Advent, Services

Advent Carol Service

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Every few months there are five Sundays in the month and we like to do something a bit different, and this coming weekend is Advent Sunday so why not celebrate with an Advent Carol Service?

Join us at 6pm here on Sunday and enjoy a mix of readings, poems, prayers and Advent carols presented by a range of people including members of Farnham Theatre Association and of Amnesty International, with a section on local woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who has been detained in Iran since 2016 on charges of “plotting to topple the Iranian government”.

It is a moving and reflective service which reminds us that in the midst of pain and darkness which so often seem to engulf the world, Jesus came to be with us, completely human and to suffer pain and sorrow, which reminds us, in the words of Godfrey Rust’s poem read in the service by Chris Reeks:

‘…then we’ll know
your sorrow may bring hope of lasting joy
and God above is God with us below’.

Photo by De an Sun on Unsplash

Justice, safeguarding

Victims of church abuse asked to speak

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Following strong criticisms of the Church of England’s record of handling abuse and safeguarding, there is a review underway in the hope that we will learn from the past and protect other people in the future.

As part of this, the Diocese of Guildford is asking victims and survivors of church-related abuse if they would be willing to come forward and speak about what has happened.

Support is available

The Diocese recognises that coming forward may be extremely difficult and dedicated support has been set up to help people in doing so. Two confidential listening services have been set up for those people who have experienced church-related abuse but who might want to talk through their experiences and feelings before taking any next step. To find out more about the support available click here.

Coming forward

Anybody who would like to give information or make disclosures about church-related abuse is asked to contact Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, Jackie Broadfoot (jackie.broadfoot@cofeguildford.org.uk  07918 559387).

Making churches as safe as they can be

Bishop Andrew, diocesan bishop for the Diocese of Guildford, said: “It is important we do everything we can to make our churches the safest places they can be. Safe means different things to different people but this review will help us to ensure that the concerns reported to our churches have been dealt with properly, and the care taken and the support given is of the high quality that people rightly deserve.  We have learnt from a previous review that that survivors and victims’ voices are critical, and I would urge you to come forward.”

Advent, Children and Youth, Christmas, music, News Releases, Services, St George's Church, St John's Church, St Mark's Church

An Advent full of Joy

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Advent is going to be a bit different this year. Normally the four services leading up to Christmas are a little bit solemn; the church is not decorated, no baptisms happen, the hymns are in a minor key. It is all about watching and waiting and hoping.

However, not this year! Let’s be honest, ever since March we have been watching and waiting and hoping – it has been the longest Advent ever. A number of people have said they have had enough of being miserable and they would like some joy in December instead. Also, as we are not having crib services or carol services in church this year, we want to invite everyone in throughout December to hear the story of Christmas.

Consequently, all the churches will have a series of family-friendly services including drama and opportunities for craft throughout December and we will be looking at characters in the Nativity:

  • 6th December – Mary and the Archangel Gabriel
  • 13th December – Shepherds and Angels
  • 20th December – Mary and Joseph
  • 25th December – birth of Jesus
  • (no service on 27th December)
  • 4th January – Magi (or Kings)

Please let Lesley know if you are willing to take part by email revd.lesley@badshotleaandhale.org or phone 01252 820537. At each of the above services there are lots of roles for adults and children and young people to get stuck into:

  • Welcoming
  • Singing
  • Reading a prayer
  • Drama
  • Reading a poem
  • Preparing crafts

It will be lovely to see you there.

Every blessing

Lesley

Services

Sunday Services – 22nd November

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Today we are celebrating Christ the King. Below are the services and the bishop’s sermon.  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.
Wrap Up Farnham
Do you have a warm coat you can donate or do you know someone who needs a warm coat? Find out about Wrap Up Farnham here.
Christmas Tree Festival
This year we can’t hold or take part in standard Christmas Tree Festivals so we’ve decided to go online. We are inviting local individuals, families, groups, schools, charities, churches and businesses to take part by creating a Christmas tree and displaying it in our online Christmas Tree Festival. Find out more here.
Praying throughout Lockdown
If you have heard the bells ringing every evening since the start of lockdown Mark Two, at St John’s, Hale, and St George’s, Badshot Lea, and have wondered what is going on, the answer is that this is part of a call to prayer. The archbishops and bishops are calling on everyone to pray at 6pm every day throughout lockdown and churches each to ring a single bell at the same time. Find out more here.
Churches open for prayer
During this second lockdown the churches are closed for services, however two of our churches are open for private prayer: St George’s, Badshot Lea, is open on a Tuesday and a Saturday, and St John’s is open on a Thursday and a Sunday. Both will be open 9am-4pm.

Services

All-Age:
More Traditional:

Sermons

Bishop Jo’s Sermon
Inclusion, LGBTI+, remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance

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Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day when we remember those transgender or gender diverse people who have died because of who they are, whether through violence, suicide or medical inequality

It is estimated that at least 409 people across the world are known to have died because they were transgender or gender diverse. The youngest was just 15, the oldest 79. That is just those who are known. Countless others have been on the receiving end of violence and abuse, have been made to feel worthless and afraid.

The church is not blameless; the church has added to the transphobia which causes this violence and abuse, these murders, these suicides, these medical inequalities. I am not saying that this parish has done so, I am not accusing any one individual church, and there are hugely welcoming and affirming churches across the world. But the church as a whole has not been like this, the church continues to discriminate and preach against those who do not fit gender ‘norms’.

There are two videos here. The first is a video here is a quiet and sad reflection about these terrible facts and a call for us to see where we can bring about a change.

The second is a deeply moving and sombre service, produced by Open Table Network

For a list of those lost this year, together with some of their stories, visit https://tdor.translivesmatter.info/re… To respond to the latest consultation about the rights of trans and non-binary people in the UK, visit https://committees.parliament.uk/work…  

Here in the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale we stand with our transgender and gender non-conforming siblings, all of us beloved by God. And we are sorry for when we have failed you.

Picture by Ted Eytan.

Art

Art at St Mark’s, Unlimited

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Art doesn’t just stop because our world is locked down.
Artists create art and art breaks free from boundaries.  Art is unlimited.
And right now, art is more important than ever.  Sadly we are unable to meet regularly at the moment, but that doesn’t stop us from making art.

As soon as our churches re-open, I will be accepting your artwork for our display in St Mark’s, but in the meantime, we are going online – “unlimited”!

Unlimited – open to all (and all means all, not just St Mark’s folk).  Mixed ability, mixed ages, mixed backgrounds ….  Paintings, drawings, photos, collages, sculpture, mixed media – visual art …

you’re an artist if you are an artist

So what are you waiting for?

Our current theme is Christmas Carols

Simply illustrate your favourite carol and in a couple of lines tell us why you have chosen this and what it means to you.  Perhaps you have happy memories of singing the carol, perhaps it almost paints itself just through the words.

Photograph your work and send it to me:  LLM Lesley:  My email is llmlesley@badshotleaandhale.org
Include a few lines about why you have chosen this carol and we will have an online gallery.

There will be a display of the artwork in St Mark’s as soon as our churches re-open – and all being well, our first service is on 6 December, so why not bring your art along. 

Closing date for email receipt of photographs is
Sunday, 13 December, so get creating!

Giving and Fundraising

Wrap up Farnham

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Have you got an unwanted coat? It’s now easy to pass it on to someone in need, thanks to the ‘Wrap Up Farnham’ initiative just launched by Farnham Maltings.

The idea is to gather unwanted or unused coats and distribute them to those most in need.

There will be a drop-off point for donated coats at the Maltings from Wednesday, November 25 to Friday, November 27, 10am-4pm, after which volunteers will check the quality before placing them in quarantine.

Coats must:

  • be warm and good quality (no light summer jackets)  
  • be fully cleaned 
  • have all their buttons or a working zipper
  • be something that someone would want to wear  

The Maltings has linked up with a number of charities who will collect the coats and distribute them among those in need, including families, older people, those sheltering from domestic abuse and those who are homeless.

If you are a charity who would like to receive coats to pass onto someone in need then please get in touch with Erin Beesley: erin.beesley@farnhammaltings.com at the Maltings.

Further details are available here.

Serving the Villages North of Farnham: Badshot Lea, Hale, Heath End & Weybourne