Lent, Holy Week and Easter

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of LENT which is a solemn period in the Christian year as people prepare themselves spiritually for Holy week and Easter. We remember the time at the beginning of his ministry that Jesus spent time in the wilderness and was tempted. At Ash Wednesday services people are marked with the sign of the cross - the priest uses ashes that are made by burning the Palm Crosses from the previous year. During Lent we celebrate MOTHERING SUNDAY (the fourth Sunday of Lent). This is a time when we give thanks for our mother the church, for Mary mother of Jesus, and of course for our own mothers.

Holy Week

Holy Week is the week before Easter. It begins with Palm Sunday when we remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. Christians receive Palm Crosses to remind them of the cross - they are made from Palm as the people waved Palm branches on the first Palm Sunday. They are kept in people's homes for the whole year. During Holy Week there are church services each day, culminating in a service on Maundy Thursday when we recall the celebration of the Last Supper, when Jesus first instituted the service now called Holy Communion or the Eucharist (celebrated every Sunday).

On Good Friday there are long church services, remembering Jesus' death on the cross.

Holy Saturday is a time when 'nothing happens' as we wait for the resurrection - but in fact it is a busy time when we prepare the church for Easter. After dark a new fire burns and all the candles of the church are gradually lit from the new fire. The celebrations of Easter begin!

Easter Day

We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Ascension Day

Ascension Day is 40 days after Easter: the church recalls Jesus' leaving the earth and returning to God the Father. We remember that there were no more resurrection appearances after this time.

Pentecost

The feast of Pentecost is just 10 days later. On this day Christians celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Trinity Sunday

On Trinity Sunday the church has as the focus of its worship the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Advent, Christmas and Epiphany
Harvest Festival, All Saints, All Souls and Christ the King