Today’s service led by John Evans:
Category Archives: Services
MP, Mayor and Intersex advocate choose favourite hymns
Jeremy Hunt, MP; the Mayor of Farnham; a prominent advocate for those born with intersex traits; and other key members of the local community, are all taking part in an online service of their favourite hymns, which will be online here on Wednesday, June 10, from 6pm.
Each person has chosen a hymn and will introduce it online explaining why they like it and what their Christian faith means to them. The hymns are a mix of old and new, and range from the 17th century My Song is Love Unknown, chosen by Janet Martin, one of the key organisers of the Farnham Flash Festival, to the 1980s’ one The Servant King, chosen by Sara Gillingham. Sara, an accountant by profession, also works with the church, universities and the media to raise awareness of people born with intersex traits, which is her own story.
Each speaks about what the hymn and their faith means to them – for Sara Gillingham it is a faith in a God full of grace, in whose image we are made, and Christ there beside us; while Jeremy Hunt speaks of the stillness which his faith gives him and how it is reflected in his choice of hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind. Among the other hymns you can hear are Father I Place into Your Hands, chosen by Bob Skinner, whom many will know from Farnham Foodbank, and Faithful One so Unchanging, the choice of Cathy Burroughs, manager of Hale Community Centre. You will also hear the rousing God is our Strength and Refuge, chosen by Pat Evans, the Mayor of Farnham, and sung to The Dam Busters March.
Lesley Crawley explains the thinking behind the service: “Favourite hymns can speak to us on a deep level, through the music and the words, and help us understand more about God and our faith. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to hear the choices of those who have so kindly contributed and understand more about what their faith means to them.”
Join us here on Wednesday, June 10, from 6pm, or on Facebook or on the parish YouTube channel. You may even want to sing along!
Stunning Wholly Sung Service
Thanks to all the musicians involved in this beautiful service, a real treat:
Sunday Worship – Pentecost
Happy Pentecost! The day when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples and their courage to tell others about Jesus. AKA the church’s birthday. Below are the resources for this week, the Sunday morning services, three sermons and a play for your enjoyment, but first the notices:
Notices
We have a birthday to celebrate – The Church’s!!!
Favourite hymns
On 10th June we are having a special service, members of our cmmunity including our MP and Mayor will be choosing their favourite hymns and will be saying why they love the hymns. Then from 14th June we will be including in the services a “Favourite Hymn” slot for anyone who would like to take part – if you have a favourite hymn then please video yourself explaining why it is meaningful to you and send it to Lesley or Alan.
Prayers
This week we particularly pray for: Lindsay, Anne, Jacob, Lisa, Sandra, Denis, Alfie, Janet, Fiona, Vera and Judith. We also pray for the families of those who have recently died: Liz Matthews, Jean Probert, Pat Munroe and Verena Holloway. Jean’s funeral will be streamed online on 9th June at 2pm. Please let Lesley know if you would like to be able to watch that and she will give you the details.
Resources
Here are the resources for adults at home this week.
Here are the resources for families at home this week.
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.
I have updated the Children’s Page with a great little video from the Bible Society – Pentecost and the Early Church in 3.5 minutes.
Services
We now have three Sunday services – an all-age one and a more traditional one in the morning and today a beautiful wholly sung one in the evening (comes live at 6pm):
All-Age:
More Traditional:
Wholly Sung Service (from 6pm):
Sermons
All- Age Play
Alan’s Pentecost Sermon
John Evans’ Friday Service Sermon
Join in Online Worship Here
Sunday Services
All-age Service:
More Traditional Service:
Wholly Sung Service:
Book of Common Prayer
Taizé
Friday’s Service
Future services
We would love more people to take part in the services and here are some ways you can do so:
If you have only a telephone with no special features …
Alan can record any comments you would like to make over the phone. Please call the Rectory (01252 820537) and arrange a time to do this. It will involve calling Alan on his mobile – and a number will be provided to do this.
If you have a smartphone/computer with camera and microphone
If you would like to record a video or sound; make something and take a picture of it; write some prose; share something you found on the web – whatever you have found that has fed you spiritually; please send it to Alan to pull it together.
Large files can be sent to Alan via https://www.filemail.com/
If you don’t know how to use the computer to do this
- Click on the magnifying glass at the bottom left of the screen.
- Search for Camera
- Click on the Camera App option
- Click on the Video button on the right hand side of the screen so that it is white.
- Click on it again to start videoing
- Click the red square to stop videoing.
- Open File Explorer and then Camera Roll – you should find the video you have recorded there.
- Use FileMail, TransferXL or PCloud (works better on mobiles) to select a video and send it to Alan.
Using a mobile/tablet
- Record the video – turn your device to landscape mode – it gives a bigger picture.
- Use PCloud to select the video and send it to Alan.
Alan looks forward to receiving lots of contributions: revd.alan@badshotleaandhale.org
Friday Service – 29th May
Today’s service is led by John Evans. We are now able to receive donations online:
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.
Stunning sung service
Catch the premier of our stunning, all-sung service for Pentecost this Sunday, May 31, at 6pm, here on the website. Everything is sung – the Gospel, the sermon, the prayers, everything, some of it using original music composed for the occasion.
The service features Bob and Lesley Shatwell, whose concept this has been, Margaret Emberson, Wendy Edwards and Liv and June Jasper, and they have created, as Lesley Crawley said: “One astonishing work of art after another”.
We are also promised more than one Bob, Lesley and Margaret at the same time!
Don’t miss this beautiful, uplifting, creative service this coming Sunday (May 31) at 6pm, here on the website.
Prayer Stations at Home
During the period of Thy Kingdom Come, we are asking people if they can create prayer stations at home and send them to us (news@badshotleaandhale.org)
Here is one which Michelle Chapman has made – a finger labyrinth with instructions which we have reproduced below.
Praying with the finger labyrinth
- Draw your labyrinth (start with the purple cross, then the red right angles, finally the dots. Start with the top of the cross and join up to the next line with a curve. Follow the pattern, I have made it easier to follow by using different colours)
- There is only one way in and out of the labyrinth.
Once prepared
- Sit quietly and take a few deep breaths, allow yourself to feel Gods presence.
- When you are ready very slowly enter the labyrinth using your least dominant index finger and slowly follow the path to the centre. Allow your thoughts to surface, remembering that Jesus is with you all the way. Release all your thoughts and tensions on the winding journey.
- When you reach the centre just rest a while with God and have a conversation. If you are finding lockdown difficult explain. Also think about the good things about lockdown and say thank you.
Coming out of the Labyrinth
- When you are ready to exit the Labyrinth follow the same path joyfully. You can sing a song or hymn say a psalm or an uplifting poem or say the Lord’s prayer.
- As you reach the exit give thanks and praise to God.
Strange events, the Holy Spirit and a Sung sermon – it must be Pentecost
Media outlets have a new rival – the Roman Broadcasting Company (RBC) whose reporter has been recording virtual interviews, trying to uncover the truth behind strange events taking place in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago. The interviews will be broadcast on this website on Sunday, May 31, in a Pentecost service which will be online from 9am.
The RBC will be investigating stories of ordinary people being transformed from scared individuals into confident and joyful women and men who started telling everyone about Jesus, a man from nearby Galilee who had been killed by crucifixion but had risen again and was offering a new way of living and coming close to God.
The story, of course, is the one recalled in chapter two of the book of Acts, when the disciples received the Holy Spirit and began a new ministry which saw the beginning of what became the Christian church. This story will be celebrated on Sunday, May 31, in three services – a formal one and an informal one available in the morning, and an all-sung service in the evening, available from 6pm. The informal service will include a dramatised version of the story involving the RBC interviewing witnesses of the events. You may also want to have a candle, a pot of bubbles and also cake to help you take part!
Here’s what Lesley Crawley has to say about it: “A few days before the events we celebrate at Pentecost, the risen Jesus had ascended to heaven and had promised that the disciples would receive power when the Holy Spirit came down on them, enabling them to be brave and follow Jesus in loving service to others. This is what we are reflecting on here. And of course, the Holy Spirit wasn’t just for those early disciples but is available to all of us and is in us as we work to help others and love others, trying to be the hands and arms and heart of Jesus today.
“So come and join us online on Sunday, May 31, at our formal or informal services in the morning or our all-sung service in the evening from 6pm. Even the sermon is being sung! It’s all on https://badshotleaandhale.org/ and everyone is welcome!”
Pentecost also marks the end of The Kingdom Come, the period from Ascension Day which each year is dedicated to prayer. We are celebrating Thy Kingdom Come with a different version of the Lord’s Prayer each day at noon and sharing resources from the Thy Kingdom Come organisers.
BCP Evening Prayer – 24th May
