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The 23rd March is a National Day of Reflection, marking a year since the first lockdown. St John’s church will be open for prayer on the 22nd and 23rd and the bell will toll at midday on the 23rd. Please come and tie ribbons of any colour in the churchyards of St John’s, Hale, St Mark’s Upper Hale and St George’s, Badshot Lea in solidarity with the millions of people who are grieving.
Today we are commemorating a year since all the lockdowns started with a National Day of Reflection. First, here are the notices:
Notices
Giving
Please Give to our Ministry
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.
National Day of Reflection
A National Day of Reflection is taking place on March 23, the anniversary of the start of the first lockdown. Please feel free to tie ribbons in the three churchyards to reflect on the year we have had and in solidarity with those who are grieving. St John’s church will be open for prayer on both the 22nd and the 23rd and on the 23rd the bell will toll at midday.
A National Day of Reflection is taking place on March 23, the anniversary of the start of the first lockdown. The parish is marking the day by offering special services on the Sunday before – March 21.
At the services there will be a chance to reflect on the year and in particular to remember those who have died during the past 12 months. There will be prayers and yellow ribbons for people to tie in the churchyards in memory of those who have died. Many who have lost a friend or family member will not have been able to attend the funeral service, making the process of grieving more difficult.
Lesley Crawley said: “On March 23 it will be a year since the start of the first lockdown. We had no idea then how tough it would be or that a year on we would be in our third national lockdown.
“It has been a time of great anxiety and for many great grief as they have lost family and friends and may not even have been able to attend their funerals. The church is there to offer support and one way is through our services which we hold both in person in the churches – we have Covid regulations in place – and online. You don’t have to believe in God to come in and seek peace and comfort – the church is for everyone.”
The church services on March 21 will be at St John’s, Hale, at 9.30am, St George’s, Badshot Lea, at 10am and St Mark’s, Upper Hale, at 11am. There will also be a service on the website from 9am.
Today we are celebrating Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day. First here are the notices:
Notices
Giving
Please Give to our Ministry
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.
Lent
We are having a sermon series in Lent at the three Sunday services at the churches plus the Wednesday service at St Mark’s and the online Sunday Morning service. This will start on 21st February. The Lent groups will also be following this theme and will meet on Zoom. They will be on Tuesdays 2:30-4pm, Wednesdays 7:30-9pm and Sundays 1:30-2:30pm, especially for families. The week before Alan will run a session to check that everyone can access the meetings. These sessions will be on Tuesday 16th at 2:30pm and 8:45pm. Please contact Alan on 01252 820537 or revd.alan@badshotleaandhale.org to tell him you are interested in coming to Lent Groups or to ask for help with accessing them.
The Tuesday Afternoon Lent Group will be meeting at 2:30.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89056922395?pwd=YlBZRUE3c3RyUUtYV25oVWFaZG9DQT09
Meeting ID: 890 5692 2395
Passcode: 5jkXje
The Wednesday Evening Lent Group will be meeting at 7:30.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89056922395?pwd=YlBZRUE3c3RyUUtYV25oVWFaZG9DQT09
Meeting ID: 890 5692 2395
Passcode: 5jkXje
Meditative Prayer
Join us online during Lent for a quiet prayer session on Thursday evenings. The pattern will be some reflective liturgy, a time of silent, meditative prayer, followed by liturgy based on Compline. The service will be available via Zoom. Please click this link to join:
https://zoom.us/j/92555520007 The passcode is 218711. If you are uncertain about getting in to Zoom calls you can have a practice run on February 16 at 8.45pm. Please contact Alan about this.
Thank you to everyone who entered the Farnham Lockdown Poetry Festival. We had 56 entries from adults and children alike, with ages ranging from eight to 80+ and lots of strong feelings about the struggles of lockdown, but also the togetherness and the hope that people have found, despite all the difficulties.
and a video of some of the poems being read is available below. Also, though it was almost impossible to choose between the poems, a decision was finally made and the Mayor of Farnham announced the winners in the video.
The winning poems are:
Adults
Winner
Two Lockdowns A Lifetime Apart
The Second World War began when I was just four The Coventry Blitz was like a firestorm from hell Later that week I burst into tears when I saw My toy shop Owen Owen was a burnt out shell
Rationing, conscription and lights blackened at night This was a long lockdown lasting almost six years Countless houses and buildings laid waste was our plight Near half a million deaths left many in tears
Seventy-five years later in twenty-twenty Few people can claim they saw what was now coming A virus takes hold to disrupt years of plenty As it spreads round the world the I-phones are humming
This invisible virus now needed a plan The instinct in shock is to gather together But to widespread dismay a new lockdown began Keep two metres apart at all times wherever
With deaths quickly rising and restrictions imposed Stay at home, avoid friends and even relations All but food shops were shuttered and schools were all closed Wedding parties were banned and all celebrations
I worry my age group holds the country in thrall We are lucky to have lived so long to this age It is we who must be careful and should now call For the economy to be let out of its cage
Being twice locked down it is all but in tatters The outlook for young people is truly blighted Surely for their sakes alone all that now matters Is that their futures be quickly reignited
John Littlewood
Runner up:
Love Your Neighbour As Yourself
Love Your Neighbour as Yourself, through screen or window, darkly. Muffled, crackled, frozen. ’Help!’ ‘Can you hear me?’ Hardly.
Love Your Neighbour as Yourself, through greying hair and slowing hours. Dull repetition, same old heft, grace of God in breeze or showers.
Love Your Neighbour as Yourself, but what means as and how fares Self? We are God’s hands but when My Self, when love poured out soon threatens Self?
Love Your Neighbour as Yourself, when sacrifice is hellish hard. Exhaustion beckons, ‘Pain! Now quell!’ and chaos reigns in your backyard.
Love Your Neighbour as Yourself, wash the bodies, dig the graves. Tender care the greatest wealth, tears of love for all they gave.
Love Your Neighbour as Yourself, desist from posting online hate. Don’t bully, scam or hurt by stealth, or suicide might be their fate.
Love Your Neighbour as Yourself, when home-penned folk cry out in pain. When tempers flare, without behest, ‘When will we see our friends again?’
Love Yourself as Neighbour, Blessed, when out of work graph rises steep. Everyone needs better, best, for damaged mental health wounds, deep.
Love Yourself as Neighbour, Blessed, vaccines roll out to the people. Schools return and wedding guests, bells will ring from tower or steeple.
Love Yourself as Neighbour, Blessed, pubs reopen, shops restock. Meet with friends and family,’ Yes!!’, hugs, kisses, treats, as doors unlock.
Love Yourself as Neighbour, Blessed, when loved ones’ deaths have maimed you. Remember humour, chuckling chest, tearful teas and talk refold you.
Love Yourself as Neighbour, Blessed, Please keep the distance, wear the mask. Do take the vaccine, take the test, washing hands not much to ask.
Love Yourself as Neighbour, Blessed, make time to think and time to rest. Properly to think ‘No stress!’ how love of Self confers the best.
Love Yourself as Neighbour, Blessed, clamouring calls you can resist. Your self-care struggle now confessed, put Your needs first in To Do list.
Wendy Edwards
Children:
Winner
A Lockdown Poem
Schools have closed Working from home Missing family and friends Will this ever end? Doing lots of calls Kitchens into school Whether it’s computer or phone Everything happened at home Clapping for heroes Rainbows on the windows Watching the news Feeling confused People staying in Why is that a thing? Having lots of bubbles Missing lots of cuddles Staying with your household If it’s hot or cold Lots of things have stopped Many bubbles have popped But we’re staying safe at home And are never really alone.
Matilda Bowden (9)
Runner-up
Coronavirus
Coronavirus has wrecked all of our lives Oh how I wish I could punch it Rage takes over me and I cannot control it| On the inside I have pain Now is the time we fight Anger is the only feeling I can feel Vans with deliveries come by, wishing us luck I had covid and I don’t want it to come back Run, for covid is here Understand me please I can’t take this pain anymore Stand with me, we will defeat it together
Mother’s Day is not easy for everyone. If that is the case for you, the meditation below may be helpful. It has been prepared by Lesley Shatwell and its focus is Loving Kindness. Be kind to yourself.
Serving the Villages North of Farnham: Badshot Lea, Hale, Heath End & Weybourne
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 