Les Amities Francaises

Thursday 12 December & Thursday 23 January, 7.30pm until 9pm: Les Amitiés Françaises is hosting lectures in French. In the December talk, Peter Prowse will talk about the history of the Canal du Midi and its surrounding towns incorporating songs from the South of France. The January lecture, by Brigitte Thibaut, will be on the most iconic French couples. To find out more, visit www.amitiesfrancaisesgodalming.com. Talks take place at Wilfrid Noyce Community Centre, Oglethorpe Hall, Crown Court Car Park, Godalming, GU7 1DY.

What’s on in December & January at St Nicholas Church?

• Muddy Church, a space for all for wandering & wondering with God, is on the first Sunday of every month (except school holidays). It returns on Sunday 2 February at 10.30am.

• Toddler group Fledglings is on Mondays, 9am (term-time) at Pucks Oak Barn. The last one of the year is on December 12 and it reopens on 6 January. Contact: fledglingscompton@gmail.com.

• Inside Outside meets on Saturday 7 December, 10am to noon (first Saturday of the month) to keep the church and churchyard looking good. Contact stnicholascompton.wardens@gmail.com.

• Bell ringing practice is once or twice a month on Tuesdays at 10am, with bell ringing on Sundays from 10am to 10.30am. Contact phil.gorton@btinternet.com.

• Baptisms, weddings & funerals: Please contact our Rector Sally if you would like to mark a family milestone at St Nicholas.

• If you would like someone to pray for you or with you, contact our Rector, Sally: stnicholascompton.rector@gmail.com. Confidentiality will be respected.

  Thanks & blessings, Revd Sally Buddle

December

Sunday 1 4pm Christingle (suitable for all ages and includes making your own Christingle)
Sunday 8 10.30am Service of the Word
6pm Patronal Festival Communion
Sunday 15 10.30am Holy Communion
Sunday 22 6pm Carols by Candlelight (all welcome at our Carol Service)
Tuesday 24 4pm Christmas Eve Nativity/Crib Service (come dressed as a character from the
Christmas story – costumes also available in church.)
9.30pm Christmas Eve Midnight Communion

For more details visit: www.stnicholascompton.org

Milford Probus Club

On Friday 13 December, Milford Probus will be hosting its annual Christmas lunch. Instead of a talk, members and visitors (always welcome) will be treated to a conjuror. The Christmas lunch promises to be a special festive occasion to welcome people seeking companionship with others of shared interests and seeing how joining a friendly, active club could help to get more from retirement. The price is £48 for traditional three-course Christmas lunch, with fish and vegetarian options. There will be choice of good wines. Book by Sunday 1 December (details below). After lunch on Friday 17 January, Ian MacFarlane will give a talk on diabetes, a condition concerning chronically raised blood sugar with serious side effects. Type 1 diabetes is due to insulin deficiency and Type 2 to insulin resistance. Due largely to increasing obesity, Type 2 is rising rapidly and now affects 8% of the UK population. Exercise and weight loss are important in managing the condition. As a consultant physician and professor, MacFarlane has practical hospital experience of diabetes and has published research papers on it. Lunch is at 12.30pm (pre-lunch drinks from 12pm), Godalming Masonic Hall, GU7 1RQ. If interested visit www.milfordprobus.com, or book a lunch (book the Monday before please) with Jon Warnke (jgwarnke@btinternet.com/07818 602699).

Conservatoire Concerts

Conservatoire Concerts invite you to the second concert of its Chamber Music Festival, on Saturday 7 December, 7pm at Godalming Baptist Church, GU7 1BA. The concert features Bodman String Quartet performing works by Haydn, Beethoven and Debussy.

As usual, Conservatoire Concerts always heralds the new year with a joyous Baroque Festival featuring the Purcell School Baroque Ensemble and musicians from various conservatoires around the UK. This Baroque Festival will take place on Thursday 9 and Saturday 11 January. All concerts start at 7pm at Godalming Baptist Church, GU7 1BA.

To book, visit https//conservatoireconcerts.org.uk. Admission is FREE with a retiring collection towards musicians’ fees and expenses

Sandra’s Yoga classes

Sandra’s popular yoga classes will continue until December. Mondays and Fridays, from 10.30am until 12pm. The classes are full-ish with enthusiastic attendance, so email Sandra if interested at willpower24@talktalk.net.

Watts Gallery news 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Watts Gallery!

• Watts Contemporary Gallery’s annual print exhibition has returned just in time for Christmas. In Print: Nature's Realm hosts the work of eight UK artists, with a particular focus on celebrating the natural world. Meet some of the exhibiting artists on Saturday 7 December 2024 and Saturday 1 February 2025 to find out more about their work and the inspiration behind it. Exhibition on display until Sunday 2 February 2025.

• Start 2025 with a splash of creativity and book onto a creative workshop. Fill up pages in your sketchbook with regular Saturday sketch sessions or discover the world of ceramics on a five week pottery course starting Tuesday 14 January 2025.

• Explore Cicely Mary Barker's enchanting world through original artwork and personal sketches in Flower Fairies The Magical World of Cicely Mary Barker. Until Sunday 27 April 2025.

  DON’T FORGET, COMPTON RESIDENTS GET 50% OFF ADMISSION! VALID WITH A PROOF OF ADDRESS. www.wattsgallery.org.uk. Please check the website for opening times over the Christmas holidays. KD Fine Art’s last day for Christmas will be on Saturday 21 December and it will reopen on Thursday 2 January.

• Check the website for details of events and to book tickets: www.wattsgallery.org.uk

Godalming Choral Society

Godalming Choral Society’s next concert will be Felix Mendelssohn’s well-loved oratorio, Elijah, first composed in 1846. His masterpiece dramatically depicts the extraordinary life of the prophet and the composer was heavily influenced by the choral works of Bach and Handel. This will be performed on Sunday 30 March 2025 in the Great Hall, Charterhouse. Godalming Choral Society is seeking new members and welcomes singers who enjoy a broad range of joyful music. There is no need to audition. Rehearsals start Tuesday 7 January. 7.30pm at the Wilfrid Noyce Centre, Godalming, GU7 IDY. For further information and tickets, visit www.godalmingchoral.org.uk.

Guildford Jazz

“A Jazzy Christmas”, with Jo Harrop, Paul Edis & special guests

Friday 6 December

Featuring new arrangements of festive favourites penned by pianist Paul Edis and performed by the ‘velvet-voiced’ Jo Harrop alongside a nine-piece band,
A Jazzy Christmas will feature an
eclectic mix of classic Christmas hits such as ‘Santa Baby’ and
‘Driving Home For Christmas’.
From 8pm.

St John’s Church, St John's Street, Godalming GU7 3EJ.

Visit guildfordjazz.org.uk to book