Dear Friends,

This Sunday is one not to miss. It’s “Vision Sunday” when we look up, around and ahead to what we are here for, and how we are called as people of Godalming Minster.

To help us embed and step into the vision, the Autumn sermon series will be following the Alpha Course. It will allow us to ask some fundamental questions about our beliefs and faith, perhaps for the first time, starting with whether God really has a purpose for our individual lives. 

The Stay Curious sermon series is by no means a substitute for being part of the Alpha course - with discussion time and bonding over a home cooked dinner each week - but it will give all of our Minster family a flavour of what Alpha is about. If you feel prompted to delve deeper, there is still time to sign yourself up or invite a friend for the evening or lunchtime Alpha courses starting 25th September! (details below).

This Sunday

VISION SUNDAY: Platitudes or reality?
Reading: Jeremiah 29:11-14

1 September

8am BCP Holy Communion
Church Street (St Peter & St Paul’s)

10am Morning Worship
Hambledon (St Peter’s)

10am Morning Worship
Franklyn Road (St Mark’s)

10am Classic Service
Brighton Road (Busbridge)

10.30am Contemporary Service
Church Street (St Peter & St Paul’s)

6pm Evening Service
Brighton Road (Busbridge)

6pm Hymns & Pimm’s
Hambledon (St Peter’s)

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

URGENT: Hosts wanted for Danish pilgrims on Thursday 26th September! If you can offer to host 1 or 2 (out of 16) people who are visiting Godalming Minster on 26-27th September as part of a walking pilgrimage, or help to share dinner with them at Brighton Road, please get in touch with Simon Taylor e; simon.taylor@godalmingminster.org ASAP.

The hosts need to:

Thursday 26th

• Collect their person/people at 5pm at Godalming Minster Church Street.

• Take them home to give them time to freshen up/shower.

• Drop them at Brighton Road before 7pm.

• Pick them up from Brighton Road for 9pm.

Friday 27th

Provide a breakfast and drop them at Church Street for 8.30am.

Coming Up

September

Heritage Weekend 14-15 September
Welcome to England’s largest festival of history and culture!
Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It's your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.

Our four Godalming Minster Churches are part of the Heritage Open Days Weekend and open to visitors for more info see: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

You’re invited to Alpha starting this September

Weds evenings 25th Sept – 27th Nov & Thurs lunchtimes 26th Sept – 28th Nov

To find out more or register for a place go to https://godalmingminster.org/alpha

Alpha Team not quite but nearly complete! A huge thank you to those of you who have already volunteered to help with food and who have signed up to pray for Alpha.  We now have catering in place for the evening AND lunchtime sessions. Wonderful! We do still need some heroes to provide refreshments and a simple lunch on the Holy Spirit Day on Saturday 16th November (when both groups come together).

Please volunteer using the the button below, or by email direct to Sandra Wilkin - sandra.wilkin@godalmingminster.org

Please note: The sign up button takes you to the Wednesday evening course, but gives the option to sign up for Thursday lunchtimes instead.

October

SAVE THE DATE: 13th October for John & Sue’s farewell and harvest lunch

A reminder that John and Sue’s final service will be Sunday 13th October at the Church Street Contemporary, followed by a bring and share farewell and harvest lunch. Please put this date in your diary. All are welcome to the service and lunch. During the lunch, we will be giving John and Sue a gift of love and gratitude. To contribute to this, please see ways to donate.

John and Sue will move to Cornwall soon after 13th October.  Please pray for John and Sue as they begin their retirement from parish ministry.

What’s on Where

See the events coming up next and look up dates further ahead in the full Minster Calendar.

Church Family News

Marcus has a few spaces left this September for one-to-one or group drumming lessons. Please do share the info with anyone who might be keen to learn!

Mission Update

The Franklyn Road Foodbank is getting busier at the moment, and currently short of oatcakes, gluten free cereal and biscuits and nappies in all sizes 3-6 please! BUT all donations of food and cleaning items are welcome anytime. See the Foodbank for more info.

Elsewhere

The National Trust Munstead Wood are running Chance to Chat sessions at Godalming Museum from 10-12 noon on the third Saturdays of the month. More details >

Life Issues 2024 - a programme of talks and course run by Godalming Baptist Church.

The last Life Issue session of 2024 is coming up at Godalming Baptist Church on Saturday 19th October 10.00am-12.30pm (coffee from 9.30am).  'Living With Anxious Thoughts' led by Dr Martin Brunet, GP at Binscombe Medical Centre and Dr Jenna McKeown, Clinical Psychologist. 

This promises to be such a helpful and informative morning.  The session will look at all aspects of anxious thoughts including intrusive thoughts and health anxiety and aims to understand where these thoughts come from and how best to manage them. There is no charge but donations much appreciated towards 'The Farncombe Community Garden'.  

Please do contact Sally to book a place-01483-428646 or e-mail pollard3@hotmail.co.uk by Friday 4th October.  Thank you so much for all your support

Can we pray for you?

***Please send prayer requests to prayer@godalmingminster.org***

Mid-week Prayer Gatherings

Restart in September!

Community & Fellowship

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.)

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.

Hambledon Coffee Morning and Hearing Aid Clinic takes place 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 10.30am.

The 2024 Prime Time programme is now available. For all events and details, see Prime Time.

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.

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.

Please note the café will be closed on Saturday 3rd August.

PASTORAL CARE & PRAYER MINISTRY

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.