Dear Friends

We hope you enjoy reading the notices this week as we look forward to the last Muddy Church of the term on Holloway Hill Rec! As you read, please take time to consider the familiar but updated mission statement for Busbridge and Hambledon Church as we move towards the formation of Godalming Minster, what it means and what it will take to fulfil it.

This Sunday

See you at church, on Holloway Hill Recreation Ground or online this Sunday to hear about:

The secret of contentment and knowing that we can’t out-give God.
Reading: Philippians 4:10-23

Paul takes this opportunity to give them one last bit of teaching about Christian Joy – the secret of contentment, and reminds us that we cannot out-give God for He has given us everything in His Son Jesus and the gift of His Holy Spirit.

9:30AM Muddy Church on Holloway Hill Rec
Led by: Mark Puddephatt, Suzie Lambert and Will Godwin
BYO cup for coffee and hot chocolate. Look for the flags!

11:15AM Busbridge Classic Service [Holy Communion]
Led by: Andy Spencer | Speaker: Clare Haddad
Busbridge Church

10AM Hambledon Morning Worship
Led by: Keith Harper | Speaker: Dudley Hilton
Hambledon Church

6PM Busbridge Evening Service
Led by: Sarah Rowden | Speaker: Ben Barnes

Next Sunday 9 July

Taking our place in the kingdom
Matthew 4:12-25

9:30AM Busbridge Contemporary
with children’s groups
10AM Hambledon Morning Worship [Holy Communion]
with children’s club
11:15AM Busbridge Classic Service
6PM Busbridge Evening Service

Notices

Please sign up to come to 1 Big Summer Party

1 Big Summer Party - 16 July

Thanks to everyone who has signed up - it’s already quite a party! As is the way at BHC, we expect more will sign up in the final days and hours, and roll up on the day. This is very much OK, BUT if you can decide sooner, it’s such a great help...

Everyone, new and old, from any congregation or church activity, fully involved and dipping their toes, is warmly invited to the 1 Big Summer Party in the Old Rectory Garden on Sunday 16th July from 6-8PM.  Though church never breaks up, it will be good to kick off our shoes as those in education finish exams and the summer term marathon, and we all embark on the holiday season!

Live music will be provided by the Faith Blues Band who played their first sell-out gig in the Yew Tree Café at the end of April.  There will be drinks and a meal for everyone, and a chance to meet people involved in different areas of church life. 

We look forward to sharing this event with the wider family that will be part of Godalming Minster, but for those that can remember (fondly), this is a roll up of the BHC Newcomers tea, the invitational Great Girls Get Together and the Boys BBQ and Beer Bash.   

Friends are welcome, and if you know you are coming, please invite and encourage others.

There's a suggested donation of £5 pp, and you can pay as you sign up.  And do please sign up - we want to provide enough food and drinks, but not too much! Of course, if you’d like to help, please contact vic.hicks@bhcgodalming.org.

NEXUS TALK 6th July: We are delighted that a team from the National Trust will be joining Nexus on Thursday 6th July to talk about the new Winkworth Visitor Centre and the National Trust’s recent acquisition of Munstead Wood. We’ll meet in the Old Rectory at 8.00pm. The evening will start with drinks and nibbles to give us a chance to mingle and meet new people before handing over to Katherine Mills, General Manager, NT London & SE Operations and her team for the talk.   Non members are very much invited to come along. There is a guest contribution of £5 which goes towards speaker costs and refreshments. Details and sign up here.

We’re Hiring! Church Office Cleaner - 3 hours per week
We are currently seeking a reliable Part-Time Office Cleaner in the Old Rectory (see the Role and Person Specification for further details). Do you know anyone who might be interested? If so, please contact the church office: church.office@bhcgodaming.org

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.

MIssion & Outward Giving

Skillway, part of the Warehouse Christian Trust, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! Skillway was a diversification of the work of the Cellar Café (est. 1971) when local church members, including Chris Jagger and Shelagh Godwin, recognised the need to help young people who were struggling academically and behaviourally in mainstream school. 25 years on, Skillway has helped hundreds of teens by teaching them artisan skills such as woodwork and metal work, and through pastoral mentoring.

As a mission partner, Busbridge&Hambledon Church has supported Skillway from its beginnings with funds and volunteers and will continue to do as part of Godalming Minster. Please do read Skillway’s latest newsletter to get a flavour of what goes on. Follow @skillwayworkshops on Facebook and Instragram too!

pray & Give thanks for

Ordination Weekend on the 1st July/2nd July 2023 at Guildford Cathedral:
In particular Bryan and Tori Silletti who will be priested this Saturday and will continue to serve as curates in St Andrew’s Church, Cobham. We send our love to them both, and pray for their ministries.

On Sunday 2nd July at 4PM, James Ellin will be licensed as Associate Vicar at All Saints Worcester.

The Men’s Group who meet in the Old Rectory this Saturday at 8.15am for breakfast. This month’s current + Christian affairs discussion topic is: Are we right in hoping and praying that the people of Russia will one day wake up in a free and lovely country like Denmark or New Zealand? The Men’s Breakfast has a band of regulars, but loves to welcome others. Please contact Alan or Dudley for details via e: mensgroup@bhcgodalming.org.

Those on our Worship and Production teams who are starting the Worship Central course on Monday evenings. Worship Central is a seven session course from HTB that looks at some of the theological and practical issues around leading worship. Please give thanks for everyone’s commitment to optimising the worship experience on Sundays at Busbridge and as we look towards services within Godalming Minster.

get involved / serving

Busbridge laptop operators URGENTLY required! Those who prefer a screen to a printed service sheet and hymn book, and can use a PC, please offer your help to run the laptop once a month. Training and patience will be provided! Contact Patrick Elshen via the church office if you’d like to help.

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.

Mid-week Prayer Gatherings

Reflective Prayer Mons at 8.45am online.
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.

Can we pray for you?

***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 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. *UPGRADED THIS WEEK* 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
See the full 2023 Life Issues programme.
To book a place contact Sally Pollard-pollard3@hotmail.co.uk or tel-01483-428646.

Small Ad 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.

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 & 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.