Dear friends,

Busbridge Church was packed out last Sunday for the wonderful Ukrainian talk, and full of patriotic atmosphere for the England and Wales football matches on Tuesday. Hambledon Messy was full, fun, and, urr,..Messy. Star-making by 400+ children at the infant and junior schools has been skilfully managed by Juliet, Ben and Cat in time to create the Christmas installation in church, and Prime Timers were also called in to help with scissors and glue. We have a Bishop from Pakistan joining us at the England vs USA game on Friday (7PM in Busbridge Church), and a new Ordinand (trainee vicar) joining BHC for longer. Simon writes more on all these great stories if you continue reading.

As life’s momentum builds for many of us, Advent Sunday is time to hit the || PAUSE button, if only briefly, before the brakes come off completely! The special Advent Evensong, 6PM at Hambledon Church is the time and place to pause this Sunday. It’s fully traditional and provides a good spiritual and reflective starting point for season.

Before that, please share the invite, gather your teammates, start swatting and SIGN UP immediately to the Nexus Christmas Quiz! It’s just over a week away, and in aid of the crucial work of Oakleaf Enterprise. Nexus needs final numbers ASAP to place the order for food. Use the link above for details and to sign up.

Now is also the time to check the Christmas dates, and the rather mammoth church to do list and see if you could help. Don’t forget the “Mince Pie” events that are fun, and key to linking church and community. Have you earmarked an event to attend, a place to serve, and a person, family or group to share the great invitation?

Sunday 27 Nov

Let us walk in the Light of the Lord
Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-5 and Matthew 24: 36 - 44

9.30AM Busbridge Contemporary Service
Led by: Suzie Lambert | Speaker: Simon Taylor
Busbridge Church

10AM Hambledon Morning Worship
Led by: Simon Willetts | Speaker: David Brockman
Hambledon Church

11.15AM Busbridge Classic Service
Led by: Philippa Baker | Speaker: Simon Taylor
Busbridge Church

6PM Hambledon Advent Evensong
Led by: Simon Willetts, with the choir
Hambledon Church

6PM Busbridge Evening Service [Holy Communion]
Led by: Simon Taylor | Speaker: Hilary Pettman
Busbridge Church

Notices

Message from Simon (Taylor):

Celebrate and praise the Lord!

Sometimes a week comes along when there is just good news to share. So often, we see the bad news, so here’s some signs of the love of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit to fill us with greater faith in God and people as we approach Advent. In the past week:

• Busbridge Church was literally packed for an incredibly humbling event led by four brave Ukrainian teenagers. Thank you to Sarah Black and her team and special thanks to Councillors Michael Stubbs and Penny and Paul Rivers for attending (Michael was there from 3pm!) and for kind words of support from our MP and Chancellor. We learnt a great deal about the Christian history and faith of many Ukrainians.

• Our friends from Ukraine were asking for a small donation of £2 for some cards/paintings. People dug deep (there was at least one £50 note) and over £1,000 was raised to provide thermal socks to send to Ukraine. In addition, HJ Hall& Son (specialist extreme conditions clothing manufacturer) have offered a massive discount to allow twice as many socks to be bought. Thank you to HJ Hall, Maria & Martin and the Ukrainian artists and everyone who demonstrated that kindness is very much alive in the face of darkness.

• Hambledon Messy Church was filled with more than 60 people getting involved. Special thanks to Cat Garner for creating a huge amount of glorious mess.

• Our mission of God’s love through the Hearing Aid Clinics has grown to the point where Penny’s clinic in Godalming library had more people attending than ever before. Thank you to Penny for this mission.

• Children at BIS and BJS, and Prime Timers have made over 700 stars for the Busbridge Church Christmas Art installation… and there was great fun this week with several kind Prime Timers putting the stars together. Thank you to Ben and team for the inspiration.

• Sarah Rowden, an ordinand, was with us on Sunday and her family had a lovely welcome. Thank you to the welcomers. Sarah will be joining us in the next week.

• Busbridge Church building was a great venue for showing great football. Thanks to Patrick for this mission initiative.

There’s much to celebrate as we reach out in faith and share our faith in Christ. Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us into more encounters over the next week or two. Simon Taylor.

Please join us for the Nexus Christmas Charity Quiz on Saturday 3rd December at 7.30pm in Busbridge Church. We will be raising funds for Oakleaf Enterprise: Making life work with mental illness (w: oakleaf-enterprise.org). Our brilliant quizmaster duo will be with us again.  Alan Betts will be masterminding the setting of thought-provoking questions and delivering these in his inimitable style; and Dudley Hilton will oversee the amusing graphics, the technical stuff and score keeping!!

Join individually or with friends. EMAIL JANET FOR TICKETS: janetmharvey@btinternet.com or SIGN UP AND PAY on MyChurchSuite.

USE THE NOTES SECTION TO ENTER OTHER TEAM MEMBERS so the organisers can put you on the right team and table. All are welcome – the more the merrier!  Encourage your family and friends to join you and let’s make it a fun evening to start our Christmas celebrations.

Nexus needs names and numbers needs names and numbers for table plans and, more importantly, to let Headley Fine Foods have our Quiche order in advance!

25th Nov. 7pm. Meet the Bishop where World Cup footballs are made! Join us at Busbridge Church for football and to meet Bishop Alwyn of Sialkot, Pakistan. Sialkot is a world leading manufacturer of surgical instruments but right now his diocese is more famous for footballs. The footballs, called Al Rihla balls, used for the World Cup are all made in Sialkot. Al Rihla is Arabic for ‘the journey’. Join us for the football journey and to welcome Bishop Alwyn.

Minster Update. The Minster Transition Steering Group have published a November Update, which can be found here.

Christmas TO DO List
Item 1. BESOM HAMPERS | 2022 Target = 50 Hampers | deadline 11 Dec: Please find the instructions in the Christmas Hampers page and start collecting supermarket fruit trays. If everyone can collect just 1 or 2, cover them neatly in wrapping paper and bring it to Busbridge church with any other treats of the hamper list that would be great.

For other things to do and ways to volunteer, check the volunteer page in the Christmas section.

CREATION CARE: How are we getting on with abad and shamar, the work and care of creation which were the original purpose which mankind was put in the garden for? Even before God established the terms of relationship with Adam and Eve to Himself, He determined the terms of their relationship to the Earth. Their role and identity as part of creation and stewards of it is the point of departure for all of what follows from God; All of His Mission. As we embark on this new part of that same Mission with this minster, is that our point of departure? We want to make sure it is and we are forming a small team to help lead on ensuring the care of creation is as integral to our life as a church as God wants it to be. We would love there to be a representative from each of the churches in the minster. So, if you would like to be involved then do nothing as we are all going to be involved in this, if you would like to help lead it as a rep for your church then please get in touch with Will or Fran through the office. Thank you.

Warm welcome / Warm Hubs at Busbridge Church and St Mark’s
This winter, Busbridge Church has been registered with the Warm Welcome initiative (see: https://www.warmwelcome.uk/) and will provide a warm hub, open to all, with free refreshments for specific times and events.  For example, World Cup England matches will be shown on the big screen.  Several Prime Time events for older people, and the Hambledon Coffee mornings also meet the criteria and we are looking forward to welcoming those who would benefit this winter.

St Mark’s Church and Community Centre provides a warm hub on Tuesdays 12.30-4pm, offering a soup and roll lunch, tea and cake, and these are going well, and also being supported by members of Busbridge&Hambledon Church.

Coming Up:

See the events coming up next below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event for details and the location (online or on site).

Sunday 4 Dec

Exploring the impossible possibility of the new creation
Readings: Isaiah 11: 1-10 and Matthew 3: 1-12

1st in the Sermon series for advent: follow the star

9.30AM MUDDY Church
Led by: Mark Puddephatt and Suzie Lambert
Crown Court, Godalming

10AM Hambledon Morning Worship
Led by: Simon Taylor | Speaker: Dudley Hilton
Hambledon Church

11.15AM Busbridge Classic Advent Reflections with Taizé [Holy Communion]
Led by: Patrick Samuels | Speaker: Chris Payne
Busbridge Church

DATES FOR THE DIARY

Regular Events

Busbridge Morning Prayer Weds at 9am online.

Hambledon Morning Prayer takes place on Wednesdays at 9am. All welcome.

Prayer gatherings for Ukraine are now at Hambledon Church at 7.30pm on 1st Tuesdays of the month.

Next Hambledon Coffee Morning and Hearing Aid Clinic is Weds 16th November. All welcome.

VACANCIES

ELSEWHERE

Churches Together Christmas lunch – volunteers are needed to help with the Christmas lunch on Christmas Day at the Baptist Church for anyone who would otherwise be on their own.  The form setting out the various roles is attached. We are also still looking for a volunteer co ordinator and so if anyone would be willing to do this, please let Sarah Higgins know (sarahhiggins478@gmail.com). Letter to guests and invitation form are also attached for anyone who would like to come.

Christmas Lunch VOLUNTEER Form

Christmas Lunch Invitation

Christmas Lunch Guest Form

Read the latest issue (NOVEMBER) of Churches Together in Godalming and District Link Up.

Don’t forget about…

Things in the following areas may not make the notices, but the latest info can be found on the web pages:

Yew Tree Café Opening Hours 8.30am-4pm
10am-2pm Saturday. The café will be open weekdays at 8.30am from 31 October.

Church Family Support Fund
Do you know of anyone who might be struggling to pay their bills in this very challenging time? The Church Family Support Fund is here to help anyone, in the Godalming area, who is in need financially with a one off payment . All details about the fund and an application form can be found on the Busbridge church web site, or please contact Jill Johnston on 01483 422194.

Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer.

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.