Lent & Easter
Click here for the list of services and events, sign ups and more.
EASTER 2023
This Holy Week and Easter, we are using the theme of The Garden to reflect on what the Easter Story means in our lives today. Walk with us through the Garden this week:
Mon-WEDS: The path
The 8pm Holy Week Reflections at Busbridge Church have been using the audio clips by Paula Gooder. Join us for the last one tonight, or listen here on the Church of England web site.
MAUNDY THURSDAY: The vine
“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22.15)
WHEN & WHERE: 8PM at Hambledon Church
On this night we share communion remembering The Last Supper, and imagine Jesus relishing the opportunity to laugh, talk and celebrate with his friends.
He wants to empower them to keep strong, to keep the faith through what is to come. “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15.5). When we celebrate communion we are not just remembering the sacrifice but also the companionship, friendship and love shared between Jesus and his disciples. We have a part in that too.
GOOD FRIDAY: THE TREE
There were lots of trees in the Garden of Eden, including the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, as well as trees in which to hide. On Good Friday, the tree is something dead and wooden, as it holds the one who is the bringer of life. This is a very different kind of tree - a tree of pain, death and sacrifice. Today, we locate ourselves symbolically at the foot of this sad tree. Will you be there?
9.30AM Busbridge Church Good Friday Service for all the Family
11.30AM-12PM on the High Street, outside Wetherspoons for the Godalming Act of Witness followed by Hot Cross Buns at Godalming Baptist Church
12 NOON Hambledon Church An Hour at the Cross
The hour at the cross is following directly by the Good Friday Hot Cross Bun Adventure - a walk from Hambledon Church to Busbridge Church for tea and hot cross buns. Please see details and, ideally, let us know if you are coming! (You can use the MyChurchSuite app or the Easter web page to sign up).
“EGG”CELENT EVENTS in gardens
on Holy Saturday
10.30AM Messy Easter - meet at Hambledon Village Hall before a walk up to the sand pit on Hambledon Common for games and an egg hunt.
3PM Easter Garden Service at Busbridge Church, followed by a great Egg Hunt in the Old Rectory Garden. (Cakes and volunteers needed, see below).
Once again you are invited to the 8pm Holy Saturday Vigil at St Peter and St Paul’s.
EASTER DAY: THE GARDENER
In John’s account of the first Easter morning Mary Magdalene turns around from the now empty tomb and bumps into someone she takes to be the gardener. …. How wrong could she be? – and yet, how right! The Gardener of the new creation asks, who are you looking for?
SERVICES
6.45AM Sunrise Service at the Ladywell Shrine on Minsterfield
10AM Busbridge Easter Day Service
[We’ll also be bidding farewell to the Jaggers, so please stay for some celebratory refreshments afterwards]
Leader: Philippa Baker | Speaker: Simon Taylor
10AM Hambledon Easter Day Service
CAKES WANTED!
for the Busbridge Easter Garden Service
Cakes & volunteers are needed for the Easter Garden Service on Sat 8th April
105 people have signed up for the Easter Garden Service and we need cake and volunteers to serve tea and man the bouncy castles!
This is a great invitational event and chance to share the gospel and hospitality with families who are more on the fringe of the church family, as well as our Tiny Tigers, Ark and Explorers. The tea and cake is key to chatting with parents and carers as they watch the fun spectacle of the egg hunt in the Old Rectory Garden. If you can bake and bring something along please let Ben Barnes know now! (e: ben.barnes@bhcgodalming.org)
It helps if you sign up to the big events where there’s catering involved: The Good Friday Hot Cross Bun Adventure, and the Easter Garden Service on Saturday 8th. (You can use the MyChurchSuite app or the Easter web page to sign up).
A reminder that the BHC Easter Appeal for SALCET is now underway. For details about the charity’s latest work in El Salvador, Uganda and Kenya - and ways to give - please read the Outward Giving Easter update.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL EPISODES
Nearly there! The Transformed Life Lent podcast for all 4 churches joining Godalming Minster has a new episode available every week day in Lent.
Coming Up:
See the events coming up next and look up dates further ahead in the full calendar.
Palm Sunday
Members of Busbridge Church remembered and gave thanks for the life of Rev David Mace as we gratefully dedicated the stunning new lecturn given in David’s memory by Jill and the Mace family.
Thanks to the Merry Harriers Pub for bringing Diesel and Champagne (father and son) to lead the Palm Sunday procession at Hambledon!
AFTER EASTER
The church office will be open, but a little quiet next week, and there will be a break from the weekly notices, but there’s some good things to come shortly after the holidays.
Services on Sunday 16th April
The Stone
Readings: Matthew 28:1-10
10AM Combined Service
Busbridge Church and online
Led by Margot Spencer
10AM Morning Worship
Hambledon Church and online
Led by David Jenkins
Children’s groups restart on 23rd April.
New Ministry Bereavement Café: For those who have lost someone recently or some time ago. Starting Tuesday 25th April, The Bereavement Café will take place in the Old Rectory on last Tuesdays of the month, from 2.30-4pm. The Bereavement Café is run by the Pastoral Team (Support & Care) and offers a safe space for anyone who has been bereaved, where:
- you can feel safe to talk about how the pain of bereavement is affecting you
- you will meet others who have experienced their own loss
- there is a team willing to offer support by listening
- you will find mutual support and encouragement
- there is a cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake waiting for you
- you are welcome whether your loss is recent or some considerable time ago
The Bereavement Café does not provide counselling, but signposting can be offered if appropriate. If you would like to chat to someone about The Bereavement Café, please contact Shân Hallam e: pastoral@bhcgodalming.org / t: 01483 421267.
Click here for details and to book tickets
Simon and Catherine are grateful to the kind person or persons who through their Stewardship work are such a blessing to Simon and Catherine as Simon plans his sabbatical. We don’t know who you are, so this is our way to say a huge thank you to you.
Don’t forget about…
Simon’s sabbatical 11th April-15th July 2023
3rd time lucky! Simon Taylor will be taking a twice postponed sabbatical this year from Easter to July. (Stipendiary clergy are given a sabbatical every ten years, and Simon’s was postponed in 2020 due to Covid, then again in 2022 due to the Minster evaluation.) He leaves the leadership of the benefice in the capable hands of Simon Willetts, supported by Margot Spencer, the wardens, clergy and staff team. Minster plans will continue to develop.
While Simon is away, his plans involve some walking (The SW Coastal Path) and prayer, time with his leadership coach and spiritual director, reading, a visit to Simon’s spiritual retreat home (Storrington Priory, Chemin Neuf charismatic catholic Order) and some research on St Ignatius and the Jesuit Way of Life.
Please pray for Simon as he prepares for a restorative break from ministry, and for those he leaves in charge.
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.
Join the Electoral Roll - As we approach the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in May, this is a reminder that we’d love you to join the church electoral roll if you are not on it already. Go to Membership.
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.
Hambledon Coffee Morning and Hearing Aid Clinic takes place 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 10.30am.
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 4th May is about the Christian Aid Pigeon Pea Project in Malawi by Laura Mead. Laura is going to tell us about their fantastic Pigeon Pea Project in Malawi. This project gives women in remote communities in Malawi the confidence and skills to start up small businesses. This, in turn helps the women support their families and their local community. It’s an intriguing title, so do come along and find out more. You’re welcome to bring friends.
We’ll start the evening with drinks and nibbles to give us a chance to mingle and meet new people before handing over to Laura for her fascinating presentation.
For all events and details, see Nexus.
Elsewhere
Bishop’s Lent Appeal 2023 - The Turkey-Syria Earthquake and those suffering deprivation in Guildford Diocese AND Hearing Aid Clinics
Work of the Bishop’s Fund is wide-ranging, but one of the recipients is the Hear Hear project that enables the BHC Hearing Aid Clinics. Penny and Sophie Bessant were recently interviewed for the promotional video: https://youtu.be/iuxeNYG0lUI
Godalming Baptist Church Life Issues talks: See the full 2023 Life Issues programme.
To book a place contact Sally Pollard-pollard3@hotmail.co.uk or tel-01483-428646.
For news from all the other local churches, see:
Churches Together Link Up - MAR 2023
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.
Thank you to Owen for his contribution as Assistant Manager in the Yew Tree Café in recent months. Owen will be finishing in this role on 8th April, so do pop in to thank him. Look out for the advert for a new assistant manager, coming shortly.
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.
Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer.