Your February magazine is out now. Inside you will find a farewell to Lesley and Alan, news about the vacancy, events including our Snowman Drive – the seasonal equivalent of a beetle drive (well, it’s too cold for beetles) and a free Valentine’s Barn Dance. We also explore where Valentine’s Day comes from and what is this thing called love.
There’s also news about the latest Farnham Poetry Competition which the parish runs as part of the Farnham Literary Festival. This year the theme is friendship, so why not celebrate your friends and give it a go.
Don’t forget our wonderful advertisers while you are browsing. They help keep our magazine going, so please check them out, use them and support local businesses.
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.
Craig Nobbs was relicensed to serve as a Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) in the parish, on Saturday, June 24th, at a service at St Stephen’s Church, Shottermill.
Our Summer Craft Market will take place on Saturday, June 17th, at St Mark’s Church, Alma Lane, Upper Hale, from 10am-2pm. There will be gifts to buy – Father’s Day is the next day so get your gifts for Dad there – cards, jewellery, knitwear, toys, and live music and refreshments.
Among the stalls this month are Richmetal Jewellery which sells finely crafted silver and gold pieces; clocks created from CDs by DNWFoto; bird-inspired craft from The Crafty Bird; cards from Sue Froud; and lots of lovely knitting from Knitty Nora.
It’s free to enter and while you are there, you can also have a look at the wonderful Kitty Milroy murals, painted in the early 20th century and now recognised as key in the development of mural art.
There will also be live music from Saxooma, plus refreshments including homemade cake and rolls.
Your June magazine is out, packed full of news of our fete, craft market, ordinations, a talk on supporting people with autism, a barn dance to celebrate St Mark’s 140th birthday and much more.
You can pick up a paper copy in the churches or download it here to find out the latest news about upcoming events in the parish, along with reflections on what has already happened, prayer, poetry, situations vacant and adverts from tradespeople in the parish.
You can also have the magazine sent straight to your inbox. Email editor@badshotleaandhale.org to find out more.
We don’t put up a paywall but if you are reading online we would be grateful for payment. You can pay yearly (£10) or whenever you download the magazine (£1). To pay either click here or make a payment to: Badshot Lea & Hale PCC, Sort Code 40-52-40, Account No. 00025717.
Spring is here and even the hint of summer, with blossom, fresh green leaves, meadow flowers and … a Coronation! We have special Communion services on the day following the Coronation, each followed by a celebration involving a toast to the new king. We also have our monthly family service at St John’s on May 7th, including a Coronation celebration, sandwiches and cake.
There is a lot going on this month in the parish and the magazine is full of events, thoughts, a report on our new Parish Needs Process, a reminder about the coming summer fete, and issue two of the new Badshot Leader, produced by the Badshot Lea Community Association.
Read and enjoy, check out the advertisers – shopping locally is good for not just the local community but for the environment too – and tell your friends about what is going on here in Badshot Lea and Hale.
Farnham Help for Refugees are holding a collection on Friday, 17th, from 4-7pm at William Cobbett School, Weybourne Road.
They need:
CLOTHING Winter and summer clothes. For men they need sizes S, M and L only. For women, teens and children all sizes are needed. NEW underwear for all the above sizes. Trainers – teens and men. Adult football boots (sizes 6-10 only) and football gear.
NO formal clothes – suits/office wear.
BAGS School/college bags. Backpacks. Suitcases.
TECHNOLOGY Smartphones with chargers.
TOYS (Good condition only) Small toys (simple toys, no battery-operated toys).
They cannot accept anything not on the list, nor can they accept dirty or damaged items.
The March parish magazine is here filled with plenty of news about the parish, including the Lent groups, the Seekers service, an encouragement to ‘Pray for 5’, the Literary Festival, groups and events, and the new Badshot Leader. The Badshot Leader was first produced 46 years ago and has been relaunched by the Badshot Lea Community Association in conjunction with the parish. It will appear in the magazine every two months and it can also be received directly from the Association – see page 19 of the magazine.
There are lots of advertisers too – please use them and tell them that you saw them in the magazine.
Enjoy!
Pictured above is a scene from The Chosen which we are discussing for Lent. Picture courtesy of The Chosen, Angel Studios.
It’s February, the month of Valentine’s love, pancakes and the first signs of Spring. It’s also a month when lots starts happening in the parish – well, does it ever stop? But here we are coming into Lent, with Lent courses which this year focus on the TV series The Chosen, a Questioning Faith course which will lead to confirmation in the Cathedral on Easter Eve, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, with services of ashing, and our Pancakes and Temptations service. Then there is a barn dance on February 25th, and an invitation to enter the Farnham Poetry Competition – this year the theme is hope.
Take a look inside the magazine for more details where you will also find a response to the bishops’ proposals on equal marriage, the Church Cat, prayer, thoughts on faith, events and reports from local groups.
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 