Lent 2011
This year, the holy season of Lent begins on Wednesday March 9th- Ash Wednesday.
Although Lent is sometimes seen as a time of po-faced abstinence, it is actually the most wonderful gift of God to the Church, as it gives everyone a chance for a spring-clean of their faith, an opportunity to grow in prayer, faith and learning, and a chance to exercise some self-discipline, possibly raising money for a good cause while doing so.
This year in the parish, we are aiming to do a number of worthwhile things:
Personal prayer and devotion
All members of the parish are being encouraged to read Lent for Everyone - a book by the prolific former Bishop of Durham (now teaching at the University of St Andrew's) that engages with this year's gospel.
In addition, people are being asked to think about attending an extra service each week - possibly one of the weekday celebrations of the Eucharist, or maybe Morning or Evening Prayer. All our services are shown here.
Lent Study Course
This year's parish Lent course is entitled Read, Mark, Learn, and is produced by our own Diocese of Peterborough to mark the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible.
The course will be offered on Tuesday evenings, Wednesday lunchtimes and Thursday mornings.
Lenten Charity
Every year, we aim to support a charitable cause through personal fund-raising (often through giving up something for Lent), and through the Lent Lunches (simple bread & soup lunches held in the Parish Hall immediately after the 1215 Eucharist each Wednesday). This year we will follow Christian Aid's Count my Blessings project throughout Lent, raising money for them as we go.
And above all else....
I hope you draw closer to God through this special season of denial and discipline.
Dominic Barrington, Parish Priest
