Lent is a time for opening ourselves to God’s grace: the free gift of his love.

Lent isn’t about punishing ourselves, nor about God punishing us. It isn’t about making ourselves worthy of God. And (thank goodness) Lent is definitely not about us showing each other how very holy we are! 

No, Lent is simply about our openness to grace: that free gift of love and mercy given to us by God because God wills us to have it, not because of anything we’ve done to earn it!

It’s grace that all the practices associated with Lent – repentance, fasting, alms-giving, study, reconciliation – are intended to open us to. Or, to put it another way: openness to grace is the true purpose of repentance, fasting, alms-giving, study, and reconciliation.

Lent begins on the 6th March with two services for Ash Wednesday (10.00am and 7.30pm). This is a significant day in the Christian year, and these are important and moving services to which all are warmly welcome. ‘Ashing’ will take place at both services: as a cross of ash is marked on our foreheads, we hear the poignant words: ‘Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return; turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ’… Read more >>