In accordance with the times, these are very different notices to usual.

There are no services until further notice (was there ever a time when this has happened before?), so no rotas or diary dates to shout about.  And we will miss coming together.

Some might be wondering if everyone in the church office has gone to ground this week, in a time of crisis and uncertainty.  Not so. 

Get ready to for a steady stream of opportunities both online and 'ungathered, together' to serve the community and stay connected.

We have divided Busbridge&Hambledon Church's new and developing ministry into 2 broad areas:

Staying Connected

We are offering worship, prayer and fellowship online.  We have a few things up and running already, with more to follow.

10am ON SUNDAYS – YouTube channel BHC Godalming.

There will be a short online message from our clergy team broadcast on the BHC Godalming YouTube channel.  This Sunday we will hear from Simon Taylor, speaking on 1 Samual 1: 20-28 about brokenness, separation and having to fall on God – for a very different kind of Mothering Sunday.

You can subscribe to the BHC Godalming channel on YouTube here, or just click the link we send out at 9.30am on Sunday.  (NB. it's not perfect – you will also get ads from companies that are not endorsed by the church.)

The music for this Sunday (hymns and worship songs) can be found on this Spotify playlist put together by Lisa.

Daily prayer at 9am weekdays

Anyone can join this via the Prayer Room link on www.bhcgodalming.org.

Judith Hawkey is organising the rota of people to lead, and we hope to add second prayer session in the evening too.  It's running on something called Zoom and you might find it useful to install it first on your PC or download the app on your smart phone.  We'll get instructions up on the web site as soon as….

10.30am Coffee break and 4pm Tea time – One of the team will be in the BHC chat room at these times so that anyone can pop in, cup in hand, and chat to anyone who's there.

CYF – To meet the needs of our children and young people facing weeks if not months of remote learning at home, the CYF team will be hosting activities and youth meetings on Zoom too.  Contact Anto.Ficatier@bhcgodalming to be added to the parents list to receive details.

[We're trialling quite a few new things, so all this might be a bit clunky at first – please bear with us, not done it before!]

The Churches are open

Please observe all government instructions, but if it is safe for you to visit the churches, they will be open in daylight hours for prayer and reflection. 

At Busbridge, there is a short visual playing on the screen in the church with meditative music.  Thanks to Lisa Olsworth-Peter, Dave Preece and Tim Davies for making this happen. 

Community Response

Everyone that can, wants to help.  We've had so many wonderful responses from church members and local people who are already getting on with it, but looking to the church for direction.

In Busbridge, the Community response is being coordinated by Margot Spencer, Cathy Brook, Lorna Sherwin and Penny Naylor.

The team have produced a handout which will be delivered through every door in Busbridge.  We are reliant on Road Stewards for this, a significant number of which are in the vulnerable healthy category and may be self-isolating.  If you would like to support them by delivering the flyers this weekend, please email coronaresponse@bhcgodalming.org. 

Hambledon have also set up a Corona response network with lots of people involved.  Details are on the Hambledon Village web site.

The foodbanks are running low, and we are investigating if we can have a collection point in the churches.  The risk of cross contamination of goods is an issue, so we will update on that shortly.

More great ideas for outreach and spreading the Gospel

There's much more in the pipeline, and it feels like a race, but for better or worse it seems we have time to put different things in place which are worthwhile and sustainable – and build the Kingdom! 

You can find more details and communications we have sent out on the resources page of the web site:  This week: Simon Taylor's letter to BJS parents, Judith Hawkey's message to BJS parents, Simon Willett's reflection and more.

If you do want to stay connected and be involved, please take this time to follow us on facebook, instragram and Twitter, subscribe to the YouTube channel, and use the web site bhcgodalming.org. 

For those not online – we need help –  firstly to identify anyone who might be missing out on communications, or is unable to participate in the online worship and gatherings.  Phone calls, doorstep visits and deliveries will all play an important part here. 

Things you can doAs well as the request for extra road stewards, we would also like to reinforce the Prayer Ministry team. If this is your gift and time now allows, please contact lisa.olsworth-peter@bhcgodalming.org.

GIVINGThis Sunday was/is Mission Sunday for Open Doors.  Sadly the visiting speakers have been postponed, but you can find out about the cause, and ways to donate here. 

Church Family Support Fund – the trustees are currently rewriting the constitution of this fund so that it can be used as a charity to support people in the community who are affected financially by the economic impact of Coronavirus.  It is open to donations by church members for church families now, as it has been for the last 30 years.  Please consider if you'd like to give to it at this time.

The Church Office at the Old RectoryThe majority of clergy and staff are working remotely from home now, and a lot of us will have childcare responsibilities from Monday.  All staff can be reached by email as usual, and the office phone will be manned by one of us in the office or remotely.  Please check whether the Old Rectory is open before you come.

Looking forward to your thoughts and feedback.  We are not able to act on every great suggestion right now, but in time they will all be evaluated.  Let's keep talking. There is so much that this crisis will teach us.

(Have I missed anything?  Almost certainly.  Read what you will into the lateness of this email.  It's been a long week for the everyone, but a privilege to serve.)

Kind regards

Vic Hicks

Communications & Office Manager
Part-time: Mon, Wed and Thursdayt: 01483 421267 | w: bhcgodalming.org | Find us on Facebook & Instagram
the Old Rectory, Old Rectory Gardens, Godalaming, GU7 1XB