
Dear People of God:
The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.
We invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word.

Join our weekly soup supper and book study on Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
Matthew 18:21
The 2026 Lenten Meditations author, Sister Monica Clare, shares her inspiration for "Holy Habits" and invites everyone to join her this season for habit-building and reflection.
The saints face off in brackets to determine who is the holiest of the holy!
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St Stephen's Heathsville
P.O. Box 40, 6807 Northumberland Highway, Heathsville, VA 22473
Church: 804-724-4238 • Thrift Shop: 804-724-4135
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