Concert dates for 2010/2011

For your diary: Concerts at St Mary's on 9 October, 20 November, 2 April, 7 May, 28 May or 25 June (tbc) and 23 July. All concerts are free.

Patronal Festival 5 September

Come and celebrate with us on Sunday 5 September. Festival Eucharist at 10.30am Preacher is The Revd Prof June Boyce-Tillman.

Last concert this season 26 June 2010

Matthijs Broersma and Pau Codina (cellos) Playing: Boccherini Sonata G major Crumb Solo Sonata Boccherini Sonata A major Hindemith Solo Sonata And Barrière Sonata in G major for 2 cellos 7.30pm Free entry

Don't miss Balham's Bast Kept Secret!

Concert on Saturday 22 May, 7.30pm Another opportunity to hear talented musicians perform wonderful music in beautiful surroundings - and it is free! Music by Ravel and Shostakovich

Ascension Day 13 May

You are very welcome at the Ascension Day Eucharist on 13 May at 7.30pm.

Holy Week and Easter Services

Palm Sunday 28 March - 10.30am Procession of Palms Monday 29 March - 8pm Stations of the Cross Tuesday 30 March - 8pm Eucharist with Anointing Wednesday 31 March - 8pm Compline with homily Maundy Thursday 1 April - 8pm Eucharist with footwashing, followed by Vigil Good Friday 2 April - 10am Children's Service, 2pm Liturgy of the Passion Easter Eve 3 April - 8pm Vigil and Liturgy of Light Easter Day 4 April - 8am Eucharist, 10.30 Easter Eucharist, 6.30pm Evening Prayer

concert at St Mary's

Saturday 13 March, 7.30pm The Tate Piano Trio play Mendelssohn and Schostakovich Bring your mother to a concert! Free entry

Lent Plus

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 17th February. There will be the usual 12.30pm Eucharist and a Eucharist with the Impostion of Ashes at 8.00pm.
From Saturday 20th February until Saturday 27th March we will be serving a Lent lunch of homemade soup, bread, cheese and fruit, every Wednesday (1 -2pm) and Saturday (12 -2.00pm). On Saturday 20th from 11.00am until 1.00pm there will also be a sale of bric-a-brac or you can hire a table to sell goods for £10. On Saturday 6th March there will be a Fairtrade stall at the same time as lunch and on 13th March a cake and plant stall from 11.00am -1.00pm (get a gift for Mum!)
Proceeds from the lunches (suggested donation of £3) will go to the Bishop's Lent Appeal.
There are lots of other activities to help you keep a holy Lent, pick up a leaflet from the church.

May God's blessing be with you in 2010!

We wish you and your loved ones a very happy New Year and look forward to welcoming you soon at St Mary's Balham.

Christmas Services

We look forward to welcoming you to services at St Mary's during the Christmas period! sunday 20 december 2009 6.30pm carols by candlelight collection for Spires Centre thursday 24 december christmas eve 4pm crib service 11.30pm midnight mass friday 25 december christmas day 8am eucharist 10.30am sung eucharist sunday 27 december feast of st john 8am eucharist 10.30am sung eucharist 6.30pm evening prayer sunday 3 january 2010 epiphany 8am eucharist 10.30am sung eucharist 6.30pm evening prayer

World AIDS Day

Sunday 29 November, 6.30pm There are currently over 33 million people living with HIV globally. HIV is not going away. World AIDS Day gives us an opportunity to think for a moment about all the people whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS. Everyone is welcome! A collection for the work of Mildmay will be taken.

St Mary's Winter Fair

Saturday 12th December 11.00am until 2.00pm. Our excellent food is available from 12 noon and a warm welcome from the word go. Stalls and fun things to do wthout the stress of the High Street. Special this year, home made produce using things grown in our Oasis Garden - local and organic. Come, bring your friends and enjoy.

Free Concert at St Mary's

You are invited to a free concert at St Mary's Balham by Guildhall students on Saturday 17 October 2009, 7.30-9pm. Performers: Rhona McKail - Soprano Pau Codina - Cello James Burke - Clarinet Lara Dodds-Eden - Piano Programme: Schubert- Der Hirt Auf Dem Felsen D965 (The Shepherd on a Rock) Beethoven- Seven Variations on Bei Männern, welche Liebe Fühlen from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, WoO 46 for Cello and Piano Brahms- Sonata Op. 120, No. 2 in Eb Major for Clarinet and Piano Walton- Three Façade settings

Harvest Festival

'Come as you are' and join us for St Mary's Harvest Festival on Sunday 27 September, 10.30am

BARN DANCE and HARVEST BUFFET

Barn Dance and Harvest Supper 26th September 2009 6-10pm All welcome. Tickets on the door, also available before event. £7.50 Adults £5 Concession £20 Family up to 2Adults 3 Children - includes dance and food. Funds raised goes towards renovation works.

Patronal Festival 6 September 2009

We celebrate the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our patron saint, on Sunday 6 September. At the main Eucharist, 10.30am, the preacher will be The Venerable David Gerrard, former Archdeacon of Wandsworth. Everyone is very welcome!

Hats on as Teddy Bears Rebel

Teddy Bears are indeed welcome at the Garden Party but Teddies United Bear Association (TUBA) have advised against paragliding from the church tower this year. Instead at 4.00pm they will parade in their special Garden Party hats. Other visitors are also invited to wear some head gear and attempt to win a prize. Novelty hats and hats with a practical side (eg a secret pocket to hide maramlade sandwiches) especially welcomed. See you on the 27th June.........

St Mary's Garden Party

Saturday 27 June, 3 - 6pm

Come and spend time in our lovely garden, buy some raffle tickets, browse the stalls, have a drink or some food and meet friends, whilst listening to live music.

Teddy bears are very welcome - competition for best jump of the church tower at 4pm.

Ascension Day 21 May

7.30pm
Eucharist in Holy Family Chapel

You are welcome to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension with us!

APCM 2009 Reports

You can now get hold of this years APCM reports on the annual reports page. They contain important information on the progress of various church groups in the past year.

Concert at St Mary's

Saturday 16 May, 7.30pm

Mendelssohn             Variations concertantes Op. 17

Janacek                     Pohadka (Fairy Tale)

Rachmaninov            Sonata for Cello and Piano 
                                    in G minor,   Op. 19

Lento - Allegro moderato

Allegro scherzando

Andante

Allegro mosso

Matthijs Broersma – cello
Lara Dodds-Eden – piano

free entry, donations welcome

Holy Week and Easter

Services on Monday - Wednesday at 8pm

Maundy Thursday
8pm       Eucharist with Footwashing, followed by Vigil

Good Friday
10am       Children's service, building the Easter Garden
10.30am   Walk of Witness, starting at Salvation Army, Balham, walking to Tooting. Organised by Chuches Together
12 - 2      Church open for prayer
2pm         Liturgy of the Passion, the final hour

Easter Eve
8pm       Vigil and lighting of new fire

Easter Day
8am       Eucharist
10.30am   Festival Eucharist
6.30pm   Taize service

Plant and cake sale for Mothering Sunday

Saturday 21 March, 11am - 2pm

Come and buy a treat for someone special (or for yourself!) and enjoy a Lent lunch too.

What are you doing this Lent?

During Lent you are invited to take part in the following:

Lent Lunches
Wednesday 1-3pm, Saturday 12-2pm
in aid of Bishop of Southwark's Lent Appeal
Lent Course
Saturday 5-6pm
Studying the Gospel of St Mark, just bring a bible
Lent Eucharist
Wednesday 12.30-1pm
A quiet time in the middle of a busy day and week
Lent Reflection
meet with a member of the clergy for a spiritual check up or for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
by appointment

Ash Wednesday

On Wednesday 25 February we mark the beginning of the season of Lent with 2 services, a lunchtime Eucharist at 12.30 and a Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes at 8pm.

You are warmly invited to these services!

January 6th is the Feast of Epiphany

Epiphany - when we remember the wise men following a star to find Jesus and offer him gold frankincense and myrrh. Here is something you can try at home. On the lintel of the main door (or an internal door if you prefer) mark with a piece of chalk 20+C+M+B+09 whilst saying the following words

         The three wise men

C       Caspar
M       Melchior
B       and Balthasar

         followed the star of God's Son
         who came to live among us

20      two thousand
09      and nine years ago

++      May Christ bless our home
++      and remain with us through the new year.

           Amen

It'll give the postman something to think about (and hopefully remind you of God, revealed in Christ, each time you pass through the door).                     Happy New Year

Christmas Services

Sunday 21 December
6.30pm   Carols by Candlelight

Wednesday 24 December
4pm           Crib Service
11.30pm   Midnight Mass

Thursday 25 December
8am      Eucharist
10.30am   Sung Eucharist, with carols and children's talk

Christmas Bizarre

Saturday 6th December (The feast of St Nicholas) 11.00am until 2.00pm come and expereince 'not the Christmas fair'. Escape the rush and shopping hoards. Relax and enjoy some good food. Have a manicure or a massage. O.K there will be one or two stalls and a lottery but all in a very laid back way - enjoy!

Parish Office

From 22 October, the Parish Office is open on 
   Wednesday   1 - 3pm
   Saturday 10-12am

for enquiries about banns, baptism, weddings and to view the church

Concerts at St Mary's Balham

The concert series is back!
For a second year running, musicians from the Guildhall will come to Balham to share their talents with us.

22 Nov 08      Schubert's Winterreise
21 March 09   An evening of Song
                      in memory of Alan Kennedy
16 May 09      Instrumental recital
11 July 09         Opera Gala         tbc

All concerts are free.

Find out more information on our concerts page.

Report of the PCC meeting held on 7 July 2008

PCC Meeting – 7 July 2008
The PCC met on 7 July and the following matters of interest were discussed:

Children’s Ministry at St Mary’s. The PCC discussed this important ministry and particularly the urgent need for more help with Sunday School now that Rose Harley has resigned. There is also an opportunity for ministry with the older children and the possibility of a Youth Group but again, help is needed.

Stewardship. The Working Group (Wilma, Eileen, Susanne and Anzo) have had a useful meeting and a stewardship campaign is planned for the autumn. If anyone is interested in joining this group, please speak to one of the above.

TSM. The school celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2009 and special services are planned for former pupils and staff, and current pupils and staff.

Lighting in Church. The Building & Finance Committee have reported that we need to instal low-energy (“green”) light bulbs in the Music Room and toilet area. If anyone would like to sponsor/adopt a light bulb, please see Wilma or Martin.

Concert Season. This raised an amazing £507 and it is hoped to reinvest some of this money in 2 light stands to provide better lighting for future concerts/events.

Lecture series. There will be a 4-week lecture series – “Theology on a Summers Evening” – starting on 30 July (and 6, 20 and 27 August). All are welcome – Music Room at 7.30pm.

Second place in competition for St Mary's Garden

St Mary's Church has won second place in the Best Blooming Public Building category, in this year's Wandsworth in Bloom competition. There were a lot of entries this year, so many congratulations to all volunteer gardeners at St Mary's!

And if you want to help keep the garden beautiful, you are very welcome to come along on the first Saturday of each month, from 10am onwards.

St Mary's Garden Party

Saturday 5 July 2008, 3 - 7pm

Come and spend some time in our beautiful Oasis Garden, have a drink, browse the stalls, eat a burger, listen to live music. All are welcome to enjoy Summer in Balham!

Concert at St Mary's

Saturday 21 June, 7.30pm.
A rare performance of 'Erwin und Elmire', an opera written by Anna Amalia, Duchess of Saxony, in 1776 with text by Goethe.
Performed by students of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Free entry.
Don't miss this chance to see and hear this work performed in Balham - we are pretty sure it is an absolute first!

Concert by Guildhall Musicians

You are invited to a concert by Guildhall musicians on Saturday 10 May at 7.30pm. Music by Richard Strauss, including his violin sonata and a song cycle.

Free entry, retiring collection.

Organised by St Mary's Church.

Apologies

Our apologies to anyone who was trying to access the website on the 24^th - 25^th April as they would have been surprised to see that it wasn't here. This is due to a technical difficulty beyond our control (obviously we were having a senior moment).

We understand that there were many people who wanted to see the counter hit 200 years, and it is great that there is that much interest in the site. Again our apologies if you missed it.

Please check back over the coming weeks as we update the APCM reports from this years annual meeting.

Thank you for visiting the St Mary's Church, Balham website.

1808-2008, Bicentenary Celebrations

On Thursday 24 April 2008 we will have been providing a place of worship for the people of Balham for 200 years.

We will be celebrating over the weekend of 26 - 27 April. You can find more information about our celebrations in the what's on section of the website.

To celebrate this glorious achievement, you may have noticed we have gone sepia tone on the St Mary's website.

Saturday 26 April 2008

10:30am - 3:30am
Exhibition 'Campaigning Against Slavery 18-20th Century'
In recognition of our links with William Wilberforce.

2:00pm 'Ring That Bell'
With the aid of local school children.
We will ring our 200 year old bell 200 times.

7:30pm 'Celebratory Dinner'
A food filled evening. Tickets on sale.
Adults £10.00, Children £5.00, Family £25:00.
For further details and tickets contact Karen Gray c/o Churchwarden Martin Gray (see contacts page for details)

Sunday 27 April 2008

10:30 Festal Eucharist
With The Rt Rev Dr Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark presiding and preaching.

1:00pm 'Beating the Bounds'
Reviving the tradition of the annual walking of the parish boundary. A 3 mile walk and a picnic lunch.

10:30am -3:30am
Exhibition 'Campaigning Against Slavery 18-20th Century'
In recognition of our links with William Wilberforce.

6:30pm Choral Evensong.
With The Rev Mandy Hodgson, Rector of St Leonards Streatham preaching.
In recognition of our original links as part of that parish.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting - 20 April 2008

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held in the church from 11:45am Sunday 20 April 2008.

The meeting will elect Churchwardens, Members of Deanery Synod, Ordinary Members of the PCC and Stewards.

Reports on the past year will be presented.

Formal notifications are displayed in the church.

Early Evening Recital - 19 April 2008

We are hosting a FREE recital headed 'Italians and Shakespere In Love' on Saturday 19 April 2008 between 6:00 and 7:00pm.
With
Richard Lea - Baritone
Charlotte Way - Piano.

A Programme of Italian and English songs, with an interlude of Romantic piano music:
Le Violette - Alessandro Scarlatti
Come Reaggio di Sol - Antonio Caldara
Crudo Amore - Giacomo Carissimi
Torno il Sereno Zefiro - Sigmundo d'India
Vittoria, Mio Core - Giaccomo Carissimi
Fantasiestucke - Robert Schumann

Let Us Garlands Bring (Five Shakesperean songs) - Gerald Finzi

Classical Concert

Saturday 8 March at 7.30pm

The last in the present series of free concerts, 'Romantics in Balham'. Guildhall Artists will present Brahms' charing set of vocal ensemble pieces, the 'Liebeslieder Waltzes' for two pianists and four singers.

Entrance free, retiring collection

PCC Matters

It is important that the congregation know what the PCC has been discussing and, at the meeting on 22 January, it was agreed that a (very) abbreviated version of the minutes would now appear in the pew leaflet. Here is the first offering:-

PCC Meeting – 22 January 2008
The PCC held its first meeting of 2008. In addition to the routine work, the following matters were discussed:-

God is Green: an environmental assessment of St Mary’s has been carried out by CEN (Creative Environmental Networks) and we await the report. The Diocese is encouraging churches to consider green issues and the environmental policy is available on their website.

Building & Finance Committee: an action plan for maintenance has been drawn up and includes getting estimates for carpet replacement in church and replastering the kitchen stairs, also sorting out the damp in the side porch and the heating in the Music Room.

Oasis Garden: the total grant has been received (£24,902) and the main work completed. A Garden Team will be put together to look after the Oasis Garden and the rest of the church garden. There will be monthly working parties.

Lettings Committee: charges for the hire of rooms have been increased for 2008. All the users are happy with this. New charges for parking outside the church will be considered in the spring.

Child Protection: the Child Protection Officers held a useful meeting in December. Children attending Sunday School now need to be registered, under Diocesan policy.

Concert Programme

We are delighted to host a series of free concerts headed 'ROMANTICS IN BALHAM'. These will be held on Saturdays on 19 January, 16 February and 8 March 2008. They will commence at 7:30pm. Admission is free, so why not come along and enjoy a romantic evening?

See calendar page for additional details.

Merry Christmas

O come let us adore him. Join us in our Christmas festivities this year at St Mary's, there is something for everyone. Sunday 23rd 6:30pm - Carols by Candlelight. Christmas Eve 4pm - Crib Service especially for children & 11:30pm - Midnight Mass a candlelit Festal Eucharist. Christmas Day 10:30am - Festal Eucharist for all the family. For more information please visit the what's on calendar. We look forward to seeing you.

World AIDS Day

You are invited to a service on World AIDS Day, Saturday 1 December at 5pm. The service will include music, stories, hymns and prayers.

Understanding Islam course

From 9 January 2008, 8-10pm, for a period of 10 weeks, St Mary's will host the course 'Understanding Islam' by Dr Chris Hewer. He is an outstanding teacher and will take us through the various aspects of Islam. All are welcome to this free course.

Harvest Festival & Back to Church Sunday a Success

A big 'thank you' to everyone who contributed to our Harvest Festival last week in whatever form! All the Harvest gifts (and there were many!) have been sorted and distributed among families and individuals who use the Asylum Welcome at St Mary's on Thursday afternoon. Some of the gifts have been kept to share throughout the winter with people who knock on our door for help. Thank you also for making it a joyful service at which we were able to welcome a number of new people.

Welcome To Our New Website

Thank you to all those that took part in our previous survey, we hope you like the changes we have made to the site. After several months of work, the site is ready and raring to go. However, be sure to stay tuned as we plan to add some exciting new features in the coming months.

Grand Opening of the Oasis Garden Coming Soon

The Oasis Garden will be formally opened by the Mayor of Wandsworth at 3:00pm Saturday 13 October 2007.
Come and admire the work undertaken so far, learn how you can make use of this new community space, and find out how you can lend a hand as this new green space for Balham grows.
Tea and cakes will be served. A sunny afternoon is guaranteed....even if it's raining.