Frensham Churches
Parish Magazine
The Frensham & Dockenfield Parish Magazine is printed each month and distributed to around 500 homes. It contains details of Church services, news, up-to-date information on Village Societies and Clubs and articles by parishioners. It is funded by subscription and advertising with all proceeds contributing to the running costs of the Parish.
The subscription fee is £1 per month or £12 per year (payable in January each year for magazines covering the 12 month period January to December). If you live outside of the Parish you may have the Parish Magazine mailed to your home; the cost for this is a 2nd class stamp per month. To start receiving the magazine - please complete the form here
Click here to pay your annual subscription via the website.
December Letter from the Vicarage
BLESSINGS FROM THE VICARAGE
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” Gospel of John Chapter 1.
It's not often that I start my letter with a powerful and beautiful Bible passage, but the stunning photo on the front of this month’s magazine prompted me to link with it and reflect on these dark times (in more ways than one) that humanity as a whole is living through.
The pre-Christmas period called Advent can be hard enough with all the economic pressures of affording extra monthly expenses such as presents, trees, turkeys, etc., as well as coping with all the added time constraints - having to fit in social functions, school fayres and nativities, carol services and visiting the relatives… But even the run up to this year’s Advent has been fraught with anxiety, fear and despair
• Locally due to increased flu and covid cases, and economic stresses,
• Nationally due to the instability of government and concerns over another energy crisis,
• Globally with the crucifyingly appalling situation in the Holy Land as well as the continued wars in Ukraine, Yemen and Syria.
Yes, these are indeed dark times. But, if John 1:1 – 5 holds true, which I believe it does as the Light of God is where we all come from; we have not only never been abandoned by God but also, there is always hope because God’s light overcomes darkness. (Look again at the Christmas tree on the front cover – how alive it looks in amidst the darkness.)
Where can God’s light be found, I ‘hear’ you asking?
Well, each of us is actually part of God’s light, although tragically some have tried their best to extinguish it and hence the anger and violence of this world. For those who choose to use a positive, kind opportunity to help alleviate people’s darkness, that’s a start. But, we can do more - we can choose to give ourselves over to a new way of being and thinking and behaving…individually and collectively…linked in with the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) Galatians 5: 22.
Feargal Sharkey (from Derry in Northern Ireland) recently said on ‘Have I got news for you’, “For 25 years the people of Northern Ireland have been able to prosper, grow and blossom, and have discovered that this thing PEACE is a very delicate, beautiful little flower that needs nurturing, caressing and supporting. I do wish the people of Gaza and Israel can get to discover what 25 years of PEACE, prosperity, diplomacy and democracy looks like, and that those people also can blossom into a much brighter future for everyone involved.” He said this quietly and with maturity, wisdom, dignity and gravitas. His encouraging words were a light shining in the darkness for the world to hear and full of the gifts of the Spirit, and they were most unexpected and surprising given the context.
And that is the point…
God shines a light through humanity and creation in the most unexpected and surprising places – but most powerfully it all started quietly with a little babe in an outhouse in Bethlehem. God’s light came into living being and dwelt among us, to shine a light for our path… Let us take the path to peace, love and freedom this year…
Please do come and be filled with light and love at all the services this December and beyond. Let’s start to shine!
With love and prayers for peace,
Jane
Parish Magazine Advertisers
Aromatherapy
In a Scent Aromatherapy: email
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Building Contractors
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Car Sales
John Morris Automobiles: 01252 715 973 or 07831 305 963
Catering
Jane Stockdale Home Cooking: email
Chimney Sweeps
Brush Strokes
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Chiropractic
Sukie Brockman
Cleaning Services
Amazing Cleaners 07813 855 902
Dusting Dollies Cleaning Services 07824 367 182
Oven Rescue: tel. 07966 132 544
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Computers and Office Assistance
Farnham IT
Electricians
Nash Electrical Services
DJK Electrical Contractors Ltd.
Fencing
Martin Cashmore Fencing Ltd.
Rupert Nutting: email
Flooring
D & A Flooring: tel. 01252 783 307 or 07789 511 333
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Funeral Directors
Thorne-Leggett
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Furniture Restoration and French Polishing
C. S. Embling
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Garden Services
C. R. Fry: email or tel. 07788 650 091
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Halls
Frensham Royal British Legion: tel. 07801 584 098
Marindin Hall
St. Mary's Church Hall: tel. 01252 794 727
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Hairdressing
The Barber Shop in Churt: tel. 01428 712 111
Hairdressing for 2023 - David JW
Katie Lou's Hair: tel. 07393 201 099 @katielous_hair
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Home Care
Holiday Accommodation
Bargate Stone Cottage and Garden Cabin: email
Sunny South West France
Provence, edge of Luberon
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Landscaping
AR Landscaping: email
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Leisure Activities
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Locksmith
Hogs Back Locksmith
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Marquees
Carron Marquees
Four Seasons Marquees Ltd.
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Nursing Homes
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Painters & Decorators
G. Clements & Son: tel. 01252 717 961 or 07743 347 223
Nigel Gaymer: email or tel. 07951 558 443
A. J. Strudwick: tel. 01252 792 077
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Pest Control
Clear Round Pest Services
Clear All Pest Control
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Plant Nursery
Millais Nurseries
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Plumbing
ABC Plumbing & Heating: tel. 07732 857 231
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Podiatry
Surrey Hampshire Mobile Foot Clinic: email
Visiting Foot Clinic: email or tel. 07548 642 558
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Property Sales and Lets
PropertyPartnership
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Public Relations
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Soft Furnishings and Interiors
Melanie Downing
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Upholsterer and Loose Covers
Robert Moodie, Arford Upholstery
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Virtual Personal Assistant
Virtually Alice: email
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Washing Machines & Domestic Appliance Repairs
Appliance Expert Limited
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Weddings
Carron Marquees
Four Seasons Marquees Ltd.
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Window Cleaners
Prism Window Cleaning
Information for Advertisers
The fee for an advertisement on the yellow pages is £75 per year for 2023. There is no VAT. Advertisements should be booked and paid for by 1st November for inclusion in the following calendar year.
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To place an advertisement – please contact advertising here.
A list of all our advertisers, with contact details, can be found here.
Copy Deadlines
Items for inclusion in the magazine should be sent to the editor by the 15th of the month; this is to ensure that it reaches the printer and collators in time for distribution. Philippa Hall and Penny Garrard are Co-Editors.
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Pictures for the front cover competition should be sent by the 5th of the month. The latest pictures submitted are shown above.