December 2020 ICKLEHAM PARISH Magazine Dear All, December As we prepare for Christmas we can look back at a year like no other. Who would have thought that we would be spending most of the year away from friends and family 2020 and in lockdown, due to a disease that has spread across the entire world? It has transformed everyone’s lives in some way or other. Mickleham Having coped with one lockdown in March, it was with hope that people started to | LLP licenced to carry out the reserved legal activity of return to school, shops, travelling, restaurants etc. I cannot say that people have non-contentious probate in England and Wales by the ICAEW Parish returned to normal because normal no longer seems to exist as we are still required to wear a face mask, keep two metres apart and limit numbers at social gatherings. Magazine In all the uncertainty and loss of this year, we have come together as a community A community magazine for to help each other. With WhatsApp groups and people contacting and shopping for Mickleham and Westhumble those that need help, we have demonstrated that life goes on and people really do Stepping Stones published under the auspices make a difference. MORE THAN JUST A PUB of Mickleham PCC with an As we come out of a month of lockdown, one of the challenges that many may face independent editorial panel. General Store is being isolated from other people, so we need to look for opportunities to stay in Restaurant & alfresco dining The magazine is published at touch. Nothing can replace face-to-face contact and human touch, but we can text, Serving essential basic items Serving fresh classic style pub the beginning of each month chat, email, talk on the phone and make video/Zoom calls. Please make an effort to favourites except January and August. contact those on their own or in difficult circumstances to see how they are doing Café-bar Supporting local produce and suppliers and offer encouragement. OPY EADLINE serving morning coffee Take-away C D The church may be closed, but we still provide Zoom and dial-in worship services, Bible sandwiches & cakes FOR THE study groups and prayer evenings. We have learnt to make full use of the technology 10% discount for Mickleham and AV equipment that is available. People may have their reservations about afternoon tea & scones magazine reader FEBRUARY 2021 breakfast from 9th Nov technology, but it has been a true benefit for families, friends and churches to stay Supporting local gins-ales and wines MAGAZINE connected during a time of social distancing. It is quite amazing how connected people Sunday are, even when they are unable to see one another in person. God is at work drawing Currently restricted opening PLEASE BOOK people together during a time of crisis. Despite difficulties over the last six months, 01306 889932 th Monday – Saturday: food 11-8 / drink 11-9 10 January our community has been brought together in many ways and is continuing to be, with [email protected] Friday – Saturday: 1 - 8 www.steppingstonesdorking.co.uk Sunday: food 12-5 / drink 12-6 send to: increased participation in numerous community initiatives, to the benefit of us all. Sue Tatham While Covid-19 might not stop you from putting up your tree, tucking into your turkey St Anthony Pilgrim’s Way dinner, watching those festive movies or listening to Christmas songs on the radio, Westhumble there are other aspects of the festive season which will almost certainly feel the Dorking RH5 6AW impact. Maybe this is the time, not just to give presents, but to give to one another 01306 882547 a call, a word of encouragement and the opportunity to talk in these difficult times. Sherlock Funeral Service [email protected] Covid-19 will have changed some of our normal Christmas activities, but we are still planning a carol service, a crib service and singing around the pubs, even if it is only Contributions in any form Sherlock Funeral Service is an by Zoom! are welcome as are good Independent family owned business, quality photographs. There A quieter Christmas may also be the time for remembering the original Christmas story. established over 100 years is no charge for advertising Christmas did not begin in Debenhams or Marks and Spencer but in Bethlehem where local charity and community Mary gave birth to a son, just she and Joseph alone in a stable. They had travelled from l Private Service Chapel & Rest Rooms events. However the editors their home in Nazareth and were in a strange place, isolated and cut off from friends l Home visits arranged if required reserve the right to shorten not unlike today’s lockdown. So as we struggle under Covid-19 restrictions and come to terms with a different type of Christmas, maybe we can remember a young couple l omit or reformat articles Pre-Paid Funeral Plans available in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago in a stable, on their own with the newborn baby Jesus l Free Parking submitted for publication depending on space. who in time would come to be recognized as Christ the Messiah. Wishing you all a safe and prayerful Christmas and a Happy new Year. Telephone: 01306 882266 Trellis House, 190 South Street, Dorking RH4 2ES. Printed by Bishops Printers Funeral Directors & Monumental Masons Portsmouth Sarah Blake Email: [email protected] Churchwarden 1 Crib Service 2020 St Michael’s Church Community Group Living Advent Calendar We are zooming to Bethlehem! Advent begins this year on Sunday 29th November. On this day, and every day for the remainder of Advent, a Christmas window will be unveiled in the home of one of our neighbours in the Mickleham and Westhumble Community. St Michael’s Community • a selection of sparkly paper/ sweet carols and some easy, step-by-step craft Group invites you to take a tour of our Advent Calendar and hopes that this will bring a little Christmas joy into your lives as wrappers for decoration activities to do during the service so we prepare for Christmas Day 2020. Do also wander round both villages and in to Norbury Park and the Almshouses to enjoy that everyone will be a part of the story. Adults and children are invited to have further Christmas lights. If anyone else would like to join in, the more the merrier; we are encouraging others in our community For the craft activities you will need: a warming drink of your choice to hand to LIGHT UP in this ghastly year. If you would like to be included in the photographic record please email [email protected] • 3 flat paper plates, at least 23cm so that at the end we can all toast each Many thanks to all our calendar volunteers! diameter, not bowls and no other with cheers of Happy Christmas! polystyrene Joining instructions will be sent out • Pritt stick, Sellotape, scissors and nearer the time along with a template NOVEMBER Sunday 29th Danesmore, Pilgrims Way felt pens for one of the activities. Anyone who veryone is invited to Zoom to Monday 30th Hall Farm, Swanworth Lane • sheet of white paper and some would like to share their completed Bethlehem with us on December E brown paper (a paper bag will do) craft activity can send us a photo th DECEMBER 24 (Christmas Eve) at 4 pm. Our afterwards, we would love to see them. • 1 piece of thin ribbon or thread, Tuesday 1st Juniper Hall Crib Service cannot take place in the Do tell your friends and encourage them approximately 50 cm long Wednesday 2nd Stepping Stones Pub fields this year for obvious reasons so to join us, Christmas may be different Thursday 3rd Halfway, Burney Road instead we are planning to bring the • small amount of yellow card (a post- this year but it will be very special. Nativity story into your homes by the it note stuck onto a cereal packet Friday 4th Old Stables (back entrance to Juniper Hill) power of Zoom. There will be readings, will do) Anne Weaver Saturday 5th King William IV Pub Sunday 6th Warren Farm, Headley Lane Mickleham and Westhumble Monday 7th The Running Horses Pub Tuesday 8th Holly Cottage, Burney Road Helping Hands* Wednesday 9th Dilkusha, Pilgrims Way Thursday 10th Mickleham Hall s we enter the more resources and a wider range th second lockdown of services, to the greater benefit of Friday 11 Mickleham Hall A th and approach winter the whole Community. We encourage Saturday 12 Mickleham Hall Sunday 13th Gate House Cottage, Juniper Hall and what promises people to seek help on any subject, for th to be a very singular Christmas, we example on doctor’s appointments, Monday 14 St Michaels Lodge, Old London Road Want to Zoom into Tuesday 15th Hall Stables, Swanworth Lane are ‘rebooting’ St Michael's Helping collecting prescriptions, shopping, th Hands (HH), which has been going dog walking. If you need assistance or Wednesday 16 Woodlands, Burney Road Sunday Services Thursday 17th Oakdene, Camilla Drive for some 12 years under the care of advice, just want a chat, or if you would th Mary Banfield. Helping Hands shares like to become a Helping Hands driver at St Michael's? Friday 18 Fredley Lodge, Fredley Park Saturday 19th Friston, Pilgrims Close common ground with Mickleham/ or join the WhatsApp Group, please ll our church services can be th Westhumble WhatsApp group in both call any of the numbers listed below watched via Zoom. The weekly Sunday 20 Inverness, School Lane A st purpose and function.