LENT 2026
Walking with Jesus toward the joy of Easter
Lent is a sacred season of preparation that invites us to slow down, reflect, and turn our hearts toward God as we journey toward Easter. Over forty days, we walk with Jesus through prayer, Scripture, and self-examination, remembering his path of love, sacrifice, and obedience. It is a time to deepen our dependence on God, to listen more closely for his voice, and to be shaped by grace as we follow Christ toward the hope and joy of the resurrection.
A SEASON TO WALK WITH JESUS IN PRAYER
For 2026, we are inviting you all to ‘Walk with Jesus in Prayer’ - not as a technique to master, but as a relationship we step into. Each week explores a different way of praying, rooted in Scripture and shaped by the wisdom of Pete Greig’s ‘How to Pray’. We start on Ash Wednesday and complete our prayer journey on Palm Sunday.
Ash Wednesday - Showing up Honestly
Honest / Penitential Prayer
Sunday 22nd February - Finding the Rhythm
Scriptural / Anchoring Prayer
Sunday 1st March - Listening to God
Contemplative / Listening Prayer
Sunday 8th March - Finding our Voice
Conversational / Intercessory Prayer
Sunday 15th March - Seeing with God's Eyes
Transformational / Intercessory Prayer
Sunday 22nd March - Staying in the Conversation
Lament / Perservering Prayer
Sunday 29th March - Trusting God with Ourselves (Palm Sunday)
Surrender / Yielding Prayer
Ash Wednesday
To mark the start of Lent, we will hold a service of Ashing with Holy Communion. Ashing is a simple yet powerful act in which ashes are placed on our foreheads in the shape of a cross, reminding us of our mortality—“dust you are, and to dust you shall return”—and our need for God’s mercy and grace. A sign of repentance and humility, it invites us to turn again to God and begin our Lenten journey with renewed hearts as we walk with Jesus toward Easter.
Wednesday 18th February | 7:00pm | St Mary's Church
Lent Book Group
As part of Lent, we will also be running a four part Lent Book Group over a light breakfast on select Saturdays.
Using a book edited by the Archbishop of Canterbury, called Dancing to the Heartbeat of God, will be talking about some of the stories from across the globe which offers a confident and hopeful vision of faith lived out in everyday life.
Through personal stories, testimonies, and reflections, the book explores what it really means to follow Christ; listening for God's rhythm, responding with courage, and sharing faith with others in authentic and creative ways. Rooted in real experience rather than abstract theory, these voices speak with honesty, energy, and hopeand encouraging you to share something of your own story.
You can sign up to all dates or just one - you are Welcome.
21st & 28th February | 14th & 28th March
9:30am - 11:00am | St Mary's Church Centre
Purchasing our recommended Lent Book
If you are wishing to join us for our Lent Book Group, you can purchase a copy as part of registering to attend. We will ensure your book is ready for collection before the sessions start.
If you wished to purchase the book separately and follow along at home, you can purchase online from Amazon or directly through us at a slightly reduced rate of £9.50 (RRP £11.50).
COMING SOON
THE REAL EASTER EGG 2026
The 2026 Original Real Easter Egg includes a new 24 page Easter story activity book with a £200 prize competition. There is also a super thick Fairtrade milk chocolate egg (150g) with a lovely creamy taste. 30% cocoa – Palm Oil & plastic free.
The 2026 design includes:
Large 24 page Easter story-activity book
£200 prize competition
Super thick milk chocolate egg (150g) with a lovely creamy taste. 30% cocoa.
Palm Oil free
Plastic free
This year the free 24 page Easter story-activity book has had a whole new design. It is illustrated by award winning artist Martina Peluso and contains the story of the first Easter along with some fun activities. Over its 24 pages, the story covers the final week of the life of Jesus and includes the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The book contains a prize competition worth £200.
These eggs are not available in any supermarket.
Available: Milk Chocolate & Plain Chocolate - £6 each