Dear Friends
We want to be a community who prays!
As we grow as a Minster community we’re eager to grow in prayer. Understanding how we pray is crucial to us developing, supporting and resourcing the prayer life of our congregations and individual Minster members. As such, you’re invited to complete this short, anonymous questionnaire about how we pray.
It should only take about 3 minutes, so please take a moment to answer today- your participation is really important!
The survey results will help to inform us as we plan for the future of the Minster. Thank you in advance for your participation. Sarah Rowden, Ordinand.
Click for Prayer Survey
Join us this Sunday as be embark on a new sermon series:
BUILD ON ROCK - BASED ON THE LIFE OF THE DISCIPLE PETER
Two of the churches within Godalming Minster are dedicated to St Peter, so it is fitting that this series takes us on a journey through the Gospels and Acts from the call of Peter to be a disciple of Jesus, to his leadership of the early church. This will be a thought provoking series about our personal journeys, and the opportunities for us as a Minster community, drawing lessons and parallels from the life and experiences of Peter. We look forward to getting started!
This Sunday
Matthew 4 v 18-22: Respond to the Call
Jesus calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Peter responded to the call, not knowing where it might lead.
9am Choral Eucharist
Church Street (St Peter & St Paul’s)
10am Classic Service
Brighton Road (Busbridge)
10am Sunday Service
Franklyn Road (St Mark’s)
10am Morning Worship
Hambledon (St Peter’s)
10.30am Muddy Church
Contemporary All Age Service by the Jack Philips Memorial
BYO cup for coffee and hot chocolate.
6pm Evening Worship
Brighton Road (Busbridge)
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.
Simon Taylor writes: Last Sunday Andrew Dunn (Hambledon) and Seb Cheek (Contemporary) both stepped forward to lead or preach for the first time. Everyone there was blessed by the way they each did this, especially as there were baptisms in each service! Thank you to Andrew and Seb for heeding God’s call.
90th birthday fun at St Mark’s and All Saints school field last Sunday
The celebrations started for the St Mark’s 90th anniversary at the 10am Franklyn Road service last Sunday. Later the sun came out (miraculously?) just in time for the fun day on the school field, bringing Minster people and local friends together for 90 bumps on the bouncy castle, live music, crafts, games and a lot of cake! There's more to come in 2024 as we mark 90 years of Christian worship, witness and ministry in the Ockford Ridge and Aaron's Hill community. Thanks to all the organisers, helpers and fun-goers. See instagram for more pics.
Coming Up - Highlights
Mens Breakfast Saturday 4th May at 8.15 am
Please join us for another sumptuous morning feast. Well…coffee, toast, marmalade and porridge ….last month’s experiment with baked beans will be repeated another time….
This month we will be discussing another topical news item – and after 20 years of men’s breakfasts there hasn’t been one without a moral, spiritual or Christian dimension…and this month’s subject is water and trains…..Time to put public good before private profit? Our discussion this month will be about how we make judgements about these sort of issues – is there a Biblical basis to help us sort out what is best…what is just? Or is it all entirely pragmatic with little underlying morality? Join us this Saturday to discuss.
Are you new or new-ish? If you’ve joined a Minster congregation, or starting coming to a group or activity in the last year or so, please do get in touch by replying to these notices, or filling in the welcome form. Simon and Catherine Taylor are hosting a tea for newcomers on Sunday 12th May so it would be great to have your details if you’d like to be invited.
As part of the bereavement support offered by the Godalming Minster Pastoral team, the next Bereavement Journey course starts on 5 June. This course is run nationally, for anyone who has been bereaved recently or sometime ago. Even those caring for a terminally ill loved one may benefit. Please find all the details here, and share with anyone you think of. Numbers are limited, so please do register your interest with Sandra Wilkin: pastoral@godalmingminster.org. See the events coming up next and look up dates further ahead in the full calendar.
Tues 8th May, 7pm - Godalming Minster is delighted to host Charterhouse School as they present a recital at Church Street (St Peter and St Paul’s). There will be performances from our jazz and wind ensembles and some solo items. All are welcome to attend and admission is free.
Mission Update
Foodbank Update for April and May. The latest shopping list can be found here. Please take a look and add a few items to your next shop.
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
Job vacancy:
Guildford Diocese Project Lead for Hear Here
https://www.cofeguildford.org.uk/xdb/diocesanjobs/show/community-project-lead-hear-here
JJohn event invitation
As part of our mission to love people through mission and evangelism, you are invited to an audience with JJohn. JJohn is a well known evangelist, preacher and speaker on apologetics and he’s coming to Guildford Diocese on 15th May 2024. https://allevents.in/guildford/how-to-preach-sermons-which-change-lives-a-masterclass-with-j-john/10000851169078627 (7.30pm). This is an opportunity to hear God’s Word preached at its best for all who preach, lead services or have a gift of evangelism to hear from JJohn.
Life Issues 2024 - a programme of talks and course run by Godalming Baptist Church.
The next Life Issues event is about Forgiveness. More details.
Revd Tim Carter will approach this subject with great sensitivity and empathy-do come and be encouraged! There is no charge but donations much appreciated towards the work of 'The Forgiveness Project'
Also, Revd Peter Jackson will lead a Life Issue session on Saturday 22nd June on 'Loneliness' ,such an issue for folk of all ages in our society today. Please do come as Peter will lead the subject of loneliness with great empathy and sensitivity as indeed he did last year when he led a Life Issue on Bereavement. To book a place, please contact Sally Pollard (contact details as above.) There is no charge but donations appreciated towards the work of 'Silverline'
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.