Join us this Sunday (December 6), in church or online, for a Christingle service.
Christingles are a tradition where the story of God’s love for the world, shown in Jesus Christ, is told using an orange, a candle, a red ribbon and dried fruits and/or sweets. The word comes from the German word ‘Christkindl’, meaning ‘Little Christ Child’. You can find out more here.
The Christingle service in church will be at St Mark’s, Alma Lane, at 11am.
If you can’t come to the service, you can join in our online Christingle service which will be here at 10.30am, and if you want to make a Christingle, you will need an orange, red tape or ribbon, four cocktail sticks, some dried fruit or sweets, a piece of silver foil and a candle. You might also find a knife and a wooden spoon useful.
As well as information about Christmas and Advent events, you can find out about South West Surrey Heroes, have your say on the future of the town, read how one woman has changed her life for the better one step at a time, have an eco-friendly Christmas, take up an art challenge, read local books, discover where reindeer come from….
Take a look at our advertisers too. Maybe you need a plumber or electrician or your oven or carpet need a clean; do you feet bother you or your back hurt? Do you want to help the environment? Do you have a book in you and want a publisher? Our advertisers are an important part of financing the magazine.
The advertisers don’t pay for the whole cost however, so if you feel you can, please make a small donation by clicking on the button here:
Welcome to our online Christmas Tree Festival. Our thanks to the many local organisations, charities, churches, individuals, schools and businesses which have contributed.
And if there is a tree you particularly like, let us know by clicking here and dropping us a line. Please also consider making a small donation to help support the work of the church in North Farnham.
1 Aldershot Floral Design Club 2 Amnesty International 3 Andrew Lodge Estate Agents 4 The Art House 5 Ash Brockwell 6 Badshot Lea Ladies Group 7 Badshot Lea Infant School 8 BBC Radio Surrey 9 Challengers 10 Creative Response
11 Farnborough and District Branch of Parkinson’s UK 12 Farnham Assist 13 Farnham Coronavirus Support Fund 14 Farnham Fringe Festival 15 Farnham in Bloom 16 Farnham Institute 17 Farnham Herald 18 Farnham Lions 19 Farnham Mill Nursing Home 20 Farnham Town Council 21 First Farnham Brownies 22 First Farnham Guides and Farnham Rangers 23 Folly Hill Infant School 24 Full Circle Vocal Group
11 Farnborough and District Branch of Parkinson’s UK
25 GASP Motor Project 26 Hale Academy 27 Hale Community Centre 28 Hale Scouts 29 The Kay Family 30 Matrix 31 Nibbs Gin 32 Pax Hill Care Home 33 Rainbow Tree 34 RASASC 35 Rene’s Blankets
36 space2grow 37 The Spire Church 38 St Andrew’s 39 Step by Step 40 Tice’s Meadow 41 Waverley Singers 42 Weybourne Community Church 43 William Cobbett School
Welcome to our Toddler Service for December. It’s full of stars, angels, shepherds and sheep and, of course, Baby Jesus. There’s even a teddy in a spacesuit.
Every day the members of the Nativity story are making their way around the parish, through Badshot Lea, Weybourne, Heath End, Hale and back again. Where are they?
Day 25:
The friends arrive at their final destination. Tired, a little footsore but happy, they gather round and give thanks for the whole reason that they undertook the journey – the birth of the baby Jesus.
Mary leads them in singing Joy to the World, and the baby Jesus smiles.
Day 24:
The shepherds take the sheep off for some extra grazing. Shepherd 2: “Look girls! A place to call home.” Sheep: “Baaaaa!” Some of them even do a little skip for joy as if they were young lambs again. Life is good, life is hopeful.
Day 23:
Even Mary is tempted to ask ‘are we nearly there yet?” but like women the world over she just gets on with it. Sometimes she wonders if that is a good thing to do and resolves to chat to her cousin Elizabeth about it, once both their children are older. In the meantime they seek refuge in the grounds of a large house with a smiling man and woman. There are also three young men there. They are quite noisy. Mary suspects that the men she is travelling with were once like that. She suspects her son will be too. She smiles.
Day 22:
The friends arrive at a large building which looks like it has an interesting history. Shepherd 2: “My grandparents used to pick hops and dry them in a place like this.” King 1: “Hold on. I’ll have a look on my phone. See what I can find out.” Mary: “Do you use the sat nav on that? Only, you said you navigated by the stars.” King 2: “He was give a phone for his birthday and insisted on trying it out.”
Day 21:
The friends have been travelling for three weeks now and it has been a long way on little feet. Thankfully there are local shops to help them on their way. Mary: “Doughnuts! I want doughnuts.” Joseph: “Do you think they are nutritio…” Catches sight of Mary’s expression… “Of course darling.”
Day 20:
Shepherd 2: “What are all those pretty red flowers over there?” Sheep: “Flowers? Where? Let us at them.”
Day 19:
Another day on the road, another need to stop for refreshments.
Shepherd 1: “Are the pubs still open then?” Mary: “Yes, we’ve just scraped into Tier 2.” Joseph: “Well that’s a miracle!”
Day 18:
King 4: “Are we nearly there yet?” Mary: “Not far. Let’s play a game to keep our spirits up. I spy with my little eye, something beginning with…. C.” King 2: “Cow!” Shepherd 2: “I’ve told you before – they are sheep.” King 2: “Of course, sorry, um camel?”
Day 17:
The friends come across a big house. King 1: “Just like my place back at home.” King 2: “He wishes, he’s got a semi in North Camp.” Shepherd 2: “I thought you lot came from the East.” King 1: “Well, it’s a little bit to the east…”
Day 16:
Joseph: “Are you sure that this is the right way in?” Shepherd 1: “It’s all about social distancing – you can’t go in the same way as you go out.” Joseph: “Yes, but the window…?” Sheep: “Flowers. Yum!”
Day 15:
Mary: “That looks like a lovely school for when he’s finished at that first little school down the road.”
Joseph sighs but then he catches sight of Mary’s expression.
Joseph: “Ok, OK, make a note of the telephone number and I’ll give them a call.” (Mutters under breath: “But he’s only a baby!”)
Day 14:
The friends stop off for a rest again. The Kings are rather keen on the idea of the café but the Shepherds have spotted the word ‘pets’ and wonder if there is any hay available for the sheep.
Baby Jesus likes the idea of small pets like rabbits.
Day 13:
Mary: “Come on boys, all together now… ‘Away in a manger, no crib for a bed…’
Day 12:
The friends spot a local watering hole. Mary has to explain to them that they will need a substantial meal if they want a drink too.
She adds: “And I definitely need a substantial meal and a nice glass of water. I’ve got to keep the little one fed.”
Day 11:
Shepherd 1: “Did anyone remember to bring a football? That’s a great field over there.”
Small pause while everyone looks.
Then:
King 3: “Hey! That’s my hat! It’s pure silk! Gerroff!”
Day 10:
Joseph: “There’s only one top lady for me – that’s you Mary.” Mary: “You daft old softie!”
Day 9:
Mary: “I wonder if our little lad would like to go to that lovely looking school over there?” Joseph (thinks): “He’s just a baby, surely he’ll never be big enough to go to school.”
Day 8:
Time for a drop of refreshment. Shepherd 1: “Do you think they serve Shepherd’s Neame?”
Day 7:
After a week on the road the friends are wondering whether it would be sensible to catch a train. King 2: “Has anyone got a friends and family railcard?” Shepherd 1: “Do you think the sheep will be allowed?” Mary: “Will you lot stop talking and let me check the timetable.”
Day 6:
The Knitivity friends are grateful for something to rest on after a day’s walk. Joseph: “I must make a note of this in my log book. Boom! Boom!” The shepherds and kings all laugh. Mary: “Men, eh!”
Day 5:
Summoned by bells – the Knitivity characters stop for a rest somewhere in Hale.
Day 4:
Watch out! There’s a Knitivity about. Please drive slowly.
Day 3:
King 1: “Do you think the Co-Op sells camel food?”
Shepherd 2: “I don’t know but at least you are already wearing masks to go in there and ask”.
Day 2:
Sing all together now:
On the second day of Advent the shepherds said ‘oh dear, I think we are low on petrol’ .
Day 1:
King 2: “It’s warm and dry in here but it might be cold and wet out there.”
Mary: “I know but we have an important journey to go on. Be brave brother.”
Every day this Advent let’s help Farnham to shine.
For many people, Christmas will look a little different this year. It will be hard for friends and families to meet up, and some of us may even find ourselves in isolation or quarantine during a season which usually brings people together. Which is why we wanted to try and spread a little joy throughout the area, and remind people they are not alone.
So join us in brightening every street by making a star to display in your window. It can be as big or small as you like, and you can use anything you have handy: paints, crayons, lights, glitter… the limit is your imagination!
We’ve chosen the symbol of a star because for us as Christians it reminds us of the star that the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus, who came to bring joy to the world. But it’s also a symbol that holds meaning for people of other faiths and none. Stars can represent hopes, dreams, wishes… all things we all need more than ever this year. We hope looking at these stars will bring light and hope to all at the end of a dark year.
Have you heard of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme? It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to have an input into what is important to the people of Farnham and here in Badshot Lea and Hale to have our say on what we would like to see improved and how.
The group is also looking for volunteers to drop a leaflet into every household in North Farnham about the programme and other local initiatives. If you are happy to get involved please do get in touch via the North Farnham Voice page.
Every few months there are five Sundays in the month and we like to do something a bit different, and this coming weekend is Advent Sunday so why not celebrate with an Advent Carol Service?
Join us at 6pm here on Sunday and enjoy a mix of readings, poems, prayers and Advent carols presented by a range of people including members of Farnham Theatre Association and of Amnesty International, with a section on local woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who has been detained in Iran since 2016 on charges of “plotting to topple the Iranian government”.
It is a moving and reflective service which reminds us that in the midst of pain and darkness which so often seem to engulf the world, Jesus came to be with us, completely human and to suffer pain and sorrow, which reminds us, in the words of Godfrey Rust’s poem read in the service by Chris Reeks:
‘…then we’ll know your sorrow may bring hope of lasting joy and God above is God with us below’.
Following strong criticisms of the Church of England’s record of handling abuse and safeguarding, there is a review underway in the hope that we will learn from the past and protect other people in the future.
As part of this, the Diocese of Guildford is asking victims and survivors of church-related abuse if they would be willing to come forward and speak about what has happened.
Support is available
The Diocese recognises that coming forward may be extremely difficult and dedicated support has been set up to help people in doing so. Two confidential listening services have been set up for those people who have experienced church-related abuse but who might want to talk through their experiences and feelings before taking any next step. To find out more about the support available click here.
Coming forward
Anybody who would like to give information or make disclosures about church-related abuse is asked to contact Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, Jackie Broadfoot (jackie.broadfoot@cofeguildford.org.uk 07918 559387).
Making churches as safe as they can be
Bishop Andrew, diocesan bishop for the Diocese of Guildford, said: “It is important we do everything we can to make our churches the safest places they can be. Safe means different things to different people but this review will help us to ensure that the concerns reported to our churches have been dealt with properly, and the care taken and the support given is of the high quality that people rightly deserve. We have learnt from a previous review that that survivors and victims’ voices are critical, and I would urge you to come forward.”
Advent is going to be a bit different this year. Normally the four services leading up to Christmas are a little bit solemn; the church is not decorated, no baptisms happen, the hymns are in a minor key. It is all about watching and waiting and hoping.
However, not this year! Let’s be honest, ever since March we have been watching and waiting and hoping – it has been the longest Advent ever. A number of people have said they have had enough of being miserable and they would like some joy in December instead. Also, as we are not having crib services or carol services in church this year, we want to invite everyone in throughout December to hear the story of Christmas.
Consequently, all the churches will have a series of family-friendly services including drama and opportunities for craft throughout December and we will be looking at characters in the Nativity:
6th December – Mary and the Archangel Gabriel
13th December – Shepherds and Angels
20th December – Mary and Joseph
25th December – birth of Jesus
(no service on 27th December)
4th January – Magi (or Kings)
Please let Lesley know if you are willing to take part by email revd.lesley@badshotleaandhale.org or phone 01252 820537. At each of the above services there are lots of roles for adults and children and young people to get stuck into:
Welcoming
Singing
Reading a prayer
Drama
Reading a poem
Preparing crafts
It will be lovely to see you there.
Every blessing
Lesley
Serving the Villages North of Farnham: Badshot Lea, Hale, Heath End & Weybourne
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 