Drive those beetles this spring

Spring is the time that beetles start to flourish so St George’s Church is holding a Beetle Drive social evening on Friday, March 6th, from 6pm.

A Beetle Drive involves tables with players, each of whom takes turns to roll a die to try to collect parts of a beetle, which are either pre-drawn or which players draw themselves. To start collecting each player must roll a six which represents the beetle’s body. After that they may start adding parts with each number on the die representing a part of the body. Once a player has a complete beetle they shout ‘beetle’ and the game stops. The person on each table with the most nearly complete beetle moves to a table clockwise round the room while the player who has collected the fewest parts moves anti-clockwise and the game begins again. It is suitable for all ages and is a good way to meet new people.

The Beetle Drive will be followed by supper which can be ordered ahead of time from a selection served by a fish and chip shop or you can bring their own.

Tickets (without food) are £5 or £2.50 for children. Orders and payment will be needed by March 1. Details are available from Kris Lawrence.

The poetry of peace

The Farnham Poetry Competition has returned and this year is calling for entries on the theme of ‘Peace’. The deadline is looming – it’s on Friday, February 20 at 5pm.

This year Farnham Lions rather than the parish are running the competition, but we are still involved and will be hosting the final at St Mark’s on March 14.

Poems are invited from all ages and can interpret the theme in any way. Examples might be what peace is, how humans can find peace, or experiences of war and peace.

The entries will be judged by age according to four different groups: Up to and including age seven, eight to 11 years, 12-17 years and 18 and older.

The competition is free to enter and there is no limit to the number of entries per person. All entrants will then be invited to the final where the winners and runners-up will be announced. This will be on March 14, at St Mark’s, starting at 5.30pm. Winners will be encouraged to read their poems, and this will be followed by an open mic session.

Poems can be sent to poetscomp@farnhamlions.org.uk or by post to Farnham Poetry Competition, Farnham Town Hall, South Street, Farnham, GU9 7RN. Names, contact details and age (if under-18) should be included but names should not be on the poems themselves as they will be anonymised before being sent to the judges.

The judges are Linda Daruvala for the adult category and Coral Rumble for all three under-18 categories.

This is the sixth year the poetry competition has been run; it started in 2021 as the Farnham Lockdown Poetry Festival and in 2022 became part of the inaugural Farnham Literary Festival where it has found its home ever since.

Pictured: Dolcie, one of last year’s winners, with her mother (left) and Coral Rumble.

Valentine’s party will be buzzing with fun

St Valentine’s Day is not just for romantic evenings out. Families with small children can celebrate too at a party at St George’s on February 14th between 1pm and 3pm.

The Little Bees Valentine’s Party will involve a disco, face-painting, crafts, a raffle and lots of cake and juice as well as tea or coffee for adults. Tickets cost £5 for adults, £3 for children, or £15 for a family of two adults and two children. All the money raised will go towards buying new equipment for the Little Bees toddler group which runs at St George’s every Friday morning during term time.

Volunteers are needed to help out at the party, including cake-bakers and people to serve in the café. The organisers also need disco lights to borrow or keep, red table cloths, raffle prizes and Valentine’s and bee-themed decorations.

To help, to book tickets or find out more, email Lexi or call her on 07792233477.

The Clothing Giveaway

Every Monday morning between 9am and 11am at St Mark’s we hold a Clothing Giveaway. It does exactly what it says on the tin – we give away clothes, hundreds of them, along with shoes, bedding, baby equipment and some household goods. We work in conjunction with the Hale Community Centre and there is a free café too with food from the Hale Community Fridge and Cupboard.

The clothes are free to anyone who wants them – there is no need for a referral or to be on a low income, though we know how helpful the Clothing Giveaway is during the continued cost-of-living crisis. We also want to encourage clothing reuse and keep clothes out of landfill. According to Green Heart Collective, in 2019 just 9% of clothing was recycled and 12% reused. Ouch!

The clothes all come from donations kindly given by people and sometimes by shops. Some items are brand new. If you want to donate, please come along on a Monday morning or a Sunday afternoon (1.30pm to 4pm) when we set up. If you can’t manage that or you need us to pick up your donations, just let us know (details below).

We also need volunteers to help set up on a Sunday and run it and/or clear up on a Monday. Please do consider if you can help.

There are more details about the Clothing Giveaway and the impact of the clothing industry here.

To contact us, leave a message here, email Stella Wiseman or call her on 07342508164.

Friday Night Games is back

We have re-launched Friday Night Games at St Mark’s Church, Upper Hale, at the new time of 6pm to 8pm. There are more changes too as we are alternating the venue with the Hale Youth Centre. Last Friday (23rd) we were at St Mark’s so on January 30th we will be at Hale Youth Centre, then back at St Mark’s on February 6th, at the Youth Centre on 13th and so on.

All ages are welcome at the St Mark’s evenings but the Youth Centre is for ages 11-18.

There are board games, jigsaws, craft, table tennis and pool at St Mark’s plus a meal. At the Youth Centre there is a PlayStation, board games, craft, table tennis, pool and drinks and snacks.

Bubble Church

Bubble Church has begun.

If you’re scratching your head and saying ‘What?’ then read on.

Rev’d Lexi Russell writes:
“I’ve had lots of people ask me, what is Bubble Church? Well, here you go: ‘Bubble Church is a Sunday church service especially for babies, toddlers, and young families. It’s a puppet-packed, Jesus-centred, coffee-and-food-fuelled, 30-minute kids’ and families’ adventure.

“I am so excited we have launched our very own Bubble Church here in the parish. It’s at St George’s and is running every second and fourth Sunday of the month at 9.30am, so the next one is on January 25th, then it will be on February 8th and 22nd.

“We are excited to welcome new families to church, to share God’s love and explore what it means to be a follower of Jesus together.

“Please tell as many people as you can about Bubble Church. Everyone is welcome to come along and see what it’s all about. Feel free to contact me with any questions: rev.lexi@badshotleaandhale.org.”

It is helpful to know numbers so if you want to come or would like to know more, please fill in the form here.

The times they are a-changing

New service time for St George’s

The Sunday morning service at St George’s, Badshot Lea, is now at 10.30am.

Because we are now running Bubble Church on the second and fourth Sunday of the month at 9.30am, we are moving the main Sunday service from 10am to 10.30am. Don’t worry if you turn up early though; you will always find a warm welcome.

Bubble Church is aimed at families with young children (though is engaging for all) and the 10.30am is for all ages. It is usually a communion service though occasionally may not offer communion.

Everyone is welcome at all our services.

Tea and Twelfth Night

Christmas isn’t over yet! Twelfth Night is coming up and we are celebrating with afternoon tea and entertainment on Saturday, January 3rd, 2-4pm at St John’s Church, Hale. It may be a day or two early but that won’t change the deliciousness of the homemade cake!

We invite anyone to recite poetry, sing, play a musical piece or do whatever you like to entertain us.

There will be a collection to help raise funds for the parish.

Parking is available in the layby just before St John’s when coming from the Six Bells roundabout.

For further information contact pcc.secretary@badshotleaandhale.org.

What links Christmas and chocolate? We do!

Long ago, in a Galaxy not so far away…

Do you love Christmas? We do. Do you love chocolate? We do. And we love combining the two on Christmas morning in church with the story of Christmas told through chocolate!

So tomorrow – Christmas Day – come to St George’s, Badshot Lea, at 10am where Rev’d Lexi will be telling the story of God’s love for everyone and giving out chocolate as she does so, or to St Mark’s in Upper Hale, at 11am where Rev’d Stella will be doing the same. Maybe she can even hit the treasurer on the head with a chocolate bar again…

Celebrate Christmas with a Crib Service

Three to choose from

What’s going on at St Mark’s Church today that has caused the curate to grow an extra set of ears? Come along and find out at 5pm today (Christmas Eve) when we hold a Crib Service for all ages. This year it’s the story of Jesus’ first best friend…. We have more traditional Nativity costumes available for children.

There’s also Toddler Crib Service at St George’s at 3pm today which is ideal for little ones and an all-age Crib Service at 5.30pm, also at St George’s. Then join us for Midnight Mass at St John’s at 11.30pm.

On Christmas Day there will be an all-age Communion Service at St George’s at 10am and one at St Mark’s at 11am. All welcome.

Serving the Villages North of Farnham: Badshot Lea, Hale, Heath End & Weybourne