Dear Friends

This Sunday is national church Safeguarding Sunday. The publication of the Makin Review last week, and Justin Welby's subsequent resignation, has highlighted serious failings in safeguarding by the Church of England. You can read the statements from our Bishop (+Andrew) regarding this in the Diocese of Guildford parish brief here.

We join with +Andrew, and the wider Church of England, in condemning the horrific abuse which took place and praying for the victims.

If you have been affected by this in any way, then please get in touch with our pastoral team or one of the clergy.  Safeguarding matters to us because we know that we live in a broken and fallen world. We seek to protect people because we are created in the image of God. This includes ensuring that we are all aware of the importance of a safeguarding culture throughout the Minster. The focus of safeguarding must always be on the victim. We’re inviting everyone to watch a short video on safeguarding, produced for Safeguarding Sunday. Safeguarding Sunday 2024 video.

Our Parish Safeguarding Officers are Jenny Lansdowne and Sarah Higgins - both can be contacted in confidence. The PCC, staff, churchwardens, clergy and LLMs all undergo safeguarding awareness training. You can find the Godalming Minster Safeguarding Policy in the footer of the web site.

Simon Taylor, Rector

In the this week’s notices:

• Your chance to share your thoughts about what we are looking for in the new Rector with the wardens

• Coming Up in Nov, Dec and beyond: Celebrate the Lights! 24 Nov - helpers needed for hospitality at Church Street; Special services on Advent Sunday 1 Dec; Sign up now for the Nexus Christmas Quiz!; Heroes requested to support Alpha next term; The 2024 Christmas Hamper Appeal.

This Sunday

When life is unfair, how can I overcome resentments?
Readings: Isaiah 52.1-12 Matt 6.25-27

9am Choral Eucharist
Church Street

10am Classic Service
Brighton Road

10am Morning Worship [HC]
Hambledon

10am Morning Worship
Franklyn Road

10.30am Contemporary
Church Street
Coffee from 10.15am, and children’s groups on the Octagon

6pm Evening Service
Brighton Road

Sermon Topic for next Sunday 24 November: Will my faith make a difference to the world around me?

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

As mentioned in the Archdeacon’s Vacancy Newsletter (which can be found later on under Looking Ahead to 2025), there will be a Vacancy Vision workshop for the PCC on 18th November. The primary objective of the upcoming Vacancy Vision workshop will be to determine the job specification of our new rector and to identify skills/gifts that we think he/she ought to possess. This information will help us write our Parish Profile. Our churchwardens would like to hear the thoughts of members of the wider congregation. To this end please email them in confidence at david.wilkin@godalmingminster.org and william.bryans@godalmingminster.org or speak to them personally before 18th November.   

Church Family News

A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of John Stevens will take place at Godalming Minster, St Peter & St Paul's Church on Tuesday 19th November at 11.30am followed by a private cremation.  There will be a reception afterwards at the Kings Arms and Royal Hotel, Godalming. See: https://stevensjohn.muchloved.com/. John 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.

Coming Up

November

Prime Time Tea & Talk: God's Trees (Part II)
Friday 15th Nov 2.30pm at Brighton Road: Professor Julian Evans, author of bestselling book 'God's Trees' will be joining us to further explore how trees, forests and wood are depicted in the Bible and how they were used, and sometimes abused. Sign Up.

The Bereavement Café Tuesday 26th Nov 2.30pm at Brighton Road.
The Bereavement Café is run by the Pastoral Team (Support & Care) and offers a safe space for anyone who has been bereaved. Open to all, no need to register in advance.

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

Vacancy Prayers 8-9pm 1st Weds of the month

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. The first Vacancy Prayer Gathering took place on Wednesday at Franklyn Road, following the Archdeacon’s Meeting on Monday. 4 Dec will be at Church Street, 8 Jan Brighton Road, 5 Feb Hambledon and then 5 Mar Ash Weds at Church Street…

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. There are several events that you need to sign up for, as follows:

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!

Could you help with any of the following? 

• Packers on Monday 16 Dec - to join the youth at Brighton Road from 7pm.

• Drivers to deliver from 17-20 Dec

• Donations of Christmas paper and Christmas cards

• Christmas card writers

• 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)

• Nearer the time, toys for particular age children

• Donations for the hampers, 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.

Donation Drop Off 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.

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

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

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.

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.)

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.

The two questions we are curious about beforehand, are Who could you invite? and Who can help to make the courses happen?

We’re looking for someone or two to coordinate the hospitality rota for 12 weeks of set ups and downs, suppers and lunches in the Busbridge Old Rectory. It’s a wonderful way to serve, and support those who are involved in helping people explore Christianity. Please consider if this is something you can do and contact lesley.mason@godalmingminster.org.

The Bereavement Journey

The next 7-week course will start on Monday 3 February. More details.

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.