Dear Friends,
This Sunday we will be hearing testimony and praying for our wonderful Pastoral Assistants. Technically it’s the annual commissioning in which Pastoral Assistants recommit to their calling to care for people on behalf of the church. BHC has a team of 8, who between them represent all congregations, so each service will have one or two PAs to endorse and celebrate.
Pastoral Care takes on many forms, and is a key element of the mission plan for Loving People under the banner of Godalming Minster. Bereavement support is one area of the ministry that the Pastoral Care team has established in the last year with the Bereavement Journey course, and the monthly Bereavement Café. The next Bereavement Journey course starting on 18th October is open to all, and still has places. See below in the notices for details.
As we countdown to the formal establishment of Godalming Minster (1st Jan 2024!), more and more mission activities are going “Minster-wide”. The next Pre-Marriage course is looking forward to sharing the day with 9 couples who are getting married at each of the 4 Godalming Minister churches (in addition to several who are tying the knot elsewhere) which is exciting!
Also in the notices, there is more encouragement to try out a house group, instructions for Harvest on 8th October and a reminder about the first Minster Pet Service at Hambledon on Sunday 1st Oct. Thank you for reading on…
This Sunday
Sermon series: People, Place & Purpose
Topic: Equipping for evangelism in post-christian culture
| Ephesians 6: 10-18
9.30AM Busbridge Contemporary Service
led by Simon Taylor | Speaker Suzie Lambert
Busbridge Church & online
with crèche and children’s groups for ages 3-14 - all in the Old Rectory
11.15AM Busbridge Classic Service
led by Sarah Black | Speaker Andy Spencer
Busbridge Church & online
10AM Hambledon Morning Worship
led by Simon Willetts | Speaker Peter Shaw
Hambledon Church
6PM Busbridge Evening Service [Holy Communion]
led by Simon Willetts | Speaker Simon Taylor
Busbridge Church
Next Sunday 1st October
Topic: Stepping out in Faith
| Deuteronomy 1: 3-18
10AM Minster Pet Service
Hambledon Church
(Muddy Church will join the Pet Service)
11.15AM Busbridge Classic Service [Holy Communion]
Busbridge Church & online
6PM Busbridge Evening Service with baptism
Busbridge Church
Notices
Save the Date!
NEW PET SERVICE
1st Oct, 10AM at Hambledon Church
Muddy Church will be joining Hambledon for the inaugural pet service on Sunday 1st October. Essentially, bring your pet along - as long as it’s safe for them and others! We will either by asking “why haven’t we done this before?” or saying “never again!” Either way, please come and share the experience.
All Roles Sunday Service Workshop - Sat 7 Oct
For those who serve as welcomers, service leaders, readers, and leaders of intercessions, AND those who would like to join the team in one of these roles.
Margot and Simon W will lead the workshop from 09.30 to 11.30 consisting of several distinct sessions:
All timings 'ish' -
0930 – 0945 welcome and refreshments
0945 – 1015 welcoming
1015 - 1030 reading
1030 – 1100 intercessions
1100 - 1130/45 service leading
Depending on how you wish to serve, you don’t need to attend the full 2 hours, (though it might help to understand the other roles), but it would be great if you could make the bit that is relevant to what you do. Here's the link to the event. It would be super if you could sign up HERE.
Coffee and croissants will be provided by one of the team!
Baptism and Confirmation
We give thanks that one of our young people has chosen to be baptised, and this will take place at Busbridge Church during the 6pm service on 1st October. Please pray for them, and if you would like to find out about being baptised (whatever your age), please contact Sheila Samuels e: sheila.samuels@bhcgodalming.org, or Ben Barnes e: ben.barnes@bhcgodalming.org.
Several young people will be confirmed during the Deanery confirmation service at St John’s, Farncombe on 5th November. If you would like to find out about confirmation please contact Simon Taylor e: simon.taylor@bhcgodalming.org.
Please pray for these young people who are giving their lives to Jesus, and that our work as Godalming Minster to “grow younger” yields many more!
Harvest - 8th October
Harvest will be celebrated in all services on 8th October, with the traditional gathering of non-perishable gifts for the Godalming Food Bank. BHC also runs an outward giving appeal at key times of the year (Easter, Harvest and Christmas), and this year the Harvest Appeal is in aid of Mechanics for Africa. The web site gives a great impression of the charity and it’s work, and there will be more information available next week. Representatives from MfA will be with us on 8th October too.
Chris Garner of Prime Time Walks fame and also an indispensable member of the live streaming team for services in Busbridge, has begun ordination training. Having undergone quite an intensive selection process, Chris has begun training with the Local Ministry Programme at Guildford. This is a three year course leading to ordination.
Please pray for Chris as he juggles with a full-time job, study and family commitments. Look out for updates of how it is going in the notices now and then.
Invitation to join a Small Group
It’s a great time to try a mid-week small group, and there is a new group starting on Thursday evenings, hosted by Debs and Tom Jones and led by Hilary Pettman. Please let Hilary know if you would like to find out more.
The group which meets fortnightly on Tuesday mornings (9.20am - 11am) seeks new members interested in joining them for the September term. All ages welcome. Please contact Cathy Brook via My ChurchSuite or the church office for more details.
A Wednesday evening group would also welcome new members. Please let Margot Spencer e: margot.spencer@bhcgodalming.org know if this is a good time for you!
The next Bereavement Journey course will start on Wednesday 18th October. Read more >
Nexus Talk on Thurs 5th October 8.00pm Busbridge Old Rectory
Making Connections Project – Send Prison
Caroline Luard, Volunteer Mentor
Caroline will come and share with us some aspects of life in the prison. She and Lesley Mason MBE, Send Prison Chaplain, have a passion for the work that they do there.
This includes the important Making Connections Project – funded by the Nazareth Way chaplaincy charity, which is one of BHC’s key mission partners. This project provides discretionary grants to prisoners being discharged to help them survive in their first few days after release until benefits become available. It will be enlightening to get some insight into life at this Prison where the focus is on personal development and preparing women for getting back into the outside world after they have served their term.
We’ll meet in the Busbridge Old Rectory at 8.00pm. The evening will start with drinks and nibbles to give us a chance to mingle and meet new people. Refreshments to start, 2023 Annual subscription £20, Guests £5 contribution towards speaker costs.
New Wine 2024 - Book Now!
Having returned from a wonderful week at New Wine, the BHC contingent is keen to encourage a bigger Godalming Minster group to go together next year. It will be at Shepton Mallet, from 25th to 30th July.
Tickets are already available and selling quickly, so if people want to book, it would be good to get onto it sooner rather than later, especially if you want places on the fabulous children’s programme. Speak to Suzie Lambert for an enthusiastic testimony and more information!
Update to the BHC Privacy Notice (GDPR)
In accordance with GDPR, the church must inform people of any changes to its Privacy Notice. Therefore, please note that under the part of the Privacy Notice which lists the purposes that Busbridge&Hambledon Church uses personal data for, the following has been added: “To work towards establishing the Godalming Minster”. (see the penultimate bullet point.) If you have any questions, please contact jenny.lansdowne@bhcgodalming.org.
church family news
The funeral of Paul Unwin will take place at Hambledon Church on Thursday 12th October at 1pm.
A service of Thanksgiving for the life of John Postill will take place at Busbridge Church on Saturday 21st October, at 2pm, followed by refreshments in the Yew Tree Café.
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.
Coming Up / plan ahead
See the events coming up next and look up dates further ahead in the full calendar.
Can we pray for you?
***Please send prayer requests to prayer@bhcgodalming.org***
Mid-week Prayer Gatherings
Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer and reflection.
Monday Morning Reflections on Zoom
We shall resume our sessions on Monday 4th September at 8.45am on Zoom. If you would like to start your week in quiet reflection over a passage of scripture do join us in September - you will be very welcome. For any further information please contact: Gertrud Sollars or Shan Hallam.
Wednesdays at 9AM: Morning Prayer at Hambledon Church
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 Jul-Dec 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 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.
Elsewhere
For news from all the other local churches, see:
Churches Together Link Up - SEPTEMBER 2023
Godalming Baptist Church Life Issues talks
See the full 2023 Life Issues programme.
To book a place contact Sally Pollard-pollard3@hotmail.co.uk or tel-01483-428646.
Next talk: Anxiety, Fear and Panic
WANTED: ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUTH WORKER RELOCATING TO GODALMING
The Trinity Trust Team has recently appointed a new Team Youth Worker (single male, aged 30). This is more great news for Christian youth work across Godalming.
Ola is looking for a one bed, flat studio or annexe at reasonable rent. If you can help please contact our Chair (Michael Stubbs) on: michael@trinitytrustteam.co.uk.
Week of Accompanied Prayer The Guildford network of spiritual directors is offering a week of accompanied prayer from 8.-13th October this year. A week of accompanied prayer is a bit like a retreat from home – you meet once a day (in person or on zoom) with a retreat guide who will suggest Bible passages to pray with and meditate on and talk about what you find. Participants in the past have found a week like this to deepen their prayer life and their walk with God; it also gives you a taste of what spiritual direction is about. Gertrud Sollars (gertrud.sollars@btinternet.com) has more information. See the flyer and application form.
MODERN SLAVERY, RIGHT HERE , RIGHT NOW
An awareness event, Saturday 21st October, St Mary's Church, Quarry Street, Guildford, GU1 3TY. 9:30-3pm Talks will be given by DCI Kerry Loveless, Surrey Police and South-east regional lead for Modern Slavery and Allison Sutcliffe Diocese Modern Slavery Advisor.
Guildford Mothers Union is pleased to have been invited by the Diocese to have a stand and would love members to join us in 'manning it' for whatever time you can spare, or just support the event, and spread the word. Please let one of us know: Dorothea (dorothea.nattrass@gmail.com, 01428 653216) / or Diana (diana@parenting@gmail.com, 07782186229).
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.