Dear Friends,
This Sunday we are continuing the Alpha syllabus and tackling one of the big questions! Next Sunday the fortnight of Harvest Festival services begin so please start adding a bit extra to your shopping trolleys to bring along for the Foodbank. The Foodbank relies on Harvest and Christmas collections to boost stock levels, and would appreciate nappies in all sizes, oatcakes and gluten free cereal and biscuits as well as other non perishables on the Foodbank shopping list.
This Sunday
Why did Jesus die?
Reading: Matt 26: 20-29
29 September
9am Choral Eucharist
Church Street (St Peter & St Paul’s)
9.30am Breakfast / 10am Café Church
Franklyn Road (St Mark’s)
Every fifth Sunday we meet at 9.30am for breakfast – bacon butties and/or croissants available – moving seamlessly into Café Church at about 10. All are welcome, whether you normally come to Franklyn Road or not. We should love to see you … and please feel free to bring a friend.
10am Classic Service
Brighton Road (Busbridge)
10am Morning Worship
Hambledon (St Peter’s)
10.30am Contemporary Service
Church Street (St Peter & St Paul’s)
6pm Evening Service Fifth Sunday Special
Brighton Road (Busbridge)
An extended time of praise and worship together, followed by bring and share refreshments (finger food, sweet or savoury please). All welcome!
Look up services for next Sunday and find more information about congregations and service times on ChurchSuite, or the Sundays page on the web site. If you are on a rota, ChurchSuite will ping you a reminder by email, but you can also use the ChurchSuite app to check yourself.
Notices
After an incredible 10 years of faithful service, our wonderful 0-4’s worker, Juliet Gilbert, will be stepping down to spend more time with her family. Her final working day will be Wednesday, 30th October.
We are beyond grateful for the countless lives Juliet has impacted, the love and creativity she’s poured into our little ones, and the joy she’s brought to our church family. Her dedication has truly shaped and blessed this ministry.
While we will certainly miss Juliet, we are excited for this new season in her life and wish her and the family every blessing! Please join us in expressing our heartfelt thanks and praying for her as she embarks on this next chapter. We will be saying goodbye to Juliet on Sunday 27th Oct at Contemporary. Please see ways to give and if you’d like to contribute to a gift.
Thank you to David Brockman (Contemporary) for his time and dedication as editor of The Bridge Magazine over the past two years. David is handing over the magazine as he begins his training to be a licensed lay minister. We are delighted that Brian Whitehead (Classic congregation) will be the new editor, and that the much loved parish magazine for the Busbridge community will continue to be in safe and creative hands!
Please continue to pray for two groups in particular which are longing to equip and strengthen God’s Kingdom in and around Godalming Minster over the coming weeks. The Bible Course is running in the Yew Tree Café on Wednesday evenings, and our Autumn Alpha Courses began this week with an introductory sessions. You can still sign up to Alpha either Wednesdays at 7.30pm, or Thursdays at 12pm, and please do take the opportunity to invite friends along.
Alpha now on Weds evenings & Thurs lunchtimes
To find out more or register for a place go to https://godalmingminster.org/alpha
Please note: The sign up button takes you to the Wednesday evening course, but gives the option to sign up for Thursday lunchtimes instead.
Recruitment of bookkeeping service provider to expanding Minster Finance team
It’s an exciting time as Godalming Minster extends its ministry and activities across our four sites and three former parishes. But with that excitement comes a lot of extra accounting work! To support that important work (which in turn supports our mission and ministry) we are looking to contract the services of an experienced bookkeeper to join the finance team, working from home under the supervision of the Treasurer and Management Accountant. This is a part-time role under a contract for services with flexible work patterns, expected to average around 18 hours per month, but precise number of hours may vary from month to month. Workload is likely to be higher between January and April during preparation of end of year accounts and subsequent audit. Precise responsibilities s can be agreed depending on the skills and experience of the individual, but the main task is monthly bookkeeping of income and expenditure, comprising:
Posting of transactions on Xero – the church’s accounting software
Reconciling transactions to the relevant bank accounts
Other reconciliations where necessary, including Barclaycard statements
Set up and maintain spreadsheet records where necessary
Assist with journals and control account reconciliations as required
Keep electronic and paper files suitable for audit purposes
Any other tasks reasonably required by the Management Accountant and Treasurer
Liaise with Management Accountant, Treasurer and staff members in performing these duties
Training in church accounts and processes will be provided, but the service provider would need to be familiar with general bookkeeping and related software including Excel and ideally Xero. Remuneration will be competitive for such bookkeeping services. To discuss in more detail please contact Lesley Reeves (management accountant: accounts@godalmingminster.org) or Martin Lambert (Treasurer: martin.lambert@godalmingminster.org ).
Coming Up
October
Compton Phone Box – Local Landmark with global following!
This month at Nexus on Thu 3rd Oct at 8pm:
We are delighted to welcome Mr Chris Sharples, co-founder of the Compton Phone Box upcycling project, who will tell us the story behind this local treasure which makes people smile whilst also raising money for charity. Chris is also Head Gardener for Watts Gallery and a senior florist. Compton Phone Box nearby has its own Instagram following and, recently, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris were chosen as the theme, with local youngsters keeping a tally of GB medals. All are welcome, including men!
New members welcome! 2024 Annual Subscription £20
Guests: £5.00 contribution towards speaker costs
Our 2024 charity is: Farncombe Community Garden
Newcomers Tea
3pm, Sunday 6 Oct at Spinney Copse. The Taylors are hosting a tea for all those who are dipping their toe, or have jumped right into Godalming Minster in recent months. It might be through getting married, holding a baptism or funeral, attending a group or one of our services. There will be tea and cake, and members of the clergy and ministry teams to chat to. Please let vic.hicks@godalmingminster.org know if you’d like to come, or if you can think of anyone who needs an invitation. We look forward to getting to know you better! Your invitation to the Newcomers Tea.
We will be celebrating Harvest over two Sundays:
6th October
Harvest at 9.30am Choral Eucharist
13th October
Harvest at all other services:
8am Holy Communion
10am Franklyn Road
10am Classic
10.30am Contemporary
11am Hambledon Harvest Service and 12.15pm Lunch at the Village Hall (details below).
John & Sue’s farewell and harvest lunch - 13th October
A reminder that John and Sue’s final service will be Sunday 13th October at the Church Street Contemporary, followed by a bring and share farewell and harvest lunch. Everyone is invited! During the lunch, we will be giving John and Sue a gift of love and gratitude. To contribute to this, please see ways to donate. John and Sue will move to Cornwall soon after 13th October. Please pray for John and Sue as they begin their retirement from parish ministry.
Hambledon will hold its Harvest Festival at Hambledon Village Hall, with an 11am service, followed by lunch: Hot main, pudding and a glass of wine or soft drink - £10pp. Tickets are available from the Village Shop and at Church Services. You also can sign up on ChurchSuite HERE.
Applications for church school places
Attention parents of children in year 2: if you have been a regular member of Godalming Minster for 3 years and wish to apply for a church place at Busbridge Junior School, please contact Jenny Lansdowne for information.
e: jenny.lansdowne@godalmingminster.org
What’s on Where
See the events coming up next and look up dates further ahead in the full Minster Calendar.
Mission Update - 15 September
Mission beyond: loving people
Key to the vision and purpose of Godalming Minster is to share God’s love by serving others, nurturing our own discipleship and sharing the story and joy of His love by our witness. Traditionally, this is done through Minster led outreach activities, as well as supporting a range of Christian mission initiatives.
In the past, each of our former parishes had different approaches to mission partnership. Under Sheila Samuels, the former Mission and Outward Giving work of two parishes has become part of a new mission team (which now awaits leadership by the new Associate Minister for Mission and Evangelism, based at Franklyn Road).
For the coming season, Godalming Minster aims to develop long term, deeply prayerful relationships with a few regular groups who have a mission and evangelism heart. The mission focus outlined is fixed for the next few years. Each of the mission agencies has a connection to the Minster, so we can share in the successes and challenges of their activities and be actively involved together.
Each festival time of the year, you’ll be able to commit your financial and prayer support to all the mission partners we’re supporting, some of them, or one. You can indicate this on the mission giving forms and online/via your banking. Only our treasurer knows who gives both for mission and in any giving in general.
Harvest is about…loving people and renewing faith - focussing mission locally and nationally
We’ll be collecting harvest goods for the Franklyn Road Foodbank at all Harvest services, and raising funds for the Church Army (National Anglican Evangelism).
Christmas is about…loving people - focusing mission locally
We’ll be raising funds for female inmates at HMP Send, and Godalming based charities The Cellar Camino Café and Skillway. We’ll be collecting Christmas goodies to produce hampers for clients of the Franklyn Road Foodbank and households known to the Minster via our church schools.
Easter is about…following Jesus and renewing faith - focussing mission nationally and overseas
We’ll be raising funds for the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS), and Five Talents (a global mission partner).
In addition, the PCC has set aside annual funds to support youth work in the town through TTT, and Eco church developments, so we can encourage others to also care for God’s creation. Funds also go directly to support our two church schools.
Foodbank Update
The Franklyn Road Foodbank is getting busier at the moment, and currently short of oatcakes, gluten free cereal and biscuits and nappies in all sizes 3-6 please! BUT all donations of food and cleaning items are welcome anytime. See the Foodbank for more info.
Church Family News
We remember Mary Pagan, whose gifts as a flower arranger enhanced many of our church events. Please pray for her close friends and all who mourn for her. Mary’s service will be in Godalming Minster Brighton Road, on Thursday 3 October at 12.30 p.m.
Elsewhere
The next Theology Hub event on 24 October is with Rev’d Prof Jeremy Begbie. Jeremy will give a performance lecture (theology and live music) on the topic of the relevance of the arts for people of faith. This will be an excellent evening for discipleship for your key leaders, for people who have recently done Alpha or who might be interested in looking at theology, and for all who are involved in worship and music.
Jeremy is an academic who speaks in a down to earth way that connects with a range of audiences. You can buy your ticket here:
Life Issues 2024 - a programme of talks and course run by Godalming Baptist Church.
Life Issues Talk: Living with Anxious Thoughts - 19th October at Godalming Baptist Church
The last Life Issue session of 2024 is coming up at Godalming Baptist Church on Saturday 19th October 10.00am-12.30pm (coffee from 9.30am). 'Living With Anxious Thoughts' led by Dr Martin Brunet, GP at Binscombe Medical Centre and Dr Jenna McKeown, Clinical Psychologist.
This promises to be such a helpful and informative morning. The session will look at all aspects of anxious thoughts including intrusive thoughts and health anxiety and aims to understand where these thoughts come from and how best to manage them. There is no charge but donations much appreciated towards 'The Farncombe Community Garden'.
Please do contact Sally to book a place-01483-428646 or e-mail pollard3@hotmail.co.uk by Friday 4th October. Thank you so much for all your support
Can we pray for you?
***Please send prayer requests to prayer@godalmingminster.org***
Mid-week Prayer Gatherings
Restart in September!
Community & Fellowship
The Hub at Franklyn Road provides a free lunch and time to socialise every Tuesday from 12-2.30pm. Open to all in the area, and across the Minster. (Donations of homemade cakes are always welcome.)
Nexus meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, with talks and activities for church members and the community. More about Nexus.
The Men’s Group meets for breakfast at 8.15am on the 1st Saturdays of the month. See the calendar for details.
Hambledon Coffee Morning and Hearing Aid Clinic takes place 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 10.30am.
The 2024 Prime Time programme is now available. For all events and details, see Prime Time.
Get Involved / Join a team
We're passionate about people feeling like they're a part of our church family and one of the best places to do that is as part of a team.
No matter your age or experience, there's a team that you can join, serving alongside others and getting to know people better in the church. You can find out about all our opportunities to serve and offer your time and talents on the Join a Team page.
Don’t forget about…
MyChurchSuite is an app for members of Godalming Minster 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 Minster Office if you’ve lost your login details or would like to request an account. See more instructions.
Yew Tree Café
at Godalming Minster Brighton Road
The Yew Tree Café at Godalming Minster Brighton Road is open 8.30am-4pm weekdays in term time, and 10am-2pm on Saturdays, and 9.30am-4pm during school holidays. There’s wi-fi and power for those that want to work, and Prime Time hosts a drop in session for anyone who’d like a coffee and a chat every Monday from 10.30-11.30am.
Please note the café will be closed on Saturday 3rd August.
PASTORAL CARE & PRAYER MINISTRY
If you, or someone you know at church, are in need of support and care, please contact Sandra Wilkin via the Minster office, or e: pastoral@godalmingminster.org.
To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@godalmingminster.org or call 01483 421267.