Dear Friends

Yesterday Ben Rogers completed a mad-ish and massive 37 miles, barefoot, from Brighton back to Busbridge along the Downs Link. The route took him more than 28 hours including a short night’s sleep enroute, and was a real test of stamina and willpower. Thank you Ben for gritting it out, and for the £4000+ you have raised in sponsorship. There’s a few posts from different stages of the walk on Instagram and Facebook for updates, and it’s not too late to sponsor Ben on gofundme.

Ben is raising money for the repairs to the Busbridge church tower, and you might like to read the lastest Rector’s Reflection on how it’s all going.

Classic and Hambledon congregations will be enjoying the weather at the Hambledon Festival Service on the Cricket Green this Sunday at 10am. Please do join them, particularly if you haven’t ever visited this corner of the Minster in a lovely little pocket of Surrey! (The Hambledon Festival involves a fete on Saturday too which is also worth a visit).

Please keep reading for

• Services this Sunday

• Alpha Courses this Autumn

• Nexus talk about the Farncombe Community Garden

• Marriage MOT course

• Dates for the diary

This Sunday

Reading: Acts 8: 9-25

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

10am Hambledon Festival Service on the Green
Hambledon Village Cricket Green, Vann Lane, GU8 4HF
The Hambledon and Brighton Road Classic congregations will meet on the cricket green this Sunday!

10am Sunday Service
Franklyn Road (St Mark’s)

10.30am Contemporary Service
Church Street (St Peter & St Paul’s)
Coffee from 10.15am and children’s groups in the Octagon.

5pm Choral Evensong
Church Street (St Peter & St Paul’s)

6pm Evening Worship [HC]
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.

Fifth Sunday Special at 6pm: 30 June at Brighton Road

Celebrating the goodness of God!

An extended time of praise and worship, followed by time to gather socially with drinks & snacks.  Everyone welcome!

Please put this evening in your diary!  We will enjoy a special extended time of praise & worship led by Simon Willets, followed by time to gather socially with drinks and snacks provided.  Do come if you can!  Feel free to bring a snack to share (sweet or savoury) - but don't feel obliged and come as you are.

We’re running Alpha!
Godalming Minster is going to run two courses this Autumn:
Weds evenings from 25th Sept – 27th Nov Thurs lunchtimes from 26th Sept – 28th Nov

Rev Lesley Mason is leading the courses, and we’d like everyone to consider whether they would like to join in as a participant, or as a member of the team who helps lead, host and cater for the 12 sessions. Look out for invitations, posters and social media posts and please share them and encourage people along.

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

This takes you to the Wednesday evening course, but gives the option to sign up for Thursday lunchtimes too.

Clergy news
Last Sunday we announced the news that Patrick Samuels has accepted the post of Vicar of the new Benefice of Horton, Wraybury and Colnbrook in the Buckingham Archdeaconry of Oxford Diocese.

Naturally Sheila will go to Buckingham with Patrick, and Bishop Andrew has accepted her resignation here, with her last Sunday being 1st September. The clergy team and Franklyn Road congregation are already making plans for life after Sheila, aiming to ensure services and mission activities continue.

We're thrilled for Patrick, though he and Sheila will be greatly missed. We are planning to say farewell to the Samuels at the Holiday Club BBQ on Sunday 1st Sept.

John and Sue Harkin will be with us a little while longer whilst they continue to work with the Church of England to find a suitable retirement property. The Bishop has granted an extension to John's existing contract (3 days per week) for up to one more year. John will continue ministry to the Church Street congregations in addition to supporting ministry in Hambledon whilst we advertise for a new Associate Minister to live in Hambledon. We are very grateful for them both, but pray for the right home to be available soon. The Hambledon post will be advertised shortly once the Archdeacon has signed off the role specification and related documentation.

Congratulations to David Brockman for being accepted by the Diocese to become a Licensed Lay Minster (LLM). David has been working with Andy Spencer, Simon Taylor and others on hearing a call to develop his God given gifts in preaching and services, discipleship support and small groups. Thanks to Andy Spencer for Andy's work on discernment with David and several others in the Minster congregations.

Many people have been asking about the plans for John Harkin’s retirement on June 30th 2024.  This week the PCC unanimously agreed to ask the Bishop to extend John’s existing contract (3 days per week) for up to one more year, whilst John and Sue continue to work with the Church of England to find a suitable retirement property. The extension of John’s licence and living is supported by the Archdeacon and the Bishop of Guildford so John will be licensed before the end of June to enable him to continue to serve across the Minster.

Following the successful funding appeal in Hambledon, Godalming Minster is now in a position to advertise for a new Associate Minister to live in Hambledon. Whilst we advertise for this post, John will continue ministry to the Church Street congregations in addition to supporting ministry in Hambledon.  This way, we gain an immediate increase in clergy involvement for Hambledon.

The Hambledon post will be advertised shortly once the Archdeacon has signed off the role specification and related documentation.  The advert will invite ‘expressions of interest’, rather than have a definite interview date, to give us flexibility in how we proceed and will enable us to have conversations with prospective clergy candidates. There will be further announcements on Sunday which support having John with us for a while longer.

Congratulations to David Brockman for being accepted by the Diocese to become a Locally Licensed Minster (LLM). David has been working with Andy Spencer, Simon Taylor and others on hearing a call to develop his God given gifts in preaching and services, discipleship support and small groups. Thanks to Andy Spencer for Andy’s work on discernment with David and several others in the Minster congregations.

Coming Up

June

Hambledon Village Service on the Green - Sunday 23rd June at 10am.
This Sunday the Busbridge Classic and Hambledon morning congregations are joining 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!

The Bereavement Café next meets on Tuesday 25th June in the Busbridge Old Rectory from 2.30pm-4pm. Information about Bereavement Support can be found under What’s on.

July

Nexus, 8pm on Thursday 4th July
Nexus meets on first Thursdays of the month, and this month’s guest speaker is Dr Martin Brunet, Trustee of Farncombe Community Garden, on the topic of Growing Community Wellbeing. The General Election does clash, but we can vote earlier and get home in time to watch the exit polls on TV!  In the meantime, come and enjoy an hour or so socialising and hearing Martin speak about the development of Farncombe Community Garden, which is our Nexus charity for 2024.   Come along to find out more and discover how we might get involved! More about Nexus and this event >

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. More details >

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

We have taken the decision to re-advertise the posts of Children and Families Pastor (4-11’s) and Yew Tree Café manager, and are invited applications by the end of July. Details can be found on the vacancies page here. Please be praying for the right people to fill these special roles, and help share the ads.

Mission Update

URGENT. The Cellar Camino Cafe was closed the last two Saturdays (when the town was busy) because of lack of staff. A mature and capable volunteer is urgently needed to help between 10 and and 2-30 pm on a Saturday. This is a big ask and could be done on a rota basis. Please contact Debbie or Emma at the Cellar if you can help. The Cellar Camino Café is part of the Warehouse Christian Trust - one of Godalming Minster’s local mission partners. Thanks to everyone who has served the community of Godalming through The Cellar and Skillway over the years, and who are involved today.

Foodbank Update

URGENT LIST

• Tuna 

• Pasta sauces

• UHT semi skimmed milk

• Tinned Peas / Carrots and Tomatoes

• Biscuits and crackers

• Orange/Blackcurrant squash

• Orange/Apple 1 litre juice cartons

• Tea bags/Coffee/Hot chocolate

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

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.

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.

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.