This Sunday 20 March
Living with each other: gifted
1 Peter 4:7-11
Part 5 of the sermon series The Character of Living Holiness, with readings from 1 Peter
THIS SUNDAY
9.15AM BUSBRIDGE Classic Service
Led by: Frances Shaw
Speaker: Simon Taylor
Busbridge Church & Online
9.30AM HAMBLEDON Heritage Service
Leader: Andy Spencer
Speaker: Peter Shaw
Hambledon Church & Online
10.30AM BUSBRIDGE Contemporary Service
Leaders: Margot Spencer and Mark Williams
Speaker: Simon Taylor
Busbridge Church & Online
4PM HAMBLEDON Messy Church
Hambledon Village Hall
6PM BUSBRIDGE Evening Service [Holy Communion]
Leader & Speaker: Simon Taylor
Busbridge Church
Next Sunday 27 Mar - Mothering Sunday
Carefree
1 Peter 5: 6-14
Part 6 of Living Holiness
9.15AM BUSBRIDGE Classic Service
Led by: Maggie Jagger
Speaker: Ruth Roseblade
Busbridge Church & Online
9.30AM HAMBLEDON Heritage Service
Leader: Simon Willetts
Speaker: Margot Spencer
Hambledon Church & Online
10.30AM BUSBRIDGE Contemporary Service [Holy Communion]
with Mothering Sunday craft for those in children’s groups
Leaders: Andy Spencer
Speaker: Ruth Roseblade
Busbridge Church & Online
10.30AM HAMBLEDON Contemporary Service
Leader & Speaker: Simon Willetts
Hambledon Church
6PM UNPLUGGED Youth Service
Led by Anto Ficatier and the Unplugged team
Busbridge Church
During Lent, the weekly prayer vigils for Ukraine will continue on TUESDAYS: 7.30pm at Hambledon Church, and 8pm at Busbridge Church. On Tuesday 22 March, the Busbridge Vigil will finish with a time of prayer and blessing for the Yew Tree Café, the evening before it’s opening on Wednesday 23 March.
The Churches are open for private prayer daily, and there will be community friendly guidance for your prayers, and tea lights to take away.
Busbridge&Hambledon Church has registered with the The Sanctuary Foundation which is working with the government to provide a network, advice and signposting to those who wish to host a family from Ukraine. More than 8,000 people joined the The Sanctuary Foundation’s webinar on Weds 16 March, which included interviews with groups who have experience settling refugees in the UK. You can watch the 90 min webinar again here.
JOIN THE “BHC 4 UKRAINE” TEAM
While await the launch of the government’s programme, the Outward Giving group is gathering a team to coordinate “community sponsorship” opportunities, and ways to welcome individuals and families into the parish as they are settled with hosts. If you would like to join those who have already stepped in, please contact Shelagh Godwin e: church.office@bhcgodalming.org.
GIVE £
We continue to encourage financial giving directly to the DEC Ukraine Appeal. Alternatively, Hambledon is collecting for the DEC via the Hambledon Ukraine Appeal which instigated by members of the village and church. There are cash and electronic collection points in the church, pub, Hambledon Nursery and the village shop which will go to the Just Giving campaign: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hambledonukraineappeal
The Yew Tree Café opening Wednesday 23 March. After much anticipation, prayer and elbow grease, the Yew Tree Café is looking forward to welcoming it’s first customers next Wednesday - 8.30am to 4.30pm. Come along for a barista coffee, tea, hot chocolate, handmade cake and a light lunch. The staff and volunteers have been handpicked by God to provide a warm welcome. The café is CASHLESS and takes contactless payments only. Who needs anything else these days?
There will be prayer for the café at the end of the Ukraine Prayer Vigil on Tuesday, and a thanksgiving and ribbon cutting at the end of the 10.30am combined service on 3rd April (Mission Sunday for the Besom).
Thanks to those who have recorded a thought on a verse from 1 Peter. They are so encouraging! Catch up by using the page link above.
To help those providing hospitality, please use the Easter page above to sign up to the Hot Cross Bun adventure, and the Easter Garden Service and Egg Hunt.
Help needed for Lent & Easter Events:
Refreshments at Hambledon for the Good Friday Hot Cross Bun Adventure - team in place - Thank you!
Cakes & bakes for the Easter Garden Service on Saturday 15 April. Please let us know if you can make something for the delicious cake table during the egg hunt in the Old Rectory garden by filling in the cake form. The cakes must be NUT FREE and it is helpful if people could list the ingredients. Thanks to those who have already committed to make and bake.
Helpful Habits Refresher - Mondays at 8.45am on Zoom
Did you start a habit of quiet prayer sometime in the past and feel you have become rusty? Or would you like some help with quiet, reflective prayer times? Gertrud Sollars and Shan Hallam are going to use the Reflective Prayer times on Monday mornings in Lent to present and practise different ways of listening to God in quiet, using scripture and anything else that helps. No need to book – join us on Zoom, meeting ID 946 391 4833, password 2022, Mondays from 8.45 to 9.30. We only have 45 minutes, so please come on time. Still to go: 21.03.22 Praying with poetry, 28.03.22 Praying with the imagination, 04.04.22 Praying the Examen /prayer doodling, 11.04.22 Prayer journaling /writing to God.
‘Inspired to…Bloom’ Frances will be talking about the Language of Flowers, a concept popular in Victorian times whereby flowers were attributed meanings and a bouquet of flowers was full of symbolism. Frances will also make reference to the various floral symbols included in the fabric and architecture of Busbridge Church as well as highlighting some of the many floral references contained within the Bible and how we ourselves might be inspired to ‘bloom’. Tea & cake will be served after the talk.
Event details: Busbridge Church, Monday March 28th at 2.30pm. For catering purposes please can people book onto the event by emailing: primetime@bhcgodalming.org A free event although donations welcomed towards the cost of refreshments.
Please check the Godalming Minster Evaluation page under News for the proposal, and updates from the steering group.
CALL TO PRAYER for the Minster Evaluation Process:
9AM Wednesdays on Zoom
5PM Sunday 10 April at St Peter and St Paul’s Church
Members of BHC, St Mark’s and St Peter & St Paul are called to pray together to undergird the discussions regarding the Bishop's suggestion that we become one parish with St. Peter and St. Paul and St. Mark's Churches and form a Minster. The first prayer meeting on 13 March was wonderfully led and attended. Please join the next special meeting at St Peter and St Paul’s 10 April.
Members of both parishes are also invited to join Busbridge Morning Prayer led by Andy Spencer on Wednesday mornings on Zoom. For the Zoom link to join Monday Prayer on Wednesdays, please go the Prayer page.
Verger needed for weddings and funerals at Busbridge
We have a vacancy to fill from the end of May. Ad-hoc verger duties are paid per service, and more details are available on request. If you are interested, please get in touch catherine.garner@bhcgodalming.org. Training will be given, and there is a chance to learn alongside Keith Harper at a funeral on 6 April.
The latest edition of the Bridge Magazine is now available online and will be out for delivery next week. Thanks, and a big pat on the back, to new editor David Brockman!
In search of the Busbridge church tablecloths…if anyone has knowledge or possession of the blue (6), green gingham or pink tablecloths, which used to live in the old Centre, and most often used by Prime Time, please let Penny Naylor know, or return them to the Old Rectory.
Coming Up:
See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event for details and the location (online or on site).
Looking Ahead
Nexus Event: ‘Who’d go out in the Woods at Night?’ Answer: Surrey Search and Rescue! That’s the chilling title of the presentation on Thursday 7th April by Rosie Jordan, Events Manager for Surrey SAR. Surrey Search & Rescue is an entirely voluntary specialist search team which assists the emergency services find missing vulnerable adults and children. They are on-call 24 hours a day, with a team of 80+ people and search dogs, to respond across Surrey and surrounding areas. This gives just an inkling of what that means for vulnerable missing people in our area. Do come along to learn more and see how we can support this vital charity. We’ll meet in the Busbridge Old Rectory at 8.00pm. You’ll be welcomed with a glass of wine or a soft drink and have a chance to catch up with each other before Rosie begins her talk. We look forward to seeing you. We invite you to become a member of Nexus, for a fee of £18. There’s a £5.00 visitor fee for non-members. All are welcome, including men!
The Big Spring Clean will take place on 23 April - in the morning at Busbridge and the afternoon at Hambledon. It’s a great church family event, with physical work rewarded by a BBQ lunch and/or afternoon tea.
Alpha @ Hambledon Contemporary. The next Alpha course will take place on Sundays at 10.30am in Hambledon Church, starting on 24 April. Anyone wishing to explore the Christian faith is invited. Watch this space for more details, and get in touch with Simon.Willetts@bhcgodalming.org if this is something you’d like to try.
Join the Electoral Roll / 2022 APCMs on 22 May: 10.30am Busbridge & 4pm Hambledon. To vote in the elections of church officers (church wardens) and other matters you must be on the electoral roll. If you have not already enrolled, please submit you application form ASAP - see Electoral Roll.
Heritage Weekend 17-18 September 2022
The regular Heritage weekend reps are unable to be at Busbridge Church to show people around this year. If you would like to help at any time on the afternoons, please contact Michael Stubbs e: volunteer@bhcgodalming.org. A confirmation of whether a welcomer and guide will be available is needed before the brochure goes to print in April.
Please Pray for
the BHC staff team - leadership, admin, clergy
The Avenue and road steward Rosie James
Roundals Lane
ELSEWHERE
Please see the March issue of Link Up HERE and info on other local church events:
£ donations to St Mark’s Foodbank
From time to time the foodbank needs to buy specific items for customers that they don’t have in stock. Unfortunately cash reserves are low and the foodbank is appealing for financial donations as well as goods. To give money, please donate by BACS to St Marks Community Centre, sort code 402212, a/c 91277766, or send cheques to St Marks, Franklyn Road, Godalming GU7 2LD.
Godalming Baptist Church Life Sessions are back in 2022. Topics covered: Decision Making and the Will of God; Autism; Compassion Fatigue; Growing Old Disgracefully - holding onto what matters with increasing age; Bereavement; Come and Be Colourful. Please see the full brochure here.
HOWLING OWL at the Holloway Hill Recreation ground:
The bar is open:-
Sundays 12 - 6pm
Tuesday 7.30 - 10.30
Thursday 8.30 - 10.30
The horse box is open:-
Saturday 9-5
Sunday 9-5
COVID NOTICE
All legal restrictions are now lifted for churches and places of worship. This means that face coverings are no longer a legal requirement in services. However, The Church of England and the Bishop of Guildford suggest that churches consider maintaining some precautions for the care and consideration of all members, and that these are at the discretion of the incumbent.
Busbridge&Hambledon church continues to welcome the use of face coverings in services, and a supply of masks and hand sanitiser is available in both churches and the Old Rectory. Neither church is large enough to guarantee social distancing, but we hope that those who wish to keep a little more space between themselves and others can do so. Communion will continue to be celebrated in one kind. Thank you for your ongoing co-operation, and respect for each other.
Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer.
PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE
To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org or call 01483 421267.
Listening prayer is available mid-week.