Parish of Westborough – Guildford

Join us for an afternoon of music at St Clare’s Church, Park Barn, on Saturday, October 11, from 3pm.

Close harmony group Surrey Fringe will be leading the afternoon’s programme, along with a performance by the newly formed locally based Rhythm of Life community choir.

There will be tea and cakes during the interval and all proceeds go to parish funds.

Tickets are £5 for adults and £3.50 for under 16s.

They can be ordered in advance by calling 01483, 301349, or on the door.

Surrey Fringe barbershop chorus.

The Westborough and Park Barn based Rhythm of Life community choir.

Westborough and Park Barn based Rhythm of Life community choir.

A charity that is helping Guildford families who struggle with debt problems is offering tips to survive the summer holidays on a budget.

Set up two years ago, the Guildford branch of Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has already visited about 70 households. Six of those families who were once struggling with their finances are now debt free.

The Guildford centre manager of Christians Aganist Poverty (CAP), Jane Seals, pictured at Westborough United Reformed Church.

Now it wants to remind families of the free or low-cost activities that can be enjoyed instead of putting family finances at risk.

CAP’s Guildford centre manager Jane Seals said: “When the weather is good, the options are more obvious but when it’s wet, you have to be more inventive and it helps to have some good ideas to hand.”

Many local councils have activities on offer for children in parks, libraries and sports centres, while most museums are free and may have special summer events on offer.

Jane added: “I want to say to parents, be smart about the summer holidays. Do your research now and make a plan. Decide how much you can afford each week and create a ‘treats fund’ – however small – and talk about it with your children.

“Involve them in how you will spend it – they will appreciate what happens so much more and it’s a great lesson for them.”

Here are CAP’s top 10 tips:

1. Make sure you have other parents’ phone numbers before the children break up from school. A play date is the easiest way to entertain – and if the favour is returned, you might win yourself a quiet day!
2. Remember treasure hunts as a kid? Geocaching is the updated version and is suitable for all ages. Download a free app such as c:geo onto your smart phone and away you go. Find out more at www.geocaching.com.
3. Avoid the ice-cream van by making your own lollies with cheap moulds and squash/fruit juice. Freeze different colours in sessions to make stripes!
4. If you’re going anywhere for the day, take a picnic and you’ll avoid the expense of cafes when you’re out. Refill water bottles with squash, add some crisps, sandwiches and fruit – done!
5. Get crafty with papermache, card making, find someone who knits, paints, does DIY and can share their expertise.
6. Get baking! It doesn’t have to be expensive. Buns, flapjacks, biscuits – they are all fairly easy and will brighten up a dull afternoon. If you don’t want to put the oven on, try putting ‘fridge cake’ into Google.
7. Visit someone – a relative, friend or neighbour who would like some company. It will make their day and give you all a change of scene.
8. Avoid shopping as a pastime. It’s not a good habit for you and could spell trouble for your children in future.
9. Become a nature detective! Lots of free printables, ideas and venues to discover from the Woodland Trust via http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/summer/
10. Don’t beat yourself up about not being able to provide a plush holiday for your family. The most valuable thing you can do is to spend time with them – even if it’s washing the car together and getting soaked.

CAP offers its debt advice services free as it receives donations from churches and individuals who want to help people.

CAP will help anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. It does this by a holistic approach to people’s debt problems and provides plenty of on-going support if needed.

In most cases a CAP account is set up for families, which acts like a simple bank account. People make one weekly or monthly payment to cover bills and debts. CAP then distributes this on the family’s behalf.

Sadly, about a third of clients who contact CAP have been so worried about their debt problems they have contemplated suicide. Jane Seals said this national figure is also born out locally in the ‘affluent’ Guildford area.

Christians Against Poverty has a wealth of knowledge in helping families overcome spiraling debts and encouraging them to live to a budget.

To find out more, visit www.capuk.org or call 0800 328 0006.

The Lapini Ensemble Presents

Rabbit in the Footlights

Show-stopping songs from the great musicals including those of  

Jerome Kern to Andrew Lloyd Webber

St Francis’ Church, Westborough

Saturday, June 28, at 8pm

 Tickets: £10

Concessions available

Ring Rev’d Stefanie Hodges on 01483 504228 or Frances Dawson on 01483 575662

Tickets also available at the door

Refreshments available during interval

Enjoying the traditional Maundy Thursday meal at St Francis' Church.

People from the age of six to 90  joined in with this year’s Maundy Thursday meal at St Francis’ Church.

With reflections on the ‘journeying with Christ’ through to Good Friday, the evening included a shared communion and the traditional and profound ‘stripping of the altar’.

Palm Sunday evening’s performance of The Crucifixion by Sir John Stainer at St Francis’ Church was a truly wonderful occasion.

The rector, the Rev’d Stefanie Hodges now writes:

I have received a number of emails about the performance and thought it a shame not to let others know what a special occasion it was.

This is the third year we have entered into Holy Week with a special service of worship on Palm Sunday evening which begins with an (optional) congregational rehearsal, followed by a Lenten supper, and finally coming together for a blessed time of song and praise.

This idea began three years ago and we are delighted that, with the continuing interest and support of others joining us, this very moving act of worship is becoming  part of the tradition here at St Francis.

Starting with a group of 14 members of St Francis’ Church, including some who had never sung in a choir before, together with those more experienced choristers from other choirs and under the masterful care and encouraging teaching from Christopher Connett, something beautiful has blossomed. The comments that have been coming through following Sunday’s service have all been amazingly encouraging, both about the ‘service’ and about the ‘church’s warm welcome and incredible hospitality.

Sincere thanks need to be given to all who took part – the choir, those who prepared and served the meal and those who cleared up after.

But thanks go particularly to Jyl Wheeler who administered to the choir and organised the congregation hospitality, and to Christopher Connett, our inspiring and talented musical director. Our appreciation is also extended to the wonderful soloists, Mike Winterbotham and Stephen Petch, and to organist David Oldfield.

Here are just a couple of the emails I have received in appreciation.

“This evening was a lovely time and the four friends I brought with me really enjoyed it. Christopher was a great conductor who got the best out of us, and the two soloists were amazing – probably the best I remember hearing singing that piece, and it is one I have sung many times before. They were such a joy to listen to. And Jyl did a great job of organising it all. Thank you again for allowing me to be part of such a wonderful evening of worship.”

“Thank you for such a moving evening, I never really understood the Christian story other than the basics. This evening opened my eyes and I felt extremely moved by the whole experience. Thank you.”

St Francis’ Church

Palm Sunday, April 13    

10am: Palm Sunday Parish Eucharist

11.30am: MOT – Ministry of Transformation – 30 minute session

Lenten Offering of Worship and Praise: The Crucifixion by Sir John Stainer

5.15pm: Congregational rehearsal

6pm: Lenten supper

7pm: The Crucifixion

Monday, April 14

7.30pm: Compline with meditation

Tuesday, April 15

11.30am: Holy Communion

7.30pm: Compline with meditation

Wednesday, April 16

7.30pm: Compline with meditation

Thursday, April 17

7.30pm: Maundy Thursday meal with Holy Communion

Good Friday, April 18

9am to 12.30pm: The Way of the Cross art workshop drop-in

 10am: Walk of Witness

11am: Hot Cross Buns

2pm: Hour at the Cross with The Way of the Cross

Holy Saturday, April 19

3pm to 5pm: Open church and MOT drop-in

Easter Sunday, April 20

10am: Easter Day Parish Eucharist

St Clare’s Church

Palm Sunday, April 13

8am:  ‘said’ communion

10.30am: worship for all a shorter service for all ages together

Holy Week

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

9.15am:  brief meditations

Maundy Thursday, April 17

7pm:  Maundy meal (sign up in church)

9pm:  vigil (until 11pm)

Good Friday, April 18 – ‘he carried our sorrows’

9.30am:  35 minutes of quiet reflection  

10.30am:  join the town centre ‘walk of witness’ – meeting outside Friary Centre

Easter Sunday, April 20 – ‘he has risen’!

7am:  ‘Son rise’ service outside the east end of the cathedral – ask about lifts

8am:  ‘said’ communion

10.30am:  worship for all with communion

The British Heart Foundation’s recent Ramp up the Red event encouraged people to wear something red and have fun raising funds.

St Francis' Church wears red for the British Heart Foundation.

At St Francis’ Church parishioners raised £130 for the BHF on Sunday, February 9. The event was all the more special as the Bishop of Dorking, the Rt Rev’d Ian Brackley, was the morning’s preacher.

Guildford area chairman for the BHF Shirley West was at St Francis’ and said: “What a wonderful way to close Ramp up the Red. The rector, Stefanie Hodges, and all her congregation dressed in red.

“We then enjoyed a lovely lunch together. I would like to thank everyone there, including Bishop Ian, for helping to make it a successful weekend.”

Bishop Ian pins on his British Heart Foundation badge.

St Francis’ Church’s first Messy Church on Saturday, January 25, was very successful indeed.

Having fun at Messy Church. Pictures by Mike Ellis.

Lots of local children and their parents enjoyed making crafts, listening to a story and singing songs, topped off with a great meal.

The next free Messy Church takes place on Saturday, February 22, from 4pm to 6pm. All welcome. For more details call the rector, the Rev’d Stefanie Hodges on 01483 504228, or Val Holt on 01483 852764.

Here are some photos our rector has taken of events at the church over the past few months.

Members of the church got together to paint the hall.

Getting ready for the Christmas community lunch.

Our now dearly departed Geoff pictured with his grand-daughter Charlotte.

Christmas time and Santa's coming.

Messy Church is coming to St Francis’ Church in Beckingham Road.

It promises a great time for children of all ages with craft activities, singing and storytelling, plus a meal.

It will run on the last Saturday of each month, starting next Saturday, January 25, from 4pm to 6pm and is free.

It is being run by members of the church and details can be obtained from Val Holt on 01483 852764.