Wow!! A big THANK YOU to David Brown and all the quizzers tonight at the Victoria Hall! An amazing amount raised, and £426.50 of it is going to the Ash Villages Food Parcels Project, to support families in need locally.
Thank you so much, this will make an huge difference, especially during the cold winter when balancing the costs of heating and eating are a challenge for many.
Thank you for a super evening and see you at the next one!
Have you made a New Year resolution to help those in need in the community? There’s an app for that! “Bank the food” Have a guess – what’s the item we most urgently need? You can find out on the app.
Choose any foodbank to support on the app. Our local one is called the Ash Villages Food Parcels Project. Download the app here: https://www.bankthefood.org
You can also simply donate to St Mary’s in support of all our projects (community cafe, Chapel, toddlers, net zero programme… ) pop in or contact us to find out more.
We wish you every blessing in 2025. Come in and join us, any Sunday 10:30am for the church service and / or cuppa afterwards, we would love to welcome you.
Join us to make a Christingle, explore ‘Bethlehem’, have a drink with the Innkeeper, Make s’mores with the shepherds, see baby Jesus, and enjoy Revd Neil’s legendary cooking! Book a start time (we have start times every 10 minutes 3-5pm) and join the fun! 07730609446 text or phone to book. Free / Donations for the Children’s Society Dress for the weather and wear your wellies as the garden can get muddy! Nativity costumes optional 🌟#FollowTheStar
St Mary’s Church, Vale Rd, Ash Vale, GU12 5JE. 24th December 2024 3-6pm
Join us this Sunday for a wonderful carol service by candlelight, with choir, musicians, readings, and a chance to sing lots of your favourite carols. 6:30pm start, come early for a good seat! Mulled wine and mince pies served afterwards. All Welcome. free / donations appreciated
Thank you to everyone at Ash Manor school who has given such thoughtful and lovely donations to our foodbank this term. Your wonderful Student Heads of House and Mr Hicks gave us a warm welcome, and helped us to pack the donated items. We collected everything this morning, and took your gifts to the Chapel ready for the final Christmas Food Parcels on Friday.
With this kindness and generosity, you are helping to make Christmas a lot brighter for local families who need support this year. It makes a huge difference. What a wonderful community we have here, where everyone looks after one another. Thank you for your support!
Have you seen the notices on the door at church? We have applied for a faculty to replace the boiler. If you have any feedback on this, please have a look at the notice and let us know your thoughts.
If you love our groups, services and facilities at St Mary’s, please consider donating towards our heating improvements! We urgently need to replace the old boiler that heats the church and community hall, as the running costs are excruciatingly high and the carbon footprint needs tackling, a big step on our journey towards Net Zero.
We have had an independent energy assessment to help us improve our energy efficiancy and plan for net zero, and the boiler is by far the most effective immediate improvement we can make to save carbon and keep costs manageable. The old boiler is G rated and a new one would be A rated, saving tonnes of carbon every year! But we will need everyone to chip in please to help make it happen. If we all give a little we will raise a lot! Can you help? Our fundraising target is £10,000. It sounds like a huge amount, but if we all do what we can, God will do the rest. Thank you for your support!
It’s nearly time for our lovely team at the #AshVillagesFoodParcelsProject to pack the Christmas parcels and take some festive cheer to local people in need. Your help and support with donations, funds, prayers and sharing this appeal far and wide would be greatly appreciated!
If you would like to donate food, toys or gifts , please bring your donations in by the 15th December. You can come to The Chapel (Wharf rd) on Wednesday or Monday 9am-2:30pm or pop in to St Mary’s (Vale Rd) on Friday or Sunday 10:00-13:00. There is a live list of what’s most needed on the App ‘Bank the Food’ if you need inspiration, or simply bring something Christmassy! We love to be able to give out all the Christmas classics from Turkey and parsnips to mince pies, pudding and custard. We also give our presents of sweets, chocolates, winter warmers, new toys, hot water bottles, socks etc, nice toiletries, … all much needed please!
If you would prefer to give funds towards the food that we buy in (fresh veg, turkey, milk, pasta, fruit, tins etc) you can donate online here: https://givealittle.co/c/3ijYS6zC4gbOGqwer2tmdY
We also need volunteers, for gift wrapping and deliveries 16th-20th. If you are interested please contact us on 07730609446 for more details.
Thank you for supporting us in whatever way you can. It really does make all the difference! Let’s bless our neighbours in need in Ash, Ash Vale, Ash Green and Tongham this Christmas.
PS – if you are based locally and need a foodbank referral please contact your local Citizens Advice, GP, school, local churches, social worker, health visitor and other agencies who can refer you to us. We cover Ash, Ash Vale, Ash Green and Tongham. Referrals must be in by 15th December for Christmas, We are closed 25-27 Dec while our volunteers take a well deserved break.
Ladies and gents we are invoking the wet weather plan! No walk outside, but come directly to St Mary’s for a party and to meet Santa. (St Mary’s Church, Vale Road GU12 5JE)
1) arrive in the foyer and collect your lantern between 4:30 and 5:30pm
2) walk through the church with your lantern to meet St Nicholas by the Christmas tree
3) Advent crafts will be available to enjoy (snowman biscuits, tree decorating etc)
4) Party time with burgers and hot chocolate in the small hall
Join us for some delicious cakes and fabulous fundraising at the St Mary’s Community Cafe this Friday 27th September 2024 10am-1pm. There will be cakes, treats, jam, raffle, plants and a bring and buy stall. Sue has been baking some wonderful treats and we have a yummy minestrone for lunch courtesy of Carolina. See you there, we look forward to catching up!
#PicnicAndPlay takes place again this year at Ash Vale Chapel and we can’t wait to welcome you, for lots of family friendly fun in the sunshine. We have plenty of fun on offer, DJ Martin is doing the disco & games, Revd Neil is planning his legendary pancakes, and we have arts and crafts, games and activities each week from printing to clay, sand and water play, and more in between.
DATES: It’s on the 4 middle Wednesdays in the holidays: 31 July, 7th August, 14th August, 21st August from 11:30am until 3pm (slightly longer this year so it’s easier to work around naps for our littlest customers!)
BOOKING ESSENTIAL text phone or whatsapp to 07730 609446 please so we know you are coming and can cater for the right numbers. (All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult please.)
FOOD: Let us know your choice of sandwich filling for each person when you book (or let us know now if you already booked and we dont have your lunch choice yet). We can offer cheese, ham, vegan humus, cream cheese, jimjam chocolate spread, or jam. Let us know your preference and we will order in accordingly, so there is no waste. Any allergies eg gluten free please let us know before you get here so we can be prepared.
COST: We don’t set a fixed fee, so that all families who want to can join us. We do have a donations link, and we do need donations to help cover our costs, so please if you can bring a cash donation on the day or pop a contiribution on the Give A Little link if possible. The amount you give is up to you, THANK YOU! . https://givealittle.co/c/4BYNqSiaQc0wz1KTSgzKPz
VOLUNTEERS: We are always in need of more helping hands, setting up the gazebos, making the picnics, serving the drinks, leading the crafts, clearing down and cleaning, theres a job for everyone! If you would like to pitch in please get in touch thank you!
