Spring is looking more colourful at St George’s thanks to a donation from local garden centre Squire’s of Badshot Lea.
Always a generous friend of the community, Squire’s gave us a selection of bedding plants to brighten up the churchyard. Kris, Maxine and Bill have already planted them and they are adding to the very welcome sense of Spring.
North Farnham Voice – Farnham Infrastructure Plan Update
The draft Optimised Infrastructure Plan was issued for public consultation on the February 15 and the consultation finishes on March 14 so there isn’t much time. So the consultation is really short.
Copies of the document can be found via the links below and comments can be made via the virtual consultation website: https://farnhaminfrastructure.commonplace.is/overview.
There are some set questions against each of the summary pages for the different areas of the town but there is also a comments section that can be used for each area.
There are also three virtual meetings being planned by the team running the programme which residents can participate in.
Thursday, March 4, 6.30pm: Local Liaison Forum
Monday, March 8, 6.30pm: Local Liaison Forum
Wednesday, March 10, 6.30pm: Businesses in Farnham.
You can register to attend via the link below:
https://www.farnham.gov.uk/town-council/llf
There have been a couple of Zoom meetings of members of the North Farnham Voice Group and some useful exchanges on the North Farnham Voice Facebook page which have identified that the key concern from a North Farnham perspective is that there is no defined link between options to pedestrianise the town centre, which would close off the A325 and A287 through the town centre, and how the displaced traffic would be mitigated.
The areas of highest impact will be in North Farnham. There are also concerns about the combined impact of displaced traffic and the significant additional housing development planned in the towns around Farnham. The map below summarises the concern.
There are also issues raised at the North Farnham Local Liaison Forum meeting on January 6, such as rejecting the idea of no right turn from the Upper Hale Road on to Alma Lane, which are still in the proposals and need to be commented on again. There are also some proposals that have been well received by those involved in the North Farnham Voice group and others that lack clarity or have had a mixed response.
The second issue of the North Farnham Voice leaflet has been prepared and is being distributed, and you can download a copy here.
Please spread the word about this consultation. There is still an opportunity to influence what is studied in the next phase that is what this consultation is for. If people say nothing, then those running the Farnham Infrastructure Programme will assume all is well and that the proposals are supported. Please do engage in this consultation as the outcome of this Infrastructure Programme will have an impact on Farnham for decades to come.
There is lots of discussion on the North Farnham Voice Facebook page if you wish to share thoughts and ideas with the local community you are welcome to join – https://www.facebook.com/groups/northfarnhamvoice
Catherine Powell – Founder of North Farnham Voice
Mothering Sunday is on March 14 and we will be holding special services in church and online. What’s more, we need your help.
If there is a new baby in the family who was born during the pandemic, we’d love to include a picture in our online service. Please do send a picture of your little one to Alan Crawley.
Also, could you video your young children recording a message saying ‘I love you Mummy’ or something similar? Again, we’d love to put that in the online service so please send your video to Alan.
The service will be here on March 14.
We will also be holding services in church with daffodils for mothers and other special people, and lots to get all ages involved.
We have taken precautions to keep our churches Covid-secure (please follow the guidelines) and we welcome you all to the services which 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.
This evening’s BCP Evening Prayer
The March issue of the parish magazine is out with plenty to read inside: Lent, Easter, Mothering Sunday, school news, our new florist who moves into St Mark’s at the start of the month, exciting news about the Kitty Milroy murals and Emily the organ, prayer, news from the parish and the local MP, the Church Cat and lots more.
You can find the magazine below. But if you would like a paper copy, please let us know by emailing Anne Young: ah_young33@hotmail.com
The cover price of the magazine is £10 for the year which pays for the editorial costs. We would be grateful if those accessing it online would pay £1 an issue. You can pay by clicking on the button below:
The magazine is available here:
For this period, we have been illustrating our responses to the Song of Simeon and we are delighted to share our Gallery with you.
(Everyone is welcome to submit art for our Gallery and the next theme is “Easter”; more details to follow)
Thank you to all the artists who have submitted work this time.
The Song of Simeon
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Have you written your poem for the Farnham Lockdown Poetry Festival? Entries should be in by the end of tomorrow.
Send your poems about being in lockdown – whatever you feel, whatever your experience – to Lesley Crawley either by email or to her at The Rectory, 25 Upper Hale Road, Farnham GU9 0NX.
Adults and children alike are welcome to send in their poems on the theme of lockdown. The Mayor has offered a prize for the best adult and best child one but don’t worry if you don’t think you are the world’s greatest poet – just give it a go!
If you want some ideas, listen to this lockdown poem by Harry Baker:
Or this poem by Jim Carruth
the long bench
For the times ahead
when we will be
as if at either end
of the long bench
where distance kept
is love’s measure
and death dances
the space between
when words alone
are not enough
and queued memories
reach out to touch
let longing be a store
of nut and seed
that grows each day
in strange hibernation
readying for its end –
the sharing of the feast.
Picture by Ksenia Makagonov on Unsplash
Tonight’s Taizé service:
Today we are celebrating the First Sunday of Lent. We will be having just one morning service and one evening service from now on and they are below.  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.
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 Sunday Lunchtime Families Lent Group will be meeting at 1:30.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89056922395?pwd=YlBZRUE3c3RyUUtYV25oVWFaZG9DQT09
Meeting ID: 890 5692 2395
Passcode: 5jkXje
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.
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 