Churches Together E-Newsletter 
February / March 2020 Edition

World Day of Prayer.
Private prayer is great and of course an essential part of our prayer life.  Praying with others is different and includes sharing, companionship, mutual encouragement, teamwork and unity. This kind of prayer has its own special power.  Different again is a World Day of Prayer when, with joy, we connect with our sisters and brothers in every corner of the World.  We share their traumas and bring to the Lord their plights.  We know too, they are praying for us.  Our prayers of adoration, thanksgiving and petition will make a difference to their lives and to our own.
 
This year’s World Day of Prayer has been put together by women in Zimbabwe and will be celebrated on Friday 6th March, at St.James’ Church, Rowledge, commencing at 10:30 a.m.  It will be a joyful occasion.
 
With warm regards
 
                Michael
                (Michael McDonnell - Chair of Churches Together in Farnham)
 

An E-Newsletter is published each month, including upcoming activities and an event listing.  To “READ ALL ABOUT IT”, please CLICK HERE to download your copy.

Farnham ASSIST
Silver Service
(Thursday afternoon
19th Mar at 3:00 p.m)

World Day of Prayer 2020

St.James’ Church Rowledge
Friday 6th March 2020

Farnham’s service as part of the 2020 World Day of Prayer is being held at St.James’ Church, Rowledge on Friday 6th March, starting at 10:30 a.m.

This year, the service has been prepared by the women of Zimbabwe.  This will be a colourful service, for all to enjoy the music and quiet reflection, seeking love, peace and reconciliation — not only in our own lives, but also in the communities of Zimbabwe.

This is a Service for Everyone!  Children are welcome.

Do come and find out a bit more about this beautiful country, which has seen so much unrest in recent years.  Discover what “Rise! Take Your Mat and Walk” means to Zimbabwean women.

For more information -
please CLICK HERE

Churches Together in Farnham

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
18th–25th January 2020

As in previous years, Churches Together in Farnham marked the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by daily prayers during the week, with a Service of Christian Unity on Sunday 19th January 2020.

UNITED SERVICE ON SUNDAY 19TH JANUARY 2020
This year, the Sunday service was hosted by The Spire Church, South Street, Farnham.  Christians from churches across Farnham and villages gathered for the annual Service of Christian Unity.

The service was led by The Spire’s Revd.Michael Hopkins and prayers led by Revd.John Morris and Revd.Sandy Clarke of The Bourne and Tilford.  The speaker was Revd.Hannah Moore, from the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale.

The service was followed by seasonal refreshments.

DAILY MORNING PRAYER MEETINGS 18th-25th JANUARY
During the remainder of the Week of Prayer, daily prayer meetings were held at churches around the town, including the Quaker Meeting House in Tilford Road, All Saints Tilford, Farnham Vineyard in Union Road, St.Thomas-on-The Bourne in Frensham Road and St.Joan of Arc in Tilford Road.  All Christians in the town were invited to join any or all of the prayer meetings.

For a display poster with the 2020 Prayer Meeting Schedule — CLICK HERE (PDF format file size 13,127)

More information here ...  

Christmas Day 2019
Traditional Xmas Lunch at the Memorial Hall

As in many previous years, Farnham’s traditional Xmas Lunch took place on Christmas Day 2019, enjoyed by some 60 Farnham residents who otherwise would have spent the festive day on their own.

Many guests were collected by volunteer drivers and taken to the Memorial Hall off West Street, where they were treated to an excellent two-course meal including roast turkey with trimmings, Christmas pudding and wine.

The event was coordinated by Churches Together in Farnham.  Full details below.

All about this year’s lunch ... 

CTF Annual General Meeting 2019

The 2019 A.G.M. took place on the evening of Thursday 24th October at St.Mark’s Church, Alma Lane, Upper Hale, Farnham GU9 0LT.  The meeting ended by 9:00 p.m giving those attending a chance to meet each other afterwards over a glass of wine.

Revd.Hannah Moore, Badshot Lea and Hale Parish, chaired the meeting, concluding her year as CTF Chair.  Michael McDonnell, from St.Joan of Arc Catholic Church, was elected as CTF Chair for the coming year.

The meeting agenda included:

• Election of officers for the coming year;
• A brief review of the main activities of CTF during the past year;
• An opportunity for each of the many Christian groups and organisations which support our local community throughout the year to report briefly on their activities (reports are included within the meeting minutes);
• An opportunity for church leaders, particularly those new to the town, to share their thoughts.

You can view or download your copy of the meeting minutes from the link below:

 
Please CLICK HERE for more about CTF ...

Revd.Neil Fairlamb
New Priest for All Saints, Tilford

 
On the evening of Tuesday 15th May, the congregation at All Saints Church, Tilford warmly welcomed the Revd.Neil Fairlamb, who was licenced for his new ministry by the Archdeacon of Surrey, the Ven.Paul Davies.

Neil replaces All Saints’ much-loved parish priest Canon Heather Humphrey, who sadly died in February 2018.

Neil (on right of picture) and his wife Yvonne come to Tilford from North Wales where, since 2003, Neil served as Rector of Beaumaris and Ministry Area Leader of Bro Seiriol in the Archdeaconry of Anglesey.

Neil was ordained in the Diocese of Southwark as a non-stipendiary minister, before moving into stipendiary ministry in Wales, becoming Rector of Beaumaris in 2003.

Looking forward to his new appointment, Neil said:

“Yvonne and I have been very happy to have spent 20 years in Bangor Diocese.  We married just as we started in Meirionnydd and have made many friends in the parishes and through wider ecumenical links including Ynys Enlli and the Roman Catholic Church’s outreach activities from St.Beuno’s and Loreto.
 
The new post in Surrey will be an opportunity to care for a traditional but outward looking village community and to part of a busy town ministry in Farnham.  I am so fortunate to be in good health and to be given an opportunity to continue ministry into my 70s, sharing life’s journeys with people - in solidarity with their joys and sorrows as we make our Christian pilgrimage together.
 
Yvonne and I are so grateful for everyone’s support and prayers.”

CLICK HERE for more ...

Frensham Baptist Fellowship Closes

Sadly, after 30 years of meeting in and serving the village and community of Frensham, FBF closed their doors at the Marindin Hall on Sunday 21st July 2019.

FBF began on 12th February 1989, initially meeting at the Church of the Good Shepherd, before moving to the Marindin Hall on 13th January 1991.  They expressed their “gratitude to all who have contributed to the life of FBF and the blessing they have felt from so many who have passed through on life’s journey”.

CTF Directory - December 2019 edition

The Churches Together in Farnham directory provides contact information for CTF Officers, Member Churches and Associated Organisations.  Download HERE for local printing (PDF format; file size 40,027) or find out more on the “CTF Directory” page.