This Sunday we are celebrating all mothers,
and mother figures!
In the notices this week:
Godalming Minster Mothering Sunday services, and how to look them up
The Journey to Easter with Godalming Minster
This Saturday’s Prayer Gathering at Franklyn Road
Invitation to the Prime Time tea and talk next week
Watch episode 4 of the Guildford Diocese Lent series "Jesus and Calling: On the Road to Easter". Our LLM Philippa Baker and Matthew Frost from East Molsey share their insights on Jesus’ calling.
Dear Friends
There’s a little treat for Mums this Sunday, and in fact we’ll be affirming all ladies in the parish. So do please join us to give thanks for our mothers past and present, and pray for those for whom this day brings mixed emotion. For those blessed by motherhood, we wish you a day that’s divine!
Our Lent sermon series continues and this week as we explore the well known parable of the Good Samaritan and consider what today’s counter-cultural equivalent is, and how we can be better neighbours this Lent.
This Sunday
Reading & Topic
Just do it!
Readings: Luke 10: 25-37
Parable of the Good Samaritan
Minster Services listed in chronological order:
8am BCP Holy Communion - Church Street (St Peter & St Paul’s)
10am Classic Service [HC] - Brighton Road (Busbridge)
10am Sunday Service - Franklyn Road (St Mark’s)
10am Morning Worship - Hambledon (St Peter’s)
With kids’ club (2nd & 4th Sundays).
10.30am Contemporary Service - Church Street (St Peter & St Paul’s)
Coffee from 10.15am. Children’s groups for 4-11s take place in the Octagon.
6pm Evening Worship - Brighton Road (Busbridge)
Service Information
More information about congregations and service times can be found 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.
Easter Events and Services
Please take a look at the Easter page on the web site. There are familiar services happening at all four Minster locations, as well as some great chances to come together between Palm Sunday and Easter Day. You'll see that there are a few events that we are asking people to sign up for to help with catering. These are:
The Palm Sunday Easter Party at Franklyn Road - a repeat after last year’s praise party, and a great one for families.
The Maundy Thursday Passover meal and communion at Franklyn Road, as we remember the Last Supper.
The Good Friday Hot Cross Bun adventure, which is a 5km walk from Brighton Road to St Peter's, Hambledon with tea and Hot cross buns at the end. If you've never been to Hambledon this is one of the best times to visit and meet people from other churches and congregations.
Then on Easter Saturday there's two special Easter services (AKA egg hunts!) for families:
Messy Easter on Hambledon Common at 10am and the Easter Garden Service at Busbridge at 3pm. The Easter Garden service is already half full so please do sign up ASAP.
Of course helpers are welcome at all these events and you can indicate that when you sign up, or email the Minster office. Thank you!
We are delighted to share the diocese’s latest episode from their Lent series, which features our very own licensed lay minister, Philippa Baker! Philippa leads and preaches at services across the Minster, and will be leading our Holy Week Reflections at Brighton Road on Mon 25th and Tues 26th March. See: https://fb.watch/qFHIPW0KD1/ on facebook.
Nexus is looking forward to a talk by James Giles, Reserve Manager for Thursley Nature Reserve at 8pm on Thursday 7th March in the Busbridge Old Rectory. It is a social opportunity with refreshments to start, and will be very interesting for those who enjoy our local commons. There’s a £5 entry, or £20 to join Nexus for the year. More details.
Saturday Prayer Gathering at Franklyn Road this Saturday, 8-9am
The monthly Saturday prayer gathering is on the move and will now rotate around Minster locations! All welcome to come along to Franklyn Road this Saturday from 8-9am. We will pray for our leaders and events including Easter. Let Michael Stubbs know if you can’t make it but have any items for Prayer.
Invitation to a Prime Time Tea and Talk by Keith Fielding, 2.30pm on Fri 15 Mar, Brighton Road.
We are looking forward to Keith Field joining us to share his thoughts on his Unexpected Journey – ‘Walking through Lockdown with God and my camera’. If your children are of a certain age and attended Broadwater School, the name Keith Field may be familiar to you as Keith, prior to his retirement, taught RE and led the Christian Union at Broadwater School. He is now kept equally as busy as when he was working, as he has made quite a name for himself locally for delivering insightful illustrated presentations on local places of interest, landscapes and nature; linking his observations in with words from scripture. For this talk, Keith will be focussing on Spring & Summer which seems particularly appropriate for this season of Lent. This is a free event, but donations on the day to help cover our costs would be welcomed.
Please be praying for the new Godalming Minster PCC as it meets for the second time next Monday 11th March at Busbridge. Meeting minutes are made available on the web site once they are signed off.
Congregation News
The Contemporary team invite you to a bring and share lunch in the Octagon at 12noon on Palm Sunday, 24 March. This will follow the Contemporary Service, but please come and join the congregation from other services if you can.
After several years of restoring a team and resources since Covid, the 6pm Evening Congregation at Brighton Road will gather on 3rd Sundays of the month, making it a weekly service once more.
Church Family News
John Lear’s Thanksgiving Service will take place at St Bartholomew’s Church, Haslemere, on Monday 11th March 2024 at 2.30 p.m.. All friends are welcome to come to the service and to join the family for refreshments afterwards. If you are unable to be there, but would like to watch the service online, please e-mail the church office office@godalmingminster.org for the Livestream link.
Mission Update
The Godalming Foodbank at Godalming Minster Franklyn Road relies on financial and grocery donations to serve local people who need support. Karen, the community centre coordinator, updates the shopping list each month with items most needed. You can find the latest shopping list for March on the Foodbank page.
Elsewhere
Hope in Depression Course starting 7 March
This course is designed for anyone who lives with depression (even occasional episodes), and/or anxiety. It aims to help participants to better understand and manage depression leading to a more enjoyable life. Run over 3 weeks at St. Saviour’s Church, with sessions from 7pm to 9:30pm on Thursdays and Mondays, the course will start with a short meal and includes talks on brain function and medication, talking therapies, food and mood and wellness and exercise with discussion in small groups. For more information and to sign up, click here. The link to the course page and for registration is https://st-saviours.org.uk/hope
Chris G (Contemporary congregation) recommends
Guildford Theology Hub: Science and Religion in the 21st Century with Revd Prof David Wilkinson - 14 March at 7pm
Details and Booking
The Theology Hub is an initiative aiming to build something that will resource churches across the Diocese for years to come. We are so excited to host Revd Prof David Wilkinson for what will be a fascinating and very faith building evening. All are welcome to attend.
Life Issues 2024 - a programme of talks and course run by Godalming Baptist Church.
The next Life Issues event is Care Companion at the end of life. More details.
Coming Up
See the events coming up next and look up dates further ahead in the full calendar.
Can we pray for you?
***Please send prayer requests to prayer@godalmingminster.org***
Mid-week Prayer Gatherings
9am Morning Prayer
9am on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays with Rev Sheila Samuels at Godalming Minster Franklyn Road.
Monday Morning Reflections on Zoom
If you would like to start your week in quiet reflection over a passage of scripture do join us at 8.45am on Mondays using the link above - you will be very welcome. For any further information please contact: Gertrud Sollars or Shan Hallam.
Wednesdays at 9am:
Morning Prayer at Godalming Minster Hambledon
Morning Prayer on Zoom via link above.
Groups & Activities
Nexus meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, with talks and activities for church members and the community. See the 2024 Nexus programme, and updates on Nexus.
Ladies’ Drinks take place every 1st Friday of the month, 7.30PM at the The Pavilion by Howling Owl.
The Men’s Group meets for breakfast at 8.15am on the 1st Saturdays of the month. See the calendar event 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.
Yew Tree Café
at Godalming Minster Brighton Road
The Yew Tree Café at Godalming Minster Brighton Road is open 8.30am-4pm weekdays in term time, and 10am-2pm on Saturdays, and 10am-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.
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.