The Church of England's theme this Lent is 'Draw Near.' In Lent we journey with Jesus on the difficult and thorny road that leads all the way to the Cross on Good Friday and to The Resurrection on Easter Day.

Over 5 weeks the Lent course guides us through reflections, Bible readings, questions for discussion and prayers. At 5.15pm you may want to join us as we eat our own sandwiches etc, have a cuppa along with conversations, this is optional.

The course starts at 6.00pm and will finish no later than 7.30pm, please see below the day and dates for the course, we will meet in the upstairs meeting room.

All are welcome.

The Church of England's theme this Lent is 'Draw Near.' In Lent we journey with Jesus on the difficult and thorny road that leads all the way to the Cross on Good Friday and to The Resurrection on Easter Day.

Over 5 weeks the Lent course guides us through reflections, Bible readings, questions for discussion and prayers. At 5.15pm you may want to join us as we eat our own sandwiches etc, have a cuppa along with conversations, this is optional.

The course starts at 6.00pm and will finish no later than 7.30pm, please see below the day and dates for the course, we will meet in the upstairs meeting room.

All are welcome.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

We gather at the top of Church Lane in Chapelthorpe and at 10.30am walk in to St James' church holding our palm crosses. The service typically begins with prayers and the singing of “Hosanna to the Son of David,” The service includes readings from the Gospels, especially the Passion narrative, and reflections on Jesus’s humility and obedience.

Palm Sunday is a time for Christians to unite in faith and love, preparing for the solemn events of Holy Week, including the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

A simple service where we gather to listen to Taize songs, be still and receive communion which has already been blessed.

The Stations of the Cross have formed part of Christian devotion at Passiontide for many centuries because they enable us to engage actively with the path of suffering walked by Jesus. At each Station around the church, we gather and a reading for the scene depicted and a time of reflection before moving to the next Station.

They originated when early Christians visited Jerusalem and wanted to follow literally in the footsteps of Jesus, tracing the path from Pilate’s house to Calvary. They would pause for prayer and devotion at various points. Eventually those pilgrims brought the practice back to their home countries and ever since then Christians of differing traditions have used this form of devotion. (taken from Common Worship Church of England)

All are welcome

This service has no hymns instead it has times of silence for us to remember the true meaning of Holy Week.

Maundy Thursday is the fifth day of Holy Week, the final week of Lent, which begins on Palm Sunday and runs up until Easter. It gets its name from the Latin word 'mandare', from which we get the word 'command'. Christians remember Jesus's command: "Love one another as I have loved you." This is the day when Christians remember Jesus sharing the Last Supper with his disciples before his death on Good Friday.

The service includes the priest washing the feet of twelve members of the congregation, the eucharist, then the remaining hosts are taken to The Lady Chapel and placed on the altar, waiting for Good Friday. There is then a vigil for an hour or individuals can also leave church at this or in any part of the vigil.

All are welcome.

For children of all ages including adults and those young at heart. Come-along and walk with our vicar as he tells the story of The Stations of the Cross and hear the real story of Easter. And why Christians celebrate this special event, you might even find the answer to the question 'Why do we eat chocolate Easter eggs?'

We will then have an Bunny Hunt as we look for the golden bunny! There will also be little easter eggs for all who join the search

At the end of the activities we will all sit around a table and have pizza and pop.

The cost for each child is only £3.00, we look forward to seeing you.

Good Friday is the most sombre day of the Christian calendar when the crucifixion and death of Jesus is commemorated in the worldwide Church.

Church services on Good Friday may begin or end at 3pm, the time when Jesus is believed to have died on the cross and are traditionally stark and bare, marking the solemnity of the occasion. In this service you have the opportunity to venerate the Cross by either touching, kissing or bowing before it. Remembering what happen on that cross so that all our sins are forgiven and death is no more.

Holy communion will be given in one kind, as the host from the Maundy Thursday Service.

The origins of the name ‘Good Friday’ are not clear. Some sources see its origins in the term ‘God's Friday’.
All are welcome.

If you have never been to this service before you are more than welcome.

This service goes all the way back to the early church and is visually and spiritually very moving. It's a service that starts with having a fire outside and coming into the church which is in complete darkness, with simple candle light. Unusually everyone is also asked to bring something with them that will make a noise. That includes the kitchen pan and wooden spoon, if you cannot think of anything simply just clapping and stomping your feet would be great!

Children are more than welcome to come along and lead the shy adults when prompted in making as much noise as possible!

We look forward to seeing you.

Easter Day stands as the most significant feast in the Christian calendar, marking The Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the triumph of life over death. In St James’ the day begins with a Festal Eucharist, where the congregation is greeted with the joyful proclamation: “Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!” Bells ring out and hymns of praise fill the air, expressing the glory and hope brought by the risen Lord.

The liturgy includes readings from the Bible which includes the Gospel acclamation, “I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.”

These words remind the faithful of the central mystery of Easter: the resurrection is not just a historical event, but a living reality that transforms every believer.