York Minster today announced its programme of online worship for Lent, the period in the Church calendar leading to Holy Week and Easter, the most important festival for Christians around the world.

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (17 February).  Explaining the significance of Lent, Canon Vicky Johnson, Precentor at York Minster said:  “During this season of penitence and prayer, Christian people the world over prepare to enter into one of the most dramatic and engaging stories ever told. Every year, we participate in this story through prayer, fasting, sacrificial giving and study. We journey with Jesus as he is tempted in the wilderness and begins his public ministry which opens up to those who follow him a new way of living.”

Commenting on the cathedral’s approach to Lent this year, Vicky said:  “This time of preparation will be observed in new as well as in traditional ways.  There will be online worship, music and stillness, prayer and study. Through it all we will explore what it means to live Christ’s story.  Wherever you are on your journey of faith, we hope you will live out this story with us. All are welcome.”

Join York Minster’s Journey through Lent online

A Service for Ash Wednesday (online only)
12 noon on Wednesday 17 February
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, when Christians traditionally reflect on their mortality and all those things which distance us from God. In this penitential service there will be an opportunity to reflect on our own journey of faith and how we might each turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ in our daily living.
This service will be available via livestream and people will be able to watch again throughout the day.  Access the livestream here.

Sunday Sermon Series for Lent – ‘Living Christ’s Story’
During our livestreamed worship on Sundays through Lent, the Cathedral Clergy will reflect on the theme of ‘Living Christ’s Story’. Access all of these livestreams here.

11 am – Livestreamed Choral Eucharist, Sunday mornings throughout Lent
Every Sunday during Lent at the 11am Eucharist, a member of the Cathedral clergy will reflect on a different aspect of the Christian life and how we as a Community can engage and deepen in our response to the call to Prayer, Service, Stewardship and Hospitality as we seek to live Christ’s story. The Services will be sung by the Choir of York Minster.

Sunday 21 February               Revd Catriona Cumming on Prayer
Sunday 28 February               Canon Maggie McLean on Service
Sunday 7 March                      Canon Victoria Johnson on Stewardship
Sunday 14 March                   Canon Michael Smith on Hospitality
Sunday 21 March                   Rt Revd Jonathan Frost (Dean), on Living Christ’s Story.

Livestreamed Choral Evensong with Reflections
4pm – Sunday Evenings during Lent

During our livestreamed service of Choral Evensong each Sunday, the Cathedral Clergy will reflect more personally on what it means to them to live Christ’s story and in so doing, help us all reflect on our own journey with Christ.

Sunday 21 February               Revd Abigail Davison, Cathedral Curate
Sunday 28 February               Revd Catriona Cumming, Succentor
Sunday 7 March                      Canon Michael Smith, Pastor
Sunday 14 March                   Canon Maggie McLean, Missioner
Sunday 21 March                   Canon Victoria Johnson, Precentor

Stations of the Cross (online)
From Friday 26 March until Easter Day, Sunday 4 April.
Released each day at 12noon (excluding Holy Saturday)

The Stations of the Cross originated when early Christians visited Jerusalem hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, tracing the path from Pilate’s house to Calvary. They would pause for prayer and devotion at various points. Eventually those pilgrims brought the practice back to their home countries and ever since, Christians of differing traditions have used this form of devotion. This year we make our pilgrimage online. We use stations created by students from St Peter’s School, York. Each station will be accompanied by a Bible reading, a piece of music, a short reflection, and a prayer.

Access Stations of the Cross here. The stations will also be released on our social media channels.

Further resources for Lent

To further explore the theme of Living’s Christ’s story, this year we recommend the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book for personal reflection and study. Living His Story: Sharing the extraordinary love of God in ordinary ways by Hannah Steele (SPCK).
There are further Church of England Resources including apps, study guides and telephone based resources available to accompany us on our journey through Lent encouraging all Christians to think about their calling, how to share their faith and reflect on the difference Christ makes in their lives.
Visit www.churchofengland.org and follow #LiveLent on social media for further details.

York Minster is currently closed for public and private worship and sightseeing in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. To join our worship online visit www.yorkminster.org/whats-on.