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Lent

Lent 2023: Churches Together in Redbourn

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Throughout Lent 2023 the Churches Together in Redbourn are offering sessions, activities, services and events at varying days, times and locations so that you can choose to participate in those that excite your interest and are at a convenient hour and place.

Evening and Afternoon Sessions

Thursday 2 March

7.30 to 9.00pm – at St Mary’s Church
‘Injustice and Inequality, introducing the work of the Mill End Community Group’.
Speaker Robin McEwen – Methodist Church Outreach Worker

Thursday 16 March

7.30 to 9.00pm – at St Mary’s Church
‘Insulate Britain, Just Stop Oil, and the role of direct action in the face of ecological crisis’ and ‘Christian Climate Action’
Speakers Craig Scudder Insulate Britain; Sue Hampton CCA

Tuesday 21 March

2.30 to 4.00pm – at St John Fisher Church
‘Anna Chaplains … offering spiritual care in later life … named after the widow, Anna, appearing with Simeon in Luke 2: 36-38’ Speaker Maggie Dodd – Anna Chaplain in St Albans

Saturday 25 March

2.30 to 4.00pm – at St Mary’s Church
‘The churches’ and individuals’ response to the climate crisis’ Talk and activities for all ages
Speaker Philip Nalpanis – Green Christian St Albans and a local representative for A Rocha UK

Churches Together in Redbourn Services

Friday 3 March

11.00 to 12noon – at Redbourn Methodist Church World Day of Prayer 2023 – ‘I have heard about your faith’ Christians in Taiwan bless us with the service they have prepared

Saturday 18 March

2.30 to 3.30pm – St Matthew’s Care Home CTR Service for the residents of St Matthew’s

Lent Lunches – at Redbourn Methodist Church

Friday 3; Friday 10; Friday 17; Friday 24 & Friday 31 March – 12.30pm Churches Together in Redbourn will take it in turn to provide a simple lunch at the Methodist Church as we share together and socialise.

Donations equivalent to the cost of your lunch are invited and these will be given to our Lent charities – Christian Aid and CAFOD.

Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? Ezekiel 34:19

… share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house. Isaiah 58: 7

Jesus said: ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
from Matthew 25: 31-46

Words of the prophets of the Old Testament, and of Jesus, resonate with many who would bring to our attention – in various ways – the injustices within our society, and the damage inflicted on our fragile environment.

They should resonate with us, too.

This Lent … join with the Churches Together in Redbourn to hear how individuals and organisations are working to make a change for the better; offer the light of hope in dark places; and encourage us to tread lightly on the earth.

Events

Shrove Tuesday: Pancake Bash & Ash

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Please join us in the courtyard at 4.00pm on Shrove Tuesday, 21st February where we will be burning last year’s palm crosses and then enjoying some pancakes together.

If you have any palm crosses from last year, do bring them along. We will be burning them to make ash for our Ash Wednesday services.

We’ll meet at 4.00pm in the courtyard, to be followed by pancakes until 5.00pm.

There is no charge, pancakes are free. No need to sign up – just come along. Dairy free option available (oat milk).

All ages are welcome – see you there!

Articles

Looking After the Garden of Rest

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Our beautiful churchyard, graveyard and the Garden of Rest where ashes are interred are much-loved green spaces for the whole village community, and places of comfort and reflection for those grieving loved ones. They are also a haven for wildlife, insects and wild flowers.

As such, we are committed to the ongoing upkeep of these areas, making sure they look their best all year round. We have a dedicated team of churchyard volunteers who spend many hours each month mowing, clearing, weeding and planting. We also work with people from the Community Payback Scheme who visit weekly to assist with all areas of maintenance.

Looking After the Garden of Rest

In order to keep this particular area tidy and under control, it is important that we all keep to the regulations which are provided to  families when ashes are interred.

These are in line with churchyards across the country, and are designed to allow for mowing and maintenance, to protect wildlife and for the safety of our visitors.

Permitted:
  • Natural flowers (not in any packaging please) may be laid on the lawn
  • Plaques no larger than 8″ x 6″ / 20cm x 15cm – only in the Rose Beds
Not Permitted:
  • Artificial Flowers
  • Vases or flower tubes
  • Plant Pots
  • Any other form of memorial

Please note that flowers may need to be moved whilst we’re mowing. If they are still reasonably fresh, they will be replaced as near as possible to where they were taken from.

If you have placed any items in the Garden of Rest which are not permitted, we would be most grateful if you could arrange for these to be removed by the beginning of March. If that won’t be possible for any reason, do let us know and we’ll do our best to help out.

After this time we will begin the process of removing items that are not permitted, so that we can restore the lawn to a fine condition for all to appreciate.

How can I get involved in helping out in the churchyard?

Our churchyard team are always grateful to hear from new volunteers. They meet every four to six weeks on a rota basis, usually on Saturday mornings, but can also allocate jobs to be undertaken in your own time.

Please get in touch with David Swift to find out more or to volunteer.