Tag Archives: god

Lent 2026

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and follows through to Palm Sunday. It is a season of depth and richness as we reflect on those things we have done wrong and call to God for forgiveness.

Lent Appeal 2026

Acting on poverty, living in solidarity

Join us as we join with Christian Aid to help forge a world where everyone can live a full life, free of poverty. Our donations will make a difference to the lives of people across the globe (including the UK).

How to give:

  • Bring in cash on Sundays in envelopes labelled Lent Appeal 2026
  • Pay directly into the church Bank Account, with the reference Lent Appeal 2026
  • Make a card donation (speak to Chris Thomas)
  • Come along to the Lent Lunch on Passion Sunday 22 March and give (an additional?!) donation to the Lent Appeal 2026

Ash Wednesday – 18 February

10am Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes (in Church)
7:30pm Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes (in Oxhey Chapel)

Beginning the journey
‘turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ’
As the Season of Lent begins, we are marked again with the cross with which we were signed at our baptism – a reminder of both death to life and life in death.

Sunday Holy Communion Services

10am each Sunday

The Sunday Collects are the inspiration for Sunday sermons this year. Collects are the special prayers written for Sundays and special Feast Days. You’ll find them in a leaflet available in church – which also has the readings for the different Sundays. Look them up in advance, take time to pray and reflect with them and then compare what you come up with to the preacher on the Sunday!

Compline (Night Prayer)

9pm Monday evenings, online

Join this ancient and beautiful service to close the day.

Lent Groups

Thursdays at 11:30am (in church), and
Fridays at 8pm (house group, ask for venue details)

We’re using a Lent Course written especially for All Saints’ – relating to prayer and spirituality. Everyone is welcome to join us for either of the groups above.

World Day of Prayer – Friday 8 March

7:30pm at South Oxhey Baptist Church

World Day of Prayer is a women led, global, ecumenical movement. This year’s service is titled I will give you rest, come and has been prepared by the Christian women of Nigeria. This is a united service with the churches of South Oxhey and Carpenders Park and this year is hosted by the South Oxhey Baptist Church.

Mothering Sunday – 15 March

10.00am Holy Communion

We celebrate the ‘mothering’ offered by so many – mothers, others and all. Flowers are offered to all the adults present, and we share the traditional Mothering Sunday cake – Simnel Cake.

Passion Sunday – 22 March

10am Holy Communion

12 noon Lent Lunch

Raising funds for our Lent Charity – Christian Aid. With a simple lunch of homemade soup and bread, with cheese and fruit. Sign up in church (or just come along as there is usually plenty!).

Saying farewell to a much-loved friend – Cedar Tree update

The tree surgeons came today to begin the process of felling the beautiful Cedar of Lebanon Tree that has stood in the grounds of All Saints’ Church for some 100 years or so. It was identified in 2019 that the tree had had succumbed to a fungal infection which recommended the tree be felled. This was then confirmed by a further report which was undertaken in late 2024. The second report was a special x-ray survey which showed the tree was virtually hollow inside. As you can see from the photograph, the centre of the tree is hollow, with all the dark wood around the hole being dead wood. In addition, the branches were very brittle, meaning limited water was reaching them. This means that the fears of both tree specialists that branches might fall was very real.

We are immensely sad at the loss of this lovely tree. Before the tree was felled, prayers were said to give thanks for the life of the tree – and the many ways in which it has served so many different people in the area across the generations, as well as providing a home for wildlife. You can read the prayer below. Copies are available from All Saints’ Church. Please let us know if you would like one.

You can also see information about the disease on the post we made last year: Public Notice: Diseased tree to be felled

We’ll be planting a new Cedar of Lebanon Tree and will give the date on our website and social media when we have a date for this.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving for the life of the Cedar of Lebanon Tree at All Saints’ Church, in the Parish of South Oxhey and Carpenders Park: 11 February 2025

God, our creator and redeemer, to you who formed a thousand worlds and who gives the gift of life we give our thanks and praise.

We give you thanks for the gift of life which we enjoy with the whole of creation: with the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, with the plants of the earth and the trees of the field.

We praise you especially for this amazing and beautiful cedar tree which has grown to stand so tall in this place. We praise you for shade enjoyed under its boughs when the heat of the sun has been fierce. We praise you for the shelter provided by its leaves and branches when rain has been heavy. We praise you for the food and home it has given to birds and insects. We praise you for the fun enjoyed by children who have climbed its branches in both its youth and in theirs.

God, our creator and redeemer,  we know that to all living things is given a span of life and that all living things must die. As the life of this tree comes to an end, we thank you for all the memories it holds for us, for all the pleasure it has given to us, for all the joy we have enjoyed in its presence.

To us who will miss its presence, bring consolation. To us who mourn its death, bring peace. To us who long for life, bring hope.

With all of Creation we offer these prayers to you, O Lord our God, the giver of new life in Christ. Amen.