11AM on Friday 24th Feb: National moment of silence to mark one year of Russian invasion of Ukraine. The bells at Busbridge and Hambledon Churches will be rung to mark the start and finish of the silence.
Dear Friends,
It’s been a busy week! The Prime Time Shrove Tuesday event was a great success, with tea and pancakes enjoyed by 40 guests! Thank you to the (quite large) team of helpers who are committed to serving older people through Prime Time’s ministry. Worshippers from all BHC congregations and St Mark’s came together for the Ash Wednesday service at Busbridge. Our admin colleague, Sarah from Godalming Parish spent a day in the church office, and we look forward to her making herself at home in the Old Rectory on Wednesdays. (This should hugely help with understanding how each of the minster churches function behind the scenes as we start to merge.)
Last but not least, the Transformed Life Lent podcast for all 4 churches began on Wednesday, with a new episode becoming available every week day in Lent. Why listen? It uses the great devotionals by Dave Smith which run alongside the sermon series on Sundays, and the home group bible studies.
And speaking of home groups, thanks those who have signed up, and the groups who are coming on to the Small Group 6Ws Info Evening on Monday 27th Feb at 8PM (not 2.30pm as mentioned in the mid-week email). Richard Lloyd will lead the session. If you are not in a small group, it will give you a good reason to join or start one, and existing members will be inspired, enthused and encouraged to get even more from their group! More details & Sign Up >>
Sunday 26 Feb:
alive for his purpose
SERMON series "Transformed Life"
Reading: Ephesians 2: 1-10
Busbridge
9.30AM Contemporary
Busbridge Church & online
Led by: Simon Taylor | Speaker: Patrick Samuels
Children’s groups meet from 9.20am and return to the service at approx 10.35am:
Ark (3-7s) in the Village Hall, Creche, Tiny Tigers and Explorers (7-11s) in the Old Rectory
Join us for coffee in the Yew Tree Café between services
11.15AM Classic Service
Busbridge Church & onine
Led by: Andy Spencer | Speaker: Patrick Samuels
6PM Busbridge Evening Service [Holy Communion]
Busbridge Church
Led by: Simon Taylor | Speaker: Lesley Mason
Pathfinder & Ichthus Youth groups start in church
6.50PM Holy Spirit session 2
The Holy Spirit and the Church
Busbridge Church
Led by: John Valentine | Faith story: Simon Willetts
Hambledon
10AM Morning Worship
with Children’s Club
Hambledon Church & online
Led by: David Jenkins | Speaker: Dudley Hilton
Coming Up:
See the events coming up next and look up dates further ahead in the full calendar.
Notices
This Sunday we continue the sessions on Gifts of the Holy Spirit following the 6PM service at Busbridge. Feedback on session 1 was very positive. Coming to all the sessions is encouraged, but if you would like to be part of this equipping the church for mission, please come along to the next one on 26 Feb. More details >>
Also/alternatively if you would like to know more about Spiritual Gifts, there’s a free 1 hour webinar on ‘leading in the power of the Holy Spirit’ provided by the Diocese, which anyone can join. If you’d like to know more about this area of God’s work and our church family, please attend on Thursday 2nd March at 2pm (book here). This follows a two day training event with Jackie Pullinger about the sensible, careful exercising of Spiritual Gifts with grace and love. About 20 people from BHC, St Mark’s and St Peter & St Paul’s attended and were blessed by the event.
Small Group Info Evening - 7.30PM Monday 27th Feb. All small group members, and those who would like to find out about them are invited to a session with Richard Lloyd, from the Mission Enabler Team at Guildford Diocese. Richard will share his thoughts and enthusiasm for Small Groups, and offer tips on how to make sure they support you in discipleship, and the mission of the whole church. Find event details here, or easier still, sign up using MyChurchSuite.
Ad for our new 4-11s Children’s Pastor - the closing date for applications is 13th Mar. Please pray and share, share, share!
Nexus on Thu 2nd March: ‘Past, Present and Future of Milford Hospital’ Nexus talk by Jenny Millar, Chair of League of Friends
Nexus are delighted to welcome Jenny, who will share with us points of interest about the past, present and future of Milford Hospital. There are a lot of new plans for our local hospital, so come along and be among the first to hear about them! As this is our charity for 2023 it would be good to give Jenny our full support. This month we’ll meet in the Old Rectory at 8.00pm. Event details.
The latest issue of The Bridge Magazine will be hitting the doormats in early March, but available online now! Go to The Bridge page to find the latest and past issues, and pdfs of the popular local walks which are featured in each issue. Thanks to The Bridge and Hambledon Magazine editorial teams, and all the road stewards who deliver the magazines.
Get Involved
Are you an online shopper? - The Busbridge Tech team needs you!
The Tech team has not quite recovered to full strength since the pandemic, and now has little resilience to cover holidays or illness – or even a five-week month. The investment that the church has made in both the equipment and its installation has paid off and the system is now straightforward and reliable to use. If you can do an online food shop and use email you are technical enough to be able to join the team (full training and support are provided). We are looking for new people for the laptop, livestreaming and sound desk – which do you fancy? Please contact Patrick Elshen or Vic Hicks if you’re interested in finding out more.
Hot Cross Bun hospitality team needed for the Good Friday Walk
This year the church family walk is from Hambledon Church to Busbridge Church where the multitude of thirsty hikers will arrive at the Old Rectory in need of tea and a hot cross bun. We need a team who are willing to forgo the walk, and organise and serve the refreshments in the Old Rectory. If you can, please let Vic know in the church office.
Elsewhere
World Day of Prayer - Friday 3rd March - Godalming Prayer Gathering, 10.30am at Godalming United Church.
Godalming Baptist Church Life Issues talks: See the full 2023 Life Issues programme.
LAST CALL Sat 25 Feb 'Self-Harm' led by Suzette Jones at GBC. 10.00am-12.15 (coffee from 9.30am) Please do consider coming to find out more about this huge issue in our society today. Suzette will look at the signs of self-harm, how do we react, where help can be found, what we can do. To book a place contact Sally Pollard-pollard3@hotmail.co.uk or tel-01483-428646.
NEW ISSUE for March. For news from all the other local churches, see:
Churches Together Link Up - MAR 2023
Don’t forget about…
The MyChurchSuite app. It’s the easiest way to check dates, rotas, church emails, look up church members and sign up to events (without having to enter your details again and again!). Contact the Church Office if you’ve lost your login details or would like to request an account.
Minster Update. The Minster Transition Steering Group have published a January Update, which can be found here.
Mid-week Prayer Gatherings
Reflective Prayer Mons at 8.45am online.
Busbridge Morning Prayer Weds at 9am online.
Hambledon Morning Prayer takes place on Wednesdays at 9am. All welcome.
Busbridge Saturday Prayer Meeting + PrayerFest 0-30 8-9am 2nd Saturdays of the month [11th Feb]
***Send prayer requests to prayer@bhcgodalming.org***
Groups & Activities
The Men’s Group meets for breakfast at 8.15am on the first Saturdays of the month. See the calendar event for details.
The 2023 Prime Time programme for Jan-Jun is now available, and the next event is the Talk on God’s Trees on Friday 24th March. For all events and details, see Prime Time.
The 2023 Nexus programme is now available, and the next event is a talk on 2nd Mar is about the past, present and future of Milford Hospital. For all events and details, see Nexus.
VACANCIES
We are truly blessed to have talented and faithful teams of volunteers from the church family coordinating worship and children’s groups for the time being, but we wait expectantly for the right people to take up the positions so that these crucial ministries can fully flourish and soar!
Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer.
Yew Tree Café
at Busbridge Church
The Yew Tree Café at Busbridge Church is open 8.30am-4pm weekdays in term time, and 10am-2pm on Saturdays, and 10am-4pm during school holidays.
Pastoral Care
PASTORAL CARE & PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE
If you, or someone you know at church, are in need of support and care, please contact Sandra Wilkin via the church office, or e: pastoral@bhcgodalming.org.
To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org or call 01483 421267.