Lent 2026

Make In Us New Hearts

Lent is a season of prayer, reflection, and renewal—a time to return to God and prepare our hearts for Easter. Join us at St. Mary’s as we walk together through Lent with worship, formation, and fellowship.

Explore our programs and offerings below.

Welcome to Lent at St. Mary's

Lent invites us into deeper relationship—with God, with one another, and with the world God loves. Whether you are a lifelong Episcopalian, new to church, or simply seeking a place for reflection and community, you are welcome here.

The season of Lent spans forty days, beginning on Ash Wednesday and leading us to Easter. This time mirrors the forty days Jesus spent in prayer and preparation before beginning his public ministry. Throughout Lent, we too prepare our hearts, inviting God to gently make in us new hearts that are softer, warmer, and renewed by grace.

2026 Events & Programs

Our Lenten offerings are designed to meet you where you are. Come for a service, a meal, a reflection—or all of the above. However you are able to participate, we would love to walk through this season with you. Download a printable schedule and scroll further to see more details for each event.

Download 2026 Lenten ScheduleDownload Campus Map

Lenten Resource Table

Sunday, February 15 | All Services

Lent 26 Placemat (500 x 400 px) (315 x 252 px)

On Sunday, February 15, a Lenten Resource Table will be set up in the Dover Lounge. Stop by before or after any service to pick up printed schedules, devotional materials, and resources for the season ahead. Complimentary books will be available for adults, and children are invited to pick up at-home resources, including a Lenten placemat, mite boxes, and prayer cards for our friends in Kenya.

Parishioners are also invited to bring palms from last year’s Palm Sunday service. These palms will be burned and used to create the ashes for the service, connecting last year’s celebration of Palm Sunday with the beginning of this new Lenten season.

You can also access more resources below the schedule.

See More Resources

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Tuesday, February 17 | 5:30 p.m. | Parish Hall

Begin the season with an evening of fellowship at our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. Youth will be hard at work flipping pancakes, with dinner served starting at 5:30 p.m.

The evening also supports our summer mission trips. Last year, this community raised $3,495—and this year we’re hoping to go even further. If we reach our goal, expect a little extra fun with the chance to pie a youth minister and a priest (or two).

Ash Wednesday Services

Wednesday, February 18 | 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. | New St. Mary’s

We will offer two Ash Wednesday services, at 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. During each service, worshippers receive ashes on their forehead, a reminder of our humble beginnings —“From dust we came, and to dust we shall return” (Genesis 3:19) — and our dependence on God’s grace.

Lenten Soup Suppers & Formation

Wednesdays | February 25, March 4, March 11, & March 18
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Parish Hall

Gather with the parish community for a simple midweek evening designed for all ages. Lenten Soup Suppers offer a shared meal with both adult favorites and kid‑friendly options.

After we eat, we’ll spend about 15 minutes in guided formation and reflection, similar in style to our Advent dinners—brief and engaging with one for adults led by clergy and one for children in the Block Room. The evening wraps up by 6:30 p.m., making it easy to participate even on busy weeknights. And best of all: no dishes to wash.

Come for a meaningful pause in the middle of the week.

Stations of the Cross & Discussion

Fridays | February 27 Through March 27
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. | New St. Mary’s

The Stations of the Cross is a guided prayer service led by the Reverend Daniel that follows the story of Jesus’ passion and lasts about 30 minutes. It consists of 15 pivotal moments—from Jesus’ sentencing to his burial—inviting us to contemplate and encounter Christ through his suffering and love.

Following the Stations, we will spend time in lectio‑style reflection, sharing together how the prayers and images spoke to us.

Sunday Morning Adult Formation

Sundays | February 22, March 1, March 15, & March 22
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Parish Hall

Between our 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday services, adults are encouraged to gather in the Parish Hall for a weekly formation hour during Lent. These sessions offer space to learn and grow together through engaging topics led by members of our parish community. This year’s topics include:

Dear Holy Spirit with Deacon Harrison Higgins
The Geography of Jesus with Ed Sloane, Director of Youth Formation
What Is Palm Sunday? with The Reverend Paul Evans
What Is Holy Week? with The Reverend Daniel Reeves

Whether you attend weekly or drop in when you’re able, all are welcome to join these conversations as we deepen our understanding of faith during the Lenten season.

Adult Confirmation, Reaffirmation, & Reception

Sundays | March 1, March 8, March 15, & March 22
9 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Library

If you’ve found yourself drawn to the Episcopal church—whether through a spouse, a season of searching, or a quiet sense of belonging—this gentle, retreat‑style series is for you. It is also well suited for longtime Episcopalians seeking a thoughtful refresher on our faith and practice.

Over four Sunday mornings, we’ll explore the foundations of Christian belief, Episcopal worship, and life in this parish community in preparation for Confirmation, Reception into the Episcopal Church, and Reaffirmation of Faith. Each gathering is unhurried and welcoming, with space for reflection and honest questions. Childcare is provided, and each session concludes with a simple Eucharist. On Sunday, May 10, the Bishop will be present at the 11 a.m. service to confirm and receive the participants of this course.

Please register for the course here by Wednesday, February 25. For more information or to help discern if this might be a good fit, reach out to Associate Rector Paul Evans at pevans@stmarysgoochland.org.

Potluck Church — Journey to Holy Week

Sunday, March 22 | 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Parish Hall

Join us for an evening of worship, food, and shared learning as we prepare to enter Holy Week together. We’ll begin with a 5:00 p.m. worship service, followed by a potluck supper with kid-friendly options available.

During the service, we’ll explore the meaning behind the traditions and services of Holy Week, offering context and insight into the days that lead us from Palm Sunday to Easter.

Stay tuned for a sign-up sheet coming soon!

Holy Week

Join us as we move through the story at the heart of our faith—remembering, praying, and celebrating together.

Palm Sunday Services
Sunday, March 29

9 a.m. at Little St. Mary’s

11 a.m. at New St. Mary’s
Meet in the Courtyard at 10:50 a.m. to Process in Together

Maundy Thursday Service
Thursday, April 2

6 p.m. at New St. Mary’s

Holy Eucharist Service with Footwashing & Stripping of the Altar

Good Friday Services
Friday, April 3

12 p.m. at New St. Mary’s

6 p.m. in New St. Mary’s

Prayer Service with the Reading of the Passion, Stones for Veneration and Music

Holy Saturday Stations of the Cross
Saturday, April 4

Self-Guided Stations | Open Hours Between 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Nature Trails

Guided Stations Service & Discussion | 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Nature Trails

Easter Vigil
Saturday, April 4

7 p.m. in New St. Mary’s
Meet in the West Parking Lot at 6:45 p.m. for the Great Fire
Reception to Follow the Service in the Dover Lounge

Easter Sunday Services & Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday, April 5

8 a.m. in Little St. Mary’s

9 a.m. in New St. Mary’s

11 a.m. in New St. Mary’s
Children are invited to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt on the church grounds immediately following the 11 a.m. service.

Lenten Resources

For those who wish to deepen their prayer, reflection, or learning beyond our shared gatherings, below are some recommended resources to use during this Lenten season.

Print Resources

The following complimentary print publications are available at the Resource Table throughout Lent.

Westminster Canterbury
Richmond Lenten
Meditations

Westminster Canterbury Richmond Lenten Meditations is a cherished annual devotional created by a vibrant, interfaith community rooted in Episcopal and Presbyterian traditions. Now in its 29th year, this collection features reflections from residents, staff, and community members, offering stories of faith, compassion, and spiritual growth. Journey through Lent alongside others, inviting the Holy Spirit to shape gentler hearts and renewed lives.

A Spring in the Desert: Rediscovering the Water of Life in Lent

Frank and Victoria Logue offer a Lenten journey inspired by the many passages of scripture that use images of water in the desert as a sign of the healing and wholeness that come through God alone. To this they add the distilled wisdom of the Desert Mothers and Fathers and the surprisingly rich inspiration of the plants and animals that thrive in an arid land. Along the way, they will share the ways our faith speaks to the barren places in our lives and how those times of drought can be a source of strength.

Children’s Ministry Resources

We invite children to pick up fun resources to practice Lent at-home, including a Lenten placemat, mite boxes, and prayer cards for our friends in Kenya. These resources will be available beginning Sunday, February 15, at the Lenten Resource Table.

Digital Resources

Episcopal Relief & Development – 2026 Lenten Meditations

Written by Episcopal nun and author Sister Monica Clare, these daily 2026 Lenten meditations invite readers to rediscover “Holy Habits” of prayer, worship, and Scripture.

View Resource

The Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) Lenten Reflection

This resource offers an overview of Lenten traditions, guided reflection questions, and suggested prayers to help deepen spiritual practice and draw closer to God’s love and mercy during the season.