Lent at Old Saint Paul’s – 2020
Lent is the forty days before Easter Day. It is a time
- for self examination and penitence
- to discover and remove the self-made barriers that keep us from God
- to concentrate on values and priorities
It is not a time for self punishment. We mark the season of Lent by giving up some things and taking on others. Both serve to mark the season as a time of preparation. This is also why we try to engage more intentionally in learning about the faith. Lent is marked at Old Saint Paul’s by a changed pattern of simpler services and the opportunity to discuss the season’s sermons. We would also invite you to consider your own prayer practices and patterns of reflection and study during this time.
Sundays of Lent
On Sundays after High Mass, we will have groups for reflection in the church hall. This year, the theme will be ‘Responsibility and Belonging’. We will explore aspects of how we engage with the life of faith through the communal and outward-facing life of the church, and our giving and participation.
These themes are
- Belonging
- Commitment
- Compassion
- Vocation
The reflections will draw on the sermons and on paintings, inviting a response to each theme. High Mass will be a simpler service, allowing for time to join the reflections. Each session will finish by 12:45pm.
Pattern of services in Lent
In Lent, our pattern of services changes to reflect a commitment to prayer and unity with our neighbours. The Stations of the Cross are an opportunity to journey with Jesus in the last hours of his earthly life. The Jesus Prayer, rooted in the Orthodox tradition, is an ancient aid to contemplative silence. It focuses on the loving mercy of God through repetition of the phrase
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Sunday
10.30 High Mass
18.30 Solemn Evensong & Benediction
(Stations of the Cross 29 March & 5 April)
Monday
8.00 Morning Prayer
12.20 Low Mass
Tuesday
8.00 Morning Prayer and Low Mass
Wednesday
8.00 Morning Prayer
(with extra readings and time for silence)
12.20 Low Mass
Thursday
8.00 Morning Prayer and Low Mass
17.00 The Jesus Prayer
Friday
8.00 Morning Prayer
12.20 Low Mass
Confession and Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the sign of Christ’s forgiveness for every individual. It is open to all but compulsory for none.
During Lent Fr John is available for Confessions (in absolute confidence) by appointment.
Music for Lent
The choir of Old Saint Paul’s will be performing Lentern works on 28 March in the church, including Stabat Mater by Palestrina, Pergolesi and Sulpitia Cesis.
Flowers for Easter
Every Easter we fill the church with lilies. If you would like to remember a loved one or give thanks for something through the gift of a lily, please consider donating to our Flowers for Easter page.