Resources for Lent/Easter 2025

At All Saints

Lent is a gift to the church. Historically it was a time to prepare new believers to be baptised at Easter by looking again at the fundamentals of our faith. These days Lent invites us to go deeper into that faith.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 5th) with the offer to receive the Imposition of Ashes on our foreheads to symbolise our need of and our desire to return to God. You can receive ‘Ashing’ to mark this day outside Hertford East station in the early morning and in Salisbury Square in the later morning and then at a special Eucharist in church at 8pm.

I hope that our keep of this holy season will offer us the chance to explore both of those strands in three distinct ways:

• Lent Groups
• A Foundations course
• The Living Way

As we prepare for, and pilgrim through, Lent this year, please join me in praying the Lenten Prayer of Ephrem the Syrian* which is vital to an Orthodox keeping of Lent:

Simon
*my transliteration

Study options

Lent Groups

We will meet in small groups on different days and at different times to read sections of a book together, to think, and discuss together what we’ve read, and in so doing to deepen our faith. Details of what we are studying together and how to join a group will shared here early in February.

Foundations Course

We will be offering the chance to look at some of the building blocks of Christian faith together such as: Does God love me? Why did Jesus come? What does his death and resurrection mean? Who or what is the Holy Spirit? If being part of this group appeals whether you are new to faith of want to look to renew your faith then join us. Details of how to join this course will be shared here early in February.

Lent Groups

This group will offer the opportunity to explore some of the historic practices of the church which renew faith and draw us close to God through prayer; reading scripture; intentional gratitude; acts of service; silence; fasting and so on. The group will meet monthly, over the course a year, to learn about a spiritual practice together and then individually to spend the rest of the month trying it out. At the next session we will reflect on our experience of that practice and then learn about a new one. Details of how to join The Living Way, which will meet at the Vicarage, will be shared here early in February.

Further afield

Church of England

This Lent we are encouraged to put down deep roots of hope by connecting with God who is with us at all times.

The Church of England’s Lent theme for 2025 is "Living Hope".

In Lent we journey with Jesus on the difficult and thorny road that leads all the way to the cross on Good Friday – and beyond, to the transformation of Easter Day.

God invites us to bring to him our own journey through everyday life. In the disappointment of daily setbacks and the pain of deeper hurts, we discover that God is present with us. And God promises a future where all things are healed and made new.

Living Hope offers us the opportunity to deepen our hope in God and be part of what God is doing to bring hope in the world.

The readings and reflections explore how we can have hope in times of frustration or uncertainty; the hope found in joining with others; the invitation to notice signs of hope around us; the courage to face reality and pursue a hopeful future; and the ways God transforms death into life at Easter.

You can sign up to receive Lent reflection emails and receive daily messages straight to your inbox. These will offer Bible readings, short reflections and a practical challenge, as well as prayers linked to weekly themes.
Or you can receive daily reflections via Everyday Faith app. You can read and listen to daily Lent reflections from 5 March to easter Day (20th April).

The readings and reflections explore how we can have hope in times of frustration or uncertainty; the hope found in joining with others; the invitation to notice signs of hope around us; the courage to face reality and pursue a hopeful future; and the ways God transforms death into life at Easter.

For Families

Linked to the CofE Living Hope materials for adults described above, there will be a daily challenge for children and families available both as a booklet and in free digital form in the near future, when collective resources for schools will also be available.

Further details of the range of resources for individuals, young people, children and families will be added to this page over the coming weeks.

There are also a wide range of activities from 2019 and 2020 on the Hope Filled Family website, and at flamecreativekids.

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