Church of the Holy Nativity, Chapel House
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Lent is 40 days before Easter
Traditionally Lent is a time for fasting or at least reducing the amount of food eaten, 'giving something up'. We remember Jesus spending 40 days in the wilderness.
Shrove Tuesday is when all the fat and eggs left over would be eaten (hence pancakes) before the 40th day fast from meat and dairy produce begins. In some countries, such as Romania, this fast is still widely observed.
Ash Wednesday is a day when repentance is noted by the imposition of ashes. Still today Christians often mark this day of repentance with a cross marked in ash on their foreheads.
Stations of the Cross
During Lent, every Sunday afternoon, Christians from Holy Nativity and St John Vianney will meet to follow the story of Jesus' journey to the cross.
Many centuries ago wealthy Christians would travel to Jerusalem on pilgrimage to follow the 'way of the cross' in prayer. St Francis of Assisi lived amongst very poor people and he designed the first Stations of the Cross so that everyone could follow the journey in pilgrimage in their own towns.
Mothering Sunday, 3 Sundays before Easter, is a time to remember 'mother church' and that we are all brothers and sisters in God's family. In England it was traditionally the one day in the year when young men and women, who served as staff in the wealthy family homes, were given the day off to visit their mother and family. Today we appreciate not only mother church and Jesus' mother but also the life-giving and nurturing role of all mothers.
Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, is the time when the church remembers Jesus' walk into Jerusalem before his trial and execution. He was greeted like a celebrity, with a carpet of palms and cheering crowds. Today every church in the world will make a procession of witness to honour Jesus. In Chapel House you will see us gathering at the petrol station on Hillhead Parkway – Christians from both Holy Nativity and St John Vianney Churches joining in prayer and song, then processing back to our own churches for the Sunday Communion.
Do join us! You will be given a palm cross as a symbol to keep.
Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter, is a most solemn and important time for church members. We follow the story of Jesus from the 'last supper' with his friends through to his crucifixion and death, remembering the cost of the sacrifice made for us all in love.
There is much symbolism and some of the most beautiful and poignant services of the church's year are during this week.
Maundy Thursday is when we re-enact the moment at the Last Supper when Jesus washed his disciples' feet – a sign of his servanthood. We remember that we are all called to serve God in the world with Christ as both our brother and our example. The church is beautifully lit for the service, then at the close the lights are put out and all the furniture and ornaments are taken out of the church leaving it bare for Good Friday.
Good Friday is called 'good' because Jesus' death was the greatest sacrifice that the God of Love could make for the sake of the beloved creation. Through Jesus' death, good triumphed over evil. At Holy Nativity we hold a Children's Activities Morning, when they make all kinds of things for Easter and learn about Jesus' love for everyone.
Holy Saturday evening is when we re-enter church with the new Easter Candle and light everyone's candles from it. The church is filled with light and new songs are sung to welcome Jesus' resurrection and the beginning of new life. Our baptismal vows are renewed.
Browse through our services planned for Lent in the Activities/Events Calendar.