Download this info as a leaflet:  lent & holy week leaflet 2018

Prayers for the Year of Prayer

A Morning Prayer 

Go before us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favour, and further us with your continual help, that in all our works begun, continued and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally by your mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

An Evening Prayer 

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Introduction

Every year in Lent, Christians have the opportunity for growth in their relationship with God. For Jesus it meant those forty days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4: 1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4: 1-13). I imagine he was able to withstand those tests because of the years of regular prayer, spiritual discipline, habits of devotion he had behind him. It is the same for us: at any time, we can begin good habits of turning to God in prayer, which will enable us to withstand in our own times of temptation and testing. Among the myriad opportunities in this leaflet, I draw attention to two things; first, Daily Prayer. Usually Jo and I are in church each morning for prayer and it would be lovely to have more company! There are also one or two evenings where we can regularly commit to do the same (times below), but do remember, if we are not praying in church, we still are praying at home (as can be the case for all of us!) And, second, I make afresh (in this Year of Prayer) the invitation to anyone who would like an informal conversation about their prayer life: what is going well, where there might be problems or where there is hunger for new ideas. Do contact me, Jo, Trevor, Colin, Bill or Roland if you are interested. This Lent, let us all begin, continue and end our efforts in the Name and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! Mark Eminson – Vicar

All events are in church unless otherwise stated

14 February Ash Wednesday

10.00am – Communion with Imposition of Ashes

4.00pm – The Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes

8.00pm – Sung Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes

Other dates this Lent:

Saturday 24 February 10.00am-12noon – A practical guide to resources for prayer for the Arundel and Bognor Deanery at St Mary’s Centre, Felpham

Friday 2 March 10.30am – Women’s World Day of Prayer service at The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Felpham

Saturday 3 March 9.20am – Year of Prayer taster session

Sunday 11 March Mothering Sunday 9.45am – Family Eucharist

Sunday 18 March 5.00pm – Choral Evensong

Thursday 22 March 12noon – Super Soup lunch for Christian Aid at the vicarage

Opportunities this Lent

 Attend the devotion Stations of the Cross Wednesdays 7.30pm

 Attend a morning prayer (Monday-Thursday & Saturday 9.20am; Friday 8.30am)

 Attend an evening prayer (Monday & Thursday 5.00pm)

 Attend a midweek eucharist (Tuesdays 7.00pm, Wednesdays10.00am)

 Try out the Diocesan Year of Prayer course “Inspiring Vision” at various locations

 Read a spiritual book, such as The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book “Say it to God: In Search of Prayer”, by Luigi Gioia

 Use the new resource “#LiveLent – Let Your Light Shine”, available from Church House Publishing or by phone or e-mail (to find out more, go to: churchofengland.org/Lent)

 Make your confession or seek spiritual direction with one of the ministerial team

 Do the Christian Aid ‘Count your blessings’ daily challenge

 Consider fasting for a day, giving the money saved to a charity

Holy Week:

Palm Sunday (25 March)

8.00am – Holy Communion

9.45am – Parish Eucharist with blessing of palms, procession & dramatic reading of the Passion

5.00pm – Taizé

Monday

7.00pm – The Eucharist

Tuesday

12noon – Chrism Eucharist at the Cathedral

7.00pm – Seder (Passover) meal concluding with the Eucharist

Wednesday

10.00am – Holy Communion

7.30pm – Stations of the Cross

Maundy Thursday

8.00pm – The Eucharist with foot-washing, followed by the

Watch of the Passion overnight

Good Friday

10.00am – Ecumenical Walk of Witness

12noon – Children’s Way of the Cross

2.30pm – The Liturgy of Good Friday, including veneration of

the cross & dramatic reading of the Passion

Easter Day (1 April)

5.30am – Easter Vigil & Dawn Eucharist, followed by

champagne breakfast

8.00am – Holy Communion

9.45am – Family Eucharist

5.00pm – Evening Prayer

Eastertide

Thursday 10 May – Ascension Day

10-20 May – Thy Kingdom Come (global prayer movement)

Sunday 14 May – Beating the Bounds (prayer walk around the

parish)

Sunday 20 May – Pentecost