Parish of Westborough – Guildford

St Francis’ Church

Sunday, December 22: Christingle Service at 4pm

Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve: Midnight Service at 11.30pm

Wednesday, December 25: Christmas Day: We celebrate the birth of Christ, at 10am

St Clare’s Church

Sunday, December 22: Carol Service at 6.30pm

Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve Midnight Communion, 11.30pm

Wednesday, December 25: Christmas Day, celebrate light in the darkness, 10am

Women from St Francis’ Church were joined by their counterparts from the Guildford branch of the South African Congregation Church who came to show how their ‘blessing blankets’ are made.

Hard at work making blessing blankets.

Children in South African schools make them to give as gifts to older members of the community, for homes for the elderly, for people who have just had babies and a number of other people who they wish to bless.

Edith, from the South African Church (whose sister devised the blessing blankets), told those at the event that the health service in parts of South Africa is very different from here in Britain.

She said that sometimes people have to travel for hours to get to a hospital and then wait for many hours before they are seen.

But the time is not wasted as the women use it to make more blessing blankets to give away.

The team rector of the parish of Westborough and Park Barn, the Rev’d Stefanie Hodges, said: “It was a great privilege for us to welcome our visitors and be taught this wonderful skill.

“Our thanks also go to the members of the SA Congregation Church, because their amazing generosity throughout the year means that our community shop (open on the last Saturday morning of each month at the church hall) is always well stocked with items they have donated.

“They have also joined in this year with our annual toy service. Members of their women’s group donated many gifts for us to pass on to needy children this Christmas, so as to bring a little joy and surprise to those who may otherwise have very little.

“We thank God for the relationship that is developing between our two churches and look forward to our annual joint celebration each harvest festival.”

The SA Congregation is a reformed church of mostly South Africans resident in the UK. It is part of the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa and has close ties with different churches in South Africa.

In the UK it is a participating member of the Evangelical Alliance.

In Guildford it meets for worship each Sunday at Kings College in Park Barn.

Members of St Francis’ Church enjoyed the annual barbecue at Mike and Penny Ellis’ house and garden on Sunday, July 28.

Here are some photos taken by Mike.

The Craft in Company group that meets once a month at St Francis’ Church Hall is steadily growing.

There were eight regular crafters at the most recent session with a couple of new faces. 

The group is open to all abilities – just take along your own project

You can be inspired by others, share tips of your hobby with others and receive advice in return.

 

The picture above shows an example of traditional patchworking method known as English paper piecing using hexagons and great for working on in small sections. It’s very portable, easy to sew while sitting waiting for ballet and music lessons, in the car waiting for the school pick up. And then once a month spread it out on the hall floor to see the layout and work out the next stage.

 

Craig learned to crochet when he had some time while on night shifts.

Rug making.

Sugar craft.

The above photo shows pergamano – parchment craft, the art of embellishing and decorating parchment paper / vellum through the use of techniques such as embossing, perforating, cutting and coloring.

 

Seen above, miniature hats to fit out an Edwardian hat shop. Linda is taking a break from her doll’s house project and making a street scene.

Try this for size!

 

There are crafts books to browse and toys for young children to play with.

 

The cost is only £3 per session, to include hot drinks and cake.

Every first Friday of the month from 10am to noon, at St Francis’ Church Hall, Weston Road, Guildford GU2 8BU.

More details from Jyl Wheeler on 01483 852493.

St Francis’ Church has been awarded a grant of £500 from Guildford Borough Council towards purchasing LED lights as part of its electrical rewiring of the building.

The team rector, the Rev’d Stefanie Hodges, said: “The £500 that we have received from the council is the start of raising funds for the rewiring of the church. This work was highlighted on the church’s quinquennial report along with the need to re-decorate the inside of the church.

“We hope to also have wiring installed for screens that will be placed at the front of the church. On to these will be projected the service details and words to hymns, etc.

“The cost of decorating, which will need to be done at the same time, is included in the total we have to raise. I am hoping we can get it all done for £40,000.”

Schools, community groups and not-for-profit organisations benefit from Guildford Borough Council’s grants for carbon-saving projects. The Greening the Borough grants, which St Francis successfully applied to, helps fund energy-saving measures and cut carbon emissions.

Cllr Matt Furniss, Lead Councillor for Environment said: “Every year we award grants of up to £500 for projects that use practical measures to help save energy. Our funding has helped support everything from small-scale energy and heat technologies to greener transport schemes. Little changes can make a big difference, and we can all play our part to help reduce our impact on the environment.”