Below is the Sunday service. First, here are the notices:
This church relies on donations to provide care and support to everyone in this community. Now more than ever, please consider giving generously to support our mission and ministry by clicking the button above. Thank you for your support.
There have been carols galore across the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale this Christmas, with more to come in the next few days.
So far, there have been three carols services, one at each church, and two outside gatherings at which carols were sung with gusto. One was on Monday, 18th, in the grounds of St George’s, under the lit trees, and the second in the new Hale Chapels Garden in the cemetery opposite St Mark’s.
The garden was opened in July this year and blessed by Bishop Christopher Herbert, and has been created using stone and many original features from the old chapels of rest in the cemetery which had fallen into disrepair. The flower beds have been planted with varieties of trees and plants which appear in the Bible and the end result is a peaceful garden which invites reflection and calm.
It was less peaceful on Wednesday, 20th, as around 70 people from across the community, including the Mayor and others from the council, sang with gusto as Rev’d Lesley Crawley led the singing, accompanied by Bob and Lesley Shatwell on violin and recorder, and Margaret Emberson on keyboard. Those three also played at St George’s on Monday.
Afterwards most people headed for St Mark’s for mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies provided by Jeanne Sanders.
It was agreed that, like the St George’s outside carol evening, this should become a regular event.
The next chance to sing carols will be at our crib services at all three churches on Christmas Eve:
3pm at St John’s;
5.30pm at St George’s;
5.30pm at St Mark’s;
Plus a special Toddler Crib Service at 3pm at St George’s.
There will then be Midnight Mass at St John’s and St George’s at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning communion services at all three churches:
9.30am at St John’s;
10am at St George’s;
11am at St Mark’s.
Come and celebrate with us!
We can never have enough carol singing! After Christmas there will be a chance to enjoy carols you may have missed at Christmas.
What are your favourite carols? Would you like to hear them sung? Vote for them and the favourites will be sung at St George’s on January 13th from 2pm.
To vote, download the form below, or pick one up at the back of church, or put the name or names of the carols on a piece of paper with your name and £1 per vote per carol, in a sealed envelope and give to your church warden by Sunday, January 7th.
You can vote multiple time for one carol or vote for as many carols as you want. Cheques can be made payable to Badshot Lea and Hale PCC. Even if you don’t vote just come and join the singing on 13th. It will be followed by tea, cake and a raffle.
Happy singing!
Dear All
18 people so far have replied to the anonymous Home Group Survey I sent out, nine who are in groups and nine who are not. Thank you so much,
Things you like about groups:
Thank you for the issues that you raised through the survey. Here are some thoughts:
I don’t like groups
I do you get you. Generally, I find groups a bit intimidating. However, we learn so much from being with others in a group. Jesus formed a group with his disciples and I imagine that was uncomfortable for some of the members. I wonder whether you would consider whether small groups might be good for you [and your presence might be good for others].
Matthew tells us Jesus said “For where two or three gather together in my name, I am there among them”. This seems to be a direct encouragement to small groups. St Paul says “Accept one another.” [Romans 15:7], and “Bear with each other.” [Colossians 3:13].
We are required to try to love our neighbours as ourselves. A man called Michael Harper wrote “Community is never easy. It means to allow yourself to be known as you really are …”
No group is available that I am interested in
Would you be willing to start one yourself or request someone else to start one?
It’s hard to make a regular commitment
It depends to a certain extent on what the group is doing as to how important that is, but no group is going to expect you to attend every meeting or even every other meeting.
I want a discussion group
‘Questioning Faith’ might possibly suit you – Wednesdays in January starting on 3rd Jan at 7:30pm at the Rectory.
I want current affairs and how they link with beliefs
The commentary and questions in the book ‘100 Stand-Alone Bible Studies’ [used by some groups] sometimes examine the link between specific themes in particular Gospels and current issues. If you joined a group, your interests would influence the approach.
Zoom is best for me
Bible Book Club is on Zoom.
I like sharing ideas and thoughts with the group. Nothing else.
That sharing is important in itself.
I would like more prayer but that seems not so easy
I think you should raise that with the group and see how others feel.
It would be nice to have a few more people
Yes. Some people see it as a sign of the health of the church.
If you would like to know more, please speak to a member of clergy or Richard Myers – rjhmyers@yahoo.co.uk
I pray that God will bless you and please pray for our small groups.
Blessings
Lesley
Below is the Sunday service. First, here are the notices:
This church relies on donations to provide care and support to everyone in this community. Now more than ever, please consider giving generously to support our mission and ministry by clicking the button above. Thank you for your support.
Join local residents and the Mayor of Farnham for Community Carol Singing in the new Hale Chapels’ Garden on Wednesday, December 20th at 7pm. This will be followed by hot chocolate and mince pies at St Mark’s, just across the road.
The Hale Chapels’ Garden is on the site of two former chapels of rest for the Hale Cemetery. These had fallen into disrepair and the garden, in the centre of the front part of the cemetery, has maintained many of the chapels’ original features and has been planted with trees and plants which appear in the Bible.
Everyone is welcome.
On Sunday 10th December our youth minister Michelle Chapman explained to the congregation at St Mark’s what the Christingle service was all about, with the help of Rev Dave Camp.
She also let us into the secret of her new diet…
Come and sing your favourite Christmas carols around the tree outside St George’s on Monday, December 18th, at 6pm.
Join in with all the familiar Christmas carols – Hark the Herald, O Little Town of Bethlehem, While Shepherds Watched and many more – to celebrate the coming of God to earth in human form in Jesus Christ.
We will go inside if the weather is too wet.
Below is the Sunday service. First, here are the notices:
This church relies on donations to provide care and support to everyone in this community. Now more than ever, please consider giving generously to support our mission and ministry by clicking the button above. Thank you for your support.
Angels have flown into St Mark’s to declare the glad tidings of great joy at the heart of Christmas – that God is here among us.
The angels were invited in by our Thursday Coffee and Art at St Mark’s group. The group meets on the first and third Thursday of the month at 10.30am in the church community centre.
Each month there is a different theme and people of all ages and all artistic abilities (or none) are welcome. Tea, coffee and cake are all served.
The angels will be there for all our Christmas services. At St Mark’s these are:
Friday, December 8th, 6pm: Carol Service.
Sunday, December 10th, 11am: Christingle.
Thursday, December 21st, 6pm: The Longest Night; When Christmas Hurts.
Christmas Eve, 5pm: Crib Service.
Christmas Day, 11am: Christmas Day Communion for all ages.
There will be a special Kitty Milroy Matins at St Mark’s on New Year’s Eve at 11am.
Click on the links for information about other Carol, Crib and Christmas Day services.
To find out more about Coffee and Art at St Mark’s, contact Lesley Shatwell.
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 