Colin Dixon, Chairman of FOSM writes:
SPRING CLEANING CONTINUES
As you saw in last month’s news, we are beginning to get the south side of the churchyard under some control. It is taking a while to wrest it from the clutches of the alder, laurel and nettles, but we are making good progress. Do come and join us! We are next having a churchyard clearing session on Saturday 9th April.
CURRENT PROJECTS
After the forced cessation of our fundraising for the past two years courtesy of Mr Covid, we are back in business! Fundraising for St Mary’s is our raison d’être, so it has been a difficult two years.
Despite being unable to fundraise over the past two years and paying out vast sums of money for the bells and to assist with the refurbishment of the church, we still have a healthy balance in the accounts, and have been doing our other job, which is to help with irregular outgoings for the church.
Many of you will have seen the sad condition of the west gate of the church and that that it was about time it is replaced. Probably the same can be applied to the noticeboard by the side of the west gate, which is also in a poor state. The Friends thought so too and have commissioned a new noticeboard and a new gate, so watch this space – actually, it’s probably better to watch the west side of the church!
The new LED energy-saving light bulbs have been installed in the church, and they seem to be very good replacements. The Friends contributed £1,000 towards the cost of the lighting and their installation. The new bulbs use less than 10% of the energy of the previous bulbs for the same amount of light, giving considerable savings in energy costs.
NEW EVENTS FOR 2022
BRISTOL MALE VOICE CHOIR CONCERT (14th May)
Our first fundraising venture of 2022 is the concert by the Bristol Male Voice Choir on 14th May. Tickets are now on sale via Eventbrite here, from committee members, and from the Hawkesbury Stores.
This concert has been planned for the past three years, and it is good that we have now got it off the ground. In addition to the Bristol Male Voice Choir, we also have our own St Mary’s Choir in the programme, and the amazing Ben Humphries playing the church organ during the interval.
OPEN CHURCH WEEKEND (23rd-24th July)
We are currently planning an Open Church Weekend in July with the bells being available to ring and access to the bells themselves for the energetic. There will be other activities including music and picnics in the garden of Church Farm House.
FOMS AT HAWKESBURY SHOW (27th August)
We will be running our ever-popular Pimms tent at the Hawkesbury Show on 27th August so make sure it is in your diary to come and visit us. We will be in our new position on the far side of the arena near to the Hawkesbury Stores and Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival tents.
HAWKESBURY SCARECROW TRAIL (23rd-30th October)
The Friends will again be entering a scarecrow in the Hawkesbury Scarecrow Trail over the autumn half term. The theme has yet to be decided by the Pre-school, but the Friends will be actively participating.
NINE LESSONS & CAROLS (18th December)
The FOSM Christmas Service of Nine Lessons and Carols will be held on Sunday 18th December at 5pm. This is a wonderful service of readings and carols and is especially good for children. Following the service, mulled wine and mince pies will be served at Church Farm House, courtesy of Christopher and Lisa Overton.
APRIL SERVICES
Sunday 3rd April Holy Communion (9.30am)
Sunday 10th April Palm Sunday Ecumenical Service combined with Methodists,
meeting at Farm Pool to walk to the Methodist Chapel (9.30am)
Sunday 17th April Easter Sunday – Morning Prayer (9.30am)
Sunday 24th April Evensong (6pm)
Online video services will continued to be streamed at 10am on the first and third Sundays and live-streamed from Hawkesbury on second and fourth Sundays at www/youtube.com/c/badmintonbenefice
Friends of St Mary's Hawkesbury 