What's on during Lent

News Flash! - meet the author

Revd Dr Sam Wells will be visiting Lichfield Cathedral to lead a discussion on his book, Learning to Dream Again, on Wednesday 24th February, 12.30-14.30. If you are interested in going along please see here for booking details.

The Lent Book Group will meet for the first session at 11.15am on Thursday 18th Feb at St Alkmund's.

Perchance To Dream

PERCHANCE TO DREAM

Sometimes dreams can lead us towards wonderful things. Martin Luther King told the world that he had a dream; then step by step his vision became a reality, changing the lives of black Americans for ever.

Samuel Wells, the Vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, is convinced that we need to rediscover the art, the strength, of dreaming. He believes that in so doing we can renew the depth and power of the Christian faith within us and discover a true understanding of God and ourselves through fresh and radical engagement with Holy Scripture.

His book, Learning To Dream Again, has been chosen by the Diocese of Lichfield as the study-book for Lent this year and we at St.Chad's and St. Alkmund's will be gathering each Thursday to explore Sam Wells' thoughts. We will begin after the 10.30 a.m. Eucharist on Thursday 18 February, coming together in the meeting room at St.Alkmund's for forty-five minutes.

The plan is to offer the book for daily reading but then in the group to focus on one unit only per week, so enabling a more thorough involvement with a single theme. The units will be advertised in advance and nobody will be expected to read all the book, though doing so would obviously be very worthwhile.

Copies of the book are available from the Vicarage and all are welcome to join the group. Because each unit of discussion is self-contained, nothing will be lost by missing a week if other responsibilities become pressing.

Do consider joining this Thursday Group as way of keeping Lent and preparing for Holy Week and Easter. If you come you may well learn to dream great visions again and to do the most splendid things. You will certainly need to bring heart and mind with you; but nightwear will not be obligatory! See you there.

Fr Alan Fell

Ash Wednesday

 

Ash Wednesday – 10^th February

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The ashes from which the day gets its name come from the burning of palm crosses that were blessed the previous year on Palm Sunday.

The ash is mixed with holy water and imposed on the forehead where the sign of the cross is made; and the following words are said:

‘remember you are dust and to dust you shall return’.

The ashes remind us firstly of our humanity and mortality, and they are also symbols of repentance and humility.

Ash Wednesday is a deeply penitential day which marks for us the start of the Lenten season.

Please join us this Ash Wednesday at St Chad’s
10.30am or 7.30pm

Fr Mark Chadwick