Really looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible on the 14th to help with the planting of the hundreds of snowdrops “in the green” that have now arrived. A “mat” of wildflower seeds has also been ordered so we are hoping that will also arrive on time and we can then put it in place. After all last year’s hard labour clearing out the brambles it will be so nice to move on to stage two of the project, so please join us if you can. Trowels, spades and kneelers would be useful if you have them.
Best Wishes,
Lynn
Easter Lilies
We will be offering you the opportunity to buy a lily in memory of a loved one again this year. Each lily will cost to £5.00 per stem. If you would like to buy one please could you either write a cheque payable to St Laurence Church Flower Fund or put cash in an envelope and either deliver it by hand to Sam Cornish at Little Bokes, Horns Hill Hawkhurst, or give it to Clare Roberts or Liz Hatcher in Church.
Please put your donation in an envelope and ensure you provide;
- The name of the person in whose memory you are buying the lily
- Your name
- How much you are paying for the lily; cash/cheque. etc
Please note the last date for ordering a lily will be Sunday 22nd March so that we can order them in good time for Easter.
Wednesday Morning Prayer
at Bowles Lodge ~ 10.00a.m. Please do join us.
Compline – Wednesday at 6.00pm on Zoom. Please feel free to join us if you can. The Zoom link is:
Meeting ID: 880 4785 4233 Passcode: 798527
Easyfundraising
St Laurence Church is registered with easyfundraising. Please sign up to support us at:
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stlaurencehawkhurst/
Parish Giving Scheme
St. Laurence is also a member of the Parish Giving Scheme. This enables you to give to St. Laurence monthly, quarterly or annually by Direct Debit. Please go to www.parishgiving.org.uk Donations can be increased by Gift Aid, adding 25%.
St Laurence 100 Club
The100 Club has now been running since 2013. During that time it has raised £3,785 for St Laurence’s. If all 100 shares were sold each year, then a profit of over £500 could be made. In recent years the number of shares sold have been reducing so that the amount raised each year has been falling. In 2025 that amount was only £200. For £10 a year you have the chance each month to win a prize of either £20, £10 or £5 knowing that all the time you are helping to support the church. If you have supported the 100 Club in the past, please consider rejoining or if you haven’t joined previously, please think about doing so now. Application forms are available from the treasurer, Alison Parsons and can also be found on the table at the back of the church.
Lent Lunches
These will all be held in the Baptist Church hall 12.00 to 1.30pm
Hosted as follows:
March 13th – St Barnabas’
March 20th – St Laurence’s
March 27th – Hawkhurst Baptist Church
April 3rd – All Churches
If you are able to contribute by donation of food and / or time, please could you sign the list (on the table at the back of the church) indicating what you are able to offer by way of: Soup, Cheese, bread, butter, fruit.
Diocesan Service of Welcome for New Archbishop
Saturday 28 March 2026 | Canterbury Cathedral
5.30 to 6.30pm. This service will be livestreamed on the Canterbury Cathedral YouTube channel. The link will be published on the Diocese of Canterbury website in due course.
Save the date for the Hawkhurst Fete
Saturday 6th June, St Laurence Church will be responsible for manning the tea tent. We will be asking for volunteers to make and serve tea as well as donations of cakes.
FORTHCOMING SERVICES:
Fridays 13th, 20th & 27th March
10.00am Stations of the Cross & Lenten Prayers with reflection.
Coffee and tea will be provided afterwards.
Led by Julie Hammonds and
Claire Roberts
15th March: Mothering Sunday
8.00am BCP Morning Prayer
Led by Dr Julie Hammonds
10.00am Eucharist
Bishop David Bannerman
Sidesmen:Ali Jones and Kate Lagden
Reader: Anne Wheelhouse
Intercessions: Stephen Ringer
Chalice: Nana Twumampofo and Kwame Appiah-Peprah
22nd March:
8.00am BCP Morning Prayer
Led by Dr Julie Hammonds
10.00am Eucharist
Rev Stephen Hardy and Rev Lesley Hardy
29th March: Palm Sunday
8.00am BCP Morning Prayer
Led by Stephen Ringer
10.00am Eucharist
Rev Sue Starkings
EASTER SERVICES
The Bishop of Dover, the Right Reverend Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin will be presiding over the following Easter Services:
Maundy Thursday – timing and arrangements TBC
Good Friday – timing and arrangements TBC
10 am Easter Sunday Eucharist
Please bring a posy of flowers to adorn the cross if you are able to.
Good Friday – As well as our own service at St Laurence on Good Friday – 3rd April – we will have the following Ecumenical Service:
This year the Good Friday Service will be led by Revd Ben Gotts. It will begin at St Barnabas’ at 11:30am. The walk will proceed through the village, finishing at Dunk’s Almshouses. Attendees will then be invited back to the Baptist Church for the final Lent Lunch.
Prayer for peace in the world
Almighty God,
from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:
kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace
and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom
those who take counsel for the nations of the earth
that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward,
till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
AT YOUR SERVICE
Vicar
The Benefice is currently in vacancy.
Licensed Parish Reader
Mr. Stephen Ringer: 01580 879710
Authorised Lay Minister
Dr. Julie Hammonds: 07587 470678
Churchwardens
Claire Roberts: 01580 754374
Liz Hatcher: 01580 712099
Assistants
Lydeke Klein: 01580 493732
Ali Jones: 01580 755705
Safeguarding:
Mrs Jane Cooper: 07825 044877
Choirmaster and Organist:
Dr. Charlotte O’Neill:
01580 753817
Organist:
Mr. Richard O’Neill:
01580 753817