“Water, water, everywhere. Come into the Garden”

GENESIS 2: 8-14 & EZEKIAL 47: 1-12

Dear Friends

This Sunday we conclude The Garden Easter Sermon series, and having considered the Easter story in terms of the gate, the path, the vine, the tree, the gardener, the stone, and the fish, we finally come to the water feature for this week’s topic, titled “The Stream”. The Garden is open ... and waiting for you. Come.

In this week’s notices:

Please sign up to the Coronation Big Church Brunch!

This Sunday
The Coronation Weekend and the Big Church Brunch
APCMs (Annual Parochial Church Meetings) on Sunday 21st May
Outward Giving and Christian Aid Week
Nexus talk to promote Christian Aid Week, the Pigeon Pea Challenge

…and more.

This Sunday

Busbridge

9:30AM Contemporary Service
Busbridge Church and online
Led by: Margot Spencer | Speaker: Patrick Samuels
Children’s groups meet this Sunday. Please drop off for Ark at the Village Hall and Crèche, Tiny Tigers and Explorers in the Old Rectory before the service, or ask a Welcomer for directions.

11:15AM Classic Service
Busbridge Church and online
ed by: Margot Spencer | Speaker: Patrick Samuels

Hambledon

10AM Morning Worship
Hambledon Church and online
Led by Simon Willetts | Speaker: Andy Spencer
With Children’s Club

Evening Service Social 6p.m - 7:30pm

Come along to the evening service social at The Inn on the Lake this Sunday 30th April any time between 6p.m. and 7:30p.m. ( No evening service as it is a 5th Sunday) Look forward to seeing you there. All welcome.

Join us to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III in our specially themed Sunday services:

9:30AM Muddy Coronation on Holloway Hill Recreation Ground
Led by Mark Puddephatt and Suzie Lambert
10AM Classic Service *please note the earlier time
Led by Patrick Samuels | Speaker Keith Harper
10AM Hambledon Morning Worship
Led by Simon Willetts | Speaker Dudley Hilton

Then all congregations and friends are invited to
the Big Church Brunch in the Old Rectory Garden from 11AM

6PM Busbridge Evening Service

Coming Up:

See the events coming up next and look up dates further ahead in the full calendar.

Notices

Please Sign Up for the Big Church Brunch - Sunday 7th May! There will be many celebrations running locally over the Coronation weekend, and we too are planning to celebrate as a church benefice after the morning services on Sunday 7 May. To make it simple, it’s BYO picnic unless we get enough offers of food, with drinks and ice creams provided.

To mark the occasion of the coronation of King Charles III we will be planting a tree in the Old Rectory Garden, there will be games on the lawn, craft activities and the bouncy castles for children, and a quiz of sorts for those who prefer to be seated. Please bring your chairs and picnic rugs too.

Also for the Coronation, Bishop Michael Baughen recommends The Coronation Prom at the Royal Albert Hall to honour our new King and celebrate the King of Kings. The event is sold out, but the free broadcast will be available on our homepage at allsoulsmusic.org at 7pm on Saturday 6 May 2023 with a packed programme of behind-the-scenes interviews, expert insights, celebrity guests and more, leading up to the live concert from 7.30pm. Thereafter, it will remain on our YouTube channel.

Annual Parochial Church Meetings 21 May: 9:30AM Busbridge & 11:30AM Hambledon. The APCMS will replace normal services on 21 May but still involve an act of worship, and children’s groups! The meetings provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate everything that God has done through our churches in the past year and look ahead to the next 12 months. (The Annual Report and Accounts will be available next Sunday.) To vote at the meetings, you must be a member of the Electoral Roll for the church’s meeting you are attending.

Join the Electoral Roll by Friday 5 May - As we approach the Annual Parochial Church Meetings on 21st May this is a reminder that we’d love you to join the church electoral roll if you are not on it already. To complete the application form, please go to Membership.

Serve on the PCC (briefly)! Would you like to serve on the Busbridge PCC or Hambledon PCC for the next 8 months, before the PCC for Godalming Minster is formed? There are 8 vacancies on the Busbridge PCC and 5 vacancies on the Hambledon PCC. If you have been on the electoral roll for 6 months or more, please consider this important role. Nomination forms are at the back of each church for candidates, and should be submitted to the church office before the meetings.

BJS MUGA and Governers
Thanks to Matt Rooke, one of our Busbridge Junior School Foundation Governors who took part in a Q&A at Busbridge Services last weekend, and will be visiting Hambledon next Sunday. Matt shared what the role entails and how you could make a difference to the school. There is also an update on the exciting project to build an artificial pitch on the school playing field for use by the school and local community groups. So far, an amazing 90% of the £166,000 has been raised and we’d be delighted if people would like to give towards the MUGA project, in the usual ways (BACS, online or cheque all gratefully received). Please go to GIVING. If you are registered for Gift Aid with Busbridge PCC, we can pass the gift aid on to the school.

The Outward Giving Group is looking for more members who are passionate about outward giving and mission. Shelagh will be standing down from her current role as Chair at the APCM and we need a replacement. The group is also looking for somebody to co-ordinate the ongoing appeal for the HMP Send Nazareth Way project in Busbridge, perhaps by organising a lunch or similar event as Hambledon are doing, and somebody to co-ordinate the organsation and distribution of Christmas Hampers when the time comes (mid-November to mid-December). Please in the first instance contact Shelagh Godwin at shelagh.godwin@bhcgodalming.org

And, looking forward to May:

BHC are not planning a church-orientated project or a house-to-house collection for Christian Aid Week 14-20 May. However, please read the web site for how you can support this invaluable charity, and join us at Nexus on 4th May to hear about one of the many Christian Aid projects....

The Nexus 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.

Furniture and household items for local Ukranians
Local Ukrainians, many of whom have now been with their hosts for a year, are trying to find flats to rent so that they can move out and let their hosts have their homes back. As these flats are unfurnished, they need all household items that one might need to furnish a flat from scratch from furniture to saucepans and cutlery. If you have an unwanted item that you think might be useful for them and would be happy to pass it on, would you please contact, in the first instance, Diane Alder e: diane.alder@btinternet.com or text 07920 828 191 or Peter Crane e: Peter.crane1973@virgin.net or text / phone 07712 485 712.

Church Family News

Before Easter we shared the news of the death of Harvey Williams, a once Busbridge church member who had emigrated to Australia. The funeral took place on 19th April, and for those who would like to watch the video of the service, the link is here.

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.

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.

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.

***Please 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 Tour of Brookwood Cemetery led by Ian Tomes. For all events and details, see Prime Time.

Nexus meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, with talks and activities for church members and the community. The 2023 Nexus programme can be found on Nexus.

Elsewhere

The greatest story of all time is movingly recreated with authentic detail, outstanding quality sound and music. The Life of Christ is a passion play not to be missed. It is both educational and entertaining, amusing and serious.

Watch as hundreds of actors bring the story of Jesus to life in an open-air epic production set in stunning Surrey countryside.

Young and old from all walks of life will be mesmerised as the story unfolds across three captivating acts from 10am to 3.30pm.

The retelling of this evocative story against the peaceful backdrop of the Wintershall grounds has a profound effect on visitors.

Perfect for schools, families, faith groups or theatre lovers, The Life of Christ is highly entertaining and unforgettable. Book your visit now.

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

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 & 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.

Weekly Notices for Sunday 30 April 2023