In anticipation of the 2022 "Autumn Spruce" day on 17 September, here's the sort of thing you can expect!
Dear friends,
If you are not away, you might be embarking on some garden tidying or a small and manageable DIY project at home or for someone else. It could be an excellent warm up for the church Autumn Spruce on 17 September! Watch the short video above if you’d like to be enthused.
Read on for details about:
What and where this Sunday and next (the services)
The BHC4Ukraine lunch last Sunday
The ad for a new full time Worship Pastor, and FULL TIME 4-11s Children’s Worker
HMP Send appeal - How about lunch with Helen?
Muddy Church and Hymns & Pimm’s - 4 Sep
Changes to services in September
Alpha starting 15 Sep
Sunday 28 August
Philip and the Ethiopian official
Reading: Acts 8:26-40
10AM Morning Worship
Led by: Fran Duffell | Speaker: David Jenkins
Hambledon Church
10.30AM Combined Worship
Led by: Simon Taylor | Speaker: Margot Spencer
Busbridge Church
6PM Busbridge Evening Service
[Holy Communion]
Led by: Simon Willetts
Busbridge Church
This is Ben Ford’s last Sunday leading worship. Thanks to him for his wonderful contribution to the musical life of the church, and “raising the roof” in the last 9 months. We wish God’s guidance and blessing in whatever good things are next.
Sunday 4 September
*New Term*New Service times*
Produce enduring faithfulness
Readings: 2 Timothy 2:1-13
No Morning Service
4PM Hymns & Pimms
Hambledon Church
9.30AM Muddy Church
(Replaces the Contemporary service in Church)
11.15AM Classic Service [Holy Communion]
Led by: Andy Spencer | Speaker: Keith Harper
Busbridge Church
Notices
Thank you to Sarah Black, Will Godwin and the team who hosted an event for Ukrainians and their hosts, last Sunday afternoon, in the Old Rectory Garden and church. The young people produced an incredibly moving presentation about their experiences and it was humbling for everyone who was there to hear them sharing their hearts so openly. If you’d like to support Sarah and Will in this mission of care and love, please get in touch.
Sarah writes:
We had a wonderful time with Ukrainian guests and their hosts in the Old Rectory last Sunday. Busbridge and Hambledon provided a delicious picnic spread with sausage rolls, cheese straws, sandwiches, cakes and delicious strawberries donated by Hall Hunter Partnership.
Unbeknown to us, the Ukrainian young people had put together a presentation to teach us more about Ukraine. They had film of life before the war and sadly many images of life as it is now. A quiz worked out what we know and what we don’t about Ukraine and everyone came away with a far greater understanding of life and culture in a country that has become so much closer to us.
Everyone was incredibly friendly, many people had excellent language skills and were happy to try out their English on the locals filling in the gaps with a bouncy castle, pop up tennis, face painting by one of the Ukrainian Mums and lots of chat and opportunity to develop friendships.
We are looking at another date when we can invite the young people to showcase their presentation again, along with tea and cake. Watch out for more information.
SIGN UP NOW to the Autumn Spruce!
Click here for details and to sign up
Having missed the Spring Clean and the Summer Blitz, come September the churches will be in much need of a back to church Autumn “Spruce”! Please sign up now. We do need your help, but the getting together is just as important. Click the flyer to sign up.
And on the subject of cleaning up and clearing out, if anyone is a keen user of online market places (e.g. ebay, freecycle, facebook marketplace) the church office would love to hear from you. The church has an ebay account, but is looking for someone to post the items and monitor the account.
Worship Pastor We are now advertising for a permanent full time Worship Pastor. It’s a crucial role, and the ad is posted on the BHC vacancies page, the Guildford Diocese web site and New Wine jobs section. Do you know anyone who might be interested?
We'd love to be able to offer subsidised or free housing for the post to widen the attraction. Might you, or anyone you know, offer to have them as a lodger, or have them living in your annex? Please speak to Karen Hart, 07891 114306, for further details or a chat.
The search for a new FULL TIME 4-11s Children’s Worker continues. Please take a look at the revised job, pray and share it. Simon would be happy to talk to anyone about it, even if the specification and terms are not a perfect match.
Please continue to pray for these vacancies and that God’s people are called to the roles.
Outward Giving request to support the HMP Send appeal: Why not have lunch with Helen? (Leaflets are at the back of the churches)
Having served her time at HMP Send Helen is about to be released. On a Friday afternoon, just as everything is closing for the weekend, Helen walks through the prison gates with just £76 in her pocket. This is hardly enough to find her food, accommodation, and everything else she needs to see her through the weekend. And, quite likely, nobody knowing her background will trust her with a job either.
Most likely, through desperation, she will return to a life of crime simply to get some cash. And soon she will be behind bars again. Is this really necessary?
The BHC Outward Giving Group has come up with a scheme to help Helen and women like her. Give up a meal out during the summer or autumn and donate the money saved to the Nazareth Way at HMP Send. Prison Chaplain Lesley Mason will be delighted to see us helping in this way. Think of what £3000 would do in helping Helen and those like her out of their predicament.
If you are challenged by this, please donate £50 (the price of the average meal out) or anything you can afford to ‘Lunch with Helen Fund’, Busbridge PCC, Old Rectory, Old Rectory Gardens, Godalming GU7 1PU, by cheque, or direct to Busbridge PCC account 00705349, sort code 60-09-04, putting ‘Lunch with Helen Fund’ in the reference field. Shelagh Godwin, for the BHC Outward Giving Group
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).
NEXUS starts its Autumn term on Thursday 8th September, when Patrick Samuels, our recently ordained Curate, will give his talk on ‘My Life Journey’. It will be interesting to hear of his faith journey, as well as a little of his other interests and former careers, before he joined us at Busbridge and Hambledon Church. Do come along and get to know Patrick better.
We meet in Busbridge Old Rectory at 8.00pm. There’ll be a welcoming glass of wine, or soft drinks, and nibbles and the chance to catch up with each other before Patrick starts his presentation. All are welcome, including men if they’d like to come along.
Autumn Alpha Course - an Autumn Alpha course will start on Thursday 15th September at St Mark’s Church and run on Thursdays until 24th November (with a break for half-term). Contact Sheila.Samuels@bhcgodalming.org if you’d like to join the course or find out more. We are looking for a catering team to provide one or more of the meals. Please let Sheila know if you’d like to help with this fundamental and most enjoyable element!
Vacancies
Also, the Diocese of Guildford is now advertising for a Hear Here! Project Lead and given BHC’s involvement with the project, it would be lovely if someone from BHC wanted to go for it. Penny Naylor would be happy to speak to anyone about the project and the new role if people want to find out a bit more while considering whether or not to apply. The skills needed are experience of leading initiatives, managing projects and keeping on top of all the associated admin. Knowledge of how to retube a hearing aid or how to run a hearing aid clinic are not required as Sophie will continue to oversee all the technical side of things.
Please see the job ad here.
Please pray for
The vacancies on the staff team
Staff, children and parents as the new school year begins
Hambledon Park
New Road and Salt Lane, Hydestile and its road stewards Olwen Downhill
New Service times at both churches from September
A reminder that the Busbridge Contemporary will take place first at 9.30am and the Classic at 11.15am.
Hambledon is introducing a single 10AM service with a blended format, with Common Worship liturgy and informal contemporary elements, from September. Children’s work will be available at 10AM apart from Messy Church Sundays (3rd of the month).
Pick up a list of the new service times for September from church this Sunday or over the summer. It includes the special Sunday dates for Autumn too, so please watch out for the deviations!
ELSEWHERE
Read the latest issue (JULY) of Churches Together in Godalming and District Link Up.
From Godalming Baptist Church: Maureen Jones is retiring from her role as Friendship Lunch cook. We are so grateful for all her very hard work over many years. We are now seeking a new cook . Friendship Lunch is a great outreach to the local community to show God's love to many who live alone. We need someone who would be willing to work fortnightly Thursdays (or monthly) 9.00am-2.00pm and fortnightly on Wednesdays in preparation (or monthly)
Please contact Sally Pollard-01483-428646 -e-mail-pollard3@hotmail.co.uk for more details. A warm welcome awaits!
Godalming Baptist Church Life Sessions. Please see the full brochure here. September’s talk is on Compassion Fatigue
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
10am-4pm [takeaway to 4.30pm] Weekdays in school holidays. 8.30am-4pm from 5 Sep.
10am-2pm Saturday
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.