Running from Ash Wednesday to the Easter Vigil (See the church calendar) and typically characterised by the use of Purple fabrics, no flowers or unnecessary adornments, and a private and whole-church focus on going deeper with God, the Lenten period including Passiontide and Holy Week is a time of somber reflection. Often individuals will undertake fasting / giving up something, and increase their personal focus on God whilst preparing for the celebration of Easter.
Lent is an opportunity to put some time aside for prayer, service, and supporting one another in going deeper with God.
During the services of Lent we will not sing the Gloria during the service, and an act of penetence including flicking of holy water (Know as Asperges) may take place to remind us that we are all, through baptism, included in the saving work of Jesus.
Services
Lent
- Ash Wednesday: This midweek service starts at 8pm, and includes the 'ashing' where the Vicar will use ashes to mark the forehead. This ancient rite reminds us that we are dust, and eventually we will return to the dust. The cross marked on the forehead reminds us also that Christ has marked us as part of his family.
- Lent 1
- Lent 2
- Lent 3
- Lent 4 - Mothering Sunday: this service includes the blessing of the flowers - given out to all mothers and mothering figures in the church. The vicar will likely wear Rose vestments, and the service may be a little longer.
Passiontide
- Lent 5 - Passion Sunday
- Palm Sunday: the service includes the blessing of the Palm Crosses for the year. All are welcome to take a cross during the service, to use as you would like throughout the year.
Holy week
- Maundy Thursday: we celebrate the Eucharist of Maundy Thursday at 8pm. The service includes the commemerative washing of the feet, and at the end of the service we process to the Lady Chapel for "The Watch" where some of our congregation will stay to watch and pray in silence until 10pm. You are welcome to join us for the eucharist only or to stay for the watch - as you need.
- Good Friday: the Good Friday eucharist takes place at 3pm, and is a quick service. Characterised as 'rough and ready' the service contains no service music, the communion is taken in one kind (Wafer only - consecrated the during Maundy Thursday) and all leave quickly in silence. This service reminds us of the disciples living through the death of Jesus, before they had the comfort of the resurrection.
- The Easter Vigil: our Easter Vigil will take place on Saturday at 8pm in the church. The service starts in darkness with readings and prayers focussed on God's acts of creation and prophesy before we move to the baptistry to light our Pashal candle for the year. This new light is then processed through the church, the Exultet is sung, and then we turn on the lights and sing the Gloria for the first time since Ash Wednesday. We then gather at the Font for the renewal of our baptismal vows, before continuing the eucharist as usual.