Dear Friends
Show us the way! With permission from the diocese, we now have a striking finger post in Busbridge Churchyard to show visitors around the site, and the directions to all parts of Godalming Minster. This has been lovingly handcrafted in oak by David H, and we are so grateful for this personal contribution to the church.
There were blue skies for Muddy last Sunday by the Jack Phillips Memorial Cloister, overlooked by St Peter and St Paul’s spire. There was fun and active bible learning on the sermon topic “Giving thanks in all circumstances” with ribbons and sticks. It was great to see some old friends too! The next Muddy is on Holloway Hill Recreation Ground on 2nd July.
This Sunday
See you at church or online this Sunday, as we come to hear about:
courageous living
Philippians 1:12-30
Being a citizen of God’s kingdom doesn’t exempt us from hardship. We are called to live lives worthy of the Gospel, lives which are courageous and reflect that we trust and have faith in God who is with us in our challenging times. Paul’s concern with the eternal perspective helps us look beyond the here and now and offers us comfort that there is more to life than the situation we find ourselves in…
9:30AM Busbridge Contemporary
Led by: Chris Garner | Speaker: Peter Shaw
Busbridge Church
Children start in church before leaving for their groups.
11:15AM Busbridge Classic Service
Led by: Frances Shaw | Speaker: Peter Shaw
Busbridge Church
10AM Hambledon Morning Worship [Holy Communion]
Led by: Andy Spencer | Speaker: David Jenkins
Hambledon Church
6PM Busbridge Evening Service + Youth
Led by: Patrick Samuels | Speaker: David Jenkins
Next Sunday 18 June
Humility, a strength or a weakness?
Reading: philippians 2:1-11
9:30AM Busbridge Contemporary [Holy Communion]
11:15AM Busbridge Classic Service
10AM Hambledon Morning Worship
4PM Messy Church at Hambledon Village Hall
Notices
IMPORTANT Minster matter! - Notice of the DRAFT Pastoral Scheme - issue 2 - has now been given by the Diocese of Guildford and is available for comment until Monday 24th July. Please note the date extension from the original deadline (3rd July). The Pastoral Scheme is the legal document which sets out the organisation of the new Godalming Minster and has been sent to the affected parishes of Godalming, Busbridge, Hambledon and Farncombe. The draft Pastoral Scheme and instructions can be found on the Minster page under About Us HERE. There is a notice on the church doors and a printed copy of the draft pastoral scheme in each of the churches. Notice will also be given in Sunday services between now and 19th July. Please spread the word and let those who might not come to church, or receive the email notices, be aware.
FOUND - New café volunteers. Thanks to those who responded to the recent ad for more café baristas. The Yew Tree Café welcomes Juliet and Belinda to team, just in time for the alfresco season and summer events at the schools when parents enjoy cafe refreshments before and after sports days and end of year assemblies. If you are interested in getting involved, please see the cafe volunteer ad here, and contact Lizzie Soar e: lizzie.soar@bhcgodalming.org.
get involved / serving
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.
MINSTER-WIDE
Alpha Course on Thursdays May-July at 7.30PM: Stay Curious / Who will you invite?
The Alpha course is underway at St Mark’s Church, led by Sheila Samuels and Keith Harper. More courses will be scheduled and Keith and Sheila would love to hear from you if you would like to find out about the course for yourself or someone else. Cooks to provide a meal would also be very welcome. More details >>
Invitation to a Curry Night at St Mark’s - 9th June
St Mark’s members the Allens, are fundraising for their visit to North East Thailand when they will be carrying out numerous activities in the Chiang Rai area specifically to support the community with food storage, recycling and safe disposal of waste, as well as helping with the erection of a barbed wire fence.
Your support for this project would be much appreciated: After a very successful cream tea afternoon in our garden which raised an incredible £230, the next event will be a curry evening cooked by Sheila Samuels on 9th June 7 for 7.30PM at St Marks.
Tickets £10 need to be pre booked by contacting Lin on 07776145016 or email linda.j.allen1955@gmail.com
MIssion & Outward Giving
Please pray for the new youth café starting after school at St Mark’s next Wednesday 14th June. Ben Barnes led an assembly at St Mark’s and All Saints school and invited years 4,5 and 6 to a fun after school café in the church and community centre. Ben and Sheila Samuels are looking forward having fun and making new connections with the year 5 and 6 children who come next week, and plan to extend the invitation to year 4 in coming weeks. Following the pilot at St Mark’s, CYF hope to start a youth café for Busbridge. Volunteers and your prayers will be necessary!
Maggie Jagger writes from the Isle of Wight:
Dear Shelagh and everyone at Busbridge and Hambledon Church,
On behalf of the Trustees of SALCET, I am writing to thank you very much for the generous donation of £1,777.50 we have reeived from Busbridge PCC for his year’s Easter Appeal…We are grateful for your financial support over the last 18 years as well as your encouragement.
Part of the money will be used to help Carlos Gomez (a pastor and SALCET field worker) set up a diabetic support group in Panchimalco in El Salvador (diabetes is a very serious problem in El Salvador). The rest will be used for remote diagnostics in Msaka Uganda, were our field worker, Robert is concered that poor children with serever medical problems e.g. cerebal palsy, are missing out on education because of lack of diagnosis and funding. SALCET has the expertise to help these children and provide necessary equipment to improve their quality of life.
We (Chris and Maggie) are setting in well to our life on the isle of wight and our local church has been very welcoming and is mission focussed, so SALCET will continue in a new location and we will send out newsletters periodically to keep you in touch with what we are doing. Thank you all very much.
The Outward Giving Group next meets on 17th July and could really do with more members. We meet about 5 times a year. In particular we are looking for somebody who can co-ordinate a lunch, tea or other event to raise funds to help women leaving HMP Send with no support. Please contact David Jenkins or Shelagh Godwin to find out more.
Members and supporters from Busbridge&Hambledon Church are invited to TTT’s celebration. Please RSVP. Speak to Julie Nelson, Michael Stubbs and Simon Callaghan if you would like to find out more!
Coming Up / plan ahead
See the events coming up next and look up dates further ahead in the full calendar.
Mid-week Prayer Gatherings
Reflective Prayer Mons at 8.45am online. Reflective Prayer will not take place on bank holiday Monday. Do join us on Zoom when we resume "normal" service on Monday 5 June.
Busbridge Morning Prayer Weds at 9am on Zoom.
Hambledon Morning Prayer takes place on Wednesdays at 9am. All welcome.
Busbridge Saturday Prayer Meeting + PrayerFest 0-30 8-9am 2nd Saturdays of the month in Busbridge Church.
***Please send prayer requests to prayer@bhcgodalming.org***
Groups & Activities
The Men’s Group meets for breakfast at 8.15am on the first 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 2023 Prime Time programme for Jan-Jun is now available. For all events and details, see Prime Time.
Nexus meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, with talks and activities for church members and the community. The 2023 Nexus programme can be found on Nexus.
Bereavement Café - The Bereavement Café will be open for the 2nd time next Tuesday 30 May in the Old Rectory. The Bereavement Café is for anyone who has been bereaved recently or some time ago and provides a safe and supportive space to come and chat with members of the pastoral care team, and others who have experienced loss. Every last Tuesday of the month in the Old Rectory. More details >>>
Don’t forget about…
The MyChurchSuite app. It’s the easiest way 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 Church Office if you’ve lost your login details or would like to request an account. The instructions which are now on the web site HERE.
Simon’s sabbatical 11th April-15th July 2023
While Simon Taylor enjoys his sabbatical, the leadership of the benefice is in the capable hands of Simon Willetts, supported by Margot Spencer, the wardens, clergy and staff team. Minster plans will continue to develop.
Elsewhere
For news from all the other local churches, see:
Churches Together Link Up - JUNE 2023
Godalming Baptist Church Life Issues talks: We have a thought-provoking and so helpful Life Issue coming up next month at Godalming Baptist Church 'Managing Anger and Conflict' on Saturday 24th June from 10.00am-12.30pm (coffee from 9.30am) led by Revd Peter Jackson.
There is no charge for the session but donations towards the work of 'Emerge' -a christian charity that supports young people in A and E who come in with mental health needs would be much appreciated. To book a place please contact Sally Pollard-01483-428646 or e-mail pollard3@hotmail.co.uk by Friday 16th June.
See the full 2023 Life Issues programme.
To book a place contact Sally Pollard-pollard3@hotmail.co.uk or tel-01483-428646.
Single, employed Christian woman in her forties looking for a room in a house share or with a family on a long-term let in or near Guildford, can pay £650pm maximum, including bills. Tidy, clean, polite, helpful, good with most pets. Looking to move end of June. Contact Sarah Black if you can help.
Yew Tree Café
at Busbridge Church
The Yew Tree Café at Busbridge Church is open 8.30am-4pm weekdays in term time, and 10am-2pm on Saturdays, and 10am-4pm during school holidays.
Pastoral Care
PASTORAL CARE & PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE
If you, or someone you know at church, are in need of support and care, please contact Sandra Wilkin via the church office, or e: pastoral@bhcgodalming.org.
To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org or call 01483 421267.
Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer.