ASH WEDNESDAY marks the beginning of the season of LENT, an important time in the Church year and an opportunity for us all to deepen our faith and to grow in holiness. This should be a joyful time, a season of grace, as well as a time for repentance, self-control and generosity.

There are additional services, prayers and discussion groups at St Mary’s through Lent – please see the Lent flier and details on our website.

All this is offered to help you during the 40 days of Lent to grow closer to God, to take up your cross and follow Christ.

We hope you will enjoy this season of Lent and make the most of these opportunities to deepen your own prayers and to meet and pray together.

I would always say please don’t make Lent too busy – don’t try to do everything! Find the things that are helpful for you then make the commitment to keep them going through these 40 days.

We offer this time not just for ourselves, but for the whole Church throughout the world and also for the needs and sufferings of God’s people everywhere.

On a practical level we are asked to be generous in supporting our Bishop’s Lent Appeal, helping projects in the Holy Land, in Jerusalem and here in south London. Again there is information the Bishop’s Lent Appeal on the website.

There will be a further flier and information for Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter Day on Sunday 9th April and for the Easter season.

We wish you every blessing for this special time, that we may all grow in God’s grace and love. ‘Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’