Topic: Notice

Stations of the cross: 3 Jesus Falls for the first time

Today on the Way of the Cross we come to the 3rd “station”:

Jesus Falls for the first time

Jesus said: Come unto me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put upon you you is light. Matthew 11:26-30


Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and with his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah. 53:4-6

Jesus, the cross you have been carrying is very heavy. You are becoming weak and almost ready to faint, and you fall down. Nobody seems to want to help you. The soldiers are interested in getting home, so they yell at you and try to get you up and moving again.

As a child, sometimes we start to do something, but then get tired of it. We hurry to get finished and sometimes don’t do our work well. Sometimes we don’t pay attention to what we should be doing. When things get hard for us, we sometimes just give up.

As an adult, we sometimes put things off. We give up too easily, and sometimes don’t do our work as well as we know we can.

Lord, we often fail to see the heavy burdens others carry and sometimes add to them ourselves. In these difficult times we are going through, help us to see the needs of others and to offer the help that is needed. Make us sensitive to our neighbour’s needs and willing to help shoulder their burdens. We pray for those courageous people we know who struggle on, when life is hard and who rarely complain.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Stations of the cross: 2 Jesus takes up his cross

Jesus takes up his cross

Jesus said: Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Matthew 16:24

And he said: Bless those who persecute you and pray for those who ill treat you. Luke 6:28

Jesus, as you accepted your cross, you knew you would carry it to your death on Calvary. You knew it wouldn’t be easy, but you accepted it and carried it just the same.

As a child, sometimes we don’t like the problems that come our way. Sometimes we try to get others to take care of them or solve them for us. Sometimes we become upset and crabby when asked to do even the smallest thing to help others.

As an adult we sometimes feel like we are not appreciated. Sometimes we feel as if we have to accept more responsibility that we need. We can feel sorry for ourselves, even though the crosses others carry are much larger than our own. In our own self-pity, we don’t reach out to help.

We confess Lord, that we find your words very hard. We do not want to carry the cross. We can rarely bring ourselves to bless those who make our life difficult. Give us the strength to grow in your likeness, that we may learn to triumph over the wrong in others, and in ourselves, with love.

We pray for the people we know who carry heavy crosses, for those able to forgive and accept, and those who want to curse. May your blessing reach out to them.

Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Stations of the Cross: 1 Jesus is Condemned to Death

Jesus is condemned to death

Jesus said: Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you – Matthew 7:1

He said: Let the one among you who has committed no sin cast the first stone – John 8:7

And he said: You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free – John 8:32

Jesus stands, judged and condemned by a man who says that he does not know what truth is, a man afraid to listen to the voice of truth. Pilate has acted conveniently, he has satisfied the crowd, he has done his job, he has kept the peace; but, deep down, he knows where truth and justice lie, so he washes his hands, in the hope that this will somehow absolve him.

Jesus stands all alone before Pilate. Nobody speaks up for him. Nobody helps defend him. He devoted his entire life to helping others, listening to the smallest ones, caring for those who were ignored by others. They don’t seem to remember that as they call for him to put him to death.

As a child, sometimes we feel alone. Sometimes we feel that others don’t stand up for us and defend us when we are afraid. Sometimes we don’t feel like we are treated fairly, especially if we are scolded or corrected.

As an adult, sometimes we feel abandoned and afraid as well. Sometimes we too, feel like we treated unfairly or blamed for things unfairly. We have a hard time when people criticize us at home or at work.

Help me be grateful for what you did for me. Help me to accept criticism and unfairness as you did, and not complain. Help me pray for those who have hurt me.

My Jesus, often have I signed the death warrant by my sins; save me by Thy death from that eternal death which I have so often deserved.

Lord, we realise that we too have fled from the truth and lacked the courage to do what we know to be right.

We thank you that you are so generous, that you carry our sin, rather than condemning us for it, and we pray for the many people in our world who are unjustly judged and condemned when they are innocent.

Lord, in your mercy…Hear our prayer

The Church buildings are closed but Church continues at home

Easter card image

In light of the latest Government Advice to STAY AT HOME, all churches are now closed.

This is in stark contrast to the image on our Easter card which shows the open door into one of our Benefice Churches.

However, we will be providing lots of resources online and/or by email.

You can still contact us by email: [email protected] or [email protected]

or telephone Geoffrey 01993 832514 or Anne 01993 830160