The season of Lent is traditionally a time of self-examination and preparation for the celebration of the great feast of the Christian faith - Easter. Our worship takes on a distinctive seasonal feel: no 'Gloria' in our sung worship, a lack of 'Alleluias' and you will notice that nearly all the banners have been removed in church and there are no flowers. The contrast will be palpable when we reach our Easter worship.

Lent runs from Ash Wednesday (February 17th this year) to the start of Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday (March 28th). During these six weeks we should try individually and corporately to give time and energy to taking stock of our relationship with God. How will you do this this year?

A good start is to join our worship this week on Ash Wednesday - a Eucharist at 10am in the Lady Chapel or at 8pm in church. We have the opportunity to commit ourselves afresh to God as we are invited to receive the imposition of ashes on the forehead as a sign of penitence.
SING and Quartet churches are again running a very stimulating Lent course on most days of the week (see the flier for details of 14 groups meeting locally). Why not join in and explore Mark's Gospel through 'Singing in the Rain?' with DVD input from inspirational Christian writer Jeff Lucas and group discussion, for six weeks? Daily readings linked to this course are on sale in our bookshop.
As well as our ongoing daily and weekly worship and special Sunday evening 'Stations of the Cross' services in Lent, why not try using a set of bible reading notes or buy a Christian book to guide you through the season?
As ever, I am available for an hour's one-to-one - a Lent 'MOT' to help you take stock of your relationship with God, or for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Book a date now.
I also encourage you to commit to journey together through Holy Week with your brothers and sisters in Christ here from March 28th-April 4th. There is daily worship and our visiting speaker Sister Helen Julian, from the Community of St Francis.

Let's make the time and the space to go deeper with God together this Lent! Simon.

The Collect for Ash Wednesday
Holy God, our lives are laid open before you: rescue us from the chaos of sin and through the death of your Son bring us healing and make us whole in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.