Ash Wednesday is on 6 March. It is the start of Lent which is  traditionally a period of study, giving, fasting and prayer. It is good to pay attention to these disciplines and this annual season can be a great help to our spiritual development. We will not have a service on Ash Wednesday but I hope that a number of you who are married will join us at 'It Takes Two' at St Barnabas Clapham Common that evening. Details here (Meet at The Goat for a drink first at 6.45pm). 

We will have Holy Communion in our TIMS service to mark the start of Lent on Friday 8 March at 12 noon in the Bolingbroke Room. TIMS is designed for older people and their carers, but it would be wonderful to have others join us for this 30 minute service.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent book for 2019 is 'Reconciliation' by Muthuraj Swamy. You may want to get a copy and read it during Lent as on the Sundays in Lent we will be taking reconciliation and especially conversations with difference, as our Lent theme. We have guest conversation partners visiting on those Sundays including James Asfa from London Citizens Stephen and Fiona Ruttle from Wandsworth Mediation Service, Cecelia Wickham-Anderson our gospel choir director and our very own Shirley Dark. This is important for all ages and responds to the need for good conversations in our nation as the poor quality of Brexit debate has highlighted.

In terms of giving and fasting, I recommend to you IJM's initiative which you can find out about by clicking on SlaveFreeLent I would also love to hear of other ways you are giving in work or school this Lent.

For prayer you might like to try out the Tuesday early morning prayer walk with others in the congregation in Lent. Or you might like to try the Pray as you go app if you have never used it before or the Try Praying material might suit you better. Those children and adults who are coming to Whitelands College, Roehampton for the Alpha Holy Spirit Day on 9 March will have a chance to explore some creative prayer opportunities there.

Finally please remember our APCM immediately after the10am service on 17 March and the lunchtime party that will follow it for all ages back at the vicarage. I hope very much to see you at both of these special occasions.

With my prayers,

Tif