Catch up on the latest from St Mary's Church in the heart of Hitchin with their must-read weekly column

The season of Lent has begun; a period of preparation that leads up to Easter. All flower arrangements have been removed from the Church and the colours of the Altar cloths are now sombre purple, which signifies penance and sacrifice. 

It started on Ash Wednesday last week, as several Church services were held for the 'imposition of ashes', when a cross is marked in ash on the forehead of each worshipper. The occasion is steeped in symbolism and tradition; it is a moment of pause and prayer as we are reminded that in us and in the world there is so much that is so far from God's peace, hope and light. Lent at St Mary's is a time for refocusing, although not spent in the wilderness, it can include personal pilgrimage and reflection.  

It should also be a time of hope, despite the often distressing news around us. Now we can look to nature to show us the promised return of life and colour as spring begins to break out. In the Churchyard we have been enjoying crocuses and other small flowers as well as green shoots appearing on our newly replanted Willow tree on the riverside. (Photo credit: Margaret Khinmaung) You can read about how it came to be planted here.  

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Coronation Year

The St Mary's team is looking forward, in this Coronation year, to the official start of King Charles' reign in May, just a couple of months away.  

To set the scene, on Saturday (March 4) the Church's Preservation Trust is screening 'A Queen is crowned', the unique record of the 1953 event.

A high moment of history described by Britain's greatest actor, Sir Laurence Olivier, filmed and edited 'in Technicolour' by the best technicians of the day.

Our own technical team will be putting a big screen in the nave again, following the success of our 'Zorro' Silent film evening in February. The spectacle of the ceremonial and rich pageant of heraldry will have an amazing impact in the wonderful setting of St Mary's gothic architecture, which fittingly the profits will go to support.

More details here with the event also listed in the weekly Hitchin Nub News series What's On here

More details here with the event also listed in the weekly Hitchin Nub News series What's On here

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Calling Jigsaw makers! Get a piece of the action! 

If you have been puzzling over what jigsaws have to do with Lent, the link is that St Mary's is launching plans for a major fundraising event later this year. Apparently 'Jigsaw Festivals' are a big thing, who knew? The peaceful hobby had a boost during lockdown, along with pot plants and sourdough bread making! Since then jigsaws are everywhere. This October half term, St Mary's will stage a festival over two days where many of the completed pictures will be displayed for sale, you can get busy making some or trading others in too.  

We hope to make this a community event so we are asking for help:  

Calling all Jigsaw enthusiasts! We now have a stock of jigsaws available to be made up ready for our Jigsaw Festival, scheduled for October. If you would like to help we can provide a correctly sized cardboard backing and instructions for preparing the jigsaws, so that we can display them for sale at the event. If you would like to donate one of your ready-made jigsaws, or any others, please get in touch. We need hundreds of jigsaws to make the event profitable! Email: [email protected]  

We have already received some lovely, complex ones to get us started. 

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Finally, a World Day of Prayer Service is being held today, (Friday, March 3) 130pm at Our Lady's. 

On Sunday (March 5) our services are at 8am and 10am, the latter being our monthly 'All Ages' One Bread One Body service, with the theme of how God does something beautiful in us as we grow and change. This will not be Livestreamed, but you can tune in if you cannot attend at 6:30pm for Choral Evensong, including wonderful music from our Choir.  

JOIN IN WITH ST MARY'S SERVICES EVEN WHEN YOU"RE NOT THERE

Further updated details of our services, opening times and events are found on our public Facebook page @StMarysChurchHitchin   . 

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