traditional liturgical colour. Falling at the darkest time of the year, the natural symbols of darkness and light are powerfully at work throughout Advent and Christmas and they will be expressed most visibly in the lighting of the candles on the Advent Wreath at the beginning of each of our Advent Sunday acts of worship.  

Practices associated with Advent include keeping an Advent Calendar. This year we at St Cross intend to reverse this practice and turn the traditional Advent Calendar into an opportunity for small acts of kindness by filling a box in church with small, affordable gifts which we will donate to people in need. [Read about our Advent Santa Sack Foodbank Appeal here.]

We will also be observing the Moravian custom of Christingle. Traditionally Christingle services take place before or after Christmas so we have chosen the Third Sunday of Advent for this service. Our Sunday School children will lead parts of this service and we will use Christingles to celebrate the gift of Jesus to us as the light of the world.

During Advent St. Cross will also be presenting a traditional Anglican service of Nine Lessons and Carols.  This is a service which takes nine of the best known and loved bible passages about the birth of Jesus and intersperses them with carols which pick up the theme of the readings. The music and voices will be provided for us by The Thursday Singers and it is a service which really should not be missed if possible.

I hope that many of you will sign up for the Advent Course this year which will be held at The Church of the Resurrection. The course, entitled, ‘Mary Had a Baby: An Advent Bible Study Based on African American Spirituals’ will be held at 7.30pm – 9pm on Thursday nights, beginning November 30th. Each session will include Scripture, song lyrics, devotional and contextual information, and discussion questions to stimulate deepening faith and a sense of community. It will also give us the opportunity to get to know our friends at The Church of the Resurrection better.

On a lighter note, we are all invited to an evening of fun, dancing and festive nibbles at Emmanuel Church in Gorton on Friday December 15th, 7.30-9.30pm.

I look forward to looking forward with you and I wish you all a very blessed and contemplative Advent. 

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© COPYRIGHT ST. CROSS PARISH CHURCH, CLAYTON, MANCHESTER 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • 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
    • Holy Week & Easter at St Cross >
      • Palm Sunday
      • Maundy Thursday
      • Stations of the Cross (Good Friday)
      • Good Friday Liturgy
      • Easter Day
    • Deanery Worship >
      • Deanery Christmas Online Act of Worship
      • Deanery All Saints Act of Worship
      • Deanery Pentecost Service
  • Services
    • Worship for Everyone
  • Events
    • Past Events >
      • Ash Wednesday Live Service
      • Mothering Sunday
      • 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
    • 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
  • 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