Tag Archives: St George’s Day

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

St George’s Day – services and a dragon

19/04/2023 Stella Wiseman Leave a comment

St George’s Day is on Sunday, April 23, and you are invited to celebrate England’s patron saint at services at St John’s, Hale, at 9.30am, and St George’s, Badshot Lea, at 10am. TS Swiftsure, Farnham Sea Cadets, will take part in the service at St George’s.

St George has been venerated as a saint in England since the 9th century CE though he was actually born in the 3rd century CE in Cappadocia (modern day Turkey), and was probably an officer in the Roman army. He was a Christian and it seems he was killed in the early 4th century, maybe on April 23, because he wouldn’t worship pagan gods.

St George is meant to have killed an evil dragon but the story about this actually originates several centuries after his death. Nevertheless the story stuck and the image of St George defeating the dragon appears on the George Cross, an award created in 1940 by King George VI to reward acts of great courage in times of danger.

This doesn’t stop the friendly St George’s dragon coming to church however.

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

Celebrate St George’s Day with Mayors and Music

21/04/2021 Stella Wiseman Leave a comment

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.

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

Worship for 3rd Sunday of Easter, St George’s Day and St Mark’s Day

26/04/2020 Alan Leave a comment

Hello, today we have a veritable smorgasbord of services for you, a completely different one for each of our churches including different sermons. Perhaps you can enjoy them all through the week.

At St John’s we have an Easter 3 service looking at the story of Cleopas on the road to Emmaus, St George’s are celebrating St George’s Day with an All Age service and St Mark’s are celebrating St Mark’s Day.

In the bonus pieces below is video showing a way of reflecting on the Emmaus Road – especially good for younger people, with lots of wondering questions. There is also a piece asking the question “Isn’t the Bible sexist” with a lovely quote from Dorothy Sayers – this relates to Lesley’s St John’s sermon. Also, a play and Allelu, Allelu – a couple of highlights from the St George’s service! St Mark’s discussed what they miss about going to church, you can see the answers here. Also I have added the sermons (6 of them!) at the bottom, including one from Bishop Jo.