It is hard to believe that we are about to be in the season of Lent – our 40-day journey towards Easter. 

At the heart of the Christian faith is our participation in the life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord. The seasons of Lent and Easter are, therefore, laden with a richness and power that leads God’s people to a deeper personal commitment to Christ and to a deeper sense of what it is to be Church: the people of God.

In these seasons, God’s entire story with God’s people is brought into focus, and by entering and proclaiming the redemptive work of God in Christ at this time, we are formed in the pattern of his death and resurrection and his life-giving Spirit. 

Since Easter is the time when the Church celebrates God’s most definitive redemptive acts, Lent is a time for intentional growing into God through deep reflection on Scripture, fellowship together, prayer, and reflection on our baptismal covenant from which we derive our identity as Christian people.

The observance of Lent was first undertaken by those undergoing their final preparation for initiation into the Christian community through baptism. We too can reflect on the meaning of baptism as entry into a lifelong process of being transformed into the life and holiness of Christ. As reflected all through Scripture, this is a journey or pilgrimage that is bigger than the private experience of an individual. This journey engages the whole Christian community, and it is the heartbeat of the Church’s mission and worship.

We begin our season of Lent on Ash Wednesday next week. Across our churches, ash crosses, made from old palm crosses, will be placed on the foreheads of believers. This symbolises our turning to God for forgiveness, which is primarily an inward transformation of our hearts. Jesus, in his words from Matthew 6, emphasises this strongly where he talks about the true attitude of righteousness: that of living for God alone. 

Although Ash Wednesday seems solemn, it is about the hope God has given us in Jesus, that through his death and resurrection we receive forgiveness and eternal life.

Often, we associate Lent with “giving something up”, but it can also be a time of developing new spiritual habits that deepen our faith. 

Whether we “give-up” or “pick-up” during Lent, the important point is to remember God's presence in our lives, prompting us to give thanks in that moment.

As we reflect on the words of Joel 2:12, “to return to God with all our hearts”, this is a time for new beginnings with God, for putting aside the sins and failures of the past and beginning afresh.

The journey of Lent is about the hope God has given us in Jesus, that through his death and resurrection we receive forgiveness and eternal life.

We have Ash Wednesday services on 18 February at 11am in the cathedral and 6pm at St Mary’s, joining with the Roman Catholics.

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Here are some resources for Lent:

• In the Spirit of Lent
  This study centres around the Gospel readings from the lectionary, with a series of striking artworks by Sarah West, and a written reflection for each week. Ideal for small groups.
• Lent + Easter
  STRANDZ has a host of ideas to help whānau journey through Lent and reflect on the events of the crucifixion while celebrating the joy and wonder of the resurrection.
• Disability Ministry Lent Resources 2026
  This resource from the Anglican Disability Network takes the Sunday gospel readings and interweaves them in exploring disability language to stimulate thinking about using empowering language around disability in our Church.

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