Author: vick.hicks

Responsibility – that’s something of an underused word these days. Everyone seems fixated on rights – human rights, rights of ethnic minorities, women’s rights, consumers’ rights and so on. None of which is wrong of itself; it’s just that in wider society the concept of responsibility seems to have become marginalised, subordinated totally to the demand for individual rights to be recognised above all else. 

Last week we looked at the freedom that comes from turning to Christ and recognising and accepting the truth that God loves each one of us, and that nothing can ever change that.  Paradoxically (or so it seems; in reality it is not at all paradoxical!), as we become more aware of this freedom, so we become more aware of the responsibility that comes with it.

And it is quite a responsibility, as today’s passages make clear. The parable of the talents in Matthew’s gospel talks of our responsibility to use the gifts we have been entrusted with well, and not hide them in the ground. In it the “good and faithful servant” is contrasted with the “wicked, lazy servant”. The Corinthians passage talks of being “responsible to God” and “remaining in the situation in which God has called you.”

Challenging stuff – which, to paraphrase John F. Kennedy’s challenge to the USA in his 1961 Inaugural Address, might be summed up as “Ask not what God can do for you – ask what you can do for God”. Challenging, yes – but paradoxically (or not!) also strangely liberating…

Old Rectory Update

Thanks to Debbie Scott for offering to help Jo Cookes and Simon with what we hope will be our final gift day for the Old Rectory project. Richard Grove, Tom Jones and Mark Williams have reviewed the three lowest tenders and are meeting builders in the next ten days to ensure that costs are accurate.

 

Music update

A series of meetings with music leaders has helped us look at how worship might be shaped as we move forward. We will be taking a proposal to the PCC in the next few days. It is clear that if we want worship music to develop and deepen we need to see this as being worthy of focus over the next couple of years.

 

Prime Time Event

The Prime Time Event to the Huxley Birds of Prey and Hillier’s Garden Centre is on Thursday 20th July.  The day will include owl stroking, the birds of prey flying display, opportunities to interact with various birds of prey as well as plenty of shops (garden centre, farm shop, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, etc) at an entrance charge of £4.50 for the day. The day will start at Hiller’s Garden Centre for 11.00am and will finish by 4.00pm. You can buy lunch at the garden centre café or you can bring your own. We are happy to help coordinate lifts if you need. If you are interested, then please contact the church office on 01483 421267 or email primetime@bhcgodalming.org.

 

Lost Property

A gold coin brooch was left at Busbridge Church after a wedding last Saturday. If you find it, please contact the office on 01483 421267 so we can reunite it with its owner.

 

Tip run

If anyone has time over the next couple of weeks, we have 14 boxes of old hymn books which need to be taken from the small shed at the back of the church office to Witley tip for recycling. We’ve tried to no avail to re-home them elsewhere, but no takers. Can anyone help? Please email karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org.

 

Diocesan Day of Healing & Wholeness at Guildford Cathedral

Saturday 9th September…teaching, workshops, worship and Healing Prayer – Keynote Speaker is the Revd Wes Sutton, Director of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation, with a Service of Healing led by Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford.

£25pp. 10.00am – 4.00pm. To book: www.acornchristian.org/events or call 01420 478121. All welcome.

 

Our new curate, Dave Preece officially started at Busbridge&Hambledon Church this week. He will be attending the full range of services over the coming weeks as well as meeting many of you as part of his induction process. Do make sure you take the opportunity to give a warm BHC welcome to Dave, Hannah and family when you meet them. His work email is david.preece@bhcgodalming.org.

 

Strictly Pathfinders End of Term BBQ…

…is happening on Friday 14th July on Busbridge Rec at 6.30pm. The whole family can join their Pathfinders and celebrate another great term of Strictly fun. All food is provided, but please email james.ellin@bhcgodalming.org if you’d like to go along so he can get an idea of numbers.

 

Alpha starting in the Autumn

One of our home groups has decided to run an Alpha course beginning in September. If you have not been on the Alpha course before, please do consider attending. The details are still being finalized, but if you are interested in attending Alpha or you know of a friend that might like to attend Alpha then please consider asking them.  Perhaps this is an opportunity to pray about who you might be encouraged to ask to attend Alpha. If you have any questions, then please email alpha@bhcgodalming.org or contact the church office at 01483 421267 or just catch Bryan Silletti to discuss if you have questions.

  

Hambledon Prayer Breakfast

…is on Saturday 15th July in the Church Room in Hambledon. All welcome to come along.

 

This one goes out to all you musicians out there!

Our regular bands do an amazing job all year round, but, as you can probably imagine, it gets quite tricky over the Summer months to find musicians to cover all our services. We are really in need of musicians and leaders for the 6.30 services on 30th July and 20th August. If you are a regular band member who is able to do an extra ‘shift’ that would be great; or maybe you haven’t played at church before and have been hiding your light under a bushel! Either way Catherine McBride would be delighted to hear from you, on 01483 421267 or catherine.mcbride@bhcgodalming.org

please pray for…

· The end of year activities for our children and youth groups

· Rev Jane Vlach as she prepares to move to the town centre parish

· Michael Barrett in the Royal Surrey

· Andrew Baker and Brian Oxborough and their continuing recoveries

· Local hospitals and nursing homes

· Christian summer camps

· Oakdene Road and their road steward, Catherine Hobden

· Summerhouse Close and Wormley Lane

 

Jesus got into hot water with the Jews by suggesting that they might not be free –

“We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone!”

They forgot that they had been slaves of the Egyptians until God rescued them in the Exodus, and again they were slaves of the Babylonians during the Exile.

Even at the time of Jesus, they were, as a people, enslaved to the Romans and not in control of their own affairs – they were taxed to the hilt, they were subject to forced labour, and a Roman soldier could pick a person off the street and command him to carry his kit to the next staging post. An unpalatable truth, which might just explain why they reacted so angrily.

Today we are equally precious about considering ourselves to be free. We feel sorry for those who can’t choose where to live, what work to do or how to worship, and we are justifiably appalled by oppressive regimes like that in North Korea. But how free are we ourselves? E.g. how free are we to reject consumerism? Who dictates what we wear? How much are we in control of our time? On the news this week we saw the horrendous example of girls as young as nine seeking cosmetic surgery in order to conform to a particular ideal. If this is freedom, I’m not sure I want it.

Jesus said, “The truth will set you free.” The truth is that God loves me, he is for me, and nothing can ever change that. That is truly liberating.

 

Why do I feel like this?
 

Am I alone in feeling that my time is constantly squeezed leading to compromise and a feeling of letting someone (possibly everyone) down? Has the world so ensnared me that my priorities are wrong and the things I allow to consume my time have grown too powerful?  Is my perspective wrong? 

I was wrestling with these thoughts this morning when “ping” went my mobile phone (ironically the conduit by which much of the above sentiment is conveyed) and today’s bible verse appears; Jeremiah 17:  5- 8. Go on, read it. It hit me square between the eyes.

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him”.  

I feel like a child whose toy train had come off the tracks and whose father is coming to pick up the train and set me going again.

Next week will be different…

 

Our new curate, Dave Preece will be officially starting at Busbridge&Hambledon Church the first week of July. He will be attending the full range of services over the coming weeks as well as meeting many of you as part of his induction process. Do make sure you take the opportunity to give a warm BHC welcome to Dave, Hannah and family when you meet them. Once he’s established in the church office, his email will be david.preece@bhcgodalming.org.

Strictly Pathfinders End of Term BBQ…
…is happening on Friday 14th July on Busbridge Rec at 6.30pm. The whole family can join their Pathfinders and celebrate another great term of Strictly fun. All food is provided, but please email james.ellin@bhcgodalming.org if you’d like to go along so he can get an idea of numbers.

Midsummer Music at Malthouse Farm
Thanks to all those involved in the organisation, the performing and the audience for this lovely event in aid of Old Rectory. This musical delight raised a healthy £2,637, which is just fantastic!

Old Rectory Team Update
Thanks to Greg King for offering to help with clearing bushes in the Old Rectory garden; to Nelleke Noort for offering to co-ordinate all the Action Team leaders and Jo Cookes for offering to help with another aspect of the Old Rectory project; Julie Nelson for stepping forward to lead the Hospitality Action Team; and David Hart for offering to help oversee work on Church Cottage with some other people. We still need one person to approach Simon to help organise what we hope will be our final gift day for the project (sometime in the Autumn) once we know the gap between the incredible giving and the building work costs.

Re-ordering of the Nave
Don’t forget there will be a presentation about the re-ordering of the nave next Sunday, 9th July, at the end of the Classic service, 9.45am, followed by Q&A, and importantly coffee and cake at the Old Rectory afterwards.

Blokes and Ladies
Thanks to Ian White and Nigel Hodson for a brilliant Bloke’s evening last Monday and to Ruth Roseblade for hosting an impromptu Ladies’ Get Together at her house.

New Address
Sarb & Karen Klair would like to let the folk of Busbridge&Hambledon know their new address: please contact the church office if you’d like to have it.

Saturday the 23rd September – BBQ Social – 11 am – 2pm
On Saturday 23rdSeptember we are going to have a BBQ and social for all those within Busbridge&Hambledon Church.  Our hope is that this is a time to have some fun, enjoy a burger or sausage and be together. We would love to have everyone from BHC pop in for the afternoon or only as long as it takes to get a fresh burger or sausage and go on with whatever your plans are for the day at any time from 11.00am to 2.00pm.  In addition, we hope to have representatives from each of the various home groups within BHC. If you have any interest in understanding what a home group is like or explore being in a home group, then please come along. For the month of October, we are going to have a “Taste and See” option for all our home groups where anyone can pop in or pop out as they please to see who is meeting, where they are meeting, what this home group thing is all about and whether you might like to join. If there are any questions, then please contact Bryan Silletti at the church office 01483 421267 or email bryan.silletti@bhcgodalming.org.

Home Group Style ALPHA starting in the Autumn
One of our home groups has decided to run an ALPHA course beginning in September. If you have not been on the ALHPA course before, please do consider attending. The details are still being finalised, but if you are interested in attending ALPHA or you know of a friend that might like to attend ALPHA then please consider asking them.  Perhaps this is an opportunity to pray about who you might be encouraged to ask to attend ALPHA.  If you have any questions, then please email alpha@bhcgodalming.org or contact the church office at 01483 421267 or just catch Bryan Silletti to discuss if you have questions.

Nexus
On Thursday 6th July, Pam Cookney and fellow mosaics enthusiast, Sandy Hannington, will give us a short introduction to the fascinating art of making mosaics. They’ll show samples of mosaics they have created and explain the processes involved. We’ll then have a go ourselves, which should be fun!  Come along and maybe get inspired to start making your own mosaics. We’ll meet at 8.00pm in the Busbridge Church Centre, and there’ll be drinks and nibbles and time for a chat before the talk / demonstration starts.  All are very welcome!

please pray for…
· David Preece, Sarb Klair and Jo Trickey being ordained this weekend
· The Preece family as they join us at Busbridge&Hambledon
· Pri Burford, Mark Pateman, Chris and Maggie Jagger and Tom Jones – the mission team supporting worship at St Mark’s and Ockford Ridge.
· Rev Jane Vlach as she prepares to move to the town centre parish
· Michael Barrett in the Royal Surrey· Andrew Baker and Brian Oxborough and their continuing recoveries
· North Munstead Lane and their road stewards, Mark & Katrina Williams
· Station Road and Vann Lane

 

Could this be you?
Would you be interested in leading or co-leading one of our kids work summer sessions in July and August? During the summer we have a mixed age group meeting in the Church Centre and we need a leader and helper to run each session. The dates we are looking for are 23rd July, 6th August and 27th August. If you would be interested and could help out, please get in touch with James (james.ellin@bhcgodalming.org). Thanks!

Nexus
On Thursday 6th July, Pam Cookney and fellow mosaics enthusiast, Sandy Hannington, will give us a short introduction to the fascinating art of making mosaics. They’ll show samples of mosaics they have created and explain the processes involved. We’ll then have a go ourselves, which should be fun!  Come along and maybe get inspired to start making your own mosaics. We’ll meet at 8.00pm in the Busbridge Church Centre, and there’ll be drinks and nibbles and time for a chat before the talk / demonstration starts.  All are very welcome!

Message from the Prime Time Team…
We are urging people to keep an eye on their older neighbours and friends to make sure they are happy, healthy and have everything they need during the heatwave.  Extreme temperatures can be particularly dangerous for older people, and sustained hot weather like the heatwave we have experienced recently can trigger health problems unless care is taken to keep cool.

Jingle & Mingle!
At the risk of upsetting everyone by mentioning the “C” word (Christmas!) we’d like to invite new members to join the Jingle & Mingle craft event team. This lovely event for women has become increasingly popular and we hope to have at least 150 ladies come along to the next one on 29th November at Clock Barn Hall (put it in your diaries). Do you enjoy doing crafts? You don’t need to be an expert – guidance can be given – what’s just as important is being a friendly and welcoming person! We need at least 10 ladies to be part of the team – Alex isn’t available this year so if sewing’s your thing then that would be fabulous too. We can’t run these events without the team behind it so if you’d like to be part of this exciting ministry for women contact karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org. Thanks!

Part time summer work available…
Weekday mornings for 8-9 weeks with some flexibility. Guildford office based. Must be reliable, PC literate and customer friendly. If interested, speak to Mark Williams (mark@yewhouse.net).

Old Rectory team support needed
Simon is looking for 3 people to help the Old Rectory team over the next couple of months. Roles needed: someone with organisation and admin ability to help organise the Action Teams for doing various things and 2 people to help us approach the church for the final crucial (and not insignificant) challenge of completing the finances for Old Rectory; this is about planning, communication by explaining what is needed, priority decisions to make and why they matter. Please see Simon to volunteer your time and join the Old Rectory team. All are invited to a short presentation and open mic for questions about opening the main area of the church up. Two dates: 25th June at 11.45am or 9th July, 9.45am.

Job Opportunity: Verger needed (paid position)
Applications invited for a successor to Busbridge’s Verger retiring in October. Details from Keith Harper (keith.harper@bhcgodalming.org or Frances Shaw (frances.shaw@bhcgodalming.org).

 

GCGC Summer Showcase!
Godalming Community Gospel Choir invite you to join them for a sizzling summer’s evening of gospel music at their Summer Showcase at 7pm on Saturday 15th July at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Godalming. The GCGC Summer Showcase will feature a brand new repertoire and our fabulous guest choir director, Solomon Facey. Entry is free and refreshments will be served. There will be an opportunity to give a donation after the concert. PLUS GCGC were part of a Songs of Praise recording last Wednesday, clips of which will be shown on shows from 9th July onwards.

 

please pray for…

· Those involved in the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy

· Karen Cookes and her family

· The family and friends of Sam Glover

· Andrew Baker – now out of St George’s, London

· Brian Oxborough, recovering at home

· Michael Barrett in the Royal Surrey

· New Road & Salt Lane and their road steward, Olwen Downhill

· Station Lane and Upper Vann Lane

 

 

 

 

Today is Patronal Festival at Busbridge Church when we remember the contribution of John the Baptist.  Hambledon Church is named after the disciple Peter so the Benefice has two remarkable figures it holds in veneration.  Both John the Baptist and Peter pointed to Jesus as Master and Lord. 

John said he was not worthy to undo the sandals on Jesus’ feet.  He baptised Jesus and encouraged others to follow him.  Peter spoke up for Jesus at Pentecost and as leader of the young church.  Both John and Peter used the freedom they had to speak out.  Both took their responsibilities seriously and faced opposition and criticism. John was prepared to speak out describing the Pharisees as a ‘brood of vipers’.

For two Sundays in July we will be looking at the theme of ‘Freedom and Responsibility’. John and Peter used the freedoms they had to bring a voice that pointed to the relevance of the words and actions of Jesus. 

Jesus tells his disciples ‘the truth will set you free’.  What is this freedom about?  A freedom from being enslaved by the expectations of others and our own self delusions.  A freedom that comes from the perspective of eternity that is grounded in a God who loves us and “sets us free so we are free indeed”

May we be inspired by John the Baptist and Peter as our Church patrons in the way they combined exercising freedom with a clear sense of living out their responsibilities.

 

What do you make of opening of the prodigal son story? The son who asked his still-alive father for his inheritance. Just couldn’t wait, breaking a key social taboo. And the brother who didn’t ask – presumably receiving nothing at the time. He just stayed on with Dad.

Today, things are more complicated. The bank of (again, still-alive!) Mum and Dad can be a source to help out the young, what with the housing market being the way it is. How generous – how even-handed – should older parents be, given the varying needs of youngsters, and a landscape that can dramatically shift? Many years ago, I heard of a live-at-home daughter who was left a bungalow in its entirety by her parents ‘because she would never marry’. But soon after they died, she did! Subsequent requests from her brother for a cut of the cake fell on deaf ears. Perhaps we in turn wrestle – as donors or recipients – with what we should do, or expect? 

It’s far from straightforward. For those of us who are fathers, on Father’s Day, maybe we struggle knowing we have not always been that role model of fair-minded generosity. We have to live with our own imperfections.

Fortunately we have the assurance of an understanding, loving heavenly Father who is outrageously generous in both grace and provision. As the song says: “Thank you, O my Father, for giving us your Son, and leaving your Spirit till the work on earth is done.”

 

A HUGE thank you to all the highly enthusiastic participants in the BIG Spring Clean last Saturday. An incredible amount was achieved by the 75+ adults and children who came along. It was such a fun day and the lunch was absolutely delicious – a special thanks to the cooks! If you weren’t able to come along this year, make sure you put it in your diary for 2018. As one punter said “Very enjoyable…best fellowship of the year…”.

Do you live in or near Hambledon? Do you like chatting and drinking tea?
If so, your help is needed. Our Befriending Network desperately needs more volunteers: people who can spare an hour or two a month to visit someone locally who is feeling isolated. To find out more contact Penny Naylor on 01483 421267 or penny.naylor@bhcgodalming.org or check out our website for more details www.bhcgodalming.org/older-people/community-befriending-programme.

Congratulations to Keith Harper on being selected as an LLM (Reader). Keith will begin his theological training in the near future. We are also pleased to welcome Clare Haddad back as a newly approved LLM after her placement at a church in Guildford.

IMPORTANT: Great Girls’ Get Together
This event, due to be held on Tuesday 27th June has had to be cancelled due to a lack of team prepared to run it. Apologies for any inconvenience. The Boys’ Beer Bash on 26th June is still going ahead so men, please make sure you book your tickets for that ASAP as they are going like hotcakes.

Update on Brian Oxborough
Just to let you all know that Brian is due to come home from Milford Hospital on Monday 19th June. Pat would be very pleased if anyone would like to visit Brian at home, but with various professional folk calling throughout the day, please check with her first.

Old Rectory team support needed
Simon is looking for 3 people to help the Old Rectory team over the next couple of months. Roles needed: someone with organisation and admin ability to help organise the Action Teams for doing various things and 2 people to help us approach the church for the final crucial (and not insignificant) challenge of completing the finances for Old Rectory; this is about planning, communication by explaining what is needed, priority decisions to make and why they matter. Please see Simon to volunteer your time and join the Old Rectory team. All are invited to a short presentation and open mic for questions about opening the main area of the church up. Two dates: 25th June at 11.45am or 9th July, 9.45am.

Job Opportunity: Verger needed (paid position)
Applications invited for a successor to Busbridge’s Verger retiring in October. Details from Keith Harper (keith.harper@bhcgodalming.org or Frances Shaw (frances.shaw@bhcgodalming.org)).

Update on Music Development Role
Over the past few weeks, at the PCC’s request, we’ve been explaining the importance of music in worship and seeking to set out a vision for where it might develop further if someone was given dedicated time for this (ie: remunerated part time – far less than the previous role). There hasn’t been any response to the invitation to help support this financially so it is now right that we review where we go next with music. We have great musicians and are incredibly grateful for their time, commitment and gifts. We’ll be gathering the musicians together soon. The situation as it currently stands is that we have recently ‘lost’ two musicians, the leader of classic music has had a baby (congratulations Jenna!), there is a space in the area of oversight of music development and we have no-one holding music ministry together. A lack of response is not necessarily a poor response. It may be that everyone is very aware that we need to raise significant funds to complete Old Rectory (more on that very soon); it is possible that we are not meant to be developing music at this time and that God has other priorities for us as His church family; it may be that God wants us to look at Sunday worship differently in the future and we need to be open to this possibility.

Many of you will know, and remember, Ian and Karen Cooke, who worshipped here for several years, until they moved to Milford.  Ian was one of our wonderful sound team and they also belonged to one of our house groups.  We are deeply saddened to have to tell you that Ian died peacefully on Thursday 1st June, after a short illness. We send our love and prayers to Karen, Molly and Stanley. Ian’s funeral will take place at Clandon Wood on Thursday 22nd June at 1.00pm followed by burial.  Any friends who would like to come to the service will be very welcome. Please hold Karen and the children in your prayers, together with Ian’s family and many friends.

Can you help?
“Summer going too quickly? Do you fancy leaving the country in the autumn and returning in the spring having spent it in the sun of say Oz or NZ? But maybe you are worried about who will look after your house or pets? We are looking for 6/7 months’ alternative accommodation whilst builders are working on our house – we could housesit for you! and pay for your flights plus extras. If you are interested contact Nigel Hodson”

please pray for…
· Those involved in the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy
· Karen Cookes and her family
· The family and friends of Sam Glover
· Andrew Baker – now out of St George’s, London
· Michael Barrett in the Royal Surrey
· Monteagle & Westdean and their road stewards, Guy & Jo Cookes
· South Munstead Lane and The Hydons

 

 

 

 

Today is Trinity Sunday when we celebrate our personal and powerful God who we know as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

There is great mystery in the Trinity and illustrations such as H2O in its three forms of water, ice and steam can be useful but only in a limited way because our God, quite apart from being the creator of H2O, is a personal and relational God.

We can all too easily underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Last Sunday (Pentecost) many of us went to the Beacon event “Thy Kingdom Come” at the Cathedral. Justin Welby did a whistle stop tour of Cathedrals including Guildford.  It was the day after the London Bridge massacre and Archbishop Welby spoke inspirationally on the radio from a Beacon service:

 “Come Holy Spirit: The strongest power in the world is the love of Jesus Christ. It is more powerful than the evil of terror or the profound wickedness of the terrorist. It is invisible to most rulers, it has no Twitter account and does not show up on Facebook. It has overcome more nations than armies, changed more lives than the finest orators and drawn more people into true community than all the social media that there is, has been or ever could be. It breaks down barriers between races, it tears down the frontiers between nations, it overcomes the oppressions between genders and classes and capacity or wealth or education.”