We will be celebrating St George’s Day on Sunday, April 25, at both St John’s and St George’s, with visits from two mayors, the Army Cadets and members of Alder Valley Brass.
Cllr Alan Earwaker, Deputy Mayor of Farnham, and cadets from Surrey Army Cadet Force – Farnham Unit – will join the congregation at St George’s, at 10am for a family-friendly day service including drama and flags. One of the cadets will raise the flag in the churchyard and part of the service will be outside so that the congregation can sing and plant St George’s Day flags.
St John’s will be welcoming the Cllr Penny Marriott, Mayor of Waverley, and some Scouts, who will raise the flag, for a service at 9.30pm. Again this will be suitable for all ages and there will be singing outside and the planting of St George flags. Members of Alder Valley Brass will playing before the service and for the part of the service that will be outdoors.
Over at St Mark’s, the congregation will be celebrating St Mark’s Day from 11am with an emphasis on creativity. Bring along with you something to be creative with – your favourite pens and pencils, clay, paints – whatever you would like.
Everyone is welcome at the services which are Covid-secure. Masks must be worn in the churches.
The first stage of restoring the murals at St Mark’s Church has begun.
The murals, which are of significant national importance in the development of 20th-century mural painting, are being stabilised and cleaned by the internationally renowned mural conservationists Stephen Rickerby and Lisa Shekede. They were painted between 1911 and 1920 by local woman Eleanor Catherine Wallace Milroy (‘Kitty’) using other local people as models.
The murals blend influences from European Symbolist painting and the Arts and Crafts Movement and were featured in a recent talk by art historian, lecturer and author Olive Maggs for the Arts and Crafts Movement in Surrey. Comparisons have been made with pictures in The Watts Chapel and it is known that Mary Watts visited the area.
Stephen Rickerby and Lisa Shekede will be in the church for the next 10 weeks in order to complete this stage of the restoration.
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
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.
Picture by Hugo BucklePicture by Carol GunnerPicture by Aly BucklePicture by Alison RidgeonPicture by Hallie BucklePicture by Lesley Shatwell. I took both the photos I used, one is poppies in my garden, the other is of Les Drus in the Alps. I wanted to show God’s creation with two images which bring me joy. They remind me that God creates all things great and small.Picture by Derek Buckle
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:
Lockdown, lockdown. It’s all around us. And how are we feeling? Why not try to express it in poetry?
We are running the Farnham Lockdown Poetry Festival and invite everyone to write a poem about being in lockdown – whatever you feel, whatever your experience – and send it to us and we will put together a compilation video of our favourite poems and put it on our website.
Adults and children alike are welcome to send in their poems on the theme of lockdown. And don’t worry if you don’t think you can write poetry; read some and give it a go!
If you want some ideas, listen to this lockdown poem by Harry Baker:
Send your poems to Lesley Crawley: revd.lesley@badshotleaandhale.org to arrive by February 26. Or you can send them in the post to Rev’d Lesley Crawley, The Rectory, 25 Upper Hale Road, Farnham GU9 0NX.
“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.”
So what’s that all about?
Well, the story of it is that when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple as a baby, an old man called Simeon met them. Simeon had been promised that he would see the Messiah and so he recognised Jesus. Simeon was so delighted that he couldn’t keep from singing and we have his song remembered in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 2:29-32).
For our art theme this time, take the words of the Song of Simeon, read them through and see which phrase jumps out at you. You can use whichever version of the words you like, I like the King James version (above) but you may have another copy of the Bible which uses slightly different words, or trying looking online – search Luke 2:29-32. I’ve put another version at the end of this message.
Remember, art is unlimited – it could be a picture, but it could be a poem, or sculpture, collage of model. I have been working on a piece of jewellery.
So whatever art it is, photograph your work and send it to me (LLM Lesley: llm.lesley@badshotleaandhale.org ). Also, tell me why you chose these particular words and I will put an online exhibition together. Please sign your work so I know it is your own and confirm that you are happy for us to exhibit it online and in St Mark’s
Closingdate for receipt of photos: Sunday 31 January – which is in time for Candlemas, the date when the church remembers the story of Simeon.
(We will have a display which you can see at St Mark’s too, so bring your work there if you can.)
Just in case the King James’ version of the song doesn’t appeal to you, here is another:
“Now, Lord, you have kept your promise, and you may let your servant go in peace. With my own eyes I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles and bring glory to your people Israel.”
Could you write down your thoughts about the lockdown? We’d love to include lockdown poems by adults or children in our online services. Here is a lovely poem to inspire you.
Welcome to our first online gallery as Art at St Mark’s, Unlimited. Our theme this time was Christmas Carols and artists chose which carol to depict. Some artists have given an insight into their choices. If you come into St Mark’s, you will be able to see some of the original works. Our group is open to all and we welcome all forms of art – art unlimited!
We hope you will enjoy our art.
Thank you to all our artists. We will have a new theme in the new year – watch this space!
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!
Serving the Villages North of Farnham: Badshot Lea, Hale, Heath End & Weybourne
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 