Author: vick.hicks

Old Rectory update
Works progress on site with first floor works coming to the finishing stage. Electric and mechanical works are progressing on the ground floor. Mark Pateman

New baby!
Welcome to the world! Astrid Day born Tuesday 23rd January to Makena and Alan Day (Busbridge Contemporary). A sister for Ciari, Aria and James.

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 and a Newcomers’ welcome tea – watch this space!

Marvellous Movie Matinee
The next marvellous movie matinee is coming soon – it is one for the children, and we can’t say the name of it due to licensing restrictions…but you get 5 bonus points if you can guess the name from the following clues: rat, chef and Paris. Well? It’s on Saturday 10th February, 2.30pm at Busbridge Church.

Also 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” initiative, facilitated by our very own Margot Spencer and Penny Naylor, will provide a safe and informal environment for these important life questions to be considered. The morning will be intentionally informal and is open to everyone, with groups of 4 or 5 at tables discussing a number of questions relating to the end of life. Despite conversations about death and dying being difficult to start, thinking about bereavement, our own death, how we would like to be remembered, how our faith shapes our approach to dying, etc, can bring a degree of comfort and help us to live well now.  The purpose of the session is to talk, and to gain insight from listening to the views of others. Light refreshments are offered throughout the event. 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.

Busbridge Church Brass & Silver Cleaning
Many thanks must go to Margaret Swanton who, with the much-missed Terry, has been polishing the Busbridge Church brass and silver for two decades. Understandably, Margaret has now decided it’s time to pass on this duty to someone else. Could this be you? Currently, we have four dedicated teams/individuals who take turns to do the cleaning on a quarterly basis, so it would mean taking on this annual task at the beginning of March each year. 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.

Electoral Roll
If you’d like to join the Electoral Roll at Busbridge or Hambledon please go to www.bhcgodalming.org/electoral-roll to download your form.

Confirmation Course
As part of our year of Going Deeper (Isaiah 43:19) in Truth, God’s Timing and Trusting Him we’re inviting you to confirm your faith in a service of Confirmation. It is for anyone who wants to go deeper with a refresher on what it means to be a Christian and then publically confirm your faith later in the year. Speak to Simon Taylor in the next two weeks if you’d like more information (simon.taylor@bhcgodalming.org).

Coffee drop in
The next of these is on Monday 12th February, 2.00pm – 3.30pm in the Busbridge Church Centre. This is for ANYONE around at this time who’d like a nice cuppa and the chance to get to know others.

Away day for women
Godalming Baptist are putting on an away day for women on Wednesday 7th March, 10.00am – 4.00pm at Waverley Abbey. A day focusing on what it means to be part of the body of the Church, considering different aspects of church life, exploring where we fit in and the vital part we play. To book your place email Sally at pollard3@hotmail.co.uk by Wednesday 21st February.

please pray for…
· Those involved in the fire at Hambledon House
· Those being Baptised/dedicated today
· Those considering the Confirmation course
· Underhill Close and their road steward, Linda Smith
· Busbridge Lane and Hambledon Park

I was in town last week and popped into a shop to buy some milk but got distracted by an enormous display stand full of Easter eggs. I checked my watch to see if we were in even in February yet. I wondered what others made of the display? Then I moved on to buy… what? My mind had gone blank! All those eggs had completely distracted me and I’d forgotten my purpose for being in the shop in the first place.

I wonder if this is what James is getting at in the Bible reading this week? James is advocating activist Christianity but he’s not saying we need to simply do more and more. His message is far more important: if we are going to be active and doing things then it is important to know the purpose otherwise we could become distracted by what we do, rather than why we do it. Remember, James was Jesus’ own half-brother, a sceptic at the outset but a major Christian leader by the end. He knew why he believed what he believed and he knew why he did what he did.

‘Absence of doing’ may sound great to begin with but absence isn’t what James advocates. He points to purpose. Our purpose this year? It’s Isaiah 43:19: Going Deeper, and is about knowing God’s Truth, Living in God’s Timing and Trusting God.

That’s quite a purpose to aspire to!

The letter from James is full of very practical instructions, written to “all God’s people scattered over the whole world”.  That’s a fairly comprehensive reader base and it includes us!

James deals with all manner of subjects – riches and poverty, faith and actions, wisdom, guarding our speech, judging others, prayer – and he is at pains to remind us that faith and action go hand-in-hand.

He begins with the uncomfortable subject of trials and temptations.  “When trials come your way …” he says.  “When” not “if”.  Facing difficulties is a normal part of life and being a Christian does not provide immunity from that.  James points out that what we have in our armoury is the gift of prayer, which will enable us to persevere through the difficulties.  If we are unable to pray, we have friends who will pray for us and a God who cares about us, through good and bad.

At some stage in our lives, trials beset us all, and (like me) you probably marvel at the way some people deal with everything life throws at them.  Maybe a couple desperate to have children, who suffer one miscarriage after another; maybe a friend whose life seems to have lurched from crisis to crisis over many years; maybe a disabled person whose serenity and contentment is an inspiration.

James encourages us to remain faithful under duress and to remember that “every good gift comes from God … who does not change …”

Old Rectory update
Electrical first fix complete on first floor, plastering commencing next week and the front entrance area formed. Mark Pateman

The Bridge Magazine
The team at The Bridge Magazine are looking to update their website. They’d love to hear from anyone who might be willing and able to help them with this.  Please either have a word with Cathy Brook (Busbridge Classic service) or email her at: editor@thebridgeonline.org.uk.

They’d also like to hear from anyone in Busbridge or Bargate Wood who’s intending to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch over 27th – 29th January.  Perhaps anyone doing so would be kind enough to copy their recordings to Cathy at the email address above? 

A message from Guildford Besom…
Guildford Besom wishes to extend a huge thank all those at Busbridge Church for the lovely hampers that were given at Christmas time to so many homes.  They were so appreciated and were just a wonderful present to give to people who have all been struggling so much in different ways. Thank you so much again – you have been a real blessing! The Guildford Besom Team.

Specific prayer for Old Rectory
· Give thanks for progress so far. 
· Pray for good weather so that the outside work can get up to schedule
· Protection for everybody on the site and no more problems
· Shelagh’s fundraising birthday concert on 3rd February and for everybody involved

Women’s ministry
Nicky Hemery has kindly agreed to take the lead on this important ministry in 2018. If you have any ideas for events you would like to have please speak to Nicky about them – bear in mind you may need to commit to running them too! We also need to get our mailing list up to date, so if you’d like to receive advance notice of all of our women’s events please let us know via ladies@bhcgodalming.org.  

Birthday Concert
Shelagh Godwin invites everyone to a special birthday celebration concert of her own music on Saturday 3rd February at 6.30pm in Busbridge Church. Collection for Old Rectory. If you would like to come along please email Shelagh on jimdogshome@aol.com.

Upcoming event
Meditation are returning on Sunday 11th March with their hour-long programme The Journey: the life of Jesus in words and music, a programme suitable for Lenten reflection, with Michael Wigley. Hambledon Church, 3.00pm. To be followed by tea and cake and a collection for the Old Rectory Project.

Feba Prayer Meeting
42 Minster Road, Godalming, from 10.30am to 11.30am on Monday 12th March. Please come and pray for this media ministry with partners in most of the world’s trouble spots. Further details from 01483 417725.

Coffee drop in
New for 2018, there’s a new coffee drop-in on the second Monday of the month. Thanks to all those who came along on 8th January. The next of these is on Monday 12th February, 2.00pm – 3.30pm in the Busbridge Church Centre. This is for ANYONE around at this time who’d like a nice cuppa and the chance to get to know others.  Pop the date in your diary now.

Blokes’ Biking
…is happening again on Wednesday 21st February. This group of blokes of all ages, shapes, sizes, biking ability and sense of balance meet in the Homebase carpark at 7.30pm. The bike ride is followed by a restorative pint at the Inn on the Lake. Feel free to join in for the pint end of things if you can’t make the cycle.

Busbridge Ball
This fantastic event at Clock Barn Hall is happening on Saturday 24th February – a three course meal and disco. Tables seat 10 and tickets will be sold for the entire table, so get your group together NOW – just a couple of tables left. Tickets are £48 each. To book your table, contact Carol Jones on calack@btinternet.com or 07855 760634.

please pray for…
· Churches Together
· Families preparing for Baptisms
· Busbridge Junior School
· Tuesley Lane and their road stewards, Jackie Beale, Carole Keating, Frances Shaw and Lesley Reeves
· Brighton Road & Feathercombe Lane

Old Rectory update
Works continuing with main extension structure, forming internal walls and doorways.
Mark Pateman

A reminder about morning services next week @ Busbridge&Hambledon
Sunday 21st January
There are no morning services at Busbridge or Hambledon on Sunday 21st January. This is because there is a special ‘Annual United Service’ put on by Churches Together, for all the church family across Godalming. So make sure you remember to go to:
St Peter and St Paul’s Church, 10.00am

Busbridge Centre
A reminder to all groups and individuals who use the Busbridge Centre – can you please make sure you leave the centre clean and tidy – that means vacuum if required and wash, dry and put away in the correct place, any dishes you have used. If you put anything in the dishwasher, please put it on before you leave. Thanks.

Hambledon Prayer Breakfast
The next Hambledon prayer breakfast is on Saturday 20th January at 8.30am in the church room. All welcome.

Prime Time
Our afternoon of Nostalgia and Guess Who? is fast approaching.  If you are hoping to come along to the event on the afternoon of Monday 22nd January, please can you send us a photo of you as a child as soon as possible so that we can copy them prior to the event. Your original photos will be returned to you. Do consider coming along to join us and see if you can guess what your Prime Time friends looked like as youngsters! If you have a query either contact the Prime Time team via the Church Office or email primetime@bhcgodalming.org

Birthday Concert
Shelagh Godwin invites everyone to a special birthday celebration concert of her own music on Saturday 3rd February at 6.30pm in Busbridge Church. Collection for Old Rectory. If you would like to come along please email Shelagh.

Women’s ministry
Nicky Hemery has kindly agreed to take the lead on this important ministry in 2018. If you have any ideas for events you would like to have please speak to Nicky about them – bear in mind you may need to commit to running them too! We also need to get our mailing list up to date, so if you’d like to receive advance notice of all of our women’s events please let us know via ladies@bhcgodalming.org.  

Upcoming event
Meditation are returning on Sunday 11th March with their hour-long programme The Journey: the life of Jesus in words and music, a programme suitable for Lenten reflection, with Michael Wigley. Hambledon Church, 3.00pm. To be followed by tea and cake and a collection for the Old Rectory Project.

Lesley Mason Radio interview
If you’d like to hear this interview go to heavensroadfm.com/features.

Feba Prayer Meeting
42 Minster Road, Godalming, from 10.30am to 11.30am on Monday 12th March. Please come and pray for this media ministry with partners in most of the world’s trouble spots.

CHANGE OF SERVICE TIMES/LOCATIONS AT BUSBRIDGE CHURCH…
It’s the Churches together service on 21st January but following that, please do remember the new Busbridge morning service times and locations from 28th January onwards….the Classic service remains in the church, but the start time is moving to 10.00am. The Busbridge Contemporary Service will also be starting at 10.00am but go to Busbridge Junior School Hall. Children will go to their groups at 10.15am – you’ll be advised in services on where and when to take them/collect them. NB: No changes apply to Busbridge Quiet, the evening service or to either of the Hambledon services.

Coffee drop in
New for 2018, there’s a new coffee drop-in on the second Monday of the month. Thanks to all those who came along last week. The next of these is on Monday 12th February, 2.00pm – 3.30pm in the Busbridge Church Centre. This is for ANYONE around at this time who’d like a nice cuppa and the chance to get to know others.  Pop the date in your diary now.

Busbridge Ball
This fantastic event at Clock Barn Hall is happening on Saturday 24th February – a three course meal and disco. Tables seat 10 and tickets will be sold for the entire table, so get your group together NOW as tables tend to sell out quickly. Tickets are £48 each. To book your table, contact Carol Jones.

please pray for…
· The Busbridge congregations as they change times and/or locations
· The work of The Cellar
· Citizens Advice
· The Paddock and their road steward, Judith Rolfe
· Braemar Close and Cricket Green

January can be a bit gloomy can’t it? Presumably your Christmas decorations came down last weekend, it is still dark in the mornings and early evenings and spring feels a long way away.

In 2005 as part of a marketing campaign a travel company declared a certain Monday in January as ‘Blue Monday.’ Using a complicated (and entirely fictitious) formula it was decided that things like the weather, post-Christmas debt, failing new year’s resolutions and the time since Christmas combine to make that Monday the ‘most depressing day of the year.’ According to popular myth it is Monday 15th January this year.

We, however, have lots to celebrate: this weekend we re-launch the Classic and Contemporary services at Busbridge, work continues on the Old Rectory and Hambledon Car Park and, most importantly, God is still God.

Our reading for today declares that we are chosen by God, that apart from God there is no saviour, and that God is doing a new thing (see Isaiah 43:10, 11, 19).

We needn’t buy into the gloom of January and marketing campaigns. We can be joyful that there is life from God in us and in our churches.

In our reading from Isaiah God chooses his people ‘so that they may proclaim my praise.’ Instead of the January blues what can you praise God for today and this week?

Socrates declared that ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’. 1900 years later, St Ignatius (the founder of the Jesuits, 1491-1556) would have agreed with him. He recommended a daily ‘examen of consciousness’, a way of praying that looks over the day – or month, or year – that has just passed, discerning where our thoughts and actions have helped us to be in touch with God and reflect him, and where they have taken us away from God.

Try it; it is an excellent thing to do at the turn of the year.

There are 5 simple steps:

Find a quiet place; become aware of God’s presence (he is always there!). Ask him to show you what he wants to talk to you about.

Look over the past year and thank God for all that has been good.

Still thinking of the events and developments of the last year, notice how you feel about them. Have any drawn you closer to God? Were there any that made you feel far from God? Don’t judge yourself – just notice.

Thank God for the times when you have been in tune with him, and express your sorrow for the times you have not responded to him.

Look ahead to the new year; what is it you want from God in the months to come? Ask him, trusting that he will give you what is good.

Close your time of prayer by thanking God for what he has shown you and offering yourself for his service.

We started the carol service season last Sunday evening with the special Unplugged Christmas service.

This Sunday we have carol services across Busbridge&Hambledon, both morning and evening. As we head through Advent and into Christmas our message is that God is with us. This is a unique message. It isn’t ‘God might be with us’, nor ‘God will be with us’ or ‘God was with us’. It is God IS.

God IS God. God IS with us. God IS for us. God IS offering salvation. God IS active. God IS present.

If God IS for us, then who or what circumstance can separate us from His Love in the form of the Christ Child?

This is why we celebrate and invite family, friends and neighbours to celebrate alongside us.