Dear Friends
At 11am today, there was an important act of remembrance and service at the Godalming Town War Memorial besides Godalming Minster Church Street. The public gathered alongside representatives of the military, emergency services, those in civic and council service, town representatives and the British Legion gathered to commemorate the terrible sacrifices on D-Day, 6th June 1944. Simon Taylor led the service and shares his thoughts on DDay80 in the latest Rector’s Reflection.
This Sunday we are launching an appeal to help with the repairs to the Busbridge Church Tower at Godalming Minster Brighton Road. You may have seen the scaffolding! Information about the project can be found in the handout which the Classic and 6pm congregations have been asked to deliver to their Busbridge neighbours. Copies will be available at Brighton Road from next week, and it would be great if those from other congregations who live in Busbridge could help with these deliveries.
Most important for everyone is the Day of Prayer on Monday 10th June. We are asking everyone to pray throughout the day for the tower, the Peace Bell it houses, and what it represents as a symbol in the community. Please follow the prayer programme throughout the day, and join us for the prayer gathering in the church at 12 noon.
To help with the fundraising Ben Rogers is planning to walk a heroic 37 miles, barefoot, from Busbridge to Brighton along the Down’s Link on 19-20 June. Surely that’s worth at least £1 per mile! Sponsor Ben’s Walk.
Please keep reading for
More on the Day of Prayer
Services this Sunday
Marriage MOT course
Holiday Club dates this summer.
This Sunday
Matthew 16: 13-20: Say what you believe to be true
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
8am BCP Holy Communion
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)
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.
Prayer matters. 10th June. All day. We sometimes what to pray about or how to pray, but what we do know is that prayer matters. Prayer changes things humanly and spiritually because prayer is part of our discipleship as Christians.
We’re inviting everyone to engage in a day of prayer on Monday June 10th. You don’t have to go anywhere to do this. You could do so aloud, on a walk, in silence, or with a few sentences of thought in your soul.
What are we praying about?
Visibly, we’re praying about the church tower Brighton Road Busbridge. You’ll have heard last week that there are serious issues that we have just got to address now.
Spiritually, we’re praying about a tower that stands as a sign of faithfulness and faith to all who see it. We’re praying for renewal of faith.
Financially, we are praying that people will help us to raise the necessary funds.
To help you pray through June 10th you’ll get a day-prayer card when you gather at a service this Sunday (9th). Please use the card to pray throughout the day. If you can, please gather in the church, below the tower, at midday on Monday to join in praying together.
The invitation is for every one of us to be praying throughout the day.
No prayer is too small or insignificant.
Every prayer matters.
You’re also invited to take a bundle of leaflets about the tower and deliver them through local doors. There’s a map at the back of Brighton Road Busbridge where you can colour a road in and deliver, pray for that road and the people in it. It’s an invitation to pray walk later in the week too!
Coming Up
Ladies Drinks at the Howling Owl is not on this month - Friday 7th June.
June
Start the Week (an alternative) - Mondays from 3rd June
For the last 4 years, there has been a small group of people meeting on Zoom on a Monday morning to reflect on scripture together. We have worked our way through the gospel of Luke and have now started on Acts. We listen to some music, read a short passage and then quietly listen to what God is saying to us through his word. It has been a rich way of starting the week.
This is not a closed or specialist group, and if you would like to join us, you are very welcome. Come and try it out! The time is Mondays (not bank holidays, and not always during school holidays), 8.45 – 9.30am. If you would like to know more, contact Gertrud Sollars (gertrud.sollars@btinternet.com) or Shan Hallam (hallamshan7@gmail.com), or you can find out the Zoom meeting ID and password from the Minster office (office@godalmingminster.org).
Hambledon Village Service on the Green - Sunday 23rd June at 10am.
All are invited to join in this special, bi-annual service in the marquee on Hambledon Cricket Green. Come along, meet people, grab a coffee at the village shop afterwards. It’s a chance to support our Hambledon congregation. On Sat 22nd June, pop along to the unique Hambledon Village Fete (afternoon), on the Green. A more quintessential village event you will find hard to beat!
July
Sign up here!
Saturday 20 July Marriage MOT evening - Make a good thing even better! Join us for a fantastic opportunity for couples build and enrich their relationship, however long you've been married.
August
Holiday Club 28-30 August
Save the Date for the first ever Godalming Minster Summer Holiday Club! 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.
Job Vacancies
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. The closing date for applications is Monday 10th June.
Church Family News
Several members of our church family have been bereaved recently, and we send our love to them all: to Ron and Ann Vickery, whose daughter Wendy died unexpectedly two weekends ago, and to Richard Morris whose mother has died. Please pray for them all, asking God to surround them and their families with his love and comfort.
Mission Update
Foodbank Update 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
Life Issues 2024 - a programme of talks and course run by Godalming Baptist Church.
Next Life Issues: 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 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.
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.