Church of England Diocese of Manchester Weaste, Seedley and Langworthy

Dear Friends,

13 Feb 2021, midnight
Church_news From_the_Vicar Lent Community_news
Brothers and sisters in Christ, since early days Christians have observed with great devotion the time of our Lord’s passion and resurrection and prepared for this by a season of penitence and fasting. By carefully keeping these days, Christians take to heart the call to repentance and the assurance of forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel, and so grow in faith and in devotion to our Lord. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy word.

These are the words that begin the Ash Wednesday service. This year we will not be together in church but you are invited to join us online on our Team Facebook page at 7pm this Wednesday, 17 February. But whether or not you can join us online on Ash Wednesday, the invitation to a “holy Lent” is sincere, personal and uniquely relevant as we come to terms with the events of the past 12 months.

We all very much hope that we will be back in church before Easter. But in the meantime we can make best of these Lenten days. There are many opportunities – either to come to church for private prayer; to follow your own pattern of prayer at home; or to engage with our services and meetings online. The full programme for Lent is on our "Home" page and "Services and Events" page.

If you would like a copy of the Daily Prayer resources that were sent out at the beginning of the pandemic, or of the Lent Eucharist booklet please contact one of the clergy and we will be happy to provide it.

I am very pleased to say that Father Thomas Seville from the Community of the Resurrection will be with us this year as our Holy Week preacher – either online or in person; but I very much hope he will be here in person. More of that later.

In the meantime please keep in touch and please be assured of our continued love and prayers at this challenging time.

Daniel, Charlie, Clive and Chris