Category Archives: St John’s Church

Events, Giving and Fundraising, St John's Church

Hale Fayre hailed as great success

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The Hale Autumn Fayre was a great success.

Jeremy Hunt opened the fayre at St John’s Church, Hale, on Saturday, September 4th. He also led the singing as we wished the Head Girl from Farnham Heath End School a happy birthday. Along with her fellow students she was selling programmes.

Entertainment was provided by the  Farnborough U3A Ukulele band, Terry Owens singing songs of the 70s, and our church musicians, singing and playing a medley of songs and pieces. There was brisk trade at the many stalls and all parts of our community took part – Hale WI, Hale Derby and Joan, Parkinson’s UK, Usborne Book, Humblebee Gifts, by aspen crafts, Lizzie Marks and many more. There were plenty of takers for the tea and cakes, the barbecue and the beer.

Among the revellers was Cllr Sally Dickson, Councillor for Hale and Heath End, who drew the raffle, and the total raised by the afternoon was around £3,000.

Lesley Crawley said: “It was a wonderful event for the whole community with all ages taking part and enjoying themselves. The money we raised will go not just to maintain the churches in the parish, but to support community groups such as the toddler group and Connections, our fortnightly get-together for older people who might otherwise find themselves isolated. Our thanks to everyone who came and everyone who worked so hard to make it such a success.”

Here is a snapshot of what went on:

Belief, Bible, St John's Church

Joyful confirmation at St John’s

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There was a joyful atmosphere at St John’s Church on Sunday evening when we hosted a confirmation service at which the Bishop of Dorking, the Right Rev’d Jo Bailey Wells, confirmed 11 people from four parishes, including five from the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale.

Freddie Brown, Ollie Beckett and Tracy Boyce from St George’s, Richard Myers from St Mark’s and Simon Alexander from St John’s were all confirmed in a service which also involved a baptism, renewal of baptismal vows and a lot of splashing of the congregation by Bishop Jo as a reminder of our baptismal vows.

In a sermon which reminded us of the importance of simplicity and rootedness, Bishop Jo preached on verses from Psalm 1 –
‘They are like trees
    planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
    and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper’ and Mark 9 –
 ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me’.

Each of those being confirmed had arrived at the decision following their own path with their own stories, stories which Bishop Jo encouraged then to share over refreshments afterwards, refreshments which had been provided by a team from St John’s led by Sylvie Burrows.

If anyone would like details of confirmation or about exploring faith, contact Lesley Crawley. There will also be a new Questioning Faith’ series starting on Zoom on October 26, and running for six weeks. Again, contact Lesley.

Art, Children and Youth, Craft, Events, Harvest, LGBTI+, magazine, Social Events, St John's Church

The September Magazine is Out

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Our September magazine has just been published full of plenty to read and discover for this coming month.

We kick off with the Autumn Fayre (on Saturday, September 4, at St John’s Church, 12-4pm) then take a look at our new monthly craft market, get ready for Harvest, meet our new Youth Minister, have a think about Living in Love and Faith, and look forward to the Confirmation service on September 19. There’s a message from Anne Young in Cornwall, a huge thank-you to Wendy Edwards who is retiring, some thoughts on the changes ahead from the Church Cat and lots more, including local businesses who advertise and support us in our work.

To read all about it, download your copy below, or if you would prefer a printed version email the editor, Stella Wiseman.

September 21Download
Events, Giving and Fundraising, News Releases, Social Events, St John's Church

Come to the fayre

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Come and join us at the Hale Autumn Fayre on September 4th at St John’s, Hale Road, 12-4pm.

There will be stalls, games, food and drink – a barbecue, bar, tea and cakes – a grand raffle with loads of prizes, and music. The fayre will be opened by Jeremy Hunt, MP, at 12pm, and Waverley and Farnham Councillor Sally Dickson will draw the raffle at 3.30pm.

Come and browse the stalls – everything from face creams to a bottle tombola, play games, eat, drink and be merry while listening to music by local musicians including two-thirds of Cajun Boogaloo; the Farnborough U3A Ukulele band; Wendy Edwards; Mary Klymenko; Frances Whewell; and Terry Owens, Football Club Ambassador for Aldershot Town and well known for keeping people going with his singing.

Buy a lucky programme and be in with a chance of winning a £50 voucher for Heaven’s Kitchen restaurant; buy a raffle ticket and you could win £100, or a host of other prizes including a £50 voucher for Daniele’s Sicilian Restaurant; browse gifts on the stalls; eat delicious cake or a burger; have a drink, and know that you are helping to raise money to support the church’s work in the community, including the setting up of a new youth hub at St John’s.

Join us from 12pm, Saturday, September 4.

Events, Giving and Fundraising, News Releases, Social Events, St John's Church

Autumn Fayre – we need your help!

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The Hale Autumn Fayre will be taking place at St John’s on Saturday, September 4, 12-3pm, and we need your help.

We already have lots of stalls planned, plus a bar, a barbecue and tea stall, and generous donors have given raffle prizes but we need more people to help with running the stalls and donating prizes.

We particularly need items for a bottle tombola – they don’t have just to be drinks but could, for instance, be shampoo or bubble bath – and the regular tombola. We need more raffle prizes and cakes. We also need more people to help on stalls, sell raffle tickets, and generally join in.

If you can help, please get in touch. Contact Stella Wiseman on 07842 761919 or admin@badshotleaandhale.org. You can also bring your donations to the back of St John’s Church or put them in The Ark (the old vestry).

Thanks! Let’s make it a great day!

Picture by Harry Grout on Unsplash.

Inclusion, LGBTI+, Services, St George's Church, St John's Church, St Mark's Church

Pride services at all our Churches

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This Sunday (August 8) we are celebrating Pride at all of our three churches and online, here on the website.

Like Pride Month, which takes place in June, it is an opportunity to celebrate LGBTQI+ people in their fullness, to look back on strides toward equality, and to imagine a world where celebration and full inclusion is the norm, not an exception. 

Lesley Crawley explains some of the thinking behind this: “Christians have historically punished and ostracized LGBTQI+ people, scripture has been weaponized and the church has contributed to the political, relational and spiritual dehumanizing of LGBTQI+ people. This has resulted in deep pain, bullying and death and rightfully many people have been put off the church forever because of the cruel behaviour of Christians. 

“As Christians, we give up a piece of our full humanity when we forgo compassion and treat people as objects worthy of scorn or violence. Pride gives us an opportunity to end oppressive practices and ideology while also becoming more fully human ourselves. 

“In these services we repent of the past and we look with optimism to the future. We stand with people who identify as LGBTQI+ and proclaim loudly that all people are loved by God and all people are welcome here.

“We thank God for the immense diversity of human beings and the love God has for us all. We recognise the way stereotypes have limited us all in terms of being able to be truly ourselves. We celebrate love in all its forms and we thank the God of Love that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Please join us this Sunday. There is a service at St John’s Church, Lower Hale, at 9.30am, one at St George’s, Badshot Lea, at 10am, and one at St Mark’s, Upper Hale, at 11am. And, of course, we are online too: https://badshotleaandhale.org/online-services/

* LGBTQI+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex and the ‘+’ is for others who don’t fit one of these labels

Services, St George's Church, St John's Church, St Mark's Church

Say Thank you this Sunday

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We’re joining in national Thank You Day this Sunday, July 4. People around the country are gathering to show their gratitude to those who have helped us so much over the pandemic and we are holding Thank You services in each of the churches with special visitors from across Farnham.

Join us at St John’s at 9.30am, St George’s at 10am and St Mark’s at 11am.

Among those also joining us will be Alan Earwaker, Mayor of Farnham, and Catherine Powell, Surrey Councillor for North Farnham, who will all be at St John’s; Gemma Ball, head of Badshot Lea Village Infant School, Alex Hayhoe from the Hygiene Bank and Iain McCready from Farnham Town Council who will be at St George’s; and Cathy Burroughs, manager of Hale Community Centre, Daniel Gee, head of content for the Farnham Herald, Alastair Shanks from Right at Home care agency, and Pat Evans, former Mayor of Farnham, who will be at St Mark’s. They will be talking about the community in the past 18 months, the future as they see it and what they are thankful for.

There will be opportunities to express your own thanks and make thank-you cards.

Please join us and say thank you too.

For further information, call 07842761919 or email admin@badshotleaandhale.org

Children and Youth, Giving and Fundraising, St John's Church

The next stage for funding the Youth Hub

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We’re delighted to say that we made our initial crowdfunding target of £4,000 for the new St John’s drop-in Youth Hub.

Thanks to everyone who gave so generously we actually raised £4,580 + an estimated £840 in gift aid from 28 supporters over 42 days.

This will enable us to make the north aisle into a good space for the Youth Hub  – we will clear the pews, make the floor level and purchase equipment. You can see more here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/st-johns-project

We are now raising money to fund a community youth worker, so we can provide high quality youth work Monday to Friday each week.

To give to this project please consider:

To find out more, please get in touch with us – admin@badshotleaandhale.org or revd.lesley@badshotleaandhale.org or call Lesley on 01252 820537.

Many thanks to everyone for your support!

Children and Youth, Services, St George's Church, St John's Church, St Mark's Church

Join us for Father’s Day!

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It’s Father’s Day this Sunday, June 20, and we invite you to join us at any of our three churches for a celebration and focus on dads, grandads and other special men who have been important to us in our lives.

Join us at St John’s, Hale, at 9.30am, for a service followed by free brunch, or St Mark’s, Upper Hale, at 11am where brunch will be served during the service, or St George’s, Badshot Lea, at 10am where dads can have a beer after church! Cheers to Dads!

Want to know more? Call us on 07842761919 or email admin@badshotleaandhale.org

Picture by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.