We’ve not seen much of the snow, but you can still create a snowman or two at our Snowman Drive at St George’s on Saturday, 24th February at 5.30pm.
This is a seasonal variation on a beetle drive and is a fun way to cheer up a dark winter evening. Create your snowman by rolling a die, then move move from table to table.
It’s £5 to enter, £2.50 children. Bring your own snacks and drinks. If you want a fish and chip supper this will be available for £10 but you must book ahead for this. Please also let us know if you are coming even if you don’t want supper as this will help us judge numbers. To book and/or order food, contact Kris by Wednesday, 21st February: warden.stgeorges@badshotleaandhale.org
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.
We can never have enough carol singing! After Christmas there will be a chance to enjoy carols you may have missed at Christmas.
What are your favourite carols? Would you like to hear them sung? Vote for them and the favourites will be sung at St George’s on January 13th from 2pm.
To vote, download the form below, or pick one up at the back of church, or put the name or names of the carols on a piece of paper with your name and £1 per vote per carol, in a sealed envelope and give to your church warden by Sunday, January 7th.Â
You can vote multiple time for one carol or vote for as many carols as you want. Cheques can be made payable to Badshot Lea and Hale PCC. Even if you don’t vote just come and join the singing on 13th. It will be followed by tea, cake and a raffle.
Come and sing your favourite Christmas carols around the tree outside St George’s on Monday, December 18th, at 6pm.
Join in with all the familiar Christmas carols – Hark the Herald, O Little Town of Bethlehem, While Shepherds Watched and many more – to celebrate the coming of God to earth in human form in Jesus Christ.
The December/January parish magazine is now out with the usual mix of news and what is on, plus prayer and reflection. There are all our Christmas services, news of the Farnham poetry competition 2024, and events going into the new year. Please do have a read and send us your own comments, articles and reflections, and share the magazine with friends and family too.
Don’t forget our wonderful advertisers as well. If you use their services, please let them know that you saw their advert in our magazine.
To send us a comment, article, piece of news, reflection or poem, click here.
To download the magazine, click on the button below:
Remembrance Sunday is on November 12th this year and there will be services at each of the churches in the Parish – 9.30am at St John’s and 10am at St George’s. There will be an Act of Remembrance at the Hale War Memorial at 10.45am, where there will be a two-minute silence at 11am. Councillors Tony Fairclough and Sally Dickson will be attending to lay a wreath on behalf of Farnham Town Council. This will be followed by a service at St Mark’s itself.
There will also be an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial in Badshot Lea following the St George’s service which Councillors Mark Merryweather and Chris Jackman will be attending. Anyone wishing to attend that who has not been at the service is asked to arrive for around 10.50am.
There will also be an Act of Remembrance at Weybourne Village Hall at 4pm which Councillor Matthew Brown will be attending. This will be followed by tea in the hall.
The November parish magazine is now out with the usual mix of news and what is on, plus prayer and reflection and a poem this time. Please do have a read and send us your own comments, poems and reflections, and share the magazine with friends and family too.
Don’t forget our wonderful advertisers as well. If you use their services, please let them know that you saw their advert in our magazine.
To send us a comment, article, piece of news, reflection or poem, click here.
To download the magazine, click on the button below:
If you go down to church this Sunday (October 1st), be prepared for a surprise. Along with the singing there will be barking, maybe a little squawking and squeaking, and even some slithering when we hold a pet service at each of the churches.
Pets of all shapes and sizes will be welcomed to St John’s at 9.30am, St George’s at 10am and St Mark’s at 11am, for a service to celebrate our pets and ask for God’s blessing on them. Anyone who doesn’t want to bring their pet but still wants to celebrate them and have them blessed is encouraged to bring a photo of the pet. Children are welcome to bring toy pets and come dressed as animals too.
We are holding the service on the first Sunday of October as it is close to the feast day of St Francis of Assisi which is on October 4th. St Francis was known for his love of and care for animals and is often depicted with them. Our pets bring us great joy and are part of God’s creation so we want to celebrate them and give thanks for everything they give us. For many people having a pet is an enormous comfort and can help our mental health by reducing stress and anxiety. They can also be great companions especially to people who are on their own.
The services will be chaotic and great fun, so please come along! However, there will also be an earlier communion service at St George’s at 9am for people who prefer their worship without animal accompaniment!
On September 24th, celebrate the good gifts of the earth at our Harvest Festival services, held at all three churches. You can then also join us at the Harvest Supper, held at St George’s on the evening of September 29th.
There have long been celebrations around the time that crops are harvested each year, but the harvest festival that we know today probably dates from Victorian days. The first one is said have been the brainchild of the Rev’d Robert Hawker, priest of a church at Morwenstow in Cornwall, who in 1843 invited people to a thanksgiving service for the harvest.
The modern harvest festival is a time to give thanks to God for the gifts the earth provides and it is also an opportunity to share food, particularly with people who do not have enough. That is why the parish collects tinned and dried food for Farnham’s Foodbank.
The services will be at 9.30am at St John’s, Hale, 10am at St George’s, Badshot Lea, and at 10am at St Mark’s, Upper Hale, where we will first celebrate Apple Day with apple-y music, apple snacks and apple pressing. The harvest service will be at 11am at St Mark’s.
The Foodbank is currently in need of tinned fruit, UHT puddings, tinned meat and chocolate treats and these can be offered at the altar during the service and will then be passed on to the Foodbank.
Harvest Supper
On September 29th we will celebrate again with a Harvest Supper at St George’s from 6pm. It’s a fun evening for the whole parish with a meal, entertainment and a raffle. Tickets are available at each of the churches; Adults £10, children (under 16) £5, or by calling 07842761919 or emailing news@badshotleaandhale.org. If you can offer to be part of the entertainment, please let Kris know: warden.stgeorges@badshotleaandhale.org.
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 