Dear Friends

We’ve got a carol service happening every Sunday from now until Christmas Day, and this week it’s an informal contemporary version, 6pm at Brighton Road. Following the All is Calm, All is Bright theme, we’ve dubbed it “Not So Silent Night”.

With a more mature audience in mind - but open to everyone, Prime Time’s Afternoon Carol Service is on Monday 9th at 2.30pm. Singers from Busbridge Junior School will be joining them, and non-alcoholic mulled wine and mince pies are served afterwards. You can also watch the service on You Tube. (If you need a lift, please sign up to let Penny know).

The 2024 Christmas Hamper Appeal is well underway. Thanks to everyone who has donated items already. Please keep them coming - you have until Mon 16 Dec! (Details below).

This Sunday

What about church & telling others?
Reading: 1 Cor 12.12-27
(It’s the conclusion of the Alpha Course!)

8am BCP Holy Communion
Church Street

10am All Age Service
Franklyn Road

10am Classic Service
Brighton Road

10am Morning Worship [HC]
Hambledon

10.30am Contemporary Service
Church Street
Coffee and croissant from 10.15am and children’s groups in the Octagon.

*6pm Not so Silent Night Contemporary Carols*
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.

Coming Up

December

Please do join us for the Men’s Breakfast on Saturday 7th December at 8.15 am in the Old Rectory. We are delighted to welcome Simon Taylor who will be leading us in a discussion of “Generational Distinctiveness”. He will help us to understand why a baby boomer or a Gen X sees the world differently from a Gen Z – all important stuff as we seek to keep in touch with the way the world is going.  Simon will also reflect upon his 14 years as our Rector and we will all have a chance to say goodbye. The usual delightful porridge, toast and more awaits. Alan and Dudley, for Godalming Minster Men's Group.

The Bereavement Café is holding a special evening gathering at 7pm on Tuesday 10 December in the Busbridge Old Rectory. Drinks and nibbles provided. All are welcome, whether you have been before or it’s your first visit.

Advent & Christmas 2024

See Advent & Christmas to look up events from 23 Nov-25 Dec. There’s such a lot going on, that events and services will be included week by week in the notices.

Events that you need to sign up for ASAP:

Afternoon Carol Service 2.30pm Mon 9 Dec - hosted by Prime Time. Followed by mulled wine and mince pies, and you can request transport when you sign up.

St Mark’s 90th Anniversary Service Join us for a service to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the consecration of St Mark's Church Wed 18 Dec at 2pm. The service will be followed by refreshments.

Christmas Eve Christingles at 4pm and 5.30pm

Help make a heartfelt hamper

Every year Godalming Minster delivers scores of gift hampers to local individuals and families who might not be able to enjoy the nicer things at Christmas, or for who a gesture of love and generosity makes a real difference. They include households who are supported by the Godalming Minster Foodbank, customers of The Cellar Camino Community Café, and people known to the Pastoral Care team and our local schools. Our appeal is now underway for donations of “staple” and “treat” Christmas items, and gifts for adults and children. This year we are aiming for 50 hampers!

EVERYONE!

Pick up a shopping list at services this Sunday. They include a variety of ideas for donations, such as: mince pies, jam, hot chocolate, tea and coffee, chocolates, biscuits, stuffing mix, bread sauce, cranberry jelly, fruit juices, cereals, honey, soups, tinned foods, bubble bath, Christmas napkins and Christmas crackers.

Drop off your Hamper Goodies by 15 Dec

There are collection points for donations at The Yew Tree Café and in the churches at Brighton Road, Hambledon, Church Street and Franklyn Road.

Other ways to be involved:

• Packing Party 16 Dec, 7-9.30pm at Brighton Road

  Our 14-18s will get together at Brighton Road to pack the hampers (with pizza and supervision!), ready for delivery. To join them e: ben.barnes@godalmingminster.org

• Hamper Deliveries 17-12 Dec

  If you can help with just a few of the deliveries between 17-20 Dec, e: josiegammell@gmail.com.

• Writing Christmas cards

• Picking up and wrapping fruit boxes from Sainsburys or dropping them off - at Busbridge or Yew Tree Cafe?

• Small plant pots that we can fill with daffodil bulbs for each box (something to look forward to beyond 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.

We have a cleaning vacancy at Franklyn Road for 5.5 hours per week. If you would like to know more or know of someone who might be interested, please contact Liz for further information: liz.gorst@godalmingminster.org

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. More details to follow. There will no other services across the Minster that morning, so please save the date. (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.

Stay Curious. Try Alpha.

The next Weds evening and Thursday morning Alpha courses are in the diary to start on 29/30 January 2025. FOUND!: The team to coordinate the hospitality rota for suppers and lunches in the Busbridge Old Rectory! Thanks to those who have stepped up.

This just leaves the big questions: Would you like to try Alpha? and/or Who could you invite? More details.

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.

Church Family News

Frances Trickey’s funeral

12.15pm on Friday 6 December 2024 at Christ Church, Weston-super-Mare, 16 Montpelier, BS23 2RH (ccwsm.org.uk). All are warmly invited to join the family afterwards for lunch in the church.  Please let Jolyon know if you will be attending, together with any dietary requirements. No flowers, but donations for Weston Hospicecare are very welcome (via francestrickey.muchloved.com). 

You can watch the service on YouTube: The simplest direct YouTube link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpBl7tDJfbA. The livestream will also be shown in St Andrew's Oxshott, and friends from Busbridge are invited to watch along with others there.

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!

Godalming Minster is home to the GCGC, and a few of Minster family will be performing in the Christmas Showcase on 14th December. For tickets e: gcgcinformation@gmail.com.

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.