March Church News

St George's Douglas

Isle of Man

In the Diocese of Sodor and Man, part of the Church of England

We are a very welcoming church, with a lot going on. 

Come in and see us

  FROM THE VICARAGE

Lent Lunches

Lent Sacrifice

THE CROSS AND YOU

The cross is the way of the lost

The cross is the staff of the lame

The cross is the guide of the blind

The cross is the strength of the weak

The cross is the hope of the hopeless

The cross is the freedom of the slaves

The cross is the water of the seeds

The cross is the consolation of the labourers

The cross is the source of those who seek water

The cross is the cloth of the naked 

                                                An African hymn

In my opinion, there is too much negativity in the church, about the cross and the place it has in our Christian lives.  Sadly, this is epitomised in the way so many people ignore the Good Friday service and yet, come on Easter Day seeking Easter Joy without acknowledging its cost. 

If Christ had not gone to the cross, to take away our sins, there would be no Easter Day, no Resurrection to celebrate.  We cannot ignore the cost to Jesus, who willingly gave himself for us and our sins, once and for all. No matter how painful and upsetting we find it, at least from our point of view, we know that Good Friday was not a tragic end to a heroic story, unlike the disciples at the time.

The African hymn above, restores the balance and sets the cross in the centre of life showing us how it brings hope to the whole of creation including ourselves.  That it is something so profound, is the reason we keep the two weeks of Passiontide which lead up to Easter, and in particular Good Friday itself.

Will you walk the way of the cross with your Lord this year?

Brian.