The season of Lent has begun in the Church. You can read more here, including about Bishop Robert's Lent Appeal and the Church of England's #LiveLent Campaign:

Bishop Robert’s Lent Appeal

The Bishop’s Lent Appeal this year is to raise funds for a new classroom in a school in the Anglican Diocese of Mumias, Kenya.

2020 is the year of the Lambeth Conference. Some 600 Anglican bishops from all over the world will gather together in Canterbury in July. Last summer, Bishop Robert was privileged to take part in a preparatory pilgrimage that brought together 15 of these bishops and spouses.  Bishop Joseph Wandera, Bishop of the Anglican diocese of Mumias in Kenya was among those who shared this pilgrimage.  In view of this being a special year for the Anglican Communion, Bishop Robert asked Bishop Joseph to suggest a project in his diocese which could be the subject of his appeal.

The Kenyan Government has introduced a policy of free primary education, leading to big increases in the numbers of children enrolled in schools.  However, the number of teachers has not increased and classrooms are congested.   Donations to this Lent Appeal will support the expansion of the Bishop Hanningtone Academy, established by the Anglican Diocese of Mumias as their contribution towards better quality primary education in a Christian context.

You can read Bishop Robert's 2020 Lent Appeal letter here.

#Live Lent and The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book

#LiveLent: Care for God’s Creation is the Church of England's Lent Campaign for 2020. With weekly themes shaped around the first Genesis account of creation, it explores the urgent need for humans to value and protect the abundance God has created. This year’s #LiveLent challenge offers 40 short reflections and suggested actions to help you, your family and your church live in greater harmony with God, neighbour and nature.

In the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book for 2020, Dr Ruth Valerio imaginatively draws on the Days of Creation in Genesis 1 to lift our focus from everyday concerns to issues that are affecting millions of lives around the world. Bursting with practical advice as well as biblical reflection, discussion questions and prayers, this is a stirring and liberating call to look after the world that God has made – and to share in God’s joy and creativity by making a difference for good.

Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio is on special offer from SPCK at https://spckpublishing.co.uk/saying-yes-to-life

Anglican Communion

In 2016, the Primates of the Anglican Communion asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to establish a Task Group to “maintain conversation” among the Primates of the Anglican Communion as part of their commitment to “walk together” despite “deep differences”. The primates requested the group “with the intention of restoration of relationship, the rebuilding of mutual trust, healing the legacy of hurt, recognising the extent of our commonality and exploring our deep differences, ensuring they are held between us in the love and grace of Christ.”

As part of their work, the Task Group called the Anglican Communion to a Season of Repentance, around Lent 5 (29 March 2020).  A collection of prayers are available as resources via https://www.anglicancommunion.org/resources/prayer.aspx

Chrism Eucharists in the diocese:

Finally, looking ahead to Holy Week, there will be four Chrism Eucharists across the Diocese:

-Madrid (St George’s Church), Monday 6 April at 12 noon – Bishop David presiding

-Rome (All Saints Church), Tuesday 7 April at 12:45 – Bishop David presiding

-Paris (St George’s Church), Tuesday 7 April at 11:30 – Bishop Robert presiding

-Brussels (Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity), Wednesday 8 April at 12:00 – Bishop Robert presiding