Pentecost Sunday
Dear Friends
This Sunday we remember what has often been called the "birth of the church". After waiting on God as they had been told to do, the Holy Spirit arrived, filling, equipping and empowering the early disciples to spread the gospel, bringing the blessings to many that Acts and the early church's letters describe. He has been at work in Christ's church ever since! Join us this Sunday to celebrate this important event, and the Spirit's continuing work among us together!
The Godalming Run is also taking place this Sunday, so particularly for those coming to morning services at Church Street, please note that Borough Road, Church Street and Westbrook Road will be closed to vehicular traffic from 09.50 to 13.00. Parking in Crown Court and other car parks will also be busier than usual!
Please keep reading for
Services this Sunday
An invitation to the Nexus Garden Visit on 6th June
The Bereavement Journey course on Wednesdays in June and July
Job opportunities with Godalming Minster.
This Sunday
Acts 2: 14-24: Be ready to stand up
We continue the sermon series: Build on a Rock - based on the life of the disciple Peter. The readings for each week, and a short topic descriptor can be picked up at Minster services this Sunday, and can be printed here.
Services
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 Contemporary Service
Church Street (St Peter & St Paul’s)
Coffee from 10.15am and children’s groups in the Octagon.
(Communion postponed)
4pm Messy Church
Hambledon Village Hall
6pm Evening Worship
Brighton Road (Busbridge)
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.
Good News Stories
Newcomers to Godalming Minster enjoyed a nice little garden party in glorious sunshine last Sunday at the Taylors. Thanks to all those who came. It was great to meet you!
With thanks to Yew Tree Café volunteer Sue Hardy for sharing:
An elderly couple were in having coffee and cake. I was engaged chatting with them as they left… I established they had travelled over to the Yew Tree from Guildford, he’d just had a cataract operation and this was their first visit out – I asked what brought them over our way – expecting an answer such as ‘We’d come to see grandchildren/children or a visit to the arboretum’ that had led them to us, but no…
‘Oh we often make the journey over…. This café is like no other café we have ever been to – we just love it! The staff are always so friendly and have time to chat to us, the coffee is great as is the food and cake, it’s got such an amazing special atmosphere’
Told them that had warmed my heart and hoped to see them again very soon.
This morning was a regular shift not manically busy but a lovely continual flow…. Some new mums who were warmly welcomed and will come again, our regulars who find company and solace and are ministered to, some staff and PCC members and mini meetings, the workers (quite a lot of them today), teachers and parents from the schools. Another new visitor who’s child has just started at St Edmunds just found us, was engaged with and will return. New parents who were commenting on the beautiful building and café we have created – was able to tell them the story of how it came to be…. I am very proud of it and love to talk about it!
This is ministry in the community….. Christ has no hands and feet but ours…… Love my shift…and the people God puts me in connection with, that I would otherwise never meet with.
As well as listing upcoming events, please do let us know of any encouraging stories from around Godalming Minster which show some of the many faces of mission. There are touching exchanges happening allover, be it at the Franklyn Road Hub, Foodbank and after school Youth Café; at PrimeTime events and Hearing Aid Clinics; at Octots, ABC Toddlers and Smartots to name but a few every week!
Coming Up
May
Staff and PCC Strategy Day on 18th May
We will be looking at how the PCC and the whole church family take the goals forward of growing younger, discipleship and mission and evangelism forward, so that our vision is fulfilled to be a Minster that follows Jesus, loves people and renews faith.
Your prayers for May 18th are greatly appreciated. Please pray for Mat Ineson (our facilitator) the PCC, the staff, all preachers, congregational leaders who are attending; and for where each of us can bring your own faith to fruit in the Minster’s mission under God.
June
Garden Visit at Bridge End Cottage
Nexus invites you to join them for a garden tour and pub meal in the evening of Thursday 6th June. This year Nexus have arranged a private tour of NGS Bridge End Cottage in Ockham. There's lots to see and the head gardener will be on hand to share tips with you. You can find out more, and sign up via ChurchSuite, click here.
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.
Save the Date for the first ever Godalming Minster Summer Holiday Club 28-30 August! We need an army of leaders and helpers, as well as children so please watch this space, or chat to Ben Barnes for details.
What’s on Where
See the events coming up next and look up dates further ahead in the full Minster Calendar.
Staff News and Job Vacancies
Yew Tree Café Manager Lizzie Soar is off to pastures new in June! We are hugely grateful for Lizzie’s contribution to the launching and nurturing wonderful ministry of the Yew Tree Café over the past 2 and a half years.
Marcus and his family will be leaving us on the 15th August 2024. We want to take this opportunity to thank Marcus for all that he has contributed to our children and family’s ministry, and for the positive impact he has had in the short time he has been with us. Marcus’ enthusiasm for whole-church worship and engaging the children through worship will leave a lasting impact. We have also been blessed by Anoushka leading Contemporary Worship in recent months, and thank her too.
If you would like to contribute to a leaving gift for Lizzie and/or Marcus, please donate via BACS, to the Office or online.
The job adverts for the posts of Children and Families Pastor (4-11’s) and Yew Tree Café manager can be found on the vacancies page here. Please be praying for the right people to fill these special roles, and share the ads.
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
Hope in Depression Course at St Saviour’s Guildford, starting 13th May
The course is run with professional expert and licenced practitioners giving talks in their field, who come along and give freely of their time, and though given by Christians it is intended for people of all faiths or none.
It is designed to help those who are living with depression or anxiety to better manage their condition and become better able to live their lives more fully. It is also designed for those who are friends or carers of those struggling, to enable them to know better how to help and accompany more effectively.
We have run the course, always with F2F involvement of the speakers, several times so far at St Saviours in the last 6 years and it has been very well received. We will be accepting registrations up to 19th May though, subject to places still being available).
More details >
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.
Community & Fellowship
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.