Lent, Holy Week and Easter
Join us as we journey through Lent and prepare to celebrate Easter...
Find out what this season is all about on the Church of England website
*Move straight to Holy Week and Easter information here
Lent
Find a piece of string about 6 or 7 inches long. And then, take a moment just to sit with the quiet. Allow God’s spirit to surface in your mind’s eye those people who might need us to hold their hands up in prayer, to tend to them in whatever desert they might find themselves. And when someone comes to mind, just tie a knot in the middle of the string. And then when someone else comes to mind, tie anotherknot to the right or left. Tie as many knots as you need, and feel free to add knots at any time.
Every day you will take that piece of string and as you hold their particular knot, and you’ll pray for them with the words on the card or your own words or without words. And there’s a promise here. God will work with those prayers for the good, the wellness, the wholeness of each one, as we align our words, our thoughts and our actions with the reality that God wishes to create.
May your eyes be open to the miracle of each moment and a warm embrace hold you this day.
May you have the courage to know and accept yourself and others, and may beauty and friendship brighten your life.
May the kindness of God the Father complete you; the company of Christ the Son walk with you and the love of the Holy Spirit empower you today and always.
Amen
Mothering Sunday - 15 March
10.30am A service for all ages at St Andrew's Church
Children will be invited to give their mums and carers a posy of flowers. We are joined by Hertford Children's Choir who will be singing for everyone.
LOCAL LENT EVENTS
All Saints' Festival of Faith for Lent
Do some of the things that drive neighbourhoods and nations still matter? Focussed on the theme of 'Faith in...', these speakers will help us to think about why politics, science and care for our children matter for the good of all:
Professor Canon Russell Cowburn
Sunday 8 March, 7.30pm at All Saints'
Rt Hon Josh Dean MP
Sunday 15 March, 7.30pm at All Saints'
Mark Russell OBE
Sunday 22 March, 7.30pm at All Saints'
|
Lent Resources
The Church of England’s Lent theme for 2026 is 'Draw Near: Life-giving habits for Lent'
This year’s resources have at their heart the theme of a ‘rhythm of life’ – habits and patterns which help us grow as disciples of Christ day by day, especially as we prepare to celebrate the great mystery of God’s saving love at Easter.
"Draw Near is all about teaching us how we can cultivate the habits and practices that will draw us nearer to God. And we will find that, in doing so, God will draw nearer to us, too."
- Archbishops Sarah Mullally & Stephen Cottrell
Journey through the Psalms this Lent with Bible Society
Lent is a time to focus on what really matters and put God’s word at the heart of your life. The Bible Society's daily Lent Encounter emails will help you grow in your Bible confidence and make space for God’s word to speak into your life this Lent.
Sign up to free daily Lent reflection emails straight to your inbox from Ash Wednesday (18 February). Explore how these ancient songs speak to topics of creation, grief, justice, forgiveness and worship – and how they point us to Jesus.
Walking the Way of the Cross is a podcast series written and recorded by Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, Dr Paula Gooder and Bishop Philip North, that will take people on the Holy Week journey by exploring and reflecting on the fifteen biblical Stations of the Cross.
Living Water is a free email devotional with Bible-based reflections and prayers to encourage you every week during Lent. You can look forward to the first email coming on Sunday 22 February.
A Quiet Day in Lent - Trees:
Here is Rosemary's Lent Quiet Day material on the theme of trees which you can enjoy at home.
Holy Week
Sunday 29 March - Palm Sunday
*If you won't be able to attend a Palm Sunday service or you are joining the service on Zoom, please do collect a Palm Cross from the entrance area in St Andrew's Church*
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) at St Andrew's Church
10.30am Holy Communion at St Andrew's Church
The congregation is invited to begin the service outside the church, weather permitting. For those who are able to join this, please collect a palm cross, service book and hymn book and head outside, where we will process into church through the West Doors, led by the clergy and the choir, as the service begins.
10.30am A Special Online Service for Palm Sunday ON ZOOM
Led by a Lay Leader of Worship, we will use readings, music and images as we follow the Passion story from Palm Sunday to Easter Saturday.
7.00pm Compline ON ZOOM
Rev. Alan Stewart
Monday 30 April
8.00pm Compline for Holy Week ON ZOOM
A short, spoken service marks a quiet end to the day in Holy Week, as we give to our loving God the day that has passed and the night that is to come.
Tuesday 1 April
8.00pm Taizé Service for Holy Week at St Andrew's Church
A candlelit service for Holy Week in the style of Taizé.
Wednesday 2 April
10.30am Holy Communion at St Andrew's Church
8.00pm A Meditation for Holy Week at St Andrew's Church and ON ZOOM
A guided meditation on the anointing of Jesus.
Maundy Thursday
8.00pm Eucharist at St Andrew's Church
Holy Communion, with washing of feet, followed by Tenebrae & watch ’til 10pm. Tenebrae is a candlelit medieval service of the shadows.
Good Friday
10.00-11.30am: Good Friday Walk of Witness
Last year's Good Friday Walk of Witness was a great success. About 130 gathered at three of our churches, took to the streets and carried three large crosses through Hertford. The three teams converged on Salisbury Square in the centre of town and from there processed to Hartham Common for a short time of worship, prayer and Bible readings.
Join us this year and lets make the event bigger and better, impacting Hertford with the good news of Easter.
The three groups will gather at three different locations between 10.00am - 10.15am:
· Hertford Methodist Church
· All Saints Church
· Hertford Baptist Church, in the garden
Join us and play your part in sharing God’s great love with Hertford this Easter. Simply turn up between 10.00am – 10.15am on Friday 3 April at one of the locations.
|
10.30am-2.00pm at St Andrew's
Pictures, prayers, poems and other visual aids help you consider the Good Friday story with a walk at your own pace past seven Stations of the Cross in church anytime between 10.30am and 2.00pm.
2.00-3.00pm at St Andrew's: The Last Hour
Led by Rev. Bill Church and our Choir, there are hymns, Choir pieces and passages from the Bible to mark the final hours of Jesus on the cross.
2.00-3.00pm at St Mary's: The Last Hour
We spend the final hour at the foot of the cross.
Easter Day
5.30am
Dawn Service at St Mary's Hertingfordbury
On Easter morning, as the dawn rises, we gather at St Mary’s where we light the first fire of Easter and share in the Dawn Eucharist. Do remember to wrap up warm and bring a torch and a noise-maker. Breakfast is offered in The Brace Room at St Mary's following the service.
8.00am
Holy Communion (BCP) at St Andrew's Church
Easter Morning Holy Communion Service at St Andrew’s using a traditional liturgy.
10.30am
All-Age Holy Communion at St Andrew's Church
All-Age worship, with Choir and Organ, and an Easter Egg Hunt for the young ones. Please remember to bring a fresh flower to decorate the cross and a noise-maker (a rattle or a small bell, for instance).
[No 10.30am Zoom Service on Easter Sunday]
[No Compline on Easter Sunday]
Easter Monday
Easter Monday Pilgrimage Walk from Hertford
Every year for many years there has been a tradition of pilgrimage to St Albans Cathedral from all over the diocese on Easter Monday. This year, a group of us from Hertford churches are planning to walk from All Saints' Church to St Albans Cathedral on Easter Monday, 6 April 2026. It will be a very early start (circa 7am) to give us time to walk fourteen miles to St Albans in time for the procession and service there in the afternoon. If you prefer a shorter walk or a later start you are welcome to join us en route. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Julia Gough (
julia.gough@cantab.net) or John Duncan (
john.duncan2387@hotmail.co.uk, 07545 844293) for more information.
6 April, from 2.30pm
St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 1BY
Join a thousand other pilgrims from across St Albans Diocese to celebrate the risen Christ at St Albans Cathedral.
You’re Invited!
On Easter Monday, 6 April, join a thousand other pilgrims at St Albans Cathedral for a joyful pilgrimage and service that brings people together from across the Diocese. It’s a day for everyone— grandparents, parents, young people, kids, and even dogs (muddy boots welcome).
The Service
Arrive at the Cathedral to gather on the beautiful Abbey Orchard before heading inside from 2.30pm for an informal service at 3.00pm.
This year, the Easter Monday band will be joined by Russell Blackman, we’ve got Leah Bucko speaking and the service will conclude with a short communion led by Bishop Jane, Bishop of Hertford.
Perfume - performed by Julia Thomas
"I wanted to tell him I loved him before it was too late. The seasons of his life passed quickly, so quickly. Spring, summer autumn and, now, winter...
..."I'd always wanted to read the Torah, to sing and shout God's praises, but I was suffocated by my gender. With him, I could breathe. He let me sit at his feet and listen to his teaching. He allowed me to be myself."
First Light: A Passion Play for Hertford in 2015