Dear Friends

Wow, and thank you! Your donations filled more than 50 lovely gift bags for people we know will really appreciate the help to make their Christmas brighter. Thanks to everyone who came on Monday night to help sort and pack the bags and wrap gifts for children. Each family was also given potted daffodil bulb to give a reminder of God’s love in a few months time. We are particularly grateful to Josie G for organising the project for the first time this year. It definitely felt like a case of the loaves and fishes. Having worried that there wasn’t enough, there were goodies left over which were given to our Foodbank and another foodbank network.

Last Sunday there were two lovely carol services at Franklyn Road and Hambledon on Sunday, followed by Sherry with the Vicar on Tuesday. Prime Time guests made up 900 Christingle kits in 90 minutes! A cheer went up after every 100 bags filled. If that sounds like fun, the CYF team are looking for a few extra hands to prepare 900 oranges for the Christingle services in The Octagon at Church Street, on Monday (23rd) from 10-11.30am. Please BYO knife and a chopping board!

Amongst all the Christmas festivities, Franklyn Road marked the 90th anniversary of St Mark’s dedication on Wednesday, in a special service led by the Bishop of Dorking.

Lastly, we are still inviting financial donations to the Christmas Appeal which will be split between The Cellar Camino Café and Skillway Workshop, and female prisoners at HMP Send who we can help buy phone cards for at Christmas. You can find out about all the ways to give here.

This is the last lot of notices for 2024. Phewee! and a very Joyful Christmas.

May the joy of the angels,
the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men,
the obedience of Joseph and Mary
and the peace of the Christ-child be yours this Christmas. Amen.

Services 21 - 29 Dec

Sat 21 Dec
3pm Blue Christmas
Brighton Road

Sun 22nd Dec
10am Family Carol Service
Brighton Road

6.30pm Traditional Carol Service: 9 Lessons and Carols
Church Street
with the Minster choir

Tue 24 Dec
4pm Crib Services at Franklyn Road and Hambledon
4pm and 5.30pm Christingles at Church Street
(4pm is now fully booked. Sign up for 5.30pm).
11pm Midnight Communion at Church Street and Hambledon

Christmas Day

10am Christmas Day Services
Church Street, Brighton Road, Franklyn Road and Hambledon

Sun 29 Dec

10am All in One Service
Brighton Road

Sun 5 Jan
10.30am All in One for Simon’s last service
Church Street
Refreshments from 10am

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.

Looking ahead to 2025

Simon’s last service and farewell to the Taylor family, Sun 5 Jan at 10.30am
We’ll be saying goodbye to Simon, Catherine, Jacob, Luke and Daniel at the special All in One Service, 10.30am at Church Street on Sunday 5 January 2025. This will be an act of worship, thanksgiving for Simon’s 14+ year ministry and leaving do rolled into one. There will no other services across the Minster that morning, so please join us at Church Street. (Normal Sunday services will restart on 12 Jan.)

NB. We would of course like to give Simon a token of our thanks and appreciation at the service, and you can contribute via the giving page, by BACS, cash or cheque.

A summary of the process to advertise and appoint a new Rector, after Simon’s departure on 5th Jan 2025 can be found in the Archdeacon’s Vacancy Newsletter which you can downloaded using the button below.

Nexus Thursday 9th January 8pm, Busbridge Old Rectory, GU7 1XB

‘Your New Hospice’ – Phyllis Tuckwell by Heleana Burke: Community Fund Raiser

We’re delighted to have Heleana come and tell us about the new hospice being built for Phyllis Tuckwell.  It will be fascinating to hear how the construction is progressing, and how the new premises will enhance the facilities and services they offer.  Hospice care is becoming ever more vital, and we have chosen Phyllis Tuckwell as our charity for 2025. The team already do a fantastic job so we look forward to hearing how the new building will improve that.  All are welcome, including men!  We’ll welcome the New Year with drinks and nibbles. Our 2025 charity is: Phyllis Tuckwell New members welcome! Annual subs £20, Visitors £5. For information, please contact: janetmharvey@btinternet.com or katekaye2@btinternet.com

Stay Curious. Try Alpha.

Would you like to try Alpha? and/or Who could you invite? More details.

The next Weds evening and Thursday morning Alpha courses are in the diary to start on 29/30 January 2025.

The Bereavement Journey

The next 7-week course for anyone who has been bereaved recently or some time ago, will start on Monday 3 February. More details.

Reflective Prayer - Mondays at 8.45am, online will now take a pause until 13 January 2025. Gertrud and Shan look forward to seeing you on Zoom in the new year.

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 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: 2024.

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.