Dear Friends

We look forward to seeing you around Godalming Minster this Sunday to conclude the sermon series in Ephesians. This week we’ll be hearing about the Spiritual Warfare and The Armour of God in Ephesians 6: 10-18, and celebrating the baptism of 3 children at Hambledon and Contemporary. Please be with us to support their friends and families, and to give them a warm welcome to the Minster family!

This Sunday

Services listed in chronological order:

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. Children’s groups for 4-11s take place in the Octagon.

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

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.

Join us for the next sermon series, starting 5 May
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!

Coming Up - Highlights

Godalming Minster is holding the first of it’s 90th birthday celebrations for St Mark’s Church this Sunday. Join us at the free community fun day on the St Mark’s and All Saint’s school field from 3-5pm on 28th April, with live music, tea and cake, crafts, games and the bouncy castle. The St Mark’s community events have been popular in recent years and we hope this one will be extra special for the church, school and community, but everyone is invited! Look out for the publicity on social media.

After church on 28th April
Following church on Sunday 28th April, why not stroll up (or down) to the outdoor Artisan Market at the Fox and Finch pub where you’ll find Dawn O’Toole (contemporary congregation) spinning her potter’s wheel! You can have a go at throwing a pot with Dawn, in return for a donation to Macmillan. Buy a coffee or drink while you browse the stalls together, and perhaps book a table for lunch with others? The Artisan Market is on from 10am-2pm. As well as supporting Macmillan, it could be a very nice social opportunity!

Thu 2 May - Nexus welcomes author and triathlete Helen McCann to talk about her experiences. All welcome to drinks and the talk. More details.

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 12th May so it would be great to have your details if you’d like to be invited.

Bereavement Support
Bereavement Café meets on Tuesday 30th April from 2:30pm to 4:00 pm in the Old Rectory. All those who have been bereaved either recently or sometime ago are very welcome. Refreshments and a listening ear await you. Contact: Shan Hallam

The next Bereavement Journey course starts on 5 June, for anyone who has been bereaved recently or sometime ago. Please find all the details here, and share with anyone you think might benefit. 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

Furniture request for Ukrainians
The Godalming Minster congregations have good reputation for supporting requests for Ukrainians as they move from host families to homes of their own. Can we help two young women who signed a contract on a flat today and have absolutely no furniture?  If anyone is refurbishing or upgrading their kitchen, we should be thrilled to have a washing machine and fridge freezer.  Apart from that, general household goods of any sort will be appreciated. We have a few bits and pieces in a garage where we store things but for example, no sofas, if someone is replacing one of theirs. Contact Diane e: diane.alder@btinternet.com.

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.

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.