DRCS Jazz band: David Kirby, Keys, Russell Jarrett guitar, Cameron Barnett bass, Sam Parker tenor sax.
Dear Friends
Thanks to all who supported the marvellous Cut out Cancer Concert last Saturday at Church Street. Godalming Minster co-hosted the concert with the Rotary. This was one of two concerts, and the Godalming event alone raised c.£5,000! All proceeds from this event were donated to the Royal Surrey Hospital to help provide specialist high-tech, robotic surgical equipment for its new cancer centre. This state of the art medical technology will improve the experience and outcomes of thousands of people whose lives are affected by cancer each year.
The audience enjoyed an eclectic mix of performances by the Topic of Cancer Choir, Brighton Road (Marielle Postill and Mark Guile), Jim and Shelagh Godwin with Caroline Luard, DRCS Jazz band and the Motivation by Music gospel choir.
Topic of Cancer Choir
MbM Gospel Choir
We are now preparing for the next season in the church calendar, and counting down to Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday 5 March. If Lent is a time which encourages self-reflection, and a deepening of discipleship, there is no better time to join a small group! Along with the benefit of praying and studying the bible with others, support, fellowship and sometimes food are also included! Godalming Minster has groups which meet at different times and days of the week, so if you’d like to find out where you might fit please e: hilary.pettman@godalmingminster.org.
Also, have you tried the Yew Tree Café’s new cappuccino cake? It’s flying off the counter apparently, along with other new menu items for children and adults. Do pop in if you’ve not been for a while. The staff and volunteers would love to see you! (Weekdays 8.30-4, Saturdays 10-2 and half-term 17-21 Feb 9.30-3.30).
Read on in the notices for:
Racial Justice Sunday 9 Feb
Events coming up.
This Sunday
Racial Justice Sunday 2025 - Coat of Many Colours
This year is an important one for racial justice on these shores as it marks the 30th anniversary of RJS. RJS was established by the Methodist Church in 1995 following the tragic racist murder of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence in southeast London in April 1993.
Godalming Minster will be joining churches nationally to mark the anniversary in services and our prayers. Please take time this week to reflect and pray on some of the resources published by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland here: https://ctbi.org.uk/resources/racial-justice-sunday-9-february-2025/
Services
The Second Sign: Healing an Official’s Son
John 3: 43-54
8am BCP Holy Communion
Church Street
followed by breakfast in the Octagon
10am Morning Worship
Franklyn Road
10am Morning Worship [HC]
Hambledon
10am Classic Service
Brighton Road
10.30am Contemporary Service
Church Street
Coffee from 10.15am and children’s groups in the Octagon
6pm Evening Worship
Brighton Road
Roots Youth (11-18s) meets in church before leaving for their time together in The Hut.
Notices
Alpha - running on Weds eve
We're still looking for people to provide the meals that are an integral part of the course. It's fun and easier to do this with a friend or 2, or with your homegroup, but we can always provide extra hands to serve if you prefer to prepare it on your own. The evening course runs until Easter - we provide a hot meal and a light pudding. Do ask Karen Hart (07891 114306), or Lynda Donaldson (07596 921125) for further details and to offer your services! Or email the church office office@godalmingminster.org
The Bereavement Journey
Please register your interest at anytime for the next series of sessions for anyone who has been bereaved recently or some time ago. The pastoral care team would be happy to speak to anyone who wants to find out a bit more, so please do get in touch now. More details.
Serving Opportunities - we God can use you here!
Here are some opportunities to make a fulfilling commitment - and meet some quite urgent needs, perhaps for a season, or a year. We need people’s time and love in a number of areas to keep sustain our missional activities. These are the ones under the priority areas of following Jesus, loving people and renewing faith that the leadership team are most aware of at the moment!:
Tuesdays
ABC Toddlers 9-11.30pm
Join Sophia at our busy toddler group in the Old Rectory. She’s currently flying solo and help with set up, welcoming and in the kitchen would be most welcome. Contact sophia.barnes@godalmingminster.org.
11-2pm Set up and host the Warm Hub at Franklyn Road
The Hub is open year-round serving a free lunch followed by tea and social time. In the winter months it’s a registered warm space. Awareness is growing in the local community and the Hub serves 15-20 regular guests each week. You would be serving alongside a small but faithful team who have been running the Hub since it began in 2020. Contact Michael and Julia Stubbs via the Minster Office.
Wednesdays
After-school youth café at Franklyn Road
The youth café welcomes 25+ years 5 and 6 children from St Mark’s and All Saints each week from 3-4.30pm and offers a snack and different games and activities. The great team of volunteers get alongside the children to provide them with a safe and welcoming space to chat and share their interests. (The after school café provides a great extension of the work that members of Godalming Minster are doing to support its church school with assemblies and class support.)
Wednesday evening
Alpha at the Busbridge Old Rectory
One of the best ways to explore and share your faith story and the gospel is by hosting a table and facilitating discussion, or cooking and serving a meal for the Alpha course. Karen Hart is coordinating the catering for the next courses which start in the last week of January 2025. There are more details below.
Fridays
Friday night youth social 7-9pm in the Busbridge Old Rectory
The popular session for 11-14s is currently running at limited capacity. Ben and the team can’t take any more young people without more volunteers. Contact ben.barnes@godalmingminster.org.
Sundays
The Ark and Explorers at Church Street 9.45am-12pm
We are looking for more people to support our excellent children’s groups for 0-11s on a Sunday in the Octagon - once or twice a month. If you would like to to share the gospel with young people in a fun and creative way, with songs and games, please get in touch with jenny.lansdowne@godalmingminster.org.
Please note that a DBS certificate is required to serve with young and vulnerable people. For info see the safeguarding policy. Training, instructions and support are provided for every role, and we also ask everyone to sign a volunteer agreement which sets out the scope for each role.
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!
Elsewhere
SUPPORTING THOSE “LIVING WITH CANCER AND BEYOND” - FROM A RELATIVE’S PERSPECTIVE
Led by Daphne Bleach
Saturday 15th March 2025 10 am – 12.30 pm
(Coffee available from 9.30 am)
at Godalming Baptist Church,
Queen Street, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1BA
* Do you know what to say, and not to say, when someone says “I have cancer”?
* How does a diagnosis of cancer affect someone?
* How we can encourage someone to “live well with cancer”?
* What help and support is available to patients and their relatives?
* Living beyond treatment - the “elephant in the room”
* Who is there for those when no further treatment is available’?
Daphne is a Care Companion, offering help and support to families and those who are dying as they approach end of life. Following her talk in 2024, Daphne will lead another informative and sensitive talk about how to come alongside and support those living with cancer, to help all of us make the best of the precious time we have together. Daphne Bleach is a Christian, whose nursing career spans over 40 years.
Please reserve a place, with payment of £7, by contacting Sally Pollard
email: pollard3@hotmail.co.uk, tel: 01483 428646
by Friday 28th February
Following Jesus
Mid-week prayer gatherings take place in the Zoom Online Prayer Room (8.45am Mon / 9am Wed), and at Godalming Minster Hambledon (9am Wed) and Franklyn Road (9am Mon and Tue). Vacancy Prayers are 1st Weds of the month around the Minster. Please check the calendar.
If you would like to join a prayer gathering online, please use the link to the online prayer room on Zoom with passcode: 2025.
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.