The Haven Churches

As we turn the corner into February, the pace of the year seems to shift. We move from the celebration of Epiphany into a season of deeper reflection.

Shrove Tuesday falls on 17th February, followed immediately by Ash Wednesday on 18th February. It is a rhythm of ‘feasting and fasting’ that has guided the Church for centuries.

Pancake Day is the last hurrah! You might know it as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day. Historically, this was the day to ‘shrive’ (confess) and to clear the cupboards of rich foods like eggs, sugar, and fats before the 40-day fast of Lent. Traditionally we enjoy our pancakes and lemon on the 17th.

Is it just me, or does the arrival of February always feel like a high-stakes culinary transition? We go from the dizzying heights of sugar-laden batter to the sobering reality of ‘remember you are dust’ in exactly twenty-four hours.

The Great Vicarage Flip-Off... In the Vicarage, Shrove Tuesday is a marathon, not a sprint. My ritual involves mixing a vat of batter large enough to coat a small car and standing over the stove until Chris finally admits defeat. It is a battle of wills: my arm’s flipping stamina versus Chris’s appetite.

I know some of you are traditionalists, sticking to a modest squeeze of lemon and a dusting of sugar. But why stop there? We live in an age of culinary enlightenment! I suspect some of you are secretly hiding chocolate sauce, sprinkles, maple syrup, or even crispy bacon behind your kitchen doors. Go on - be exotic. It’s the last hurrah!

Of course, I don’t cook alone. I am closely supervised by ‘the girls’, Marnie and Willow. If you think a Vicar is immune to temptation, you haven’t seen two dogs wielding pleading chocolate-button eyes while I’m mid-flip. Naturally, a few morsels of pancake ‘accidentally’ fall their way. I’m only human, and those eyes are a spiritual trial in themselves.

Please be mindful of the Ten Commandments of the Frying Pan:

• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s toppings, even if they have the fancy maple syrup and you only have a lowly lemon.
• Thou shalt honour the first pancake, for it is a sacrificial lamb and usually looks like a topographical map of the Moon.
• Thou shalt flip with ‘Accomplished Aplomb’, or at least with enough height to clear the extractor fan.
• Thou shalt not bear false witness about how many pancakes thou hast actually consumed.
• Thou shalt remember the ‘Dogs’ Tax’, for Marnie and Willow are watching, and their chocolate-button eyes see all.
• Thou shalt not use a cold pan, lest thy pancake become a sad, pale frisbee.
• Thou shalt experiment with bacon, for it is the path to culinary enlightenment.
• Thou shalt scrape the ceiling if the flip goes awry, for cleanliness is next to godliness.
• Thou shalt keep the batter flowing until your supply is exhausted or your family admits defeat.
• Thou shalt prepare thy heart for tomorrow, for once the last crumb is gone, the ashes beckon us to Lent.

Then we go from Syrup to Soot. The party ends promptly on Wednesday, 18th February, as we gather at St Mary’s and St Helen’s churches for our Ash Wednesday services (see the item in the February 2026 Edition of What's On for further details).

If Tuesday is for filling our stomachs, Wednesday is for checking our souls. We’ll be performing the ‘imposition of ashes’, where I smudge a charcoal cross on your forehead.

‘Why the messy forehead?’ you might ask. Well, it’s the ultimate reality check. When I say, ‘Remember that you are dust’, it’s a way of admitting we aren’t the centre of the universe. It’s a bit of a ‘spiritual exfoliation’ - stripping away the ego (and the maple syrup) to remember that we belong to God. We wear the cross of ashes because it’s a sign that even in our messiest, dustiest moments, we are claimed by Christ. We are clearing the decks, physically and spiritually, to make room for God.

This is one of the most poignant services of the year. It marks the start of Lent - a season of 40 days (mirroring Jesus’ time in the wilderness) where we examine our hearts, practise self-discipline, and prepare for the joy of the Resurrection.

Lent isn’t about being miserable; it’s about being honest. It’s an opportunity to strip away the distractions and noise of modern life to see what really matters.

Whether you are a regular at church, or haven't stepped through our doors in years, you are warmly invited to join us on 18th February. Come as you are - dust, ashes, and all.

The Haven Churches will be holding a Lent Course based upon the book of reflections, ‘Draw Near’, over four Wednesday evenings at 6.00 pm, starting on 25th February (see the item in the February 2026 Edition of What's On for further details).

Revd Karen

February 2026

Dear Friends

As you stand at the threshold of this New Year, may you feel the steady presence of the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

May the hope of Christ be more than a distant wish for you; may it be an anchor for your soul, firm and secure. In the quiet coastal beauty of your parishes, may you hear the whisper of the Spirit promising that you are never alone.

As the calendar turns, may you be filled with:

❖ The Promise of Renewal: That in Christ, all things are being made new, and His mercies are fresh every morning.

❖ The Promise of Peace: A peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding your hearts and minds regardless of what the year brings

❖ The Promise of Purpose: The assurance that you are called by name to be a light in your community, reflecting the warmth of His love.

May the Haven Benefice truly be a haven - a place of safety, rest, and radical hospitality. May your churches be vibrant witnesses to the truth that the darkness has not overcome the Light.

"Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20)

Wishing you a year filled with the grace, joy, and the unmistakable peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revd Karen

January 2026