Letter from the Vicar

This time of year is full of hope and promise as we see everything begin to come to life again after the long winter months. We also have the promise of longer days and lighter evenings as the clocks go back at the end of March. It is also very much a time of preparation.

We are in the middle of our Marriage Preparation course with the couples who will marry in St Mary’s and Holy Trinity in the Summer. The course aims to help them to prepare for their married lives together as well as being a time to prepare the necessary paperwork and legalities. Children and students are beginning to prepare for SATs and exams. Farmers and gardeners are busy preparing and enriching the soil ready for planting. Many Christians are observing the season of Lent, the time of reflection, contemplation, fasting and preparation for the celebrations of Easter. Lent, by the way, comes from the middle English word Lente meaning Springtime, although the Christian observance of 40 days of fasting goes right back to 325AD. It is one of the oldest Christian traditions and for many years it was the time when new believers prepared themselves to be baptised at Easter. These days, as well as or instead of going without something for Lent, some Christians choose to take up doing something. This might be to do a Lent study with others, to read a Lent book, have an additional daily time of devotions and/or perform deliberate acts of kindness for others every day for 40 days.

I am sure that King Charles is busy preparing for his coronation. It is great that he has suggested that the extra Bank Holiday on May 8th, rather than just being another day off, should instead be a day of volunteering – The Big Help Out. We will be helping out by sprucing up the Churchyard, and we desperately need more volunteers. If you can help out from 10.30 onwards, even for an hour or so, we would really appreciate it!!

God bless, Rev Annette annette@jhbd.co.uk 01580 880282 07900 332791 www.hurstgreenhtc.org

We meet at Holy Trinity every Sunday – we have coffee at 9am and the service starts at 9.30.

On Tuesday 18th April, we will be welcoming all the children and teachers from Hurst Green Primary school to participate in an interactive walk through the events of Holy Week. They will come up to the church class by class and take part in various activities and crafts to help unpack this amazing story. Yes, it will be after Easter but still relevant! Then there will be an opportunity for anyone who is interested to visit from Wednesday 19th through to Saturday 22nd. The church will be open from 9am till 4pm every day. Do go and check it out.

Easter Services At Holy Trinity

Palm Sunday, 2nd April, 9.30am Holy Communion

Good Friday, 7th April. We will be having our usual March of Witness from the Village Hall to the church at 10am, followed by coffee and hot cross buns. 2pm An hour at the cross. Contemplative service.

Easter Day, 9th April. This will be an Easter Communion service at 9.30am, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.