This week sees the start of Lent: a penitential season where we devote ourselves to the three-fold practice of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It's a welcome opportunity to recover a more simple way of living and, freed from the clutter of modern life, to discover that God — in the words of theologian Paul Tillich — is the ground of our being.
After nearly a year of lockdown, shielding and social-distancing you may feel you have had enough of the simple life, and who could blame you? Yet I'd like to encourage you to embrace Lent, and to see our current circumstances as giving us a head start in really devoting ourselves to it. As St Anne's we will support your Lent observance in a number of ways.
On Ash Wednesday (17th) the church will be open for private prayer from Noon to 1pm, where you will be able to ash yourself using a simple liturgy. We're also going to be making use of the Church of England's Lent book, God's Story, Our Story. If you receive this news sheet by post, then you will find a copy enclosed. For those reading this via email and WhatsApp, you can request a copy from the parish office. For each day in Lent the book provides a short Bible reading, reflection and prayer. We will also be featuring readings from the book in our weekday prayers online. And later in Lent, we'll be offering you a variety of ways to pray the Stations of the Cross.
Our Lent appeal this year aims to help us keep the story being told at St Anne's, and we're asking you to make a special contribution to church funds which have been severely impacted by the pandemic. You can donate online at stanneandallsaints.org.uk/give, or post a cheque payable to 'St Anne and All Saints PCC' to Norman Campbell (SB pls complete).
I wish you a very blessed and holy Lenten season, and will be continuing to pray for you throughout.
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