LOOKING for a new start? Easter’s a strange time of year. For most people, it’s a holiday, chocolate eggs and time to spend with family and friends. For Christians, it’s really special. Within a few days, we have the lowest point in the Christian year and the highest point.

On Good Friday, we mark Jesus Christ’s death on a cross – Jesus, who was God come down to Earth. He came to give us all new life, yet the powerful people of his time turned against him, put together some trumped-up charges and had him executed. End of story.

Except it wasn’t the end – and on Easter Sunday we celebrate Christ coming back from the dead, transformed and resurrected, to bring new life to everyone.

So what’s Easter all about? It’s about you, me and everyone being offered a new start.

It’s a chance to leave behind all that’s happened in your life. A chance to leave behind all the wrong choices you’ve made. It’s a chance to start afresh by putting your faith in Jesus Christ, confessing your past and seeking to begin anew with him.

Want to know more? Contact or drop into any of the churches featured in this listing, or visit www.rejesus.co.uk This Easter could be life-changing…

Peter Crumpler is a Reader (lay minister) at St Paul’s Church, St Albans.

Easter services

St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – March 28: 11am Eucharist with Blessing of Oils and Act of Commitment to Ministry; 8pm Maundy Eucharist; Good Friday – March 29: 8.30am Morning Prayer; 10am Pre-School Children’s Service; 10.30am-1.30pm Children’s Event. Places must be reserved in advance; 12noon Three Hours Devotion; 12-1.30pm Preaching of the Passion; 1.30-3.00pm The Liturgy of Good Friday Sung Passion; 7.30pm Walk of Witness from St Alban and St Stephen’s Church to the Cathedral for 8pm Unity at the Cross. An ecumenical service, planned and led this year by Churches Together in Marshalswick; Easter Eve – March 30: 4pm Evensong; 8.30pm Easter Vigil with Holy Baptism and Confirmation; Easter Sunday – March 31: 8am Eucharist with hymns; 9.30am Parish Eucharist with Procession and Blessing of the Easter Garden; 11.15am Matins with Procession; 12.30pm Eucharist; 6.30pm Solemn Evensong with Procession; Easter Monday – April 1: 3pm Easter Monday Pilgrimage People, young and old, walk to the Abbey from across the diocese to meet and gather together on the Abbey Orchard from 1.30pm. The procession begins at 2.30pm and the service starts at 3pm, non-walkers also welcome. Organised by the Diocese of St Albans – further details www.stalbans.anglican.org

Ashley Church, Ashley Road

Good Friday – 10am Quiet Reflection; Easter Sunday – 10am Family Celebration.

Chiswell Green United Reformed Church, Watford Road, St Albans

Easter Sunday - 9.30am Family Service.

Christ Church, High Oaks, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm service; Good Friday – 10.40am service; 9am-6pm prayer labyrinth; Easter Sunday – 9am Holy Communion; 10.40am All Age Communion.

City Church, Lyon Way, St Albans

Good Friday – 9am breakfast followed by a short service (breakfast £2.50 a head, or £10 a family – raising money for missions work in London); Easter Eve – 11am-1pm Meeting at the Clock Tower, St Albans, for music, drama and the Easter story; Easter Sunday – 10:30am Baptismal service.

Dagnall Street Baptist Church, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm Communion; Good Friday – 10.15am Morning Worship; Easter Sunday – 9am Breakfast Communion; 10.30am Family Worship; 6.30pm Evening Worship.

Forest Town Church, Lyon Way, St Albans

Easter Sunday – 10am Service.

Hatfield Road Methodist Church, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm Reflective Seder Meal; Good Friday – 10.30am Good Friday service; Easter Sunday – 10.30am All Age Worship with Holy Communion.

Homewood Road United Reformed Church, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm Maundy Thursday Service; Easter Eve – 2-5pm Prayer Vigil. Come and go as you please; Easter Sunday – 10.30am and 6.30pm Communion Services.

King’s Community Church

Easter Sunday – 10.30am Risen! Meeting at Onslow St Audrey’s School, Old Rectory Drive, Hatfield.

Marshalswick Baptist Free Church, Sherwood Avenue, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm Communion; Good Friday – 3pm Reflection; Easter Sunday – 10.15am Morning Worship and Communion; 7pm Easter Songs of Praise.

Network Church

Easter Sunday – 10.30am Informal Easter service at Rothamsted Conference Centre, off the A1081 Harpenden Road, AL5 2JQ.

SS Alban & Stephen Catholic Church, Beaconsfield Road, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm Mass of the Last Supper; Night prayer from 11.30pm; Good Friday – 12noon Stations of the Cross for children; 3pm Liturgy of the Passion; 7.20pm Procession of the Cross from the Church to the Abbey for 8pm Unity at the Cross service; Easter Eve – 9pm Easter Vigil. Lighting of the paschal fire followed by candlelit procession into church; Easter Sunday – 8am, 9.30am, 11.30am Masses. 4pm Polish mass.

St Julian’s Church, Abbotts Avenue, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 7pm Passover Meal and Holy Communion followed by Watch of Prayer; Easter Sunday – 9.30am Holy Communion.

St Luke’s Church, Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm Communion; Good Friday – 10.30am, Walk of the Cross, meeting at St Luke’s, refreshments at Thirlmere Church follow the walk; 2pm Hour before the Cross; 2pm Children’s hour before the Cross; Easter Sunday – 9am Holy Communion; 10.30am Easter Celebration with Communion.

St Leonard’s Church, Church End, Sandridge

Maundy Thursday – 8pm Holy Communion; Good Friday – 2pm Quiet meditation at the Cross; Easter Sunday – 10am All Age Celebration followed by Easter Egg Hunt; 6pm Easter Praise.

St Mary’s, Childwick Green

Easter Sunday – 11am Festival Communion.

St Mary’s, Marshalswick, Sherwood Avenue, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm communion followed by a quiet vigil; Good Friday – 11am Family praise; 1pm At the cross with silent prayer to follow; Easter Eve – 8.30pm Service with outside fire; Easter Sunday – 9.30am Family communion service followed by an Easter egg hunt.

St Michael’s Church, St Michael’s Street, St Albans

Good Friday – 12noon-1pm Good Friday Service and children’s activities; 1-1.30pm Children’s Service followed by hot cross buns; Easter Sunday – 9.30am Festival Communion and Baptism.

St Paul’s Church, Hatfield Road, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm Holy Communion; Good Friday – 10.30am Family Service, including the building of a 12-foot cross in the church grounds, followed by hot cross buns and an hour of creative activity; 2pm An hour at the cross, a quiet reflective service; Easter Sunday – 8am Traditional Holy Communion; 10.30am Family Communion with Praise Procession from Morrisons car park from 10am; 6.30pm Easter Evening Praise.

St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Street, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm Eucharist of the Last Supper with traditional stripping of the altars; 9-10 pm Garden Prayer Vigil; Good Friday – 10-11am Messy Church worship for the under fives and parents; 10am-12noon Workshop for children, two workshops exploring the themes of Easter through creative crafts for pre-school and older children; 12noon Meditations at the Cross, Choral music for Good Friday, hymns, words and silence; 2pm A Pilgrimage for Good Friday, a pilgrimage around the church, telling the story of the passion through music, symbol, poetry and prayer; 6.30pm Choral Evensong; Easter Eve – 8pm The Easter Liturgy for Holy Saturday; Easter Sunday – 9.30am Sung Eucharist with blessing of the Easter Garden; 11.15am Choral Mattins; 6.30pm Festal Evensong.

St Saviour’s Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 8pm High Mass, Washing of Feet and Vigil of Prayer until 11pm; Good Friday – 2pm Liturgy of the Day; Easter Eve – 8pm Easter Vigil Service; Easter Sunday – 9.30am Procession and High Mass.

St Stephen’s Church, Watling Street

Good Friday – 10.15am Good Friday Walk of Witness commencing at St Bart’s, Vesta Avenue; 2pm Liturgy of the Cross and Passion; Easter Eve – 8.30pm Easter Vigil; Easter Sunday – 8am Holy Communion; 10am Family Communion; 6.30pm Festival Evensong.

Salvation Army, 16/18 Victoria Street, St Albans

Good Friday – 10.30am At the Cross; Easter Sunday – 10.30am The Empty Grave.

Thirlmere Church, Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans

Easter Sunday – 10.30am Easter Celebration.

Trinity United Reformed Church, Beaconsfield Road, St Albans

Maundy Thursday – 7pm Meditative meal; Easter Sunday – 8.30am Easter Breakfast; 10am Easter Service.

Vineyard Church, 7 Brick Knoll Park, Ashley Road, St Albans

Good Friday – 12noon-1pm An Hour of Reflection; Easter Sunday – Guest services 9.30am and 11.30am, both with ‘Vineyardkids’ and youth.

The Ridgeway Church, Sandringham School, the Ridgeway, St Albans

Good Friday – 11 am “The old has gone”, Matthew 27:45-56; Easter Sunday – 10am All Age service “The new has come”, Luke 24:36-44.