Dear friends,

Busbridge and Hambledon can feel quiet at this time of year, particularly in the heat, but at the churches there have been some busy services on Sundays, wonderful weddings and a steady flow of visitors to the Yew Tree Café. Both churches offer ways to connect on Sundays and mid-week.

There’s a particularly big get together this Sunday at the Godalming Bandstand for the Churches Together service at 10.30am. There are no morning services at Busbridge or Hambledon church, but everyone is also very welcome to the 6pm Evening Service at Busbridge.

This week we are delighted to announce a few arrivals: 2 baby boys (see Church Family News) and – drum roll please – the Director of Youth and Children! Ben Barnes comes with his family from St Paul’s Church, Camberley and will start his ministry at Busbridge&Hambledon Church on 1st September. Ben, Sophie and their two children are in the process of moving to Busbridge, and we can’t wait to meet them all on or after Sunday 4th September. Please do be praying for the family as they settle in, their daughter prepares to start school and Ben and Sophie start their new ministry and jobs here.

Read on for details about:

• What and where this Sunday (the services)

• Summer Services

• Changes to services in September

• HMP Send appeal – How about lunch with Helen?

• Hymns & Pimm’s – 4 Sep

• Alpha starting 15 Sep

• Please sign up for the big Autumn Spruce – 17 Sep

• Plans for Godalming Regen – press release from Waverley.

Sunday 14 August

10.30AM Churches Together Service at Godalming Bandstand. All welcome.

6PM Busbridge Evening Service
Led by: Simon Taylor
Busbridge Church

Sunday 21 August

Ezekiel’s Call and the Vision of God’s glory
Readings: Ezekiel 1:1-6 & 14-21

9.30AM Morning Worship [Holy Communion]
Led by: David Jenkins | Speaker: Dudley Hilton
Hambledon Church

10.30AM Combined Worship [Holy Communion]
Led by: Andy Spencer | Speaker: Keith Harper
Busbridge Church

There’s a handout in both churches to remind you about summer holiday services which start at Busbridge from 24 July, and at Hambledon during August. Please take one home:

Notices

Outward Giving request to support the HMP Send appeal: Why not have lunch with Helen? (Leaflets are at the back of the churches)

Her name may be Helen, but it may be something else. Having served her time at HMP Send she is about to be released. On a Friday afternoon, just as everything is closing for the weekend, Helen walks through the prison gates with just £76 in her pocket. This is hardly enough to find her food, accommodation, and everything else she needs to see her through the weekend. And, quite likely, nobody knowing her background will trust her with a job either.

Most likely, through desperation, she will return to a life of crime simply to get some cash. And soon she will be behind bars again.

Is this really necessary?

The BHC Outward Giving Group has come up with a scheme to help Helen and women like her. Give up a meal out during the summer or autumn and donate the money saved to the Nazareth Way at HMP Send. Prison Chaplain Lesley Mason will be delighted to see us helping in this way. Think of what £3000 would do in helping Helen and those like her out of their predicament.

If you are challenged by this, please donate £50 (the price of the average meal out) or anything you can afford to ‘Lunch with Helen Fund’, Busbridge PCC, Old Rectory, Old Rectory Gardens, Godalming GU7 1PU, by cheque, or direct to Busbridge PCC account 00705349, sort code 60-09-04, putting ‘Lunch with Helen Fund’ in the reference field.

Shelagh Godwin, for the BHC Outward Giving Group

New Service times at both churches from September

A reminder that the Busbridge Contemporary will take place first at 9.30am and the Classic at 11.15am.

Hambledon is introducing a single 10AM service with a blended format, with Common Worship liturgy and informal contemporary elements, from September. Children’s work will be available at 10AM apart from Messy Church Sundays (3rd of the month).

Pick up a list of the new service times for September from church this Sunday or over the summer. It includes the special Sunday dates for Autumn too, so please watch out for the deviations!

Hambledon Coffee Morning & Hearing Aid Clinic restarting on 3rd Wednesdays of the month.
We are looking forward to the return of the Hambledon coffee morning at 10.30am on 3rd Wednesdays of the month. NHS hearing aid maintenance and replacement batteries will also be available once more.

Who might you invite? Contact Jacqui Rook via the church office if you would like a lift to church.

Coming Up:

See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event for details and the location (online or on site).

SIGN UP NOW to the Autumn Spruce!

Having missed the Spring Clean and the Summer Blitz, come September the churches will be in much need of a back to church Autumn “Spruce”! Please save the date. We do need your help, but the getting together is just as important. (After Christmas, it’s Simon Taylor’s favourite event of the year!) Click the flyer to sign up.

Autumn Alpha Course – an Autumn Alpha course will start on Thursday 15th September at St Mark’s Church and run on Thursdays until 24th November (with a break for half-term). Contact Sheila.Samuels@bhcgodalming.org if you’d like to join the course or find out more. We are looking for a catering team to provide one or more of the meals. Please let Sheila know if you’d like to help with this fundamental and most enjoyable element!

Vacancies

Worship Pastor We are now advertising for a permanent full time Worship pastor. Do you know anyone who might be interested? 

We’d love to be able to offer subsidised or free housing for the post to widen the attraction. Might you, or anyone you know, offer to have them as a lodger, or have them living in your annex? Please speak to Karen Hart, 07891 114306, for further details or a chat.

The search for our new 4-11s Children’s Worker continues. Please take a look at the job, pray and share it. Simon would be happy to talk to anyone about it, even if the specification and terms are not a perfect match.

Please continue to pray for all these vacancies and that God’s people are called to the roles.

Church Family News

Jenna and Stephen welcomed Arthur on 22 July and Anto and Jess welcomed bebé Leopold on 28th July.  Huge congratulations to all!

A number of church friends will remember Neil Pinto’s mother Doreen, who died peacefully on Friday, 22nd July, aged 95.  She was a frequent visitor for over thirty six years and became a familiar figure here.  As we give thanks for Doreen’s life and Christian faith, please pray for God’s peace and comfort for Neil, Jan and the wider family.  The funeral will be at Doreen’s home church in the Midlands.

Please pray for

• The BHC4Ukraine group as they prepare to welcome Ukrainian families and their hosts for lunch at the Old Rectory to mark Ukrainian Independence day on 21 August.

• Hambledon Cricket Green

• Oakdene road and its road steward Catherine Hobden

ELSEWHERE

Some church members may have seen the following plans for Godalming. The press release is included in the notices for general interest, and to assure you that the Godalming Minster Evaluation Steering Group are aware of the plans and will be liaising with Waverley.

News Release Issued by Waverley Borough Council

Date: Wednesday 3 August 2022

Waverley seeks views on potential Godalming regeneration

Waverley Borough Council is asking for feedback from residents and local businesses about potential plans to regenerate three council owned sites in central Godalming. The council has been considering options for its head office at The Burys for a number of years, as it has very poor energy efficiency, making it very expensive to heat and maintain.

More recently, the council has begun to look more holistically at its land assets in central Godalming to ensure it is maximising their value for residents. It has now widened the scope of its regeneration project to include the main car park in central Godalming, Crown Court, and The Wharf, which has most recently been used as a car park for council staff.

Early options appraisals by the council indicate that The Wharf and Crown Court car parks could both support low density housing in a mixture of tenures, including social rented and affordable homes. Much of The Burys site is in Flood Zone 2, and it is therefore unsuitable for new housing, however revenue from the sale of new market homes on The Wharf and Crown Court sites could fund the redevelopment of The Burys site, making the entire project cost-neutral.

Waverley is heavily reliant on revenue from car parks, and from the outset has sought to ensure there would be no net loss of parking within central Godalming as a result of the regeneration works. The council’s viability assessment indicates that redevelopment of The Burys site could support a multi-deck car park that would replace any loss of parking on Crown Court and The Wharf. Options for a decked carpark have been considered, which place the car parking behind an attractive façade and within the current height of the office building.

The council has a range of engagement opportunities planned for members of the public over the summer. Residents are invited to drop into the reception area of The Burys to view displays about the project and potential options, and to offer feedback via an online survey. The displays, online survey, FAQs and further information are available online at www.waverley.gov.uk/GodalmingRegen. There will also be events for local businesses and partners throughout the summer and pop-up displays in the High Street. Comments and questions are also welcomed by email to: Burysdevelopment@waverley.gov.uk

The council will undertake full consultation later this year.

Councillor Paul Follows, Leader of Waverley Borough Council, said: “Last year, our ageing building cost over £210,000 to heat and complete only the most essential maintenance. Our estimate for this year is around £410,000, so we’re under a great deal of financial pressure to find a solution urgently.

“I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to come up with some options that will see the current level of parking spaces maintained, while bringing new, genuinely affordable housing to the centre of Godalming. At this stage, there are no concrete plans, but we’ve got some fantastic options to create new community spaces, support and enhance the High Street, develop future income streams for the council and future-proof our offices, using new housing to fund it all.

“We really need your views, so please do come into the reception at the Burys and see our displays about the opportunities we’ve identified or visit the webpage and feedback to us via the online survey or our dedicated email address.” 

For further information contact:

Tel: 01483  523296
Web : www.waverley.gov.uk
Email: communications@waverley.gov.uk

Read the latest issue (JULY) of Churches Together in Godalming and District Link Up.

From Godalming Baptist Church: Maureen Jones is retiring from her role as Friendship Lunch cook. We are so grateful for all her very hard work over many years. We are now seeking a new cook . Friendship Lunch is a great outreach to the local community to show God’s love to many who live alone.  We need someone who would be willing to work fortnightly  Thursdays (or monthly)  9.00am-2.00pm and fortnightly on  Wednesdays in preparation (or monthly) 

Please contact Sally Pollard-01483-428646 -e-mail-pollard3@hotmail.co.uk for more details. A warm welcome awaits!

Godalming Baptist Church Life Sessions. Please see the full brochure here. September’s talk is on Compassion Fatigue

Vacancies at Waverley Abbey
We currently have a number of excellent job opportunities. Should you know of anyone who may be interested, please could you forward them the details. The jobs are advertised on the Waverley Abbey website and can be accessed using this link https://www.waverleyabbeytrust.org/vacancies

Don’t forget about…

Things in the following areas may not make the notices, but the latest info can be found on the web pages:

Yew Tree Café Opening Hours
8.30am-4pm [takeaway to 4.30pm] Weekdays
10am-2pm Saturday

Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer.

PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE

To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org or call 01483 421267.
Listening prayer is available mid-week.

Dear friends,

This edition will serve for the next few weeks – until 14 August, and hopefully there’s enough news and info to get you through until then. In fact, after the big read this week you might be glad of the break! This Sunday concludes the sermon series on Daniel and there’s end of term celebrations at Busbridge after the Contemporary Service, and at Hambledon Messy Church at 4PM. All welcome. It would be great to see you before the summer break begins, and church might be the coolest place!

A message from david wilkin, chair of the minster evaluation steering group, Rev simon taylor and canon john harkin re. the Outcome of the PCCs’ votes to become a Godalming Minster

On Monday 11th July the PCCs of Busbridge Church, Hambledon Church, St Peter and Paul with St Mark’s voted on the proposal to unite and become a Minister Parish for the Godalming and wider area. The PCC members are the Trustees of their parishes, so the matter was taken seriously and they all spent considerable time in thought, preparation and prayer reviewing the significant ‘Recommendation to PCC’s 11th July 2022’ document before voting. One PCC allows electronic votes to be cast pre-meeting and these are recorded separately. The results of the deliberations and voting are as follows:

1. Busbridge PCC. Unanimous vote yes. No abstentions. The PCC also voted to give up its own patronage of itself

2. Hambledon PCC. Unanimous vote yes. No abstentions. The PCC also voted to give up its patronage of Busbridge Church up

3. St Peter and Paul with St Mark’s PCC. Unanimous vote yes with no abstentions for those present. Two electronic pre-votes cast, 1 yes and 1 no

The Minster proposal has therefore been passed by all PCCs by a clear individual and collective majority, with only 1 vote against. Now that we have a clear proposal which has been thoroughly tested by the PCCs there will be meetings over the coming weeks for all church members where details of the proposal will be fully explored with lots of space for questions. We will also gather for more prayer times.

Bishop Andrew will be writing to all 3 PCCs with his reaction and thoughts, and in the Autumn the PCCs decision will be brought to special Archdeacon’s APCMs across all the parishes for further prayer and ratification. If you are on the Busbridge and Hambledon Electoral Rolls, the recommendation documentation will be sent to you by email shortly, and will be available on request from the church office. 

With grateful thanks to all PCC members and to every member of the Minister exploration groups, for giving many hours to this matter.

David, Simon and John

Background info can be found on the Minster Evaluation page:

Read on for details about:

• What and where this Sunday (the services)

• Summer Services

• Changes to services in September

• Update on the new Director of Youth and Children (Youth Minister)

• Hymns & Pimm’s – 4 Sep

• Alpha starting 15 Sep

• The big Autumn Spruce – 17 Sep

• Yew Tree Café seeks an Assistant Manager (part-time) – see job ad and share!

Sunday 17 July

THE TIME OF THE END
Daniel 12

HAMBLEDON

9.30AM Heritage Service
Leader: Andy Spencer | Speaker: Dudley Hilton
Hambledon Church & Online

10.30AM Alpha Course
Hambledon Church

4PM Messy Church Summer Party
Hambledon Village Hall

BUSBRIDGE

9.10AM Classic Service
Led by: Keith Harper | Speaker: Clare Haddad
Busbridge Church & Online

10.30AM Contemporary Service [Holy Communion]
Led by: Patrick Samuels | Speaker: Clare Haddad
Busbridge Church & Online

Contemporary Social 17th July: The Contemporary congregation will celebrate the end of term on 17th July, with a picnic in the Old Rectory Garden after the service. Drinks and gazebo provided. The bouncy castle will be up. BYO picnic. Everyone, from all congregations welcome!

Carparking for Busbridge services: The church has use of the Busbridge Village Hall carpark on Sunday mornings. Please make use of it to avoid congestion on Hambledon road.

Sunday 24 July

Crossing the Red Sea
Reading: Exodus 14

9.30AM Heritage Service
Hambledon Church & Online

10.30AM Alpha Course
Hambledon Church

Summer Holiday services start:
10.30AM Combined Worship
Busbridge Church & Online

6PM Evening Service
Led by: Simon Willetts

The Church Office will be shut on Fridays over summer from 29th July to 2nd September inclusive.

There’s a handout in both churches to remind you about summer holiday services which start at Busbridge from 24 July, and at Hambledon during August. Please take one home:

Notices

New Service times at both churches from September

Thanks to the 112 members of the Busbridge Classic or Contemporary congregations who responded to the questions about the changes to service times from September. The Contemporary will now take place first at 9.30am and the Classic at 11.15am. Swapping the order will a) make it easier for some Classic members for whom 9.10am is too early (those who need care and transport) and b) ease the time pressure on the more complex set up for the Contemporary service.

As ever, there isn’t an arrangement to suit everyone, but if the responses are indicative of the wider congregations:

• Changing the service times would make little difference to how often MOST (41%) members of both congregations worship or serve.

• The proposed times would enable a further 35% of people across both congregations to come more easily/often. Moreover there is broad agreement that it will greatly help those who we rely on to lead Contemporary worship.

For the fewer (but no less important) worshippers for whom the change makes it harder to attend their preferred service, the congregation leaders will be in touch with you if you gave your name. If you’d like to speak to Frances or Patrick about it, please get in touch on Sunday or via the church office.

Conversations about moving to one 10AM service have also taken place in Hambledon, and there is support for introducing a blended format, with Common Worship liturgy and informal contemporary elements, from September. Children’s work will be available at 10AM apart from Messy Church Sundays (3rd of the month).

Please pick up a list of the new service times for September from church this Sunday or over the summer. It includes the special Sunday dates for Autumn too, so please watch out for the deviations!

Hambledon Coffee Morning & Hearing Aid Clinic restarting Weds 20th July
We are looking forward to the return of the Hambledon coffee morning at 10.30am on 3rd Wednesdays of the month. NHS hearing aid maintenance and replacement batteries will also be available once more.

Who might you invite? Contact Jacqui Rook via the church office if you would like a lift to church.

There’s some exciting news coming about the appointment of the new Director of Youth and Children who, all being well, will start in September. We are just waiting for some important dotting of Is and crossing of Ts before we announce the special person in the next few weeks.

Coming Up:

See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event for details and the location (online or on site).

The Prime Time visit to Mane Chance has been postponed due to the amber weather warning for Monday – it’s forecast to be way too hot for horses and their visitors to enjoy the occasion safely. Prime Time hopes to reschedule the visit for September.

Nexus have just a few spaces for the visit to Blackdown Ridge Vineyard on 4 August. Please select the event and contact Kate Kaye if you’d like to join.

SAVE THE DATE!

Having missed the Spring Clean and the Summer Blitz, come September the churches will be in much need of an Autumn “Spruce”! Please save the date. We do need your help, but the getting together is just as important. (After Christmas, it’s Simon Taylor’s favourite event of the year!)

Autumn Alpha Course – an Autumn Alpha course will start on Thursday 15th September at St Mark’s Church and run on Thursdays until 24th November (with a break for half-term). Contact Sheila.Samuels@bhcgodalming.org if you’d like to join the course or find out more. We are looking for a catering team to provide one or more of the meals. Please let Sheila know if you’d like to help with this fundamental and most enjoyable element!

Vacancies

The job for an new Yew Tree Café assistant manager (to replace Luke when he leaves for uni) is now published. It’s a very enjoyable role

The search for our new 4-11s Children’s Worker continues. Please take a look at the job, pray and share it. Simon would be happy to talk to anyone about it, even if the specification and terms are not a perfect match.

If you’d like to find out about the verger duties, Cat Garner would be thrilled to hear from you!

Worship Pastor – the ad for a new worship pastor to take over from Ben Ford as soon as possible after August will be going out shortly too. Watch this space, and share it when available.

Please continue to pray for all these vacancies and that God’s people are called to the roles.

Please Pray for

• Christian summer camps incl New Wine

• Clock Barn Lane and the Cheshire Home

• Old Barn View and its road steward Jane Tomes

ELSEWHERE

Read the latest issue (JULY) of Churches Together in Godalming and District Link Up.

Concert in Busbridge Church, 30 July: A Renaissance Sequence
On the evening of Saturday July 30th, Busbridge Church will be the venue for a classical music concert by a newly formed choral group consisting of 8 young singers between the ages of 17- 22, all of whom are lovers of choral music.

The group consists of students from King Edward’s School, Witley, prospective and undergraduate students of both the Royal Academy of Music and Cambridge University, as well as some who are members of the world-renowned Rodolfus Choir. For info and tickets see: A Renaissance Sequence Tickets, Sat 30 Jul 2022 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

Recommended by the BHC Prayer Ministry team:
Acorn Healing Conference is being held on Friday 19th & Saturday 20th at St. Alban’s Church, Hindhead.  This is an excellent opportunity for everyone and especially those involved in ministry of any kind. For details and to book, see:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/acorn-healing-hub-conference-tickets-335228325947

Compassion Course
Amid so much stress and mental health issues would you be interested in attending a course of three evenings on 14th, 21st & 28th July to explore Compassion for ourselves and towards others?  It is run by The Revd. Haydon Wilcox at St. Columba’s House, Woking. Contact: admin@stcolumbashouse.org.uk or ring 01483 766498 for more details.

*** We know that 1 or 2 people are planning to go from Busbridge to the Compassion course in July – if you are interested and would like to lift share, please contact the church office. ***

Godalming Baptist Church Life Sessions. Topics covered: Decision Making and the Will of God; Autism; Growing Old Disgracefully – holding onto what matters with increasing age; Bereavement; Come and Be Colourful. Please see the full brochure here.

September talk is on Compassion Fatigue

Don’t forget about…

Things in the following areas may not make the notices, but the latest info can be found on the web pages:

Yew Tree Café Opening Hours
8.30am-4pm [takeaway to 4.30pm] Weekdays
10am-2pm Saturday

Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer.

PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE

To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org or call 01483 421267.
Listening prayer is available mid-week.

This Sunday at Busbridge we celebrate Patrick’s ordination (at Guildford Cathedral 3pm on Saturday), with coffee and cake after the 9.10AM Classic service. You can then wander over to the Old Rectory garden for the last Muddy of term at 10.30AM. This is Anto’s last Sunday with us as youth minister so there will be a Muddy style thank you!

Later in the day at 5PM, Hambledon church is hosting the last of the prayer gatherings for Ukraine and the Minster consultation process before the PCCs vote on if and how to proceed with the recommendations made by the steering group. We are seeking God’s wisdom and guidance at this critical point and would encourage everyone to attend.

The Prime Time Garden party at Priors Field School was back this year and a group of lucky members were treated to a delicious cream tea served by the pupils, then performances from some of the young talent. It’s a real treat, and we are so grateful for the relationship with the school.

Read on for details about:

• What and where this Sunday (the services)

• Vacancies in Youth & Children / Music & Worship

• Update on Ukraine Refugee Project in Godalming and Villages

• Prime time Coffee drop ins at the Yew Tree Cafe – Mondays 10.30-11.30AM starting next week

• Nexus talk on 7 July – local wild flowers and butterflies.

• Hambledon Coffee Morning with Hearing Aid clinics restarting 23rd July

• The latest update from the Minster Steering Group

And in brief:

• MEN’S BREAKFAST CANCELLED THIS SATURDAY (see the calendar)

• The YEW TREE café will be closed this Sat 2nd July for some maintenance and then a wedding.

Sunday 3 July

The Man above the River
Readings: Daniel 10 and Daniel 11:1

What & Where (the services)

HAMBLEDON

9.30AM Heritage Service
Leader: Chris Garner | Speaker: Simon Willetts
Hambledon Church & Online

10.30AM Alpha Course
Hambledon Church

5PM Prayer Gathering for Ukraine and the Minster evaluation process
Hambledon Church

BUSBRIDGE

9.10AM Classic Service [Holy Communion]
Led by: Patrick Samuels | Speaker: Simon Taylor
Busbridge Church & Online

***The service will be followed by tea and cake to celebrate Patrick’s ordination on 2nd July.***

10.30AM MUDDY Church
Led by: Mark Puddephatt and Suzie Lambert
Busbridge Old Rectory Garden
***It’s Anto’s last Sunday as Youth Minister and we’ll be thanking him and Jess for their contribution to the ministry.***

Carparking for Busbridge services: The church has exclusive use of the Busbridge Village Hall carpark on Sunday mornings. Please use it!

Notices

Patrick Samuels will be ordained as Priest at Guildford Cathedral on Saturday 2 July at 3pm. All welcome to attend at the cathedral or watch the live stream via YouTube (www.youtube.com/c/GuildfordCathedralUK) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/GuildfordCathedral).  We will mark the occasion in the Busbridge Classic service on Sunday 3 July when Patrick will officiate his first communion. Please stay for tea and cake after the service, or join us before Muddy Church at 10.30am in the Old Rectory Garden. Contact frances.shaw@bhcgodalming.org if you can make and bring cake!

Anto will be officially leaving us on 3rd July (Muddy Church in the OR Garden) but will be leading youth groups on Tuesdays and Sundays until the end of term. If you would like to contribute to a leaving gift please see the giving instructions (BACS is best) and donate by Monday 27 June.

Children Youth and Families Ministry – vacancies update
Good news – the closing date for applications for the Director of Youth & Children and Youth Minister role has past and several candidates have been shortlisted for interview. The search for a Children’s Worker has been less fruitful so far, so the application date is open ended. Please take a look at the job, pray and share it. Simon would be happy to talk to anyone about it, even if the specification and terms are not a perfect match.

Prime Time drop ins at the Yew Tree Café – Mondays 10.30-11.30am
Starting 4th February, one or two of the Prime Time team will be in the café to chat to members and other visitors every Monday from 10.30-11.30am. Come and enjoy a coffee, tea and something from the lovely range of baked goodies. This is the first weekly Prime Time activity. We hope it will grow organically to build friendships and mutually support the ministry of the café and Prime Time.

Hambledon Coffee Morning & Hearing Aid Clinic restarting Weds 20th July
We are looking forward to the return of the Hambledon coffee morning at 10.30am on 3rd Wednesdays of the month. NHS hearing aid maintenance and replacement batteries will also be available once more. Who might you invite? Contact Jacqui Rook via the church office if you would like a lift to church.

Update on Ukraine Refugee Project in Godalming and Villages
For an update on what’s happening with Ukrainians coming to the area as a result of the war, join us at Busbridge Church at 7pm on Monday 4 July.  The meeting will be led by the Godalming and Villages Support Group which has been a major investor of time in seeking Hosts; bringing them together; creating events including English lessons and supporting with both Hosts and Guests.

As a Church, the BHC4Ukraine project agreed to signpost prospective Hosts to Love Bristol, an organisation which has direct links with Poland and Ukraine.  Our input would be to provide support to those arriving in Godalming.  July 4th will be the key time to find out more about the current picture and see what we can do as individuals and collectively.

Please also put Sunday 21 August in your diary when we plan to hold a Garden Party for Hosts, Guests and our Church family to get to know each other and have some fun.  If you can help in any way- providing food, setting up, clearing away, entertaining (music, magic, games etc), please contact Sarah Black ASAP on sarahblack536@googlemail.com

Prayer for Ukraine continues at Hambledon Church
Every Tuesday evening, a number of us gather for 40 mins at 7.30pm in church, to pray for Ukraine. The Tuesday vigil is an opportunity to ask, amongst other things, that there may yet be a miracle of peace and an end to the fighting.

The Busbridge Prayer Vigil for Ukraine on Tuesday evenings has paused for the summer, and will restart in September. We are still praying for the country and situation privately and at Busbridge Morning Prayer (via Zoom) at 9am on Wednesdays.

Worship & Music Ben Ford will be finishing in his role as interim worship pastor at the end of August. We are extremely grateful to Ben for his contribution in recent months and for extending the initial contract after Easter. The PCC will be advertising the role shortly. Please do pray for worship and music at Busbridge and let us know if you’d like to explore getting involved with music.

PCCs vote on a Minster Proposal
The Busbridge and Hambledon PCCs will hold a joint Q&A on 6th July on the proposals from the Minster Steering Group. All 3 PCCs (Busbridge, Hambledon and St Peter and St Paul’s) will be voting on whether or not to proceed with the Minster project on 11th July. Please do join in the call to prayer individually and at Hambledon Church this Sunday at 5pm.

Coming Up:

The Summer Holidays…24 July – 28 August

From Sunday 24 July, services at Busbridge combine into one 10.30am service which includes elements of both classic and contemporary worship. Children’s groups take a break but the service is family friendly and younger ones are welcome to use the activity bags during the service, or hang out in the Yew Tree Café or Old Rectory garden with their parents/carers.

Hambledon services join in August (Sundays 7, 21 and 28 August) to one service at 10am.

14 August – 10.30am Churches Together Bandstand service (part of Godalming Staycation). No services at Busbridge or Hambledon.

Contemporary Social 17th July: The Contemporary congregation will celebrate the end of term on 17th July, with a social in the Old Rectory Garden after the service. Drinks provided. BYO picnic!

Nexus Talk: Thursday 7 July
Phil Darley, a Butterfly Conservation volunteer, will talk about monitoring and improving the habitat of the White Wood and other rare butterfly species in Oaken Wood, Chiddingfold.  Her other passion is closely linked:  planting and tending wildflowers in the local area; both very important for our environment!

Do join us on Thursday 7th July in Busbridge Old Rectory at 8.00pm. We’ll start with drinks and nibbles, giving us a chance to chat with others before handing over to Phil for her presentation. All are welcome, including men! We  look forward to seeing you. Our annual Membership fee is £18. There will be a visitor fee of £5.00 for non-members.

See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event for details and the location (online or on site).

Concert in Busbridge Church, 30 July: A Renaissance Sequence
On the evening of Saturday July 30th, Busbridge Church will be the venue for a classical music concert by a newly formed choral group consisting of 8 young singers between the ages of 17- 22, all of whom are lovers of choral music.

The group consists of students from King Edward’s School, Witley, prospective and undergraduate students of both the Royal Academy of Music and Cambridge University, as well as some who are members of the world-renowned Rodolfus Choir.

They are gathering together in Busbridge this summer under the direction of former King Edward’s student Richie Zhang; wishing to transport you back to the High Renaissance, through a performance of captivating works by composers from all over the European continent, including Tallis, Byrd, Palestrina, des Prez, Gesualdo and many more. For info and tickets see: A Renaissance Sequence Tickets, Sat 30 Jul 2022 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

Church Family News

A number of church friends will remember Mike and Fran Rawlinson who, amongst many other things, ran BYF, (our youth group) for a time, until they moved away.  We are so sad to let you know that Fran died last Sunday, 19th June, after a very short illness.  Please pray for Mike, from whom she separated some years ago, and for their children, Tom, Joel and Pippa, who have issued the following invitation to anyone who would like to attend Fran’s funeral:

Please join us on Tuesday 5th July, 1:30 pm at St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Cleeve (GL52 8BA) for the funeral of Fran Rawlinson, where we will celebrate and remember the life of our beautiful Mum who will be so greatly missed.

Please bring your fondest memories of Fran to share with family and friends at the wake following the service. Her personality was so bright – she requested that we all wear something colourful. Tom, Joel and Pippa.

 Please Pray for

• Children Youth and Families Ministry and God’s people to fill the vacancies

• Busbridge PCCs as they prepare to vote on the Minster Evaluation process.

• Church Lane

• Old Rectory Gardens and its road steward Simon Taylor.

ELSEWHERE

Are you currently exploring or considering ordained ministry in the Church of England then join a vocational retreat at St. Columba’s House, Woking  14th – 16th October led by The Revd. Haydon Wilcox

Amid so much stress and mental health issues would you be Interested in attending a course of three evenings on14th, 21st & 28th July to explore Compassion for ourselves and towards others?  It is run by The Revd. Haydon Wilcox at St. Columba’s House, Woking

Contact: admin@stcolumbashouse.org.uk or ring 01483 766498 for more details.

Read the latest issue (June) of Churches Together in Godalming and District Link Up.

Godalming Baptist Church Life Sessions. Topics covered: Decision Making and the Will of God; Autism; Compassion Fatigue; Growing Old Disgracefully – holding onto what matters with increasing age; Bereavement; Come and Be Colourful. Please see the full brochure here.

Don’t forget about…

Things in the following areas may not make the notices, but the latest info can be found on the web pages:

Yew Tree Café Opening Hours
8.30am-4pm [takeaway to 4.30pm] Weekdays
10am-2pm Saturday

CLOSED SAT 2 JULY FOR MAINTENANCE.

***SPECIAL OFFER FOR BRIDGE MAGAZINE READERS***: Buy a coffee and get one for a friend for free! (Offer applies between 10am and 2pm only) Look out for the voucher in the May edition of the Bridge magazine.

Work continues apace on the Minster evaluation with the Steering Group and Working Groups continuing to meet regularly. The 2nd update is available on Minster Evaluation page above. Please continue to ask or send your questions or concerns to Simon Taylor, John Harkin or David Wilkin (Steering Group Chair).

CALL TO PRAYER for the Minster Evaluation Process:
9AM Wednesdays on Zoom

Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer.

PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE

To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org or call 01483 421267.
Listening prayer is available mid-week.

See you on Sunday as we continue the sermon series on Daniel. This week the reading and talk is Jerusalem and the future.

Read on for details about:

• What and where this Sunday (the services)

• The latest update from the Minster Steering Group and the Q&A for the contemporary congregation this Sunday

• BHC clergy, lay minsters and wardens renewing their commitment, being ordained and sworn in. (It’s that time of year and we give thanks).

• Youth & Children / Music & Worship – vacancies and the future.

• Prayer for Ukraine

• Nexus talk on 7 July – local wild flowers and butterflies.

And finally.. go Team Yew Tree! It’s been pretty glorious weather for the most parts this week, and the Yew Tree café has been thronging. There was a bumper number of visitors yesterday (and top takings) so thanks for our brilliant volunteers for providing great hospitality and service. The café will be closed for some maintenance and then a wedding on Sat 2nd July.

Sunday 26 June

Jerusalem and the future
Reading: Daniel 9:1-4 and 9:20-27

9.30AM HAMBLEDON Heritage Service
Leader: Patrick Samuels | Speaker: Margot Spencer
Hambledon Church & Online

10.30AM HAMBLEDON Alpha Course
Hambledon Church

9.10AM BUSBRIDGE Classic Service
Led by: Frances Shaw | Speaker: Chris Payne
Busbridge Church & Online

10.30AM BUSBRIDGE Contemporary Service
Leader: Tom Jones and Andy Spencer | Speaker: Graham Sopp
Busbridge Church & Online
followed by a short 10 min Q&A re. Godalming Minster (details below).

6PM BUSBRIDGE Evening Service
Leader & Speaker: Simon Willetts | Busbridge Church

Carparking for Busbridge services: The church has exclusive use of the Busbridge Village Hall carpark on Sunday mornings. Please use it!

Sunday 3 July

The Man above the River
Readings: Daniel 10 and Daniel 11:1

9.10AM BUSBRIDGE Classic Service [Holy Communion]
Led by: Patrick Samuels | Speaker: Simon Taylor
Busbridge Church & Online
The service will be followed by tea and cake to celebrate Patrick’s ordination on 2nd July.

9.30AM HAMBLEDON Heritage Service
Leader: Chris Garner | Speaker: Simon Willetts
Hambledon Church & Online

10.30AM MUDDY Church
Leader: Mark Puddephatt and Suzie Lambert
Busbridge Old Rectory Garden
***It’s Anto’s last Sunday as Youth Minister and we’ll be thanking him and Jess for their contribution to the ministry.***

10.30AM HAMBLEDON Alpha Course
Hambledon Church

Some key things to note in the Godalming Minster Evaluation Update
Q&A about the Contemporary Congregation
The contemporary service on the 26 June will be followed by an opportunity to comment on the potential proposal for the contemporary service to move to St Peter and St Paul’s at 10.45am, IF the formation of the Godalming Minster were to go ahead.

PCCs vote on a Minster Proposal
The Busbridge and Hambledon PCCs will hold a joint Q&A on 6th July on the proposals from the Minster Steering Group. All 3 PCCs (Busbridge, Hambledon and St Peter and St Paul’s) will be voting on whether or not to proceed with the Minster project on 11th July.

On Thursday of last week Fran, Dudley and David were sworn in as churchwardens. Sue will be sworn in at another ceremony. Please pray for our churchwardens, consider how you might support them in their Christian ministry, and say  thank you to them over the next couple of days. We are blessed to have a long history of incredible churchwardens here at BHC and our thanks goes to Derek and Keith who stepped down as churchwardens recently, and also to all our former churchwardens of the past few years.

On Saturday there was a service at Knapphill to celebrate Clare Haddad’s LLM renewal of her ministry license for preaching, leading services and church ministry. Clare has recently taken on the leadership of our baptism course. We’re also celebrating 50 years of Peter Shaw’s ministry as an LLM. Congratulations to Clare and Peter. Please pray for them and give thanks for their service and commitment.

Patrick Samuels will be ordained as Priest at Guildford Cathedral on Saturday 2 July at 3pm. All welcome to attend at the cathedral or watch the live stream via YouTube (www.youtube.com/c/GuildfordCathedralUK) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/GuildfordCathedral).  We will mark the occasion in the Busbridge Classic service on Sunday 3 July when Patrick will officiate his first communion. Please stay for tea and cake after the service, or join us before Muddy Church at 10.30am in the Old Rectory Garden.

Children Youth and Families Ministry – Now Hiring x 2
As we approach to the end of the school year, and to Anto’s departure, we give thanks and recognition for all our committed and brilliant church members who lead children and youth work week in and week out! The closing date for applications for the Youth Minister role and Children’s Worker post is Sunday 26th June. We’ve had encouraging response to the ad for the Director of Children and Youth (Youth Minister 12-19s), but as yet no interest in the the role of Children’s Worker (4-11s). Please take a look at the job, pray and share it. Simon would be happy to talk to anyone about it, even if the specification and terms are not a perfect match.

Anto will be officially leaving us on 3rd July (Muddy Church in the OR Garden) but will be leading youth groups on Tuesdays and Sundays until the end of term. If you would like to contribute to a leaving gift please see the giving instructions (BACS is best) and donate by Monday 27 June.

Worship & Music Ben Ford will be finishing in his role as interim worship pastor at the end of August. We are extremely grateful to Ben for his contribution in recent months and for extending the initial contract after Easter. The PCC will be making plans for life after Ben imminently. Please do pray for worship and music at Busbridge and let us know if you’d like to explore getting involved with music.

Prayer for Ukraine continues at Hambledon Church
Every Tuesday evening, a number of us gather for 40 mins at 7.30pm in church, to pray for Ukraine. This simple service takes the form of prayers we all say together, interspersed with reflective music to help us, as we bring our concerns and pleas before God. There is also an opportunity to add extempore prayers of our own, if we wish (not compulsory).

We can so easily get overwhelmed by the horrors we see on our TV screens, night after night. The Tuesday vigil is an opportunity to ask, amongst other things, that there may yet be a miracle of peace and an end to the fighting.

The Busbridge Prayer Vigil for Ukraine on Tuesday evenings has paused for the summer, and will restart in September. We are still praying for the country and situation privately and at Busbridge Morning Prayer (via Zoom) at 9am on Wednesdays.

Coming Up:

Nexus Talk: Thursday 7 July

Phil Darley, a Butterfly Conservation volunteer, will talk about monitoring and improving the habitat of the White Wood and other rare butterfly species in Oaken Wood, Chiddingfold.  Her other passion is closely linked:  planting and tending wildflowers in the local area; both very important for our environment!

Do join us on Thursday 7th July in Busbridge Old Rectory at 8.00pm. We’ll start with drinks and nibbles, giving us a chance to chat with others before handing over to Phil for her presentation. All are welcome, including men! We  look forward to seeing you. Our annual Membership fee is £18. There will be a visitor fee of £5.00 for non-members.

See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event for details and the location (online or on site).

On the evening of Saturday July 30th, Busbridge Church will be the venue for a classical music concert by a newly formed choral group consisting of 8 young singers between the ages of 17- 22, all of whom are lovers of choral music.

The group consists of students from King Edward’s School, Witley, prospective and undergraduate students of both the Royal Academy of Music and Cambridge University, as well as some who are members of the world-renowned Rodolfus Choir.

They are gathering together in Busbridge this summer under the direction of former King Edward’s student Richie Zhang; wishing to transport you back to the High Renaissance, through a performance of captivating works by composers from all over the European continent, including Tallis, Byrd, Palestrina, des Prez, Gesualdo and many more. For info and tickets see: A Renaissance Sequence Tickets, Sat 30 Jul 2022 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

Church Family News

 Please Pray for

• Children Youth and Families Ministry and God’s people to fill the vacancies

• Busbridge PCCs as they prepare to vote on the Minster Evaluation process.

• Clock Barn Lane and the Cheshire Home

• Park Chase and its road steward Linda Alcock.

ELSEWHERE

TUE JUNE 28TH: 7.30-9.30PM RACISM, ETHNICTY & JUSTICE
Please do join us for an evening discussing these huge issues, where John Dunnett along with Rev Esther Prior of St John’s Egham (Rev James Ellin’s training vicar, for those who were here when James was our Youth Director), will be sharing helpful insight and teaching from God’s Word. The evening will be held at St Mary of Bethany, Woking, GU22 7UH.

Read the latest issue (June) of Churches Together in Godalming and District Link Up.

Godalming Baptist Church Life Sessions. Topics covered: Decision Making and the Will of God; Autism; Compassion Fatigue; Growing Old Disgracefully – holding onto what matters with increasing age; Bereavement; Come and Be Colourful. Please see the full brochure here.

Don’t forget about…

Things in the following areas may not make the notices, but the latest info can be found on the web pages:

Yew Tree Café Opening Hours
8.30am-4pm [takeaway to 4.30pm] Weekdays
10am-2pm Saturday

CLOSED SAT 2 JULY FOR MAINTENANCE.

***SPECIAL OFFER FOR BRIDGE MAGAZINE READERS***: Buy a coffee and get one for a friend for free! (Offer applies between 10am and 2pm only) Look out for the voucher in the May edition of the Bridge magazine.

Work continues apace on the Minster evaluation with the Steering Group and Working Groups continuing to meet regularly. The 2nd update is available on Minster Evaluation page above. Please continue to ask or send your questions or concerns to Simon Taylor, John Harkin or David Wilkin (Steering Group Chair).

CALL TO PRAYER for the Minster Evaluation Process:
9AM Wednesdays on Zoom

Busbridge and Hambledon Churches are open daily for private prayer.

PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE

To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org or call 01483 421267.
Listening prayer is available mid-week.

Sunday 5 June

Pentecost & the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

***WET WEATHER UPDATE Sunday [5 June 8.10AM] – 10.30AM BANDSTAND SERVICE MOVED TO ST PETER & ST PAUL’S CHURCH. Message from Churches Together in Godalming and District: The 10.30AM Jubilee Songs of Praise Service will now take place in the dry and seated environment of StP&StP Church, Godalming! All welcome.***

***No services at Busbridge***

9.30AM HAMBLEDON Heritage Service
Acts 2:17-21
Leader: Simon Willetts
Speaker: David Jenkins
Hambledon Church & Online

Friday 3rd June marks the beginning of the Hambledon Church Flower Festival which will run from 2-6pm on Friday and 9-6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

For details of the Jubilee events in Hambledon see http://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?p=16513#more-16513

10.30am Queen’s Jubilee “Songs of Praise” service at Godalming Bandstand

5pm Prayer Gathering for the Godalming Minster Evaluation
St Mark’s Church and Community Centre