Author: vick.hicks

Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Traditionally known as Mothering Sunday, in Surrey it was also called Refreshment Sunday or Pudding-Pie Sunday. This was a day in Lent when you could take a break from fasting. Nowadays it is more commercial, and known as Mother’s Day.

Whatever we call it, we know that today we honour our mothers and show appreciation of their love. The bond between mother and child is one of the strongest bonds there is. It is the first experience of love that a baby will have. We will often use the word mothering to express care in many other situations too – an adult might say they were mothered by a grandmother figure, a teacher or a nurse, and Mother Theresa was literally a mother  to so many abandoned children.

How is it that we can love like this? The apostle John says “we love because He first loved us” ( 1 John 4:19). The mother and child bond is a reflection of the love God has for his children, all of us, without exception.

For most, this is a day of joy but for others it is a day of grief or unfulfilled longing. Some  are yearning to have their first child. Some feel unloved by their mothers. Some are  separated from their children by marriage breakdown. Some are grieving a child who has taken a wrong turning in life.

But all of us, whatever our situation, on Mother’s Day and on every other day too, can be assured that we are loved as Gods children. Paul promises in today’s amazing reading from Ephesians “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us.”

Old Rectory update
Works continue in the main building with decoration and flooring. The garage has been stripped and is being put back together to form the youth base structure. Mark Pateman

Baptism
A very warm welcome to the friends and family of Leon & Katy Garner attending their baptism at the Busbridge Contemporary today.

We send our love to Andy Hinde, whose father, Francis, died on 20th February, aged 84.  A service of thanksgiving for his life was on Friday 9th March 2018, at 12.30pm in Hambledon church. Please hold Andy and the whole family in your prayers.

Busbridge&Hambledon Away Day
A huge thank you to everyone who filled out the online survey about the proposed BHC Away Day – YOUR chance to tell us what you wanted from YOUR Away Day. The results have been really helpful in all sorts of ways (so a most excellent use of your 3 minutes – pat yourselves on the back!). We’ll be announcing in the next couple of weeks the date, shape and purpose of the Away Day, so watch this space!

Reverence Evensong
The latest in our biannual ‘reverence’ services will be held at Hambledon at 4.00pm on 18th March. As before, in the style of Choral Evensong, complete with a BHC choir. Many thanks to Jenna Brown who has kindly agreed to lead the choristers. Do join us.

Busbridge Contemporary
A number of people asked for the hard questions and challenging thoughts drawn from James Chapter 4 at Busbridge contemporary last Sunday. Here they are….
· Do we always count the cost of something in money?
· What comforts and conveniences do we think that we’re entitled to?
· Are we happy to deny others the things that we demand for ourselves?
· Who is more powerful: companies that make things or the consumers who buy the things?
· Jesus was led into the wilderness and tempted. He was challenged to make choices between what was right and what would bring him physical comfort and self-aggrandisement and material gain. As his followers, we will also be challenged.
· Sometimes the right choice is the one that means upheaval; the one that’s about denying oneself to make sure other people are ok- maybe even  people we’ve never met. Sometimes the right choice will make the people around us uncomfortable. But it’s still the right thing to do.
· Choice is a powerful privilege. Do we choose humbly, understanding that all our choices will in the end stand under God’s scrutiny?

Palm Sunday services…Please watch this space for more details of the special services planned for next week.  A choice of two very different ways to celebrate this important day in the church calendar.

New Wine
A large group from BHC are going to Week 2 (5th – 11th August) at The Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet. The youngest in our group is under one and the oldest is…well let’s just say there are several who are retired!  Early Bird rates end on 3rd April so take a look at www.united.new-wine.org for more information or speak to Nicky Hemery or Dave Preece. Half weeks are also available to book for Week 2. If you are already booked for New Wine, please let Nicky know you are going.

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 first of these is taking place on Tuesday 20th March at 2.00pm in the Church Centre at Busbridge. 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.

A reminder about the Hambledon prayer breakfast 8.30am on 17th March.

please pray for…
· Those being baptised today
· The friends and family of Andy Hinde
· Those enjoying Mothering Sunday and those who find the day difficult
· Ashtead Lane and their road stewards, Caroline Wright and Jane Tomes
· Duncombe Road and Lane End

As we come to the final chapter of James, what have we been learning?

We’ve learnt that:

· Trials are part of the Christian life.
· We are called to persevere.
· It is not enough to listen, we need to put into practice what we have learnt.
· We are called to be self-disciplined.
· We are called to submit to God, where submit means to sign up, to enlist and then to follow where God leads.
· We also have a corporate responsibility to look after those in the fellowship who are suffering, are ill or wandering away from the faith.
· We are called to be patient.

I’m sure there are a few points I’ve missed out!

All this is in the context of the fact that Christ will return and will expect us to be showing our faith through our deeds.

While for some James is seen as a ‘letter of straw’, I believe our studies have shown it to be far more than that. It is a call to all Christians to stand up and be counted. In this letter we have pointers to going deeper in our discipleship by being not merely hearers of God’s word but also those who do His will. This is surely part of our Lenten discipline as we strive to go deeper in our discipleship.

Old Rectory update
The first floor is practically completed, and we continue with decoration on the ground floor and fitting internal finishing items. Garage conversion still to come. Mark Pateman

Many longstanding church members will remember Jeanne Brown.  She lived in Park Chase until a few years ago, when she moved into Sunrise.  Sadly, we have heard that she died on 24th February. Her funeral service will be at Guildford Crematorium on Tuesday 27th March 2018, at 12 noon. All friends are welcome to attend. Please pray for Jeanne’s wider family, her friends and former neighbours.

Breaking news: Julie Nelson suffering at the hands of a mean bean!
Julie (Busbridge Classic) has decided to take up Tearfund’s Mean Bean Challenge to raise funds and awareness for their worldwide work to beat poverty and hunger. For 5 days from 19th March she will eat only porridge for breakfast, and rice and beans for lunch and dinner – in smaller portions than she’s used to (and no chocolate…!! ) If you would like to sponsor her please go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/julie-s-mean-bean-5-day-challenge2018

Correction to channel for mission update:
Re. mention of St Clements in the latest Channel for Mission update should read: (they) received support both financially and through prayer to assist in all the help their congregation have been giving to those in need at Grenfell Tower.

Well done!
Huge congratulations to Phoebe and Edie (Busbridge Contemporary) who raised £65.74 for Old Rectory by making and selling their gorgeous origami dogs – brilliant work girls!

Peter Shaw is preaching at the Guildford Cathedral Evensong at 6.00pm on Sunday 11th March.  He is speaking as part of a Lent series where he will be addressing the theme of Hope in an uncertain world. 

Coffee Drop in
The next coffee drop in is on Monday 12th March, 2.00pm in Busbridge Centre. All welcome to come along!

Nexus
The talk by  Hugh Terry, Chairman of SERV SSL: Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers for Surrey and South London, will now take place on Thursday 8th March, having been cancelled because of the snow and icy conditions. He will tell us about the work of their blood runners, selfless volunteers who generously give their time, in the middle of the night and on motorbikes or in cars, to save lives by transporting emergency blood and medical supplies to wherever they are needed.  SERV SSL is our chosen charity for 2018. Do come along and learn more about the fantastic work these volunteers do. All are very welcome, including men. We meet in Busbridge Church Centre at 8.00pm and there’ll be drinks and nibbles before Hugh starts his talk. We very much look forward to seeing you! 

Nomination for election to the PCC of Busbridge&Hambledon
If you would like to join the PCC (and are on the electoral roll) please contact Simon. Our next APCM is Sunday 29th April 2018. To join the electoral roll, please fill out either a Busbridge or a Hambledon form, downloadable from www.bhcgodalming.org/electoral-roll and return to Maggie Jagger or Mary Parker respectively.

Mothering Sunday – 11th March
Carole Keating is looking for volunteers to help her make posies for Mothering Sunday. If you would like to join her on Saturday 10th March at 10.00am in Busbridge Church Centre, please contact Carole. Any donations of greenery (especially heather) would also be gratefully received.

BIG Spring Clean!
The Big Spring Clean is now in the diary for Saturday 12th May – in case you don’t know what this is, it’s when 80-100 people of all ages descend upon Busbridge Church plus the surrounding area and make it sparkle, plus make new friends and have a delicious lunch. It’s always a wonderful occasion and a great way to get more involved with your church. You do need to register for it though, rather than turn up as we organise teams prior to the event. If you’d like to get involved please email karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org.

Newcomers’ Tea
We are looking for someone to lead a small team of 3 to 4 people to coordinate a newcomers’/welcome event on Sunday 22nd April. If you are interested could you please contact Jill Johnston. If you are new to any of the BHC services and haven’t yet filled out an information card, please get in touch with Jill as well so she can let you know the details closer to the time.

please pray for…
· June Higgins
· The friends and family of Jeanne Brown
· Those preparing for marriage
· Appletree Close and their road steward, Cathy Brook
· Crownpits Lane and Potters Hill

When Jill and I were much younger we were involved in a youth club in south London. The group that I ran were pretty riotous but we tried to stick to three rules – everyone must pay 6d (old pennies) to come in, everyone must be quiet during the talk and everyone must leave at the end of the evening (and not hide in cupboards or climb on the roof). Over time these rules became condensed into six words – Pay up, Shut up and Get out. These six words had the merit of brevity but were not noticeably more effective in maintaining good behaviour.

Our passage this week in the epistle of James, is James at his no nonsense, tell it like it is, best (James chapter 4). Something seems to have provoked him to abandon his gently reasoned setting out of what practical Christian living should mean in the lives of his readers.  He does not mince his words. ‘You fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask God…when you ask, you ask with wrong motives…don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity towards God’. Strong words for his flock of Jewish Christians.

But with the strong words comes help and encouragement. In verses 7 to 9 of chapter 4 James gives his readers 10 actions, to build into their lives for a closer walk with God.  With the actions come three promises. If you have not  taken up anything very helpful for Lent, let me suggest that you could do no better than look at and ponder those three verses; identify the ten actions that James urges on us and take strength and comfort from the three promises.

‘Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up’.

Old Rectory update
Internal fit out works are progressing on the Old Rectory, internal doors and flooring to be installed next week on the first floor. Mark Pateman

Nomination for election to the PCC of Busbridge&Hambledon
If you would like to join the PCC (and are on the electoral roll) please contact Simon. Our next APCM is Sunday 29th April 2018. To join the electoral roll, please fill out either a Busbridge or a Hambledon form, downloadable from www.bhcgodalming.org/electoral-roll and return to Maggie Jagger or Mary Parker respectively.

Living Lent – Children’s Lent Challenge
Have you got a copy of the Lent Challenge poster for your family or for the children, grandchildren, or God children in your life?? It’s not to late to get started – look out for your copy at the back of church or pop into the Church Office. Huge thanks to James Ellin who put this all together – it’s so well done that the Diocese are looking to re-create it for other parishes, so thanks James! For more information on Lent go to www.bhcgodalming.org/living-lent.

Mothering Sunday – 11th March
Carole Keating is looking for volunteers to help her make posies for Mothering Sunday. If you would like to join her on Saturday 10th March at 10.00am in Busbridge Church Centre, please contact Carole. Any donations of greenery (especially heather) would also be gratefully received.

Space for God
Do you crave some time of quiet to be with God away from the many distractions that vie for your attention? Then, why not take one hour out of your schedule on Tuesday 6th March, 8.00pm – 9.00pm to do just that. This hour will be facilitated by David Preece, in Busbridge Church. You are  welcome to come for all or part of the hour. If you have not been before – why not try something new during this season of Lent. Contact: Shân Hallam.

BIG Spring Clean!
The Big Spring Clean is now in the diary for Saturday 12th May – in case you don’t know what this is, it’s when 80-100 people of all ages descend upon Busbridge Church plus the surrounding area and make it sparkle, plus make new friends and have a delicious lunch. It’s always a wonderful occasion and a great way to get more involved with your church. You do need to register for it though, rather than turn up as we organise teams prior to the event. If you’d like to get involved please email karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org.

Newcomers’ Tea
We are looking for someone to lead a small team of 3 to 4 people to coordinate a newcomers’/welcome event on Sunday 22nd April. If you are interested could you please contact Jill Johnston. If you are new to any of the BHC services and haven’t yet filled out an information card, please get in touch with Jill as well so she can let you know the details closer to the time.

Joan Dyer was a long standing member of this church until she moved to residential care in Guildford, but she would still be very happy to be visited by anyone who knew her well in Busbridge. If you would like to do this occasionally, please contact Chris Sollars via the Church Office.

A reminder that it is Women’s World Day of Prayer on Friday 2nd March. The ecumenical service in Godalming will be at 2.00pm at Queen Street Baptist Church. Everyone is welcome (not just women!) to join this ‘wave’ of worship which will span the globe in 24 hours. The service this year is compiled by the ladies of Suriname! if you want to find out where that is and more about their country do come along.

Channel for Mission
The latest Channel for Mission update should be available in all services today or on the website. Do take a look to see how BHC supports various charities and groups.

Busbridge Church Brass Cleaning
Could this be you? Usually, we have four dedicated teams/individuals who take turns to do the brass cleaning on a quarterly basis but we now have a gap in March each year. It’s not a huge task; it only takes an hour. If you (and a friend/husband/wife/partner if you’d prefer to do it as a team) are interested, please contact Liz in the office on 01483 421267 or liz.gorst@bhcgodalming.org.

please pray for…
· June Higgins
· David & Sandra’s son Patrick
· Those facing divorce
· The Prime Time Team and its outreach
· The Befriending Scheme
· Alvernia Close and their road steward, Kate Brockman
· College Hill and Markwick Lane

What did you do last Wednesday? This was both Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day. Maybe you managed somehow to combine the two; or maybe you strategically avoided one, or the other, or both.

The dates for Easter, and thus Ash Wednesday, move around quite a lot. Easter Day is on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox (simple really). It’s always between 22 March and 25 April. Ash Wednesday is six weeks and four days before Easter.

Ash Wednesday was last on Valentine’s Day in 1945; then 1934 and 1923, but the last time before that was 1877. We won’t have too long to wait for the next time in 2029.

The fact that these two Days fall on the same date is rather inconvenient, but then Lent isn’t intended to be convenient. In fact, convenience is probably the complete opposite of the spirit of the season. Lent is a season of sacrifice so that spiritual renewal can happen. The message of Valentine’s Day is, ‘I love you just as you are’. Ash Wednesday too says that God loves and accepts us as we are, but that we are also sinners, who have been offered the opportunity for forgiveness and change, a deep rooted transformation of our inner beings.

Two more Days fall on the same date this year: Easter Day is on April Fools’ Day. How about: ‘I’ll tell my kids to hunt for the eggs I didn’t hide’.

Now that would just be mean.

Old Rectory update
The weather has hampered progress slightly this week, however plastering and decoration upstairs is going well – thank you all for your prayers – please don’t stop praying for Mark & the team! Mark Pateman

Men’s event: An evening with Michael Baughen
Please do join us for an evening with Bishop Michael on Friday 16th March in Busbridge Church Centre. A glass of wine and some nibbles will be served from 7.45pm and our speaker will begin at 8.15pm. As many of you will know, Michael ended his long ministry in the Church of England as Bishop of Chester and we are now delighted that he is a member of our church fellowship here at Busbridge. He will be reflecting on his time in many diverse locations and sharing his rich experience with us. We plan time for questions at the end of Michael’s presentation. Those of you who know Michael will agree that he is the sort of speaker who has wide appeal and thus we would encourage you to invite a guest. Tickets are £3 (with payment on the night) and you can reserve a place by emailing menmattersbhc@gmail.com or speaking to Alan Betts or Dudley Hilton. Places are limited so please book soon – our last event was a sell out!

Nexus
On Thursday 1st March, Hugh Terry, Chairman of SERV SSL: Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers for Surrey and South London, will tell us about the work of their blood runners.  These selfless volunteers generously give their time, in the middle of the night and on motorbikes or in cars, to save lives by transporting emergency blood and medical supplies to wherever they are needed. This vital service saves the NHS thousands of pounds.  SERV SSL is our chosen charity for 2018.  Do come along and learn more about the fantastic work these volunteers do.  All are very welcome, including men! We meet in Busbridge Church Centre at 8.00pm and there’ll be drinks and nibbles before Hugh starts his talk. We look forward to seeing you! 

Squires Lunch
The next Squires lunch will be at 12.15pm, on Sunday 25th February and anyone wishing to join us should please phone or email Brian and Pat Oxborough by Wednesday 21st February if possible.

Website
Thanks to the tireless work of Tim Davies and his sound crew, we finally have a great collection of recorded sermons from Busbridge&Hambledon. So if you’ve missed a Sunday, would like to subscribe to the podcast or catch up on a sermon series, then the world is your oyster! Go to www.bhcgodalming.org/sermons-talks and take a look.

Prayer request from James Brockman
James asks if the folk of Busbridge&Hambledon could include Durham missions week (starting on 19th February) in your prayers? There will be 10 lunchtime and evening events which will involve apologetics questions, hearing powerful testimonies of how God has changed lives and looking at lives changed by Jesus in the Bible. Things to particularly pray for are the speakers, Peter Dray and Mark Meynell, for logistics and practicalities, particularly for the marquee hosting all the events (with capacity for 5-600 people!), and most of all for many students in Durham to come to the events and meet Jesus there. Thank you!

Listen…
Many thanks to everybody who supported Shelagh Godwin’s 70th birthday concert of her own music (which raised £755 for the Old Rectory Project). A recording is now available, and can be accessed via this link: www.soundcloud.com/bhcgodalming/sets/shelagh-godwins-birthday/s-Q3rji

Newcomers Tea
We are looking for someone to lead a small team of 3 to 4 people to coordinate a newcomers’/welcome event in late April. If you are interested could you please contact Jill Johnston on 01483 422194. If you are new to any of the BHC services and haven’t yet filled out an information card, please get in touch with Jill as well so she can let you know the details closer to the time.

Marvellous Movie Matinee
Worth adding to your diaries is a movie for the grown-ups, starring Judi Dench as Queen Victoria (is that enough of a hint?!) on Saturday 3rd March, 2.30pm at Busbridge Church. Plus another one for the younger folk on 17th March – Clue: does ‘2 monsters getting a further education’ give it away?!

please pray for…
· The upcoming Busbridge Ball – for the hardworking organisers and for a lovely night out for all those going
· June Higgins
· David & Sandra’s son Patrick
· Those considering the Confirmation course
· Local Leisure Centres and gyms
· The Bridge magazine
· Admiral Way and their road steward, Derek Pearsall
· Malthouse Lane, St Dominic’s School, Clock Barn Lane and the Cheshire Home

Old Rectory update
Decorations start on the first floor this coming week, the front extension is being roofed, the verandah is being constructed and electrical works continue. Mark Pateman

Busbridge Contemporary
Huge thanks to everyone who has signed up for the Busbridge Contemporary teams. Isn’t it great being back in the school?! Our next step is to get together to talk about what’s involved, any teething issues and what we can do, going forward, to make everything run even more smoothly. We’ve planned a first meeting for Sunday 18th February (immediately after the Contemporary service – probably lasting 30 minutes) to which everyone who is involved or would like to be involved, is invited to partake. If you’re unable to make this date we have a couple more meetings planned so everyone should have the chance to come along and find out more. Any questions not covered in the meetings please talk to Dave Preece or Mark Williams.

House groups resource
Attention all House group leaders – there are some study notes for the April sermon series on Loving your Neighbour. If you would find these useful, they can be downloaded from the website on www.bhcgodalming.org/hgresources.

Old Rectory prayer points
· Give thanks for the amazing total of £755 raised by Shelagh Godwin’s birthday celebration concert. Also give thanks for the success of the event and for all the answered prayers.

· Pray for Mark and the Old Rectory building team as they get closer to starting work on the garages: for strength, protection, and good weather.

Fairtrade

There is a Fairtrade sale and coffee morning coming up on Saturday 24th February, 10.00am – 12noon at St John’s Church Room in Farncombe. There’ll be loads of Fairtrade products available there – do go along and support it if you can.

Newcomers Tea
We are looking for someone to lead a small team of 3 to 4 people to coordinate a newcomers’/welcome event in late April. If you are interested could you please contact Jill Johnston. If you are new to any of the BHC services and haven’t yet filled out an information card, please get in touch with Jill as well so she can let you know the details closer to the time.

The Eaves family
Lizzie and her family (Busbridge Contemporary) are relocating to NZ on 28th February. If anyone would like to keep up with their latest news, contact Karen in the church office who can connect you. All the best to them in their new adventures!

Dates for your diary…
You won’t want to miss out on these events so add them to your diaries now:

24th April | Whole Church prayer event

29th April | APCM

12th May | The BIG Spring Clean

PLUS we’re still finalising dates for an Away Day some time after June – watch this space!

Dog adoption with a difference!
Phoebe and Edie from Busbridge Contemporary have taught themselves to make origami dogs and are putting them up for ‘adoption’ in return for a donation towards Old Rectory and Action Aid. They will be for sale in the Contemporary over the 2 upcoming Sundays – could you offer a home for a paper canine and support the girls fantastic efforts? Well done girls for your initiative and getting involved with Old Rectory fundraising.

Marvellous Movie Matinee
Worth adding to your diaries is a movie for the grown-ups, starring Judi Dench as Queen Victoria (is that enough of a hint?!) on Saturday 3rd March, 2.30pm at Busbridge Church.

GraveTalk: A café space to talk about a difficult subject
Saturday 3rd March, 10.30am Godalming Baptist Church. Death, dying and funerals are not easy topics to discuss, but things we all inevitably need to face one day. This Church of England GraveTalk “cafe space” will provide a safe and informal environment for these important life questions to be considered. There is no charge for this event, but a small donation towards the cost of refreshments and administration would be gratefully received. To book your free place, please register by contacting Sally Pollard at Godalming Baptist Church: pollard3@hotmail.co.uk.

James  chapter 2 v 17 says “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”

Reading this, one might ask the question “Did St. Paul and James disagree about the supremacy of Faith for salvation?” After all Luther’s highly influential teaching based on Paul, especially his letter to the Romans, was that we are “saved” by faith alone through God’s Grace. Actually I think both are right because people who offer their lives in faith to Christ cannot help noticing the needs of others and doing something positive. James, in his context, was a man of both faith and action. So it is not “either works OR faith” but rather “both faith AND works ( good actions)”.

Rudyard Kipling wrote:

“O England is a garden and such gardens are not made
By saying “O how beautiful” and sitting in the shade;
While better men (and women!) than we began their working lives
By digging weeds from garden paths with broken dinner knives.”

Faith in Jesus Christ is bound to overflow into action. In our world there are endless opportunities to express the love within us by “helping” others in the broadest sense. Faith is an active quality and leads Christians to do “deeds” of all kinds, quietly, one on one, and also as we work together in the context of our daily activities including work, leisure activities, charitable giving and general connectedness within our society and world.