Dear Friends,

AN INVITATION INTO THE QUIET – ENTERING LENT 2026

As we cross the threshold into the season of Lent this year, we are offered a gentle yet profound invitation, one that stands in contrast to the relentless noise, hurry, and demands of the world around us. Lent gifts us a sacred pause: forty days intentionally set apart to turn our gaze inward and upward, toward God.

This season is not about obligation, but about opportunity. It is a pilgrimage of the heart, inviting us to walk with intention toward the mystery of the Cross and the hope of the Resurrection. In the quiet of these days, we hear again God’s loving invitation: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). In stillness, God whispers hope, restoration, and guidance for our lives.

Lent calls us to make space—space for reflection, for honest self-examination, and for attentive listening to the gentle yet persistent voice of the Spirit. We may find ourselves asking: What is crowding my spirit? Where have I grown distant from God’s presence? This is a season of holy letting go—not only of habits or distractions, but also of the fears, regrets, and burdens that weigh upon our hearts. With the psalmist, we pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

Renewal rarely comes through grand gestures. More often, it is shaped in small, faithful steps: a quiet prayer, a moment of Scripture, an act of generosity, or a deliberate pause to listen for God’s leading. Lent reminds us that even in our weakness, God meets us with grace: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Let us enter this season with hopeful anticipation rather than heavy hearts. We do not walk this path alone. We are held in God’s steadfast love and strengthened by the prayers of our faith community. As we journey together, may we take courage from God’s promise: “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

I encourage you to make the most of this holy season—through prayer, Scripture reading, fasting and intentional renewal of your spiritual journey. Please consider joining a Lenten Bible Study, whether in person or online, at your local church or across the circuit. Take time, too, to pause and take stock—not only of your spiritual life, but of your personal life—inviting God’s wisdom, healing, and guidance into every part of who you are.

In the quiet, may we encounter the profound.
In the letting go, may we discover that we are deeply held.
And through this Lenten journey, may our hearts be opened to the transforming love of God in Christ, the source of life and light.

Yours in Christ, 

Revd Dr. David Jebb – Superintendent Minister of St Albans & Welwyn Circuit