LENT
Lent is the forty days before Easter (not including Sundays!) It mirrors the forty days that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.
It is famously a time of self-denial and penitence, but the aim is not self-imposed suffering, rather it is a time for paring back and returning to simplicity, allowing for new growth in one’s life.
Ash Wednesday
17th February 2021
From the middle ages it became the custom to begin Lent by being marked with the sign of the cross in ash - an ancient sign of penitence.
On Zoom - 9.30 am
We will be using Zoom so you can join in live.
Just let us know if you're not confident using Zoom and we can walk you through it step by step.
In-person - Venerable Bede 12 pm
We will meet for our traditional Holy Communion and ashing at the Venerable Bede. Rather than marking you with a cross, to limit contact, this year we will sprinkle the ashes on your head.
You are invited to journey with us through Holy Week, the most special time in the church's year. This is when we recall the story of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection.
We will be worshipping together in-person this year! Though we will still of course live stream everything for those at home.
To help us organise to keep things as safe as possible, we have decided it will be best to stay in one location rather than going to each of our churches, so we will celebrate all Holy Week services at the Venerable Bede, West Road NE4 8AP.
HOLY WEEK
Palm Sunday
28th March 2021 at 10.30am
Venerable Bede, West Road, NE4 8AP
Palm crosses and branches are used to remember Christ’s triumphant arrival into Jerusalem. With Holy Communion and a dramatic reading of the passion story.
Lent courses on Zoom
Difference course
Thursdays 2pm, from 25th Feb (5 sessions)
Dominic and Cerys will be leading a group discussion using a course designed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. He has brought together leading thinkers and peacemakers to create a course to help us join in with God’s work of restoring brokenness and transforming relationships.
Caring for Creation
Wednesdays 6.30pm, from 24th Feb (5 sessions)
David will lead us with a York Course for 2021 on the greatest challenge facing the human race: the threat to the environment, and climate change.
Maundy Thursday
1st April 2021 at 7.30pm
The Watch continues until 9.30pm
Venerable Bede, West Road, NE4 8AP
We recall how Jesus’ shared his last meal with friends and washed their feet before he was betrayed. Holy Communion is celebrated and the church is stripped of decoration.
After the service the sacrament remains on an altar for the 'Watch'. The church stays open and we remain with Jesus in silent prayer as we remember how the disciples stayed with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before he was arrested.
The church normally stays open until midnight, this year we will only stay open until 9.30pm to limit social contact.
Compline online
From Palm Sunday & Mon, Tues & Wed at 9pm
Compline, or 'night prayer', is a short time of quiet and reflective prayer to help us reconnect with God at the end of the day.
We will meet on Zoom to get the link sign up here >
Good Friday
2nd April 2021 at 2pm
Venerable Bede, West Road, NE4 8AP
At the foot of the cross we remember that Jesus suffered and died as we do, and meditate on his sacrifice of love.
Easter Day
Sunday 4th April 2021 10am for 10.30am
(We will show a video of the Vigil and lighting the Easter fire before we begin the service proper at 10.30am)
Venerable Bede, West Road, NE4 8AP
The climax of Holy Week and the most important celebration of the Christian calendar. A service full of symbolism with light, music, & water, we rejoice in Christ’s bursting from the tomb, bringing us all hope of new life.
*as the Easter Vigil cannot happen safely with the full congregation this year, a small group will meet at dawn when we will record the fire being lit and the Easter flame being taken to all our 4 churches as a reminder that the light of Christ still burns in all of our communities.