Benefice Service for Ash Wednesday, Ss. Simon & Jude, Cockshutt – 14th February 2024
With Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent, we hosted the annual Benefice Service here at Cockshutt Church. Despite the darkness and cold of the early February evening, communicants from across the Benefice joined together for this auspicious service.
From the outset, the atmosphere in Church was different. A raw starkness pervaded the Church; all flowers had been removed, the vestments and altar cloth changed to Purple and the brightly coloured Kempe window above the reredos were little more than opaque blackness against the night skies.
The Service was led by the Reverend John Darch (retired) who focused our hearts and minds at the beginning of Lent on our journey of prayer and penitence.
During the Service, we approached the altar for the Imposition of Ashes, and the Reverend Darch marked each of our foreheads with a cross (the burnt ashes of last year’s palm crosses). For each of us, this was accompanied by the solemn words,
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ”, which reminds us of our own sin and mortality.
The Bible reading was taken from 2 Corinthians 5: 20b-6:10, where Paul tells of his hardships and endurance in his following of Christ.
The sermon was based on John 8: 3-11, when Jesus tells the Pharisees,
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.”
After Prayers of Intercession, we went to the altar for the receiving of Holy Communion, during which we were gently, but beautifully accompanied by a duet from the Benefice Choir.
Finally, we finished with Prayers and the Blessing; after the dismissal, we thoughtfully and quietly made our way home.
The Service was much appreciated by us all.
VJC
Feature Image: Cockshutt Church, just before the service on 14.02.2024. Images Copyright Meres & Meadows Messenger.