During Lent Beth Bendry (Asst Curate at St Nicholas' Witham) and I will run a number of "Lenten Journeys" in different parishes around our Deanery.

We shall start at St Luke's, Tiptree on Tuesday 27th February.  We shall be setting up during the morning -volunteer helpers would be much appreciated.  We shall then open at 12 and run through until 7.30pm.  Volunteers to sit in church during those hours would be appreciated.

We shall be at St. Mary's, Kelvedon on the 6th March, Easthorpe 14th March, Hatfield Peveril 30th March and finish at Witham on Easter Saturday the 7th April.

Our Lenten journey will take the form of a Labyrinth.  This is a Christian spiritual tool which has recently become more popular.  It is not in the normal sense a church service but an interactive environment where each of us can meet with God in the everyday aspects of our own life.  It is anticipated that people will drop in and take time to find God at one of the venues.  Come alone or in a group.  No singing, no reading but lots of expectation that each of us wants to be close to God for however long you can spare on the day.  Tea and coffee and a chance to share experiences will be available at the end or each can just leave to re-join the outside world.

We are starting at 12 so that we will be there for those who can only come in a lunch break.  All afternoon anyone is welcome, perhaps pop in before you pick the children up from school then bring them in on their way home?  We will be there in the daylight for those who don't wish to venture out in the dark.  We are staying for the early evening so that you can call in on your way home from work, or come as a family after the evening meal.  It is an event for people of all ages.

You can spend as long as you like walking in the labyrinth.  It is not a maze.  A simple path is laid out where at different points you can experience God in different aspects of life, there is space for individual prayer, a creative response to God's call, time to sit and reflect on what life has thrown at us.  Particularly at this time of preparation for Easter it is time to set aside for God and seek refreshment for our spirit to meet the challenges of the world.

Don't be put off if you have "never been before" come and see!

Jo Dudley.