UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, it has been necessary to change the order of speakers for this year’s Stations of the Cross. Specifically, Nancy Stephens will be the guest speaker on March 10 and Bishop David Edwards will be guest speaker on March 31.

Each year, the Parish of Derby and Blackville hosts a series of Lenten speakers on the six Fridays proceeding Good Friday at their services of the Stations of the Cross. This year’s theme is from the first line of the traditional Epistle for Palm Sunday (Philippians 2: 5-11, BCP, page 150). The passage continues, “…who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be equal to God, but emptied himself, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him the name which is above every name; that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father.”

This Epistle begins our Holy Week worship by inviting us to enter into the very mind of Christ himself, as He humbles Himself to take our nature, obedient to the Father, all the way to the death of the Cross. In this loving humility we most fully see the hour of His Glory. The King of Glory lays down His life for us all. He calls us to “love one another just as I have loved you”. (John 13:34)

The observance of the Stations of the Cross each Friday between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday is a weekly rehearsal of Christ’s Passion, preparing us for Holy Week when we will “observe with great devotion the days of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection” (Lenten Exhortation, BCP, page 611).

You are invited to join them at 11:30 am, each Friday from February 24 to March 31 for a service of the Stations of the Cross at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 298 Main St, Blackville. After the service they will gather in the basement hall for a simple Lenten lunch during which you will hear a new speaker each week reflect on our Lord’s Passion.

This year’s speakers will be:

• February 24, 2023 – the Rev’d Garth Maxwell, Retired Priest of our Diocese
• March 3, 2023 – Captain the Rev’d Deacon Nicholas Saulnier, Assistant Curate, Parishes of St. Mary (York), Marysville and Stanley
• March 10, 2023 – Nancy Stephens, former parishioner and NB Anglican columnist ** UPDATED
• March 17, 2023 – the Rev’d Deacon Rick Cunningham, Assistant Curate, St. George’s (Parish of Moncton)
• March 24, 2023 – Major the Rev’d Canon Chris VanBuskirk, Rector, St. George’s (Parish of Moncton
• March 31, 2023 – The Most Rev’d David Edwards, Diocesan Bishop and Metropolitan ** UPDATED

For more information call (506) 843 6022 or visit the Parish website at www.crosspurposes.ca

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5) – Stations of the Cross, Anglican Parish of Derby and Blackville 2023

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