Dear Friends,
It’s one day to go until the fantastic, much better alternative to Halloween - Godalming Minster’s Neon Light Party at Brighton Road! Please pray for Ben, Jenny and the CYF volunteers who are organising and leading this wonderful community event for children in years R-6. And thank you to everyone involved.
In the this week’s notices:
Services this Sunday
Vacancies, Archdeacon’s meeting and prayer gatherings
Help needed in Advent and Christmas
This Sunday
How can I resist evil (and make the most of my life)?
Readings: Genesis 3.1-13 & Ephesians 6.10-18
9am Choral Eucharist
Church Street
10am Classic Service [HC]
Brighton Road
10am Morning Worship
Hambledon
10am Morning Worship
Franklyn Road
10.30am Church in the Park
Contemporary All Age at The Phillips Memorial Park
6pm Evening Service
Brighton Road
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
Clergy and staff news
Prep. for Simon’s leaving and the vacancy starting 5 Jan 2025:
Archdeacon’s Public Meeting
Mon 4 Nov, 7.30pm at Church Street
The Archdeacon of Surrey, The Venerable Catharine Mabuza will be briefing the parish of Godalming Minster on the process to advertise and appoint a new Rector, after the departure of Simon Taylor on 5th Jan 2025. Everyone who is part of Godalming Minster is strongly encouraged to attend.
Vacancy Prayers 8-9pm 1st Weds of the month
Starting next Wed 6 Nov, Simon Willetts invites you to these prayer gatherings specifically to pray for the Minster during the Vacancy and to seek God for new Rector. There will be a a short and informal time of worship, teaching and prayer at each of the sessions, and the gatherings to move each Minster location: 6 Nov will be at Franklyn Road, 4 Dec Church Street, 8 Jan Brighton Road, 5 Feb Hambledon and then 5 Mar Ash Weds at Church Street…
If you would like to join the prayer gathering online, please use the link to the online prayer room on Zoom with passcode: 2024.
Help needed in Advent
Please do express your willingness to serve during Advent and at Christmas, at particular events or in general, by emailing the team in the office: e: office:godalmingminster.org. We need musicians, AV, stewards and people to welcome and serve refreshments at numerous services from 24th Nov to 25th December.
Church Family News
We have been saddened to hear of the death of John Stevens, on Sunday 27 October, after a period of illness. He was a longstanding member of Godalming Parish Church (as it was) and also an active member of Churches Together, including a number of years as treasurer. Please pray for Sue and the family, asking God to surround them with his peace and comfort.
Many of you will know that Frances Trickey has been poorly for some time. It is with great sadness that we share that she died last Thursday evening (24th October). There are no funeral details yet, but we will pass them on as soon as we hear. Please pray for Jolyon, Josh, Abi and the whole family as they mourn, asking God to give them his peace and comfort.
Coming Up
October
Neon Light Party, 31st Oct 4-5.30pm at Brighton Road
Open to anyone is school years R-6. Go to ChurchSuite for more details and sign up.
November
Men’s Breakfast Sat 2nd Nov 8.15am in the Busbridge Old Rectory
This month we'll be looking at one of the worst kept secrets in recent history, today's Budget, and assessing how it measures up theologically as well as fiscally. Leaving any party allegiances at the door (as we always do), does it achieve the biblical imperative of looking after the widows, orphans and foreigners among us? And what about tax generally - is it a case of "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's"? Should we regard paying our taxes as a civic pleasure to finance a civilised society or legalised theft of hard-won assets? Who knows where else our discussion will take us...? Come along on Saturday to find out!
Busbridge Coffee Morning Wed 6th Nov 10.30-11.30AM in the Yew Tree Café
Members of the Classic Congregation would love to have a coffee and chat with anyone from the Brighton Road and other Minster Congregations. They meet in the Yew Tree Café once every 1st Wednesday morning of the month.
Nexus 7 Nov - Felt Christmas Trees & Mulled Wine
Helen Sturney will once again use her artistic talents to help us make Felt Christmas Trees to use as decorations during the festive season. No cutting or sewing involved so just bring yourselves along to enjoy a fun and relaxed craft evening, with a glass of mulled wine! 8pm in the Busbridge Old Rectory. All are welcome!
Remembrance Sunday Services
10am Franklyn Road All Age Service, followed by 11am Act of Remembrance
10.30am Hambledon
10.45am Brighton Road
10.45am Act of Remembrance at Godalming War Memorial, Phillips Memorial Park. Please assemble at 10.30am in advance of the procession of the Mayor’s Civic Party, The Union Flag, clergy and the choir from Godalming Minster Church Street (The Octagon).
Celebrate the Light(s)!
Sunday 24 Nov We are starting the celebrations even earlier this year, with the new invitation from Godalming Town Council for Godalming Minster Church Street to be the finish of the Lights switch on event on Sunday 24 Nov. The Christmas street lights will be extended into the church this year and the town procession from Crown Court will finish inside with some carols, mulled wine and mince pies. We are asking people to sign up to give an idea of numbers, and so we can email further details nearer the time.
Also on 24th Nov, 6pm at Guildford Cathedral, if you are planning to join Simon Taylor for his installation as an honorary canon of the Cathedral, please book your place, so that catering can be provided for the after-party:
www.guildford-cathedral.org/events/boxoffice/814
December
Advent & Christmas 2024
The programme for Advent and Christmas will be available in early November, but the events and services across the Minster are already listed on the web site. See Advent & Christmas.
Churches Together Christmas lunch
Volunteers are needed to help with the Christmas lunch on Christmas Day at Godalming Baptist church for anyone who would otherwise be on their own. The form setting out the various roles is attached. There is also a letter to guests and invitation form attached for anyone who would like to come. Any queries in relation to volunteers, please contact Gillian Martin (Franklyn Road congregation), who is co ordinating volunteers (gmartin1502@outlook.com); and for queries in relation to guests, please contact Carole Goffe-Wood (shosholozo@hotmail.com). Sarah Higgins chair of committee (and Choral congregation) e. sarahhiggins478@gmail.com Thank you.
What’s on Where
There’s lots going on around Godalming Minster every week, for all ages and stages - always too much to list in the notices!
Following Jesus
Mid-week prayer gatherings take place on Zoom (8.45am Mon / 9am Wed),
and at Godalming Minster Hambledon (9am Wed) and Franklyn Road (9am Mon and Tue). Please check the calendar.
Small groups meet in homes to study the bible, pray and journey together.
New members are invited to join an existing group, or form their own group.
To find out more and connect with the right one for you, contact Rev Hilary Pettman. e: hilary.pettman@godalmingminster.org.
Loving People
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.)
Prime Time for older people meets every Monday at 10.30am in the Yew Tree Café for a coffee drop in. For all events and details, see Prime Time.
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.
Busbridge Coffee Morning takes place on 1st Wednesdays of the month at 10.30am in the Yew Tree Café.
Hambledon Coffee Morning and Hearing Aid Clinic takes place 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 10.30am.
The Bereavement Café takes place on the last Tuesday of the month, 2.30-4pm in the Busbridge Old Rectory.
Hearing Aid Clinics run at the Busbridge Old Rectory on 2nd Fridays of the month from 2.30-4pm, and at Godalming Library on 3rd Mondays of the month from 10.30am-12pm.
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.
CYF activities for 0-18s include term-time Toddler Groups, The Youth Café and Friday Night Social, as well as Sunday groups and seasonal events.
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.
PASTORAL CARE & PRAYER MINISTRY
Can we pray for you?
***Please send prayer requests to prayer@godalmingminster.org***
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.