Join us in a service of Daily Prayer
Join us for a service of Daily Prayer
Holy Communion is celebrated by the whole people of God gathered for worship. The ministry of the members of the congregation is expressed through their active participation together in the words and actions of the service, but also by some of them reading the Scripture passages, leading the prayers of intercession,
Join us for a service of Daily Prayer
Sunday Morning Worship, including Choral Eucharist, Parish Eucharist, Baptisms, followed by refreshments in the Parish Hall
Ashes are an ancient sign of penitence; from the middle ages it became the custom to begin Lent by being marked in ash with the sign of the cross.
Please Note: this service is in place of the regular Holy Communion Service
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. 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.
Please note: these Services will take place every Friday starting Friday 7th March - 11th April, alternating between All Saints Church and St. Mary's Catholic Church, Compton, Leek (14th, 28th & 11th April will be held at St. Mary's Church).
The last Stations of the Cross Service will take place on Good Friday - 18th April at 1.00pm, with Hot Cross Buns and Reflection, finishing at 3.00pm
Sunday Morning Worship, including Choral Eucharist and Parish Eucharist
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. 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.
Our own choir will be joined by the singers from St. Edward's Church, Cheddleton.
Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to end the day and prepare for the week ahead.
Through participation in the whole sequence of services, the Christian shares in Christ’s own journey, from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the empty tomb on Easter morning. The procession with palms, which was already observed in Jerusalem in the fourth century, is accompanied by the reading or singing of the Passion Narrative, in which the whole story of the week is anticipated.
We are joined at this Service by the St. Cecilia's Singers
All the churches in Leek join together for a joint Eucharist Service
Maundy Thursday is the day when Christians remember the Last Supper, when Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples before being betrayed and arrested.
During the meal, Jesus took and blessed bread and wine and shared them with his disciples, calling the bread and wine his body and blood.
He urged the disciples to do the same after his death in memory of him, and indeed Christians have done so ever since at Holy Communion – also known as the Eucharist, The Lord’s Supper or Mass.
Maundy Thursday takes its name from the Latin word ‘mandatum’ meaning commandment. During the supper Jesus told his disciples: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13 v 34 –NRSV).
He also got up from the table and poured a basin of water and washed the disciples' feet. This was the act of a servant. He also told them to do the same for others.
Many churches recreate this act at special services on Maundy Thursday as a reminder of how Jesus served others and of how Christians should also serve others.
In medieval times it was common for kings and queens to take part in foot washing, as well as giving money and gifts, on Maundy Thursday. The practice was observed by Austro-Hungarian emperors right into the 20th Century.
In England it developed into what is called the Royal Maundy Service in which the monarch distributes special coins, known as Maundy Money, which have kept much the same form since 1670. This is usually held at a different cathedral each year.
King Charles is marking the first Royal Maundy Service of his reign at York Minster where 74 men and 74 women (signifying his age) will receive the gift to thank them for outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in their local communities.
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. 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.
This Good Friday Eucharist Service will also include Hot Cross Buns and Reflection
Easter Day marks the beginning of fifty days of celebrating Jesus' resurrection. The final ten days begin on Ascension day where we celebrate Jesus' ascension into heaven. Churches around the country mark the day with services, sometimes outside or on church roofs. Finally, at the end of the fifty days, we celebrate Pentecost (sometimes called Whitsun) when Jesus' disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is often referred to as the birthday of the Church and is celebrated with parties and Whit walks (processions through town).
This Service sees the sunrise and the lighting of the Easter Candle at Tittesworth Reservoir (nr Leek). The Candle is lit from the fire and will be brought into the darkened church. This depiction of new life and light represents Jesus’ resurrection on the first Easter morning. The congregation then light their own candles from the Easter candle, representing their own new life as followers of Jesus.
On Easter Sunday, churches across England will celebrate because Jesus died for our sins and then rose again.
Throughout Lent, churches are kept stark and bare but on Easter Sunday, the churches are decorated with flowers and the sombre purple of Lent is replaced with celebratory white or gold. There is a real party feel to many services with uplifting music and repeated alleluias (an exclamation of joyful praise). Easter Day marks the beginning of fifty days of celebrating Jesus' resurrection.
Please Note: This Service replaced the previously scheduled Service at 11am