St Nicholas’ Church News

Christian Aid Week is 13th - 19th May and we will, as usual, be collecting house-to-house. Thank you for the generosity shown in past years in giving to help the world's poor and thank you, in anticipation, for your support again this year.

The annual Christian Aid coffee morning will be held on Saturday 19 May at the Old Cottage, Broadcommon Road from 10.00am - 12.00 noon. The event is actually far more than a coffee morning, as it includes cake and plant stalls, books, bring and buy, rides, games and a raffle. The money raised goes to help those affected by poverty and disaster. Last year in Hurst we raised in excess of £1,400 for Christian Aid. For further information please contact Caroline Speer (934 xxxx).

The current Easter season is a very special time. In church, the Palm Sunday service included a moving dramatised Passion narrative and music from the Festival Choir. We followed Jesus' suffering and crucifixion on Good Friday and then rejoiced at his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Jesus' resurrection provides us with hope and the newness of life, symbolised by the lighting of the Paschal candle and shown by the superb Easter garden which the children made. We continue to celebrate Easter until the end of May, and welcome all who wish to share in that worship.

At the end of March, we gave thanks at our Mothering Sunday service for the role of mothers in our lives. The children gave posies to the women in the congregation and this year the service was given added significance by the inclusion of two baptisms.

We were very pleased to welcome so many people to the recent Organ Concert. Nigel Ogden gave us an enjoyable evening. The £700 raised was donated to a fund to support farmers struggling during the current foot and mouth outbreak.

A Memorial Service will be held at St Nicholas’ on Sunday 17 June at 4.00pm - a service where we give thanks to God for those we love who have died. If you wish someone’s name to be remembered and to light a candle in prayer and remembrance, please contact the Revd Clifford Smith on 978 xxxx.

For details of services please see village notice-boards. Our main service is always at 11.00am, the only exceptions being on 6 May and 1 July. For further information or assistance please call the Revd Douglas Loveridge on 934 xxxx