Happy Christmas—we look forward to seeing  each other at the services this week, and sharing the joy of Christ’s birth. To all those that are serving and helping in any way, we thank you!  Please keep thinking about the Christmas challenge:
* When are you coming?
* Who are you bringing?
* How are you serving?

Christmas Candles
Many of our Christmas celebrations involve candles, and particularly the  renowned Christmas Eve Candlelit Celebration (X 4!) at Busbridge.  If you or your children are planning to come in nativity costumes (and we hope you do!), please take special care with, or avoid highly flammable materials. There will be nativity costumes to borrow on arrival which have are treated with fire proof spray and these costumes will be collected in before the hand held candles are lit.  (Other fire safety measures will also be in place.) 

Let us know what you think
After you have been ...brought someone... and helped... we’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts on the services. A short online survey is now open for you to tell us what you think.  Please find it here

Going Greener - Busbridge&Hambledon has been awarded a Bronze Eco Church award by the A Rocha Eco Church scheme.  For information about what this means we are doing well, and the goals for the Silver award, see ecochurch.arocha.org.uk.

The church office will close at midday on Christmas Eve, and reopen at 9am on Thursday 2 January.  If you need a member of clergy when the office is closed for a bereavement or urgent pastoral matter, please contact the following:
4 and 25 December: Dave Preece 07943 135170
26 and 27 December: John Postill  01428 687968
28 and 29 December: Margot and Andy Spencer 01483 416333
30 December and 1 January: John Postill 01428 687968

There is a further list of emergency numbers in a perspex box at the foot of the front door of the Old Rectory.

From the West End to Busbridge—Lisa Olsworth-Peter talks at Nexus, 9 January 2020  Not to be missed! All welcome (including men) to join Nexus at their first event of the new year to hear Lisa talk and sing.  Free for members or £5 for visitors.  The evening starts with nibbles and drinks in the Old Rectory.  Annual subs of £18  are due for Nexus members and can be paid on the night.  The 2020 programme will be available to pick up too.

Advance notice to get training!  The next BHC Spire2Spire run from Busbridge to Hambledon and back again, has been aptly scheduled for 12 Jan 2020 — Resolution Sunday!  Runners will get a smoothie on return to Busbridge before the 10am services!

Funerals
A number of dear friends known to the church family have died recently and we ask you to pray that their loved ones will know God’s love and care, especially over the Christmas season: 

The funeral service for Elizabeth Chadwick will take place at Guildford Crematorium on Friday 20 December 2019 at 11.15am. Please pray for Dave, his brother and the wider family, for comfort and peace.

We send our love to Gary Sherwin, whose mother, Eileen, died 7 December.  Please hold Gary, Lorna, Annie, Rosie and Edward in your prayers; also remember Gary’s sister and the wider family. 

Longstanding church members will remember Jill and Derek Pitt, who moved to Milford some years ago.  We are saddened to hear that Derek died last Tuesday, 10 December.  Derek’s thanksgiving service will take place at Milford Church, on Monday 30 December 2019 at 2pm.  All friends are warmly invited to the service and also to refreshments afterwards at the West Surrey Golf Club.

The team in the church office would like to thank everyone for the cards and treats that have been arriving (sometimes anonymously!) this week. 

The next notices will be published for 5 January 2020, but an important date for your diary is Resolution Sunday on 12 January when services will be back to normal, and we will be outlining the vision and theme for Busbridge&Hambledon in 2020.