Come and have some free fun this half-term!
Everyone is welcome at our free Family Fun Day with a free lunch which will take place on October 27, 10.30am-1pm at St Mark’s Church.
There will be crafts, music, games, table tennis and a lunch with vegetarian and meat options. There will also be a quiet area for those who prefer this and an adviser to talk to families about special needs if required. Free of charge, donations welcome. For more information email Michelle.
A new six-week course for small groups starts next week in the parish – Talking Jesus.
This course will look at how we can share our faith naturally with those we meet. There will be videos, practical tips, a look at what exactly it is that we are sharing, and plenty of opportunity for discussion.
The course will take place in person and via Zoom for those who prefer this and there are at least two groups planned – Tuesday evenings in person, starting on October 11th at 7.30pm, and Wednesday evenings on Zoom, starting on October 12th also at 7.30pm.
Conversations with Christians are one of the most important influences in bringing people to faith. This course will inspire you to share your faith and will give you practical suggestions to help you to be natural and relevant as you talk about Jesus with the people you meet.
Message us to find out more or email Alan Crawley – revd.alan@badshotleaandhale.org
Details of the course can also be found by clicking here.
Come to the free barn dance at St Mark’s , Upper Hale, on Saturday, October 15th, at 7pm, with local favourites Cajun Boogaloo, well known for their presence at festivals, clubs and pubs around the UK and in Europe.
There will be traditional reels, square dances, circle dances and a lot of fun for all ages and abilities, with clear instructions from caller Kris Lawrence. Those who don’t feel energetic or who need a rest can sit at the tables around the church. People are invited to bring their own food and drink, but tea, coffee and cake will be available for sale. There is no entrance fee but donations are welcome.
Come and join the fun – all ages and abilities welcome!
Apple Day returns to St Mark’s, Upper Hale, this Sunday (October 9) starting at 10am.
After a lull courtesy of Covid, the annual celebration of all things apple-y is returning and everyone is encouraged to bring their apples and put them in the apple press for freshly pressed apple juice. There will be apple songs and apple pie, all followed by a celebratory harvest festival service in the church with a collection for the Foodbank.
Lesley Crawley explains how the day came about: “In December 2014 we planted 11 fruit trees to create a community orchard at St Mark’s. Each tree was adopted by a different community group and all except one have thrived since they were planted.
“Our first Apple Day was in 2015 because we were so delighted that our trees were bearing fruit and so we decided to celebrate! Since then, we have celebrated every year apart from during the Covid pandemic by having apple snacks – pie this year – apple-y music and apple pressing. It is a great atmosphere with children and adults pressing the apples, drinking the juice, eating, listening to the music and chatting. Then we move on to harvest festival in the church and a collection of food for Farnham Foodbank.
“And while you are in the church, have a look at the apple trees in Kitty Milroy’s murals near the altar.”
Anyone who wants their apples turned into juice is asked to bring apples that are in good condition, picked from the tree and washed, along with clean two-litre plastic milk cartons, including the lid, to put the juice in.
The Foodbank is currently in need of tinned ham or minced beef; tinned carrots or peas; tinned or packet custard; UHT milk and UHT fruit juice.
Our new Family Service – known as Seekers – will celebrate Harvest this Sunday (October 2nd) at 4pm at St John’s Church.
Come and join a relaxed service all about Harvest and God’s great love for us and our world. This will be followed by sandwiches and cake.
Please bring donations of tins and packets for the Food Bank.
We are continuing our Embodied Worship series over the next few weeks and this week are offering the chance try some Tai Chi, free of charge, at St Mark’s Church, on Wednesday, October 5, at 3pm. Tai Chi is a practice which involves a lot of focusing on the body and is calming and mindful.
The following day, Thursday, October 6, we will be in St George’s Church from 7pm, exploring prayer through a labyrinth. On October 13, we will bake bread together in St George’s (again 7pm) and on October 20 at 7pm, Michelle Chapman will lead us in some journaling.
Embodied worship reminds us that we are physical creatures and that everything we experience is through our bodies. Even our thoughts come through our bodies – our brains are physical parts of us. The rituals we use, our movements, the processes by which we respond to God, are all embodied and we worship an incarnate God, for God took flesh in an entirely radical way and was born in a human body.
For details, contact Stella Wiseman, revd.stella@badshotleaandhale.org, 07842 761919.
Picture by Monica Leonardi on Unsplash.
We invite barking, squeaking, chirping and maybe even a little slithering at church on Sunday, October 2 when the parish holds a pet service at each of its three churches.
Pets of all shapes and sizes will be welcomed to St John’s at 9.30am, St George’s at 10am and St Mark’s at 11am, for a service to celebrate our pets and ask for God’s blessing on them. Anyone who doesn’t want to bring their pet but still wants to celebrate them and have them blessed is encouraged to bring a photo of the pet. Children are welcome to bring toy pets and come dressed as animals too.
Rev’d Stella Wiseman says: “We decided to hold the service on October 2nd as it is a day which celebrates St Francis of Assisi who was known for his love of and care for animals and is often depicted with them. Our pets bring us great joy and are part of God’s creation so we want to celebrate them and give thanks for everything they give us. For many people having a pet is an enormous comfort and can help our mental health by reducing stress and anxiety. They can also be great companions especially to people who are on their own.
“We expect the services to be chaotic and great fun, so please come along! However, there will also be an earlier communion service at St George’s at 9am for people who prefer their worship without animal accompaniment!
To join in the fun, come to any of the three churches on Sunday, October 2.
Because of The Queen’s death we have postponed our Harvest Festival services from Sunday, September 18th to Sunday, October 9th.
On October 9th there will be services at all three churches – 9.30am at St John’s, 10am at St George’s and 10am at St Mark’s where the celebrations will start with Apple Day (apple-pressing, apple snacks, apple juice and apple-y music) followed by the Harvest Service at around 11am.
There will be collections of non-perishable food for the local Foodbank so please think of this when you are shopping.
We will be screening The Queen’s funeral at St Mark’s Church, Alma Lane, Upper Hale, on Monday, September 19th.
The funeral will start at 11am but the church will be open from 10am when the bell will toll for an hour as a sign of respect for The Queen.
Please join us to watch the funeral together. Coffee will be served.
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 