Essential Links for Sundays
Find all Sunday services on the BHC Godalming YouTube channel.
Direct links to the live stream broadcasts of the Classic and Contemporary services from the Old Rectory Garden can be found in the THIS SUNDAY service list below.
BHC Public Zoom Room
946-391-4833 | PW 2021
CLICK HERE to get together on Zoom after each service for a virtual coffee, at 6PM for Unplugged and mid-week Morning Prayer.
BHC members on TV and radio this week!
Congratulations to Steve Kinder (Contemporary Congregation) who won a wild card to be featured on an episode of the Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year on the telly on Wednesday night (very exciting!). You can watch it on NowTV and Sky +1 Arts too. Busbridge and Hambledon churches have been lucky enough to show Steve’s wonderful pieces (landscapes and Christian works) at various Christmas and Easter exhibitions, most recently the Comfort & Joy exhibition in Busbridge Church. see https://www.stephenkinderart.com/
And broadcasting on radio…Simon and Naomi Willetts have teamed up with Tom Rowland to produce some exciting tunes during lockdown. Their first single called ‘Waiting For’ is live on Amazon and live on iTunes at 6pm Friday (29 Jan) evening!!
Here is the pre-release link:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/homelander/waiting-for
It’s had airtime three times so far from BBC introducing, with great response and is on air again, as it’s been picked as BBC Sussex & BBC Surrey’s BBC Introducing Track of the Day! It’ll be played at around 4.40pm Friday 29 Jan, and again on Saturday between 8 & 8.30pm. Listen online here:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_sussex
An EP is being also planned for released on Feb 25th with an album to follow shortly after that. Follow Homelander on Facebook and Instagram @homelanderband
If anyone else is making headlines or featuring on TV and radio during lockdown,
- do let us know! (It’s nice to see when many of us aren’t getting out much.)
Message for 2021 from Simon Taylor - please watch if you missed it last week.
This Sunday
Freedom of Contentment | Philippians 4: 8-13
9AM Online Heritage Service
Speaker: Simon Taylor
9AM Classic Service (live broadcast)
Speaker: Simon Taylor
10.15AM Conversations from the Couch (live Broadcast
On the couch: Mark Williams & Simon Willetts
6PM Unplugged on Zoom - BHC Public
Led by Anto Ficatier and members of Pathfinders and Ichthus.
UNPLUGGED - 6PM | 31 Jan | on Zoom (BHC Public)
9AM Ark (age 4-7s) on Zoom
11.15AM Explorers (age 7-11s) on Zoom
Contact Judith Hawkey for joining details
Then all welcome at any of the following virtual coffee and catch-up sessions. Drop in for 5, 10, or 15 mins…
Next Sunday 7 February
We begin a two part teaching and discussion series on handling stress.
Handling Stress from broken expectations
Readings: Luke 24:17-24 followed by Acts 1:6-8
9AM Heritage (pre-recorded) and Classic (live) services on YouTube
Speaker: Peter Shaw
10.15AM FUSE all age service | Stressful times with a gentle God
Reading: Psalm 121
Led by Mark Puddephatt and the Fuse Team
(No Ark and Explorers groups this week)
the notices
Simon and Simon would like to thank Rev David Jenkins for all his work and commitment, particularly to Hambledon during the interregnum and in helping Simon Willetts settle shortly before and during a pandemic. David is taking a well earned sabbatical and we pray every blessing on him and Liz as they take this time to reflect, relax and restore.
Dave is leaving - last call for contributions to the farewell gift… Following the announcement of Dave Preece's appointment as Priest in Charge of the benefice of Saxmundham with Kelsale cum Carlton, we are very sadly going to be saying goodbye to Dave, Hannah, Zoe and Esther under the cover of COVID, on 21 February. We can, of course, still send them off with a fitting gift to remember their ministry and time here. If you would like to donate to a leaving gift, please use an online method, ideally bank transfer (or the donate function) on the GIVING web page. Cash/cheques can be sent to the Old Rectory too. The details are here. Use the reference "PREECE" or similar.
Doorstop Farewell - if on your daily constitutional walk, run or cycle, you might happen across the curate’s home, you might like to text or ring the bell and stand back to wave goodbye when they open the door. Dave and Hannah have created a doodle with times when this would be convenient, but also to avoid a suspicious crowd of exercising people arriving at the same time. Here’s a link to the Doodle Poll to pop your name in if you would like to see their faces in the flesh for one last time: https://doodle.com/poll/qzkfd5dgqy7h2d6t .
LENT & EASTER
Plans are hatching for our second locked down Lent, Holy Week and Easter. Lent starts (with Ash Wednesday) on 17 February which is during half-term. There will be an online Ash Wednesday service with ashing, but no communion, and this year for our younger church families, the CYF team have prepared “Lent in a bag” (details to follow next week.)
Things to get involved in - there will be daily reflections delivered by different church members on YouTube - please let Andy Spencer know if you’d like to contribute a reflection. We are also planning “Lent by Text”, last run in 2017 and now ready for a refresh and reprise with topical, eco, community challenges to boost body and soul every weekday through Lent. If anyone has any thoughts or a call to be involved, please contact Vic Hicks. Thirdly, after the great community response to the Busbridge Walking Advent Calendar, we’d like to dream up a similar activity for Easter, in Busbridge and Hambledon, perhaps with the trail ending with an opportunity to find or collect an egg. If anyone, or ideally a small team, would like to help create, plan and deliver this, please contact Lisa Olsworth-Peter.
Penny (Older People) and Judith (4-11s). Penny and Judith are planning another cross-over initiative for Lent and Easter whereby our younger church members can be involved in sharing a message of love and community with our older people who are perhaps shielding or isolated. Do get in touch with Penny or Judith if you’d like to be involved.
Church Family Support Fund - accepting applications
A timely reminder that the Church Family Support Fund is able to help local individuals and families in need with financial gifts NOW - to pay for things such as a laptop or PC for remote learning, or a replacement washing machine or fridge. Information on how the fund operates, and to make an application on behalf of someone, see the CFSF page.
Donation of unused laptops or tablets. Hilary Pettman has just had an old laptop cleaned up and given it to St Mark's school. They were delighted to receive it and it has now gone to a family in the area who really needed it. Please consider if you have any suitable laptops or tablets which could be passed on. It is a great way to support the community around St. Marks.
Good news! The faculty application for the works to the Busbridge Church Centre has been approved! There are a few processes to follow before any work can commence but the faculty approval is a huge step forward. A massive thank you to the team who have worked so hard on this so far.
BRIDGE UPDATE: The JAN/FEB edition of the Bridge is available online … click here. We are still looking for a road steward to cover the bottom part of the Brighton Road. If you live in, or close to, either of these roads, (or maybe know someone who does and might be willing to take on the role) please contact the editor, Cathy, at editor.atthebridge@gmail.com. We'd be delighted and most appreciative to hear from you.
Starting Soon
Alpha Online starting 9 February - is it for you? / Who will you invite?
It’s starting again soon! The next course will run on Tuesdays, starting 9 February for 11 weeks. The course begins with a 'no obligation' introductory session led by (Rev) Hilary Pettman and Keith Harper, LLM. Hilary and Keith have been involved in several Alphas, both the physical courses and online. To register your interest, please go to the Alpha page and complete the form, or send the link to a friend.
UPDATE on the Hope in Depression Course
We know many people are struggling, and this course offers a lifeline. The course is ready, facilitators are trained, and we are now waiting and praying for delegates to be brave enough to sign up. (The first session was delayed as we await sufficient numbers to make it viable). Find all the details, and register in confidence on the Hope in Depression page, and please do share the details with anyone suffering with mental health problems, and those supporting them.
NEXT Nexus Talk - Hear about the Godalming and Villages Community Store from town councillor Richard Ashworth. Thursday 4 February, 8pm in the BHC Zoom room.
This is all about the community supporting its friends and neighbours during these unprecedented and difficult times. Come along to learn how the Store operates and how much it is appreciated by those in unexpected need. It will start at 8.00pm, and you can join from 7.45pm to have a chat with others. Bring your own refreshments!! All are welcome, including men! There will be no charge, but donations can be made on their Just Giving page. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/GodalmingCommunitystore
Junior Lockdown Choir - Thursdays from 21 January
The lockdown choir continues this Thursday. The choir sings a range of Disney and pop songs suitable for each age group. If you know any primary age children who would be interested, please pass the message on to go to the Lockdown Choir page and complete the registration form.
Coming Up NEXT:
See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event to join the meetings on Zoom, or sign up.
Update on Monday Listening Prayer - NOW Reflective prayer - What is it?
Since the end of April last year, about a dozen have met on Zoom on Monday mornings to spend time together in the presence of God. In practice, it looks a bit like this:
We start by quieting ourselves, maybe listening to some music. We then have a short Bible reading with a very brief reflection on it – just a few sentences to help us engage with the story – and after that a time of silence to enter into the story and listen to what God wants to say to us. At the end of this, we may have some more music and then anyone who would like to can share what they have heard, but there is no pressure. We end with thanking God for his presence and asking him to go with us through the new day.
Our own attendance fluctuates, as circumstances dictate, but there is one who is always there: God, gracious, present, and looking forward to meeting with us.
The beauty of Zoom is that we don’t have to get extra chairs out, so please join us if you would like to, on Mondays from 8.45-9.30 a.m.; BHC Public Personal Meeting Room, Zoom ID 946 391 4833, password 2021.
And by the way, we are renaming it ‘Reflective Prayer’ in the hope that it makes it a bit clearer what we are on about.
Lisa Olsworth-Peter, Gertrud Sollars, Shan Hallam
Catch up on News from other areas
A word from
Rector’s Reflections
Prime Time Lockdown Blog
Please Pray for
Ashstead Lane and its road stewards Jane Tomes and Caroline Wright
Feathercombe Lane
The Cellar Camino Cafe and it’s vulnerable customers as they settle into the new location in the old Bury’s cafe.
What’s On
Click Here for What’s on this week and beyond. It’s all in the calendar and more details for each event can be found when you select it.
Busbridge Church reopen for private prayer
Busbridge Church is open again daily for private prayer from approximately 9.30am-4pm, and Hambledon Church is open daily from approximately 9am-5pm.
The Old Rectory is closed for the time being and clergy and staff are working from home. The answerphone is checked regularly, but the best way to reach people is by email.
PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE
To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org or call Lisa Olsworth-Peter on 01483 421267.
Listening prayer is available mid-week.