The season of Lent lasts for forty days (not including Sundays). It is a time when Christians reflect and prepare for the celebrations of Easter. Some people fast, eat frugally or give up treats following the example of Jesus, who fasted for forty days in the wilderness.
People also give to charity, set aside time to study the bible and meet with other Christians to reflect on Jesus' life and prepare for the events of Holy Week and Easter.
Loved beyond measure, to love without restraint…
Tuesday 16th February, Shrove Tuesday half day of prayer and reflection 9:30-12:30 on Zoom.
The struggles of recent weeks and months have shaken us all. Plans have been put on hold. Nearly everything has changed. We have learned to live from day to day. The crisis threatens everyone, confronting us with our vulnerability and mortality. How do we find our way through, and how are we to be faithful to Christ in these dark days? How are we to know the love of God and share that love with others in this time? At a deep level, can we cope?
Malcolm Macnaughton, Bishop-designate of Repton will be leading our morning of reflection, as together we seek to root the life we share as disciples in the love of God poured out for all in Jesus. The morning will include brief addresses, worship, video interviews, meditation, candles of hope, violin music and optional creative activities, lent poems, individual exercises and group conversation. All are invited, everyone is welcome.
Please email halina.johnson@bishopofderby.org for access to the link.
Lent Hope
18th February - 25th March - Zoom
As we continue to experience the restrictions of lockdown and enter Lent, we focus once more on the self-giving love of Christ. During this season, we turn to Christ in penitence and faith, seeking to build our own discipline and spiritual strength to enable us to love without restraint in a way that is life-giving just as Christ loved us.
Between 18th February and 25th March, Bishop Libby and Bishop-designate Malcolm invite you to join them each week for an hour of prayer and reflection together based upon seasonal Bible passages and collects.
Lent Hope is open to all and will be held on Monday morning from 8am - 9am and repeated on Thursday evening from 8pm - 9pm. Do pass this invitation on.
Please email halina.johnson@bishopofderby.org for the access link.
Ash Wednesday Service with Bishop Libby
Bishop Libby invites you to join her for worship and reflection in this special Ash Wednesday service, on social media, starting at 9am. The link will be posted nearer the time.
The service will be recorded and made available to watch on demand later in the day.
Download the Order of Service [Word doc]
Lent Spiritual Resources - Creative Prayer responses around six themes [PDF] - Written by Karen Herrick, Harlequin Arts
The Scars Remain - poems for Lent and Easter by Tim Sumpter [Word doc]
Intercessions for the Sundays of Lent 2021 [Word doc]
Living God's Way
Living God's way is a series of resources for children and their households for the season of Lent, aiming to give ideas and spiritual focus during this time of the church year.
The series is based on the Diocese of Derby Vision and Values...
Vision: Good News For All Transformed Lives, Growing Churches, Building Community
Values: Generous Faith, Courageous Hope, Life-giving Love
The resources for each Sunday are not meant as tasks to work through. Rather, they should be taken as ideas which can be selected by children to best meet the age, development, time and resources are available.
I aimed to include Bible texts, scope for thought and conversation, craft and activities, worship, prayer ideas, and links to songs, videoclips and PowerPoint from other sites (Please pre-watch any resources from an external site to check for suitability).
My prayer is that over the season of Lent, children and their carers will grow in their understanding of God's immense love for each and every one.
Sarah Brown - Children's Adviser
Living God's Way - Ash Wednesday
Living God's Way - Week 1: Transformed Lives
Living God's Way - Week 2: Growing Church
Living God's Way - Week 3: Building Community
Living God's Way - Week 4: Generous Faith
Living God's Way - Week 5: Courageous Hope
Living God's Way - Week 6: Palm Sunday
Music resources
Music Suggestions that connect with themes from Lent and the diocesan vision and values [Word doc]
Singing in Churches - a lockdown guide (19 Jan 2021) [PDF]
National Lent Resources
The Church of England's Lent resources theme for 2021, building on the success of recent years, is #LiveLent: God's Story, Our Story.
