Category: Parishioner

Posted on

Introducing Rosie, our Waterways Chaplain

By Rosie Leakey

When I became a Christian, 42 years ago now, my life was transformed overnight and having given my life to Christ, I experienced such love and joy within my heart I was propelled into living and viewing life differently on a day-to-day basis. Jesus rapidly became my best friend whom I enjoyed talking with, reading the Bible, and looking out for answers in line with His plans for my life. The verse from John 3:16 then made sense to me, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ It has been an exciting journey, not always easy going but full of encouraging things that have happened, even in the hard times. One of the verses that has always meant a lot to me is from Psalm 37 v 5 ‘Commit your ways to The Lord, trust in Him and He will do this’. I placed this verse over the doorway of the department I work in and God did indeed bless the work. I also learnt that success in Gods’ eyes can be different from our limited idea of achieving or being successful.

My love of being on rivers and walking along tow paths started 20 years ago when we had a family holiday on a narrow boat. Being able to go more slowly along and appreciating the beauty of nature helps us to draw closer to God. I am so grateful that my love of sharing my faith in Jesus, being on or near water and enjoying nature, has all been brought together in being a Waterways Chaplain.

I retired from being an Occupational Therapist 4 years ago to help look after my late frail father-in-law, to spend more time with my elderly mother, to be on or near the water and to help look after our granddaughter.

Just before the end of the first lockdown I managed to complete my training to be a Waterways Chaplain and I was commissioned in time to go roaming in the Fenlands. We did many prayer walks round the old churches that were along the river banks and it was an encouraging time meeting different people.

Many others enjoy walking along the tow paths and even more so in this year of a pandemic, so it has been good to be able to be out and about when possible and talk with those who do want to, especially if I am given an opportunity to share about what Jesus means to me and has done for us all. I look forward to seeing you again in the future and may the Lord bless us all daily as we look forward and trust in Him for a Happy Easter and year ahead freer of COVID. 

Posted on

Book of Psalms 2021 – send us yours!

As we look back over a challenging year, we are contemplating our experiences of God and faith in these times, and collecting psalms written by our church family & community, expressing our despair, fear, hope, love, and all things in between.

(You can see the Psalms already submitted on the Prayer Wall outside church.)

We would love to add your contributions.

projectmanager@ash-vale.org.uk

07730 609446

Posted on

Easter Parishioner 2021 (cover)

Vicar

Rev Neil Lambert

203 Vale Road

Ash Vale

Surrey

GU12 5JE

revneil@me.com

Churchwardens: Martin Lindsay  & Nikki Glover            

Hon. Treasurer: Patrick Brown   

Parish Administrator: Jackie Scott            

E-mail parishoffice@ash-vale.org.uk

Office Hours Tues 11am-4pm, Thurs 10am-3pm

Parish Office Mobile: 9am-5pm

07863 311165

      

Roots down – into the Gospel… Walls down – into the Community

Sunday Morning 10am Services:

On Zoom for now, and in Person & on Zoom after lockdown

You are welcome to Zoom in to the Sunday Morning service at 10am; simply email the Parish Administrator to receive the link, or find it on Facebook @StMarysAshVale.

Once restrictions lift you will also be able to attend in person, with extra measures to keep everyone safe. On arrival please sign in or scan the QR code on your NHS app, use hand sanitiser, pop on your mask and go directly to your seat and remain seated. We must not mingle, so as to protect all those attending. (Please stay at home and use Zoom if you have COVID-19 symptoms).  We look forward to welcoming you. 

Evensong Wednesdays 8pm

You can Zoom in to Evensong on Wednesday nights or join us in the car park. Email the Parish Administrator to join our mailing list and receive the link. Keep in touch as arrangements are always evolving!

Monthly Messy Church:

Contact Alex 07730 609446 for details & bookings

 – Jan: Wedding at Cana Kits

 – Feb: Lost Sheep Trail

 – March: Messy Easter kits

 – April: Messy Easter Trail

– May: Messy Church  indoors if permitted, text to book!

St Mary’s Community Centre

· Large hall & kitchen               

· Small hall & sink / coffee making  area

· Wheelchair accessible toilet

Bookings: Please contact the Parish Administrator for news. We are following latest Government and CofE guidance.

The Chapel Project, Wharf Rd

(Joint project with Hants Surrey Border Methodist Circuit) www.ashvalechapel.com

Project Manager: 07730 609446

Parishioner Magazine Team

Editors: Alex Sanderson & Neil Lambert (Alex: 07730 609446)

Advertising: Eileen Monds

Collation: Alison Shewell  

Distribution: Caroline Johnson

Contact the Parishioner team: parishioner@ash-vale.org.uk

During the Pandemic we are publishing mainly online, with paper copies on request. Please collect your copy at St Mary’s or text us: 077309 609446  www.ash-vale.org.uk

We are hugely grateful to a small army of willing volunteers who contribute, collate, publish, email, print, bundle and deliver The Parishioner to all our readers!

Posted on

An invitation to the Table

By Revd. Neil Lambert

Once again, a huge thank you Dan Austin for another great Easter cover for the Parishioner Magazine. For those reading this on the web page you get it in glorious Technicolor too! You might remember, last year he took us verse by verse through the chapter in the gospel of Luke 24 and the road to Emmaus. This year, we have a picture of an English hedge row, with a tree that clearly represents the cross.

The painting was inspired by a wounded blackbird that Dan found in the road, and brought home to nurse. With the mother and father blackbird, and the eggs in the nest, it’s almost like a holy family. On the lft, representing our business that we are all involved with is the car, whizzing past. On the opposite side, a field, and the hope of something different. The Sun is shining, like a beautiful pearl.

Continue reading “An invitation to the Table”
Posted on

Sheep Trail List (send yours in today!) #AshValeSheepTrail

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who took part in the Sheep Trail! We had a lovely time and we hope you did too. 💕🐑 The trail is now closed, but let us know which was your favourite sheep, we have a little prize for them! 🙂 text 07730609446

Can you find all these sheep? Why not see if you can find them all this half term? We have also hidden 17 sheep in the Parishioner Magazine, you can pick up a paper copy of it at St Mary’s.

  • Boaz & Ruth – You will find us in Alder Close, Avondale
  • Lamby – looking out from a window upstairs, Vale Croft, Lysons Avenue, by Ash Vale train station roundabout.
  • Shawn Minerva gilderoy – 362 Vale Road
  • Joshua (blue) Alex (red) Lulu (cuddly sheep) – Coverack, Horseshoe Lane GU12 5LL 
  • Shaun – White Lodge, Wentworth crescent. (Private road part. The big old White House as you turn in) 
  • Sheep – 67 Wentworth crescent
  • Delores – 42 Wentworth Crescent, GU12 5LE 
  • Maisy and Lewis – 19 Wentworth Crescent
  • Stephanie the Sheep – 85 Prospect Road
  • Lamby – Vale Road (between Penrose Gardens & Firacre Rd)
  • Woody – You’ll find me if you walk along the canal towpath between The Swan and The Admiral, and look across the canal!
  • Cedric, Cecil & Cyril – 203 Vale Road (Cyril said it was too cold outside so he’s peering out the window). They told us an amazing story, apparently their distant relatives were there with the Shepherds and saw the Angels on THE Christmas Day! Wow!
  • St Mary’s Flock – St Mary’s Church
  • Fluff – 14 Wood Street
  • Herbie (the herbivore! 😁) – 24 Wood Street
  • Flower and Petal, And one printed picture quoting Psalm 29 – 56 Waverley Drive
  • Cuddle and Trouble – 52 Firacre Road, Ash Vale
  • Cedric – 155 Vale Road
  • Daisy, Minty, Minnie, Herdy 1,2&3 – 91 Vale Road (2 sheep on flower border right of drive. Daisy and Minty. One on Gate post. Minnie.3 in windows. Herdy1, 2 and 3)
  • Sandra & Larry– 81 Vale Road
  • Lamb Lamb – 71 Vale Road
  • Sheepy, Sheeply & Sheepish (knitted) Lucy lamb and friends (paper sheep), Jane, Goblin and Cutie (Cotten wool sheep) – 60 Vale Road
  • Strictly come Lambing! Lancaster Close
  • Freddie & Love – 11 Lancaster Close
  • Bramble – 19 Lancaster Close, Ash Vale
  • Sheepaboo and Morph – 42 Lancaster close
  • “Fluffy Wooly” and “Princess Sheep” – Gloster Close
    Shaun and Timmy – Comet Close
  • Celandine Sheep – Wey Close
  • Baart and Baarbara – 45 Vickers Road Ash Vale GU12 5SE
  • One lamb – 46 Vickers Road, GU12 5SE (upper window)
  • Ernest Sheepleton and crew! 22 Shackleton close
  • Fluffy, Steve, Snuggles & Max – 29 Cody Close, Ash Vale
  • Baaaaaa-bara – Ash Hill Road (Near the Phyllis Tuckwell Shop)
  • Stump House Sheep rocks in the covid snake: Rocky, Stella, Fluff and Lammy 
  • Baaaa-tholowmew – Ash Hill Road (near the Kia garage)
  • Mike’s Flock – Cobo, Beetons Avenue
  • Bob the sheep – Murrell Road
  • 2 sheep – Longacre 
  • Shaun & Dawn (beautifully made by the Chapel Craft group) – 1 Grove Villas,  Grove Road,  GU12 5BD #ChapelCraft (Wednesdays 8pm)
  • Timmy – Wharf Rd (look up, I’m above Bet Fred!)
  • Chapel Flock – The Chapel, Wharf Road
  • Bah – 11 Foxhurst Rd (aptly named by L aged 2 😍)
  • Valentine – Collins Gardens, Ash
  • Ramsey, Eugenie and Lambert!- 14 College Road, Ash
  • Shadow – 2 Potters Crescent GU12 6AY
  • Zara & Sam Sheep, South Lane, Ash
  • lots of sheep – 35 Wyke Avenue (2 crafted ones and some cuddly ones!)
  • Upcycled Sheep – 16 Lincoln close Ash Vale
  • Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom, Woodland and Yardley- White Lane, Ash Green (go past Hazel Road to find the Ramsbottom flock)
  • Susie and Geoffrey – Yankari, Hazel Road, Ash Green

Keep them coming – If you’ve got a sheep on display, send us it’s name and location and we will add them to the trail. 07730 609446. The more the merrier, we have all half term to enjoy the hunt for the lost sheep!

Share your photos online with the hashtag #AshValeSheepTrail and tell us who’s your favourite, or why not comment here? 

Stay safe and have fun everyone! 

Who’s your favourite sheep? Let us know! 💕

#AshValeSheepTrail #LostSheepTrail #LoveWhereWeLive #AshVale #Ash #AshGreen #HalfTermFun #SociallyDistancedFun #LoveYourNeighbours #Community

Posted on

Happy New Year from Butterflies Preschool

Hello and Happy New Year!

Butterflies Pre-school has re opened.  We are open Monday – Friday, with longer days running on Monday’s and Wednesday’s. We are Ofsted registered and accept all funding.

When the UK Government announced another Lockdown, though Pre-schools and Nurseries were to remain open, it left us initially feeling a little confused.  However, it didn’t take us too long to carry out our own Risk Assessments, put a few extra measures in place and open safely after the Christmas holidays.

We opened Butterflies as a brand new Pre-school back in November 2019, then in March 2020 at 5 months old, we sadly closed our doors as everyone went into lockdown across the world.

In June we re opened and followed strict guidelines from Early Years and the Government, as well as our own extra measures to support infection control.  Many children returned and thankfully we kept Covid 19 free for the entire time that we were open, with just one of our families contracting the virus over Christmas.

Throughout 2020, despite the Pandemic and closure, we managed to successfully grow our team and attending children and we hope this can continue.  We run independently from the Community Hall side of St Mary’s Church and  follow the Early Years Curriculum. With an outstanding Early Years team, all highly qualified with many years of experience, they continually demonstrate commitment and dedication to providing the best and safest environment we can for our children.  

It is a blessing to see how resilient and happy our Butterflies children are as they enjoy playing and learning through play in their Pre-school.

With the new highly contagious variant of the virus spreading around, our infection control safety measures have been updated and implemented, safety continues to be one of our top priorities.  We understand it is a worrying time for many and are happy to share all the practices we have in place, should you be interested in learning more about our Pre-school.  We currently have just a few spaces left on a few days, if you are interested we would love to hear from you. For further information, please feel free to contact Natalie Andrews on 07881807337 or by email Butterfliespreschool19@gmail.com

We wish everyone in our community to remain safe and pray that all our lives can resume some normality in the not too distant future, after this challenging time.

Best wishes to all

Natalie Andrews – Owner of Butterflies Pre-school
Rebecca Hitchman – Senior Manager
Daniella Jaconelli- Manager
Kat Corbyn – Deputy Manager
Indi Dhami – Deputy Manager