Lent and Easter 2024

Crucifixion-8627-2The Crucifixion from the East
window of St Mary's Church

Since early days Christians have observed Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Day - the time of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection - with great devotion. Lent is the season of preparation for this great festival, and is traditionally a season of prayer, study and penitence. In the death of Jesus, we see the seriousness of sin and the cost of our forgiveness. Hearing the call to repentance, we renew our commitment to seek to be faithful disciples.

LENT COURSES

Several Lent Courses are available:

Our own 5 Session Lent Course at St Mary's Saffron Walden
Explore how to hear God speak afresh through Scripture, using the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. Wednesdays 21 February to 20 March 7.30 to 8.30pm in the Parish Rooms led by Rev'd Ella Harris. Click here for details.

Church of England 'Watch and Pray - Lent reflections' Including free daily emails or as booklets, a free Watch and ray App for your phone and audio version are also available for free on Alexa. Find out more on our Lent Courses page here.

Diocesan Lent Modules 2024
The Lent Modules are a collection of education, training and skills events across the Diocese during Lent each year. They form a series of short courses running across the diocese between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Many are online. Courses cost between £15 and £25. Click here for details. Deadline is 9th February.

Special Services at St Mary’s Church in Lent and Holy Week


Ash Wednesday 14th February 2024 - The start of Lent

8.00am Morning Prayer
9.30am Holy Communion with imposition of ashes*
7.30pm Choral Eucharist with imposition of ashes*
*The imposition of ashes  involves making a cold ash mark on the forehead as a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God.
 

Mothering Sunday 10th March

8.00am Holy Communion BCP 
10.30am Family Holy Communion. Children particularly welcome at this service. This service will be livestreamed - YouTube link will be available here.

HOLY WEEK 2024

We warmly welcome you to to join us during this most special week of the Christian Year

Palm Sunday 24th March

8.00am Holy Communion BCP. This service will be livestreamed - YouTube link: https://youtube.com/live/s4i2BiFsp1M?feature=share
10.30am Family Service.
4.00pm Choral Evensong with Passion Reading
 

Monday 25th March

9.30am Holy Communion
7.30pm Bible Study and Compline in church
 

Tuesday 26th March

9.00am Holy Communion
5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom

7.30pm Bible Study and Compline in church
 

Wednesday 27th March

8.00am Morning Prayer
9.30am Holy Communion
7.30pm Bible Study and Compline in church
 

Maunday Thursday 28th March

9.30am Holy Communion
7.30pm Choral Eucharist
 

Good Friday 29th March

10.30 am Walk of Witness from Abbey Lane ending with a short service at St Mary’s Church
2.00 pm Hour at the Cross: quiet prayer and structured devotions led by Archdeacon Kate Peacock.
7.30 pm Devotional offering: Fauré Requiem with St Mary's Choir and Musicians. All welcome. Retiring collection. More information here.
 

Easter Sunday 31st March

6.30am Sunrise Holy Communion. Traditionally held outside the church, weather permitting.
8.00am BCP Holy Communion
10.30am Holy Communion.
This service will be livestreamed - YouTube link: https://youtube.com/live/MlGMwDOx4mw?feature=share  The downloadable order of service will be available here and includes the liturgy, the hymns  and the relevant musical settings.
6.30 pm Choral Evensong

Christ is Risen - He is Risen Indeed, Hallelujah


Mark Chapter 16

"1.When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."