GM Blog

Author: vick.hicks

  • Sunday 9 September 2018

    Church Cottage Renovation update…
    Decorating work continues, the plumber has finished this week, and we have been getting on with the multiple diy jobs. Praise God for continued good progress.
    Owen Roseblade & David Hart

    Church Family Away Day...Book your place NOW! www.bhcgodalming.org/awayday2018

    Last chance to book your tickets for the Boys BBQ and Beer Bash happening this Friday. Email bbq@bhcgodalming.org.

    Following the popularity of the event in May 2017, we’re having another ‘Songs of Praise’ evening at Hambledon church on Wednesday 19th September at 7.30pm. The main focus will be on hymns and songs and why people have chosen them. There are voting slips for your favourite hymns available in the Village shop. All welcome.

    Have you booked your Holiday Club places yet?! A fantastic event for year groups YrR – Yr 6 during October half term. More information on our website www.bhcgodalming.org/holiday-club-2018.

    We have been very sad to hear of the death of Janet Matthews, who was a faithful and much-loved member of Busbridge church for over 30 years. She moved to Burford, three years ago, to live near her daughter, Gill. Janet’s funeral service will take place on Wednesday 12 September 2018 at 2.00pm in Burford Parish Church. All are welcome.

    The next part of the Old Rectory project, the redevelopment of the Church Centre, is progressing. Speak to Dave Preece if you want to know more.

    2 new courses starting in October…

    Christianity Explored, led by David & Jill Mace and David Preece. This course gives you time and space to think who Jesus was and why this matters. It is a 7/8 week course, with supper, and offers time to raise questions and study the Bible. Book your place by calling the office on 01483 421267 or email david.mace@bhcgodalming.org.

    The Discipleship Explored course is designed for Christians who want to go deeper in their faith and uses a combination of talks on DVD and small group discussion based on the book of Philippians. It will run weekly (day tbc). The course will be run by John & Jeannie Postill and Dave & Kate Brockman. For further details, please email jeannie.postill@bhcgodalming.

    PLEASE PRAY FOR…

    · Our upcoming Away Day & Holiday Club

    · Students starting back at school, college and university

    · Grosvenor Road and their road stewards Sarah Blagden & Dawn O’Toole

    · Maplehatch Close & Feathercombe Lane

     

  • Sunday 15 July 2018

    Church Cottage Renovation update…
    We have now agreed an electrician for the work. Also this week we picked up the tiles for the new bathroom. Owen Roseblade & David Hart

    We are thrilled to announce that James Ellin has been accepted for ordination. Sadly, James and Emma will be leaving us; this is likely to be at the beginning of September. There will be a farewell celebration BBQ at the Old Rectory, midday on Sunday 2nd September (combining with Bryan and Tori, who are also leaving for ministry training). To contribute to a farewell gift for James or Bryan please pass it to the church office in an envelope with the appropriate name.

    The next Ladies Film Night is happening Tuesday 24th July at 7.30pm. Come along and watch Saving Mr Banks; the remarkable story of PL Travers who wrote the original Mary Poppins novels. You’ll watch it in the comfort of a Busbridge home with wine, nibbles and a chance to discuss the film. Email ladies@bhcgodalming.org to book your place, and do bring along a friend or two.

    We’d like to announce the terrific news that the Diocesan Hear Here! project (of which our Hearing Aid Clinics form a part) has been pronounced the winner of the inaugural Faith Action: Faith & Health Award. Congratulations to the BHC folk involved – Mark Pateman, Penny Naylor, Karen Franks, Peter Newman, Sue Hardy, Carol Jones, Sarah Blagden and Rachel Hargreaves for their much appreciated contribution.

    Do come and join us for the next Hambledon Ladies Breakfast, Saturday, 11th August, at West Surrey Golf Club. Our speaker is Robert Dalton, who works for Wheels for the World, which changes the lives of disabled people in developing countries. Tickets will be on sale in Hambledon Village Shop, from Monday 23rd July until Tuesday 7th August, priced at £9.

    The Boys’ BBQ & Beer Bash is happening on Friday 14th September, 7.45pm – 10.00pm at the Old Rectory. Tickets for this event are limited and usually go quite quickly, so reserve yours (and your friends’) NOW by emailing bbq@bhcgodalming.org. Your ticket includes a hog roast and beer, with a suggested donation of £5 per person.

    Combined summer services at Busbridge will start 10.00am on Sunday 29th July and they will run through to Sunday 2nd September inclusive, with activities for children. The one exception to this will be on Sunday 12th August, when all are warmly invited to join us for the Churches Together Service at the Godalming Bandstand.  Please note that the Bandstand service starts at 10.30am. We look forward to seeing you there! For all other services over the summer, please check the website.

    Busbridge Morning Prayer next week (18th July) will be the last one before we break for the summer. Midweek Morning Prayer will resume on Wednesday 5th September at 9.00am.

    PLEASE PRAY FOR…
    · Our upcoming Away Day
    · Local hospitals and nursing homes
    · Greenhill Close and their road steward, Carole Keating
    · Latimer Road & Cricket Green

  • Sunday 8 July 2018

    Church Cottage Renovation update…
    We are continuing to liaise with trades to agree the extent of the work needed. Please pray for clarity over the next steps. Owen Roseblade & David Hart

    We’ll be looking at engaging with God and a flourishing life on our Church Away Day on 30th September. This is a chance to meet people, be a closer community, and be fed and taught through a number of discussions, seminars and speakers. There will be activities for all ages and children and young people will have a great time. 10.00am – 3.30pm, King Edward’s, Witley. We’ll be opening registration for this event before the summer break and hope you will let us know your availability before you disappear on your holidays to help us plan better – watch this space!

    Become a Dementia Friend…Join us for this free interactive information session to learn how dementia affects a person and what you can do to make a difference. As a first step towards Busbridge&Hambledon Church achieving Dementia Friendly Church status, we will be offering regular Dementia Friends Information Sessions at both churches throughout the year. The next session is taking place on Saturday 14th July at 10.00am in the Church Room at Hambledon Church. The session lasts approximately 1 hour. For further details or to book a place contact Penny Naylor at the Church Office or email penny.naylor@bhcgodalming.org.

    The Busbridge Classic are holding a social following the 22nd July service. Coffee and cake will be served from 11.15am – all welcome to attend this social gathering before everyone heads off on holiday.

    Boys’ BBQ and Beer Bash  – Friday 14th September. More details to follow… If you would like to help organise it, please speak to Dave Preece.

    Hope you enjoyed the last Fuse service before the summer – the Busbridge Contemporary will  continue to be in the school until 22nd July and we begin our combined summer services on 29th July. Normal services resume on Sunday 9th September.

    Welcome to Lisa Olsworth-Peter. Lisa is our new music-worship pastor and the family has joined us from Ely. Lisa’s role is currently 2 days a week plus Sunday but we’ve committed as a church to developing this role over the next few months. Lisa has a wealth of experience including the West End, worship teams, speaking on worship at New Wine and elsewhere, and ‘pop-up’ choirs.

     

    PLEASE PRAY FOR…
    · Our upcoming Away Day
    · All those involved in education
    · Duncombe Rd and their road steward, Carol Jones
    · Home Farm Road & Church Lane

  • Sunday 1 July 2018

    Church Cottage Renovation update…Still waiting to get quotes…please pray for an uncomplicated start to the project.

    The Old Rectory project is entering its next phase with work being done on Church Cottage and plans are progressing for the Church Centre drop-in space (thanks to Chad Grayer and Tom Jones). We’ve looked at the finances and they will be reported to PCC on 9th July. A couple of days after we’ll be able to give an update on finances and plans to all who have donated in the past or are giving monthly.

    Welcome to Lisa Olsworth-Peter. Lisa is our new music-worship pastor and the family has joined us from Ely. Lisa’s role is currently 2 days a week plus Sunday but we’ve committed as a church to developing this role over the next few months. Lisa has a wealth of experience including the West End, worship teams, speaking on worship at New Wine and elsewhere, and ‘pop-up’ choirs.

    We’ve had Kate Kaye as our amazing PCC secretary for the past few years. Kate will be stepping down over the summer with our thanks for all that she has done. If you could be our next PCC secretary please speak to Simon or one of the wardens. There are six meetings a year.

    Thanks to the 50+ women who came along to the Great Girls’ get together – it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening (thanks team) and great to connect so many women in the BHC community.

    Boys’ BBQ and Beer Bash  – Friday 14th September. More details to follow… If you would like to help organise it, please speak to Dave Preece.

    Both Bryan & Tori Silletti have been recommended for training for ordination and will be leaving for Trinity College Bristol in early September. They say “We want to say ‘Thank You!’ to everyone at Busbridge&Hambledon church for being such an amazing family to us over the past three years.  We have been truly blessed by you all through time spent with you as well as prayers, fellowship, meals, love, financial support and a myriad of experiences – we’d like to put on a ‘thank you’ BBQ at the Old Rectory from 12pm on Sunday the 2nd of September and we would love you to be able to join us.” Please add to your diaries if you can come along, and congratulations to them both.

    On Thursday 5th July at Nexus, Helen Sturney will demonstrate Kusudama, an ancient Japanese craft of folding and pasting squares of coloured paper.  She assures us it’s easy to do and we’ll have a lovely Kusudama flower or two to take home. Come and get creative – it should be a fun evening! Busbridge Church Centre at 8.00pm.

    PLEASE PRAY FOR…
    · Dave & Hannah Preece following Dave’s ordination
    · Service men and women
    · Duncombe Rd and their road steward, Carol Jones
    · Home Farm Road & Church Lane

     

     

     

     

  • Sunday 17 June 2018

    Hello and welcome to our services today! If you are new or visiting, we hope you will feel at home. Do please introduce yourself and join us for coffee after the service.

    Church Cottage Renovation update…Following the move of the church offices out of Church Cottage, the renovation project has begun. Owen Roseblade and David Hart have been assessing the site, meeting with tradesmen to work out the extent of the job and getting quotes to see what is possible to achieve within the budget. Please pray for an uncomplicated start to the project.

    Space for God  is a regular prayer event happening at Busbridge Church. You have a choice…you can either come along to the earlybird session at 7.00am or if you prefer something a bit later on, the evening one at 8.00pm. Tuesday 3rd July.

    Don’t forget that next Sunday is the Combined Service on the Green on Sunday 24th June, 10.00am in the marquee on Hambledon Cricket Green. Please note there are no other morning services across the benefice on this date.

    Have you booked your ticket(s) for the Great Girls’ Get-Together yet? This is a lovely event to meet new friends or catch up with old ones. You’ll get something to drink and a delicious dinner – all in the glorious surroundings of the Old Rectory Gardens. The date is approaching quickly – on Monday 25th June – book your place/s NOW, by emailing ladies@bhcgodalming.org. Who could you bring along?

    Are the Simply Smashing tennis evenings added to your diary yet? This is a regular ‘turn-up-and play casual tennis evening as part of our wonderful new women’s events programme. The next one is on Wednesday 20th June at 7.00pm and is usually followed by drinks afterwards (approx. 8.30pm)plus check out the website for upcoming dates. Email ladies@bhcgodalming.org for more information.

    The majority of notices will now be sent via email…if you’d like to go on the mailing list please email karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org.

    The annual Churches Together Day Trip to Worthing is taking place on Wednesday 18th July. The booking deadline for this event is just two weeks away, so if you would like to join this outing please do let Penny Naylor know by  Friday 22nd June at the very latest. Any person who is over the age of 60 is eligible to join this trip, the cost of which is £5 per person. Leave Godalming at 9.30am, depart Worthing at 4.00pm – the time in between is yours to spend as you choose. Why not get a group of friends together and enjoy a good old-fashioned day out beside the sea? Contact the Church Office to reserve your place or email penny.naylor@bhcgodalming.org

    There will be no notice sheet for 24th June as we have our Service on the Green at Hambledon.

    PLEASE PRAY FOR…· Those who have recently lost loved ones
    · Skillway students and staff
    · Crownpits Lane and their road steward, Lynn Hargreaves
    · Holloway Hill, St Hilary’s School & Wormley Lane

    Prayer available at all services

    Prayer for the third Sunday after Trinity
    God our Saviour, look on this wounded world
    in pity and in power; hold us fast to your promises of peace won for us by your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

     

  • Sunday 10 June 2018

    How do you like the new notices format? With the Old Rectory getting ready for use once we have final building regs sign-off in a couple of weeks we thought we’d try a new approach in our informing everyone about things. This is part of a bigger review of communication that we are starting. The majority of notices will now be sent via email…if you’d like to go on the mailing list please email karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org plus if you have any thoughts on the new look please let Karen or Simon know. Thanks to everyone who played a part in the Old Rectory grand opening; through prayer, vision, financial sacrifice, teamwork and getting involved. It was a great event, one of the most significant moments in our recent shared BHC history. The Old Rectory is all of ours, pointing to Christ as we look to the future. If you would like a tour, please give us a call and we’ll sort it. Lastly, financially, we had a review meeting this week and information about the situation will come out in the next three weeks. Simon

    We send our love to Graham Holford, following the death of Graham’s brother, Peter, on Saturday 12th May. Also to Gill Hillman, whose mother died on 29th May. Please pray for both families, that they may know God’s comfort and peace.

    Congratulations to Natalie, Matt and Jemima Downing on the safe arrival of baby Guy! All well.

    Ladies events coming up include The Great Girls’ Get-Together on Monday 25th June – book your place/s NOW, plus regular Simply Smashing tennis evenings (see website calendar for dates) and a walk in Hambledon (3-4 miles) meeting in Hydon’s Ball car park on 12th June, followed by optional drinks at the Merry Harriers (dogs welcome). Email ladies@bhcgodalming.org for bookings /more info.

    Father’s Day…Sunday 17th June at the Busbridge Contemporary service…bacon sarnies cooked on the BBQ for all men. Arrive early enough to get yours!

    Combined Service on the Green on Sunday 24th June, 10.00am in the marquee on Hambledon Cricket Green. Please note there are no other morning services across the benefice on this date.

    The annual Churches Together Day Trip to Worthing is taking place on Wednesday 18th July. The booking deadline for this event is just two weeks away, so if you would like to join this outing please do let Penny Naylor know by  Friday 22nd June at the very latest. Any person who is over the age of 60 is eligible to join this trip, the cost of which is £5 per person. Leave Godalming at 9.30am, depart Worthing at 4.00pm – the time in between is yours to spend as you choose. Why not get a group of friends together and enjoy a good old-fashioned day out beside the sea? Contact the Church Office to reserve your place or email penny.naylor@bhcgodalming.org

    PLEASE PRAY FOR…
    · Those who have recently lost loved ones
    · Students facing exams
    · College Hill and their road steward, Debbie Scott
    · High Ridge & Woodlands Lane

    Prayer for the second Sunday after Trinity
    Faithful Creator, whose mercy never fails: deepen our faithfulness to you and to your living Word, Jesus Christ our Lord.

     

  • Gertrud Sollars

    Do you know Justin Bieber? The Queen? My hunch is that you know about them, but you don’t actually know them, and they might not know you.

    How do you get to know a person? You don’t really know someone until you have spent time with each other and shared something of yourselves. A few years ago, our daughter told us about ‘36 questions designed to help you fall in love with anyone’. They are questions that progress from moderately personal (“Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?”) to quite intimate and demanding (“Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?”) The premise is that the more you share of yourself and another person shares of themselves, the more you build intimacy and vulnerability, and both are precursors of love. Knowing in the sense of ‘knowing about’ becomes knowing in the biblical sense.

    How do we apply that to our relationship with God? How do we get to know the God who knows us through and through? Reading and studying his word is one way, but nothing replaces spending time with him and opening ourselves to his presence, to listen to the still small voice that so easily gets drowned out by everything going on.

    Spending time with him in intimacy and vulnerability gives him the chance to reveal himself to us and puts us on the path to knowing and loving him better.

     

  • Sunday 6 May 2018

    Old Rectory update
    Final snagging happening at the Old Rectory as we prepare for the grand opening on 20th May!  Work is continuing on ‘The Hut’, the new youth base, which is really taking shape.

    Warmest congratulations to Ruth and Owen Roseblade on the safe arrival of a second son, Lucca – a brother for Jacob – on Sunday 29th April.  All doing well!

    Meals for new families
    The Roseblade’s are gratefully being served by some fabulous people in the church who help provide meals for families with newborns. This is such a helpful ministry and makes a huge difference to families in the early days. If you would like to join this team of people for future families with newborns then please let Ruth know at ruthroseblade@gmail.com.

    Alison Martin…
    …would like to thank everyone who gave so generously to her leaving gift (after stepping down as Hambledon Treasurer after 10 years). She was very touched to receive the lovely picture of Hambledon and the garden vouchers. Thank you!

    We have been saddened to hear of the death of Bruce Pearson, last Saturday, 28th April. Bruce was a member of the Hambledon congregation. When arrangements for his funeral are known, we will pass on the information. In the meantime, please pray for his family – for peace, comfort and a sense of God’s presence with them all.

    All things bright and beautiful Garden Service
    All welcome to come along to this nature celebrating service at Tillies on Munstead Heath Road on Wednesday 23rd May. There are a few requirements…please bring your own chair, a bottle of something and your own drinking receptacle!

    Old Rectory Opening!
    A reminder to come along for this awesome celebration! Sunday 20th May at 11.30am following the Acorn Trust service with Wes Sutton at Busbridge.  There’ll be a lovely tea, bouncy castles and more – we’d love to have as many of you there as possible. Do come!

    Church Office closed + no notices
    A reminder that the Church Office will be closed from Thursday 10th May –  Monday 21st May. Please don’t phone or email us unless absolutely necessary, particularly as we won’t have any phones or computers, so your requests will likely be in vain! There will also be no notices for a couple of weeks for the same reason. Apologies for any inconvenience.

    GDPR
    Group leaders should have all received information about what they are required to do to meet new GDPR regulations by the 24th May. If you lead a group or keep personal data at home and haven’t received this informative email, then please contact Karen Kinder in the church office and we will forward you the pertinent information.

    Hymn Sing!
    Many hymns are long-standing favourites, and we love them. There are also some great ones out there that we don’t know very well.  If you like a good sing, and would like to join in learning some new hymns and songs, do come along to our Hymn Sing on Monday, 4th June, in Busbridge church, starting at 7.45pm, with a break for refreshments. For more information, contact Frances on frances.shaw@bhcgodalming.org.

    Cakes and more!
    A HUGE thank you to Shelagh Godwin and her team  who have faithfully provided cakes and prayer for the builders working on the Old Rectory for pretty much every week since they began work. It has been much appreciated!

    Date for your Diaries…
    Healing Prayer training at Busbridge with Acorn Healing Trust, on Saturday 16t h  June 10.00am – 4.00pm. It is open to anyone who would like to explore being used to pray for healing for others.  Booking forms will be out from mid May but contact Julia Stubbs (eashingstubbs@aol.com) or Jeannie Postill (jeannie.postill@bhcgodalming.org) if  you would like to know more or to express an interest.

    To All Christians in Godalming…
    There is an  Ascension Day Service on Thursday 10th May 7.30pm at Godalming Baptist Church organised on behalf of Churches Together in Godalming and District. Please do come so we can all worship together – it would be wonderful to fill the church.

    please pray for…
    · ABC toddler group and crèche and all the parents & carers involved
    · The BIG Spring Clean on 12th May
    · Work on the Old Rectory and the impending office move
    · Andy Spencer recovering from surgery
    · Clockbarn Lane and their road steward, Olwen Downhill
    · Heathfield Close and Vann Lane

     

  • Good Disagreement 22 April 2018

    If you missed Simon’s talk at the Busbridge contemporary on Sunday, then take a look at his powerpoint here or listen to the sermon here.

  • Sunday 22 April 2018

    Old Rectory update
    The youth base floor has now been screeded and the external area clad. The base of the feature cross has been concreted and the cross will be delivered to site next Friday. The internal works to the main office area are now completed. Mark Pateman

    We send our love to Sarah Blagden, whose father died on Easter Sunday.  Please hold Sarah and Andrew in your prayers, together with their children and the wider family.

    Margaret Brown
    A reminder about Margaret’s funeral on Monday 23rd April, 12.45pm at Guildford Crematorium.

    GDPR
    If you are on the email mailing list for the church notices, you will have received a message from the office on Wednesday regarding GDPR and whether you wished to keep getting these notices and other communications on a regular basis. If so, you MUST send a return email or your details will be removed at the end of May. Thanks!

    Prior’s Field Prayer Space Event
    Tom Starnes from Busbridge Contemporary/6.30 is also the Head of Religious Studies at Prior’s Field School. Tom is  keen  to set up a Prayer Space event at the school this term, but he’ll need quite a lot of help to make it happen! He particularly needs someone who can take on the ‘team leader’ role. The prayer spaces website describes what this involves: www.prayerspacesinschools.com/prayerspacesteps/recruiting.
    It is quite a big time commitment…is there anyone at Busbridge who might be willing and able to do this?
    Looking at dates sometime in June (probably not 1st week). If you’d like to get involved or would like to know more, please contact Tom at tstarnes@priorsfieldschool.com.

    Helpful Habits
    This latest prayer course has been cancelled due to lack of interest. If you would like to be informed if other dates are decided on please contact Gertrud Sollars.

    CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 13-20 May
    There are a number of ways to be involved.
    1. Hold a fundraising event
    2. Put funds into the buckets in church on Sunday 13th or 20th May.
    3. Help with the collections in Crown Court on Tuesday 15th or Thursday 17th May, 10.00am – 3.00pm. To get involved please contact Muriel on muand0n@gmail.com.

    The next Hambledon Ladies’ breakfast is on Saturday 12th May, 8.30am at the West Surrey Golf Club. The guest speaker will be Jenny Walker from Cornerstone Therapies. Tickets are £9.00 and will be available to purchase from Hambledon Village Shop from Monday 23rd April – Tuesday 8th May.

    Become a Dementia Friend
    Dementia Friends gives people an understanding of dementia and the small things you can do that make a difference to people living with this condition. As a first step towards Busbridge&Hambledon Church achieving Dementia Friendly Church status, we will be offering regular Dementia Friends Information Sessions at both churches throughout the year. The next session is taking place on Thursday 24th May at 7.30pm in the Church Room at Hambledon Church. The session last approximately 1 hour. For further details or to book a place contact Penny Naylor at the Church Office or email: penny.naylor@bhcgodalming.org.

    Nexus
    On Thursday 3rd May, our very own Pat and Dudley Hilton will share with us their experiences of the beautiful and amazing Galapagos Islands. The isolation of these islands has allowed the preservation of unique indigenous creatures, some of them discovered by Charles Darwin!  Come along and meet the giant tortoise and see dramatic volcanic landscapes and more with Pat and Dudley’s photographic tour of the Galapagos! We meet in Busbridge Church Centre 8.00pm and there’ll be drinks and nibbles before the talk starts.  We very much look forward to seeing you!  All welcome!

    No notice sheet next week because of the APCM…

    10.30am Hambledon | 7.00pm Busbridge

    please pray for…
    · Kate Kaye and family
    · David Smith and family
    · Sarah Blagden and family
    · Councillors and all who serve in local politics
    · The upcoming APCM
    · Work on the Old Rectory
    · Andy Spencer recovering from surgery
    · Chestnut Way and their road stewards, Alan Betts & Shelagh Godwin
    · Heath Road and Upper Vann Lane