Are you fed up with the impact of plastic on our planet but don’t know how to fix it? Here is a Lenten discipline that helps – it can be found on the Shrinking The Footprint website here.
Parish barn Dance 2018
Was there something particularly depressing about January this year? We always hold our parish barn dance on the nearest Friday to Candlemas (2nd Feb.). However, this year we sold far fewer tickets. Instead of 80 – 100 attendees, as was the norm for the previous seven years, we had 30 – 40. I don’t think we publicised any less than normal, so it’s a bit of a mystery.
It’s not the only event I’ve been involved in recently that’s been poorly attended or cancelled through lack of interest. I think there’s a general feeling of depression and uncertainty across the country at the moment, leading to an all-pervading apathy.
Anyway, those who did attend enjoyed themselves and we had some good dancing and an excellent supper (thank you Alison and Matthew).
After deducting all expenses, we contributed £233 to parish funds. Last year we managed £688. Quite a contrast. However, it’s never been about making money, but about having an event to bring the parish together.
My thanks to all who attended and helped. I think it may have run its course at the moment and it’s time to try something else next year.
Bob Shatwell
Black Sheep and Prodigals
Religion poses many questions that have troubled theologians through the ages. “Is there a God?” “What is the nature of God?” “What is the Trinity all about?” “Why is there a sheep on a skateboard at the front of St Marks?” [1]
A partial answer to this last imponderable was that we had a well-attended talk last night (4th Feb.) from Dave Tomlinson, promoting his latest book, “Black Sheep and Prodigals”. As for the others, and similar questions, Dave’s main theme was concerned with avoiding black and white answers. Most of us do not experience the blinding light of revelation on the road to Damascus. At best we may experience an unreliable, intermittently flickering bulb, more often off than on. Indeed, it’s a good idea to be wary of those who purport to have all the answers. This instantly creates a divide: you can’t belong to our club unless you believe what we do.
Dave was at pains to stress that none of us have exclusive access to “The Truth”. We should encourage doubts and tolerate dissention, for that is how new insights may emerge.
We had forty minutes or so of these and many other thought provoking ideas, followed by an extensive question and answer session. I’m not going to deal with all the ideas here – buy the book, it’s the one we will be using for Lent discussions anyway!
Dave finished his talk by quoting my other favourite writer on religious topics, Karen Armstrong, “Jesus did not spend a great deal of time discoursing about the Trinity, or original sin…. He went around doing good and being compassionate.”
Or, to paraphrase Dave:- there is little point in asking what Jesus would do if he was around today – discover Jesus within yourself and act on it!
“Live passionately, believe sceptically, Love extravagantly”
Bob Shatwell 5th Feb 2018
[1] It’s to look as equally cool as the sheep with sunglasses, grazing nearby.
Sumner Room Make-Over
A huge thank-you to The Farnham Institute who have given us £500 to improve our Sumner Room at St John’s for greater community use. This work has now been completed and it looks great! Please take a look and spread the word – we would love to have more people making use of this facility.
Find out more about hiring it here.
Lesley Crawley
Lent Groups
Lent groups will be running again this year, studying Dave Tomlinson’s book “Black Sheep & Prodigals”. First meetings will be in w/c 19/2. Sign up sheets are at the back of church or email revd.hannah@badshotleaandhale.org. Remember that Dave will be visiting the parish on 4th Feb at 6:30 to talk about the book (and give an opportunity to buy it).
Parish Barn Dance – 2nd Feb
Come to the annual Parish Barn Dance! It is great fun for all the family. Friday 2nd February 2018, 7:00 – 10:30 pm at St George’s GU9 9LU. Adults £12, under 16s £6, Family ticket (2 adults + children) £30.00. Supper included but bring your own drinks. Tickets available from me 01252 314703 robert.shatwell@ntlworld.com or in all the parish churches.
Count your Blessings for Lent
Lent starts this year on Valentines Day – 14th February. Lots of people choose to do something special for Lent. In this parish one of the charities we support is Christian Aid and for Lent they are encouraging us to count our blessings each day with these special reflections and actions. Click on the below links to find out more:
Count Your Blessings 2018 adult
Children’s Count Your Blessings
Fridays in Lent
During Lent, as well as the Lent Groups, there will be the Friday lunchtime services at noon, this year, unfortunately, with no lunch. The theme is taken from the Mission Agency ‘USPG’ and is about “All things are possible: exploring how faith can change the world”; the preachers are:
16/2 Bob Skinner – What does it mean to prosper?
23/2 Michael Hopkins – What does it mean to care for the environment?
2/3 Patrick O’Ferrall – What does it mean to love our neighbour?
9/3 Philip Simpkins – What does it mean to live in partnership with God?
16/3 John Edwards – What does it mean to fulfil our potential
23/3 John Evans – Summary
Would you like to do some art?
On Thursday mornings 10:30-12 at St Mark’s there will be an opportunity to come and be creative – do some drawing or painting. All the materials will be provided as well as some coffee and cake! We are starting on 1st February, and then it will be every week – just turn up.
Lesley Crawley
Mothering Sunday – 11th March
Come to church on Mothering Sunday – 11th March and say a prayer for your mum – or bring her along if you can, and give her a posy. All Age Services in the Parish at 9:30am at St John’s, Hale, 11:00am at St Mark’s Church, Upper Hale and 11:30 at St George’s, Badshot Lea. The 10am service at St George’s will be a regular Communion Service with added posies.
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 