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.
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.
Who exactly is Jesus? The Christmas season celebrates his birth of Jesus of Nazareth, but who was that Jesus and why is he so important that we remember him 2,000 years after his birth? This is the sort of question which will be raised in ‘Questioning Faith’, a series of five Wednesday evening discussions which will take place in Hale, starting on January 3rd.
Questioning Faith is being run by Lesley Crawley, and anyone who is interested is invited to come to The Rectory, 25 Upper Hale Road, each Wednesday at 7.30pm from January 3-31.
Anyone who has questions about God, the Christian faith, church, or anything about the meaning of life, is invited to join in for 90 minutes of discussion every Wednesday evening. The sort of questions raised on Questioning Faith courses include What about the problem of evil? How should we read the Bible; what kind of literature is it? What is faith? Why go to church? What is the nature of God? Who is Jesus? What is prayer?
No question is too small, too daft, or too controversial to ask, and everyone is welcome whatever their beliefs. After the course there will be the opportunity to be confirmed into the Anglican Church at Easter in Guildford Cathedral, though this is, of course, optional.
For further information about Questioning Faith contact Rev’d Lesley Crawley on 01252 820537.
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.
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.
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 