Dear Friends,

It is Mission Sunday on 12th March, and we look forward to hearing about the recent work of SALCET in El Salvador, Kenya and Uganda - the chosen cause for this year’s Easter Appeal - from Chris and Maggie J.

Sunday 12 March: MISSION SUNDAY

Gifted for service
Reading: Ephesians 3:1-13

Busbridge

9.30AM Contemporary Service
Busbridge Church & online
Led by: Patrick Samuels | Speaker: Andy Spencer
Children’s groups meet from 9.20am
The Ark (years R-2) in Busbridge Village Hall, Crèche & Tiny Tigers in the Old Rectory and Explorers (years 3-6) in The Hut

11.15AM Classic Service
Busbridge Church & online
Led by: Sarah Black | Speaker: Andy Spencer

6PM Busbridge Evening Service + Holy Spirit Session 3
Busbridge Church
Led by: Simon Willetts | Speaker: David Brockman
Pathfinder & Ichthus Youth groups start in church.

Hambledon

10AM Morning Worship [Holy Communion]
with Children’s Club
Hambledon Church & online
Led by: Margot Spencer | Speaker: Simon Taylor

Coming Up:

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

Keep it up! The Transformed Life Lent podcast for all 4 churches joining Godalming Minster has a new episode 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.

Notices

Easter 2023
Take a look at the list of events and services for Palm Sunday to Easter Day on the web site. 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 web page to sign up).

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.

Ad for our new 4-11s Children’s Pastor - A reminder that the closing date for applications is 13th Mar. Please encourage candidates to apply, and the recruitment process.

Hambledon Coffee Morning next Weds 15th March at 10.30am All invited for a coffee and chat. Hearing Aid batteries and maintenance available too. 

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.

Mothering Sunday Services 19th March

We will be honouring Mums and maternal figures at our services next Sunday (and there will be a treat to give your Mums):
9.30AM Contemporary with children’s groups & 11.15AM Classic at Busbridge
10AM Hambledon Morning Worship
4PM Hambledon Messy Church at the Village Hall

Special things about Services on 26th March

9.30AM Contemporary at St Peter & St Paul’s - Take 2! The next trial of the Busbridge Contemporary Service at St Peter and St Paul’s will be on 26th March, with children’s groups using Moss Lane. We are grateful to the school for accommodating us, and look forward to making the most of the opportunity to grow children’s activities on Sundays and throughout the week across Godalming. Thanks to EVERYONE for their support, grace and patience as we try out the new venues. The Contemporary service will be followed by the Choral Eucharist at 11.15AM which has shifted back from 10am. Thanks to those who worship at St Peter and St Paul’s for their flexibility.

6PM Hambledon Choral Evensong for Passiontide. A choir is gathered and rehearsing for the Passiontide Choral Evensong. These services take place at Hambledon at key times in the church year. All welcome. The service will use the Book of Common Prayer.

10AM Hambledon Morning Worship, 11.15AM Classic at Busbridge and the 6PM Busbridge Evening Services will also take place as usual, with the 4th session on Gifts of the Holy Spirit following the 6PM service.

Instructions for ChurchSuite can now be found on the web site here, and will be added to next week. Vic Hicks will be in the Yew Tree Café between services if anyone has any questions, or needs help downloading the app.

Get Involved

Nominations are invited for representatives to Godalming Deanery Synod, for the next three year term which runs from 1st July 2023. We are allowed four representatives from Busbridge and three from Hambledon. Elections will take place at the APCMs on Sunday, 21st May. You need to be over 16 and on the electoral roll to stand but do not have to be a current PCC member (you would automatically become a member of PCC if elected to Deanery Synod). The Godalming Deanery is made up of fifteen parishes from the local area and provides an opportunity for lay and clergy representatives to discuss issues which are common to the local churches. The nomination form can be found here: https://www.parishresources.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/DS-Nom-2020.pdf and should be returned to the Church Office.

St Mark’s Church has plans to start a library and is looking for donations of good Christian books. So many different groups use the hall, so any books about Christian faith for seekers, books about suffering and the problem of pain, autobiographies of Christians would be much appreciated. Perhaps Christian children’s books? We want it to be modern readable material which will be accessible for those who want to find out more about christianity or to deepen what faith they have. There will be a box at the back of Busbridge church labelled “Books for St Marks” for the next few weeks. Any questions please feel free to contact me on eashingstubbs@aol.com.

Church newsletter delivery St Mark’s mission is to reach out to the local community to raise awareness of the Church and all it offers. St Marks Church is issuing a Spring Newsletter to the area around the church in March and if anyone could help deliver, that would be good. There will be teams going out if you want to go in pairs. To sign up or to know more information please contact Sheila on sheila.samuels@bhcgodalming.org.

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

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

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.

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 2nd Mar is about the past, present and future of Milford Hospital. For all events and details, see Nexus.

Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer.

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.