Dear Friends

It is something of an understatement to say we are delighted to announce that Marcus Hockley has been appointed BHC Children’s Pastor, and he’s starting on Monday! (Some of you might have come across Marcus in May when he led a great Ark session which met with the unanimous approval of the children and Ark leaders.)

Marcus is an experienced Children’s Pastor and will be joining the church, and in due course, Godalming Minster, with his wife and two children. We will be introducing Marcus on Sunday 24th June, but in the meantime, thanks to all those who have prayed for God’s person to fill this role, and please continue to pray for Marcus’s ministry and that he and his family feel right at home!

In other news we’d like everyone to save the date for 1 Big Summer Party on Sunday 16th July. Please read on for more details and all the notices.

This Sunday

Celebrate Fathers’ Day

See you at church or online this Sunday, as we come to hear about:

Humility, a strength or a weakness?
Reading: philippians 2:1-11

As we continue into the second chapter of this letter, Paul continues the theme of living lives worthy of the Gospel. We have seen the crucial role that unity in the faith of the gospel plays in the life of the believer and now we turn to another essential virtue…

9:30AM Busbridge Contemporary [Holy Communion]
Led by: Andy Spencer | Speaker: Patrick Samuels
Busbridge Church
Children start in church before leaving for their groups.

11:15AM Busbridge Classic Service
Led by: Keith Harper | Speaker: Ben Barnes
Busbridge Church

10AM Hambledon Morning Worship
Led by: Simon Willetts | Speaker: Peter Shaw
Hambledon Church

4PM Messy Church at Hambledon Village Hall
Led by: Simon Willetts and the Messy Team

Next Sunday 25 June

confident in his promises
Reading: philippians 3: 10-21

9:30AM Busbridge Contemporary
10AM Hambledon Morning Worship
11:15AM Busbridge Classic Service
6PM Busbridge Evening Service [Holy Communion]
6PM Hambledon Evensong

Notices

1 Big Summer Party - 16 July
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.  Who could you invite?

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 6 July: We are delighted that a team from the National Trust will be joining Nexus on Thursday 6 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.

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.

Give thanks for

The new after school youth café at St Mark’s which started on Wednesday 14th June. Feedback from children and parents was very encouraging!

Young Maggie F-L who has completed a sponsored 500m swim to support local families from Ukraine. The Church Family Support Fund will receive the money Maggie has raised on her Just Giving page, and share it with the families we support as a church. Fantastic effort Maggie!

Those who took part in the recent baptism preparation course led by Clare Haddad, for the forthcoming baptisms of their children, and their fellowship with one another. The group has arranged a post-course social, just for fun! We've had more enquiries to run another before the autumn term, so if you know of anyone who is considering a baptism or thanksgiving, send them Cat Garner’s way!

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 >>

MIssion & Outward Giving

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

In this month’s Parish Brief

Dean Dianna to retire

It was announced last weekend that Dean Dianna will be retiring later this year. Her final Sunday service will be Choral Evensong on 17 September. More details will be shared nearer the time but if you would like to join the celebration on the 17th do put 6pm into your diaries.

Ordination Weekend on the 1st July/2nd July 2023

Our upcoming Priests and the parishes in which they’re already serving:

…

Bryan Silletti:     St Andrew, Cobham
Tori Silletti:       St Andrew, Cobham

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.

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.