Category Archives: Lent

Lent

Journey to the Cross

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During Lent we have 12 images on display, representing Jesus’ “Journey to the Cross”, along the lines of the Stations of the Cross.

Created by one of our Lay Leaders of Worship, Lesley Poulton, we hope they will help you reflect on the Easter story as you journey through Lent. They will be available to see each day and used within some of our services. You can find a guide and resources at the back of church to help you.

They chart the events of Good Friday and while being seen predominantly in Roman Catholic settings, Stations of the Cross can also be found in Anglican, Lutheran and Methodist traditions too.

We hope you will take time out to come and visit, reflect, light a candle or leave a prayer for us to pray on your behalf this Lent. Do encourage others to visit too.

Download a guide to the pictures

Jesus said: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11: 28 – end

‘Being’ and ‘Bringing’

There’s lots to look forward to this month especially as we think about how we will journey through Lent.

At St Mary’s we will be having Compline at 9.00pm on Tuesdays when we will be reflecting on the Psalms using Charlie Bell’s ‘Searched me Out and Known Me’.

Then on Thursdays at 7.30pm we will be looking at The Women of Holy Week with the help of Paula Gooder’s book of the same title.


Also during Lent, we will be exhibiting Stations of the Cross, created by our congregation member Lesley. We will be using the artwork to reflect on the story of Lent, Holy Week and Easter and we do hope you will visit. We hope to see you there.

Lent 2025: Churches Together in Redbourn

‘Being’ and ‘Bringing’

There’s lots to look forward to this month especially as we think about how we will journey through Lent.

At St Mary’s we will be having Compline at 9.00pm on Tuesdays when we will be reflecting on the Psalms using Charlie Bell’s ‘Searched me Out and Known Me’.

Then on Thursdays at 7.30pm we will be looking at The Women of Holy Week with the help of Paula Gooder’s book of the same title.

Also during Lent, we will be exhibiting Stations of the Cross, created by our congregation member Lesley. We will be using the artwork to reflect on the story of Lent, Holy Week and Easter and we do hope you will visit. We hope to see you there.

God bless, Rachel

Easter, Lent

Holy Week and Easter at St Mary’s

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You are invited to join us at St Mary’s as we move through the events of Holy Week. We remember the last meal Jesus shared with his friends in the upper room, his prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane, his trial, crucifixion and triumphant resurrection on that first Easter morning. 

Join us for any of these services, or simply come in to church, pause and pray. 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of Holy Week

8.00pm – Holy Eucharist with sermon

On the first three evenings of Holy Week, we gather for a quiet communion service and a reflection on the example Mary’s sets of living generously in John’s gospel.

Maundy Thursday 

8.00pm – Lord’s Supper with foot washing and stripping of the altars, followed by the Vigil of Gethsemane, and then Compline just before midnight. 

A service reminding us of Jesus gathering with his disciples in the Upper Room for the Last Supper. We recall Jesus kneeling and washing their feet as an example to us of humble, loving service. He takes bread and wine, inviting each of us to continue this act in the partaking of Holy Communion to remember Him. 

At the end of the service, we process to the Lady Chapel, decorated in greenery to represent the Garden of Gethsemane, and there we sit, pray and watch as we remember Jesus praying, then recalling his betrayal by Judas and arrest. 

Good Friday 

10.00am – All-Age Service – all are welcome as we follow a trail to help us reflect on the journey of Holy Week and what it means for us. 

11.30am – Walk of Witness with Churches Together in Redbourn, starting at St John Fisher Roman Catholic Church on Dunstable Road. We join with Christians from St John Fisher and Redbourn Methodist Church to share in this act of witness, following a cross through the village, hearing readings, prayers and singing hymns. 

1.30pm – Liturgy with Veneration of the Cross and Communion at St Mary’s. We gather for this solemn act of worship, finishing at 3pm – the time Jesus died on the cross. 

Easter Sunday 

6.00am – Dawn Vigil & Ceremonies led by Bishop Robin Smith, followed by breakfast

Our dawn vigil starts in the early light, as we hear readings recalling that first Easter Day.  We bless and light our Paschal candle and carry it into the church as the first light of Easter, representing the light of the risen Christ. We round off our dawn service by affirming our baptismal promises and sharing breakfast together.

8.00am – The First Communion of Easter (Book of Common Prayer)

10.00am – All-Age Parish Eucharist followed by refreshments and an Easter Egg hunt. 

All are welcome. 

Lent

Palm Sunday Procession: Sunday 24th March

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We burned our palm crosses from last year on Shrove Tuesday (at the ‘Bash & Ash’ Party)…. now it is time to come and get a new one!

Come and join our joyful Palm Sunday procession from the Cricket Pavilion to St Mary’s as we recall Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. Children will be given small tree branches to wave as we travel and sing, then form an arch with their branches for everyone to pass through as they enter the church.  

We meet at the Cricket Pavilion at 9.15am where palm branches and crosses will be handed out. 

All are welcome to continue with the service in church at the end of the procession if they wish. We have children’s groups and refreshments after the service. 

If you want to simply join us in church for the service, then gather there for 9.30am.