Author: vick.hicks

Does the word ‘evangelist’, for you, conjure up pictures of preachers on soap boxes on street corners, or slick charismatic personalities wooing the crowds at big-stage venues?

Does the word ‘evangelism’ get you really excited or does it send you running for cover? Are you thrilled that we’re about to start a sermon series which will get us thinking about how and where we share our faith or are you thinking “help, get me out of here!”?

If we’re honest, many of us think that evangelists are other people and evangelism is something other people do, in other places – it couldn’t possibly be something that we do, where we are. But what if that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be: not deep theologians or big personalities, but ordinary people…like us, doing ordinary things in ordinary places… like the gym, or the classroom, or the office, or the school-gate, or the coffee shop; talking to our ordinary families and friends about real, ordinary stuff – stuff that happens to everyone, like stress or exams or losing someone or being ill or worrying about the future? What if being an evangelist really means being someone ordinary who simply has some extraordinarily good news for their friends who are going through ‘stuff’?

What if evangelism starts by just sharing your own good news, about how knowing Jesus has helped you through similar ups and downs?

Here’s the bottom line: God can use any of us, anywhere, to be his Good News people. That’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.

Old Rectory Update
Great News! The Taylor family have completed their family move across the street to the new rectory, so we can press ahead with work to the Old Rectory.  

We have issued an official request for tender to four different contractors, and expect to have their bids by the end of this month. On the financial side, thanks to your generosity we have raised enough money to complete the purchase of the Old Rectory site from the Diocese, however, we don’t yet have enough funds to compete all of our planned building projects to Old Rectory, Church Cottage and the Church Centre. So please keep your standing orders and other giving in place!

Fancy Camel Racing?
Camel Racing Night, raising money for The Cellar café in Godalming, Saturday 20th May, 7.30pm at Wilfrid Noyce centre – a fun evening, £10 per ticket includes curry supper, fully licenced pay bar. Tickets available from Chris or Maggie Jagger, The Cellar or Record Corner.

Space for God – Prayer Event
Tuesday 2nd May, 8.00pm – 9.00pm in Busbridge Church. In the midst of busyness a time for quiet, stillness and personal prayer.

Noticeboards
There are currently 4 x A3 sized noticeboards across the parish, where we display service times and other special events. We were thinking it would be great to have even more of these… so – Busbridge residents – Would you like your community to know more about what goes on at Busbridge&Hambledon? Do you want to raise the profile of the church in Busbridge? And most importantly, do you have room in your front garden for a sign of your very own? If you’d like to find out more, please talk to Karen Kinder in the first instance.

Marvellous Movie Matinee!
Put Saturday 6th May, 2.30pm at Busbridge Church in your diary for this Doctor Seuss classic. As always, bring a cushion – popcorn provided and it’s free to come along. Who can you invite?

Blokes’ Biking date change
Please note that there has been a date change to the May outing for Blokes’ Biking. It will now be happening on Wednesday 17th May – all welcome. This group of blokes are all ages, shapes, sizes, biking abilitie and senses 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.

Nexus
On Thursday 11th May, Maggie and Chris Jagger will tell us about SALCET’s first trip to Uganda last November. In the poor area of Makasa in SW Uganda, they ran medical clinics with Compassion; were involved in setting up and funding equipment for an agricultural project; and provided equipment for a Christian dentist running the Mata Dental Clinic. Come and hear all about the great work they accomplished during their two-week visit! We meet in the Busbridge Church Centre at 8.00pm and will have drinks and nibbles before the talk starts. We very much look forward to seeing you. All welcome!

Hambledon Ladies Breakfast
A reminder that the next Hambledon Ladies’ Breakfast is coming up on Saturday 6th May. Our speaker is Hilary Austin and she will be sharing her experiences of working with the Guildford Street Angels. Tickets are available from Hambledon Village Shop or email hambledonbreakfast@bhcgodalming.org.

BIG Spring Clean
The annual BIG Spring Clean is happening on Saturday 10th June at Busbridge Church. Thanks to those who’ve contacted the office to join up – but we still need lots and lots more of you. We have all sorts of indoor, outdoor, gardening, painting, building jobs to do – it’s not all about dusting the pews! We also need people to help organise the scrumptious lunch that is always a highlight of the day. Children (under your watchful eye) are very welcome to join in – a couple of years ago a group of under 11s moved tonnes of earth for us! It’s a fun day and a great way of getting to know others. We need about 70 people to make the day work . Can all the rest of the potential eager volunteers please email karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org ASAP and join in the Spring Clean fun. Thanks!

How confusing… Last week we were being told of the perils of indifference and this week we have to practise it! Confusing indeed – but not quite so much when you allow for their different contexts. Then it becomes apparent that last week’s indifference isn’t the same as this week’s.

Last week was about the “neither hot nor cold” indifference of the Laodiceans, the “so what, I don’t care” approach to life. This week, though, it is used in the context that five centuries ago Ignatius of Loyola (the founder of the Jesuits and one of the spiritual greats) used it when he told us that we should strive for “a complete indifference with regard to all created things”.

This does not negate our responsibility for stewardship of creation, but means that we make ourselves truly free by depending entirely on God, trusting him completely. If we do, what we want – and what others want of us – gets relegated to second place behind what God wants us to do and be.

This does of course mean that we have to start listening to God, and – harder still – acting on what we hear him say. But as Paul said to the Philippians two thousand or so years ago:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

APCM
A reminder that it is the APCM today – following the Hambledon Service at 10.30am (earlier service start time of 10.00am) or following the 6.30pm Busbridge Service. There are hard copies of the APCM report at the back of church or download a copy from www.bhcgodalming.org/apcm-2017.

A note from the Oxboroughs…
Please thank everyone for all their prayers, cards, phone calls and good wishes – very much appreciated. Brian continues to improve in Milford Hospital.  

Hi-vis jackets
A number of Hi-vis jackets have been borrowed from the Church Office. Considerably less have been returned. If you have some lurking in the back of your car/garage/kitchen then please return them ASAP. Thanks!

Squires Lunch
Our next Squires lunch will be on 30th April at the time of 12 noon as usual. If you would like to join us and savour the gastronomic delights of this establishment please let Terry Swanton know by Wednesday 26th April so that he can warn Squires how many will be descending upon them from Busbridge&Hambledon church. Hope you will be able to join us and look forward to seeing you there.

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!

A reminder that the next Hambledon Ladies’ Breakfast is coming up on Saturday 6th May. Our speaker is Hilary Austin and she will be sharing her experiences of working with the Guildford Street Angels. Tickets are available from Hambledon Village Shop or email hambledonbreakfast@bhcgodalming.org.

“Be prepared to give an answer!”
On Wednesday 10th May, Alan Hulme, Director of the Diocesan Parish Development and Evangelism Team will be leading a 90 minute session aimed at all Christians who want to become more confident in talking about their faith and sharing it with others. 7.00pm start at Busbridge Church, and the evening includes nibbles and drinks. For more information, please contact Bryan on bryan.silletti@bhcgodalming.org.

BIG Spring Clean
The annual BIG Spring Clean is happening on Saturday 10th June at Busbridge Church (for those doubters amongst you, the date was googled and it still counts as ‘Spring’!). “But what does this involve?!” I hear you cry. An excellent question. We have all sorts of indoor, outdoor, gardening, painting, building jobs to do – it’s not all about dusting the pews! We also need people to help organise the scrumptious lunch that is always a highlight of the day. Children (under your watchful eye) are very welcome to join in – a couple of years ago a group of under 11s moved tonnes of earth for us! It’s a fun day and a great way of getting to know others. We need about 70 people to make the day work – so far we have had one, yes one, volunteer. So if your name rhymes with Ricky Lemery, well done to you! Can the rest of the potential eager volunteers please email karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org ASAP as the job list is growing. Thanks!

4-11s Children’s Leader update…
As you know, Amy Johnston is leaving us this week as our 4-11s Leader and we are yet to fill this full time post! We have interviewed one candidate and decided not to take them further. So we are still looking for someone to come and lead this great ministry. If you or someone you know is interested why not come and chat to James Ellin or pop him an email.

Trekkers Update
Our children’s group in the Busbridge Classic, Trekkers, has a schedule change. After Easter it will be going to twice monthly, on the second and fourth Sundays, with 9th July as the final date before the summer break.

Feba
Feba Prayer Meeting on Monday 8th May, 10.30am to 11.30am at 42 Minster Road. Please take this opportunity to pray for a media organisation with partners and projects in most of the world’s trouble spots. Contact Shelagh Godwin for more details.

Have you booked your tickets yet?
Music in Munstead Soirée, Saturday 27th May, 7.30pm
A black tie event at Tillies, Munstead Heath Road. Tickets are £40 and include a buffet dinner, wine and the evening will be accompanied by the talented young Steinway artist Harry Nowakowski-Fox. To book tickets or for any enquiries contact Clare Haddad on 01403 751677 or email clarehaddad@aol.com.

Midsummer Music at Malthouse, 24th June, 6.00pm – 9.30pm. A relaxing evening of opera, jazz and classics from the West End and Gilbert & Sullivan. Bring a picnic, drinks and something to sit on. Tickets just £22 pp. Purchase online at www.bhcgodalming.org/tickets/malthouse.

please pray for…
· Andrew Baker and his family
· The upcoming election
· Brian Oxborough, now in Milford Hospital
· Councillors and all who serve in local politics
· Malcolm Gorick who is struggling in his new life in Taunton
· Heath Lane and their road steward, Rev Simon Taylor
· New Road and Hambledon Park

When Jesus was on earth, his words and actions were not those of someone who was indifferent to people’s situations. He was filled with compassion for the crowds who came to hear him, for their physical needs and for their healing. In the story of the Good Samaritan, he compares those who are indifferent to the suffering of the man who had been robbed with the Samaritan who helped the man. Likewise on the cross Jesus cared about his mother.

On the world stage today, how can we not be indifferent to what is going on? On a more local level where people are suffering or in need, how can we ignore them?

John Donne wrote that…

No man is an island,
entire of itself,
every man is a piece of the continent,
a part of the main.

Elie Wiesel, who suffered in the Holocaust and saw family members tortured and killed, called indifference a sin.

Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven leaving us to carry on his work of loving and caring for all because now he has no body on earth but ours to do his work. As Edmund Burke said “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Therefore let us not be indifferent to our needy world but seek to know God’s will and be involved in his way forward.

PCC & Deanery Synod
If you are considering joining the PCC or Deanery Synod there is still time to put yourself forward. Please speak to Simon Taylor or Catherine McBride in the first instance or call the office to get a form.

4-11s Children’s Leader update…
The time is drawing close for Amy Johnston to leave us as the 4-11s Leader and we are yet to fill this full time post! We have interviewed one candidate and decided not to take them further. So we are still looking for someone to come and lead this great ministry. If you or someone you know is interested why not come and chat to James Ellin or pop him an email.

Leaving do for Amy & Michael Johnston – Sunday 23rd April
We would like as many of you as possible to come to say farewell to both Amy and Michael at morning and evening services on 23rd April (yes, APCM day). After the 10.30am Busbridge service there will be self-service tea and coffee available from the marquee by the centre. There are also rumours of doughnuts. Don’t miss the chance to say your goodbyes to these lovely people. If you still want to contribute to their farewell gift, you can make a payment online marked ‘Johnston farewell’ to sort code 60-09-04, account no. 00705349.

Thank you!
The Taylor family would like to thank everyone who has offered prayer, support and encouragement over the past few days as they have moved house. The next phase of the Old Rectory project is now about to start.

Trekkers Update
Our children’s group in the Busbridge Classic, Trekkers, has a schedule change. After Easter it will be going to twice monthly, on the second and fourth Sundays, with 9th July as the final date before the summer break.

Feba
Feba Prayer Meeting on Monday 8th May, 10.30am to 11.30am at 42 Minster Road. Please take this opportunity to pray for a media organisation with partners and projects in most of the world’s trouble spots. Contact Shelagh Godwin for more details.

We have two simply gorgeous events coming up to fundraise money for the Old Rectory…

Music in Munstead Soirée
Saturday 27th May, 7.30pm

Alison Martin is hosting this lovely black tie event at her gorgeous home, Tillies, in Munstead Heath Lane. Tickets are £40 and include a buffet dinner, wine and the evening will be accompanied by the talented young Steinway artist and winner of several prestigious piano competitions, Harry Nowakowski-Fox. To book your tickets or for any enquiries contact Clare Haddad on 01403 751677 or email clarehaddad@aol.com.

And on 24th June, 6.00pm – 9.30pm you can enjoy a relaxing evening of opera, the joyful strains of jazz and classics from the West End and Gilbert & Sullivan at Midsummer Music at Malthouse. Bring your picnic, drinks and something to sit on (sorry – no gazebos as the site is sloping). Tickets are a mere snip at just £22 per person and can be purchased easily online at www.bhcgodalming.org/tickets/malthouse or for more information email malthouse@bhcgodalming.org.

The APCM
Don’t forget it’s the APCM next Sunday 23rd April, Hambledon 10.30am, Busbridge 7.00pm and will follow directly after the services; 10.00am Hambledon, 6.30pm Busbridge.

18th C Coptic painting in Aby Sarga Church, Old Cairo: “Christ’s Resurrection: He breaks the gates of Hell  and saves Adam, Eve and the Prophets”

I grew up in a church which didn’t really focus muchon Palm Sunday, Lent or other moments of what is called ‘the Christian year’.  They were seen as human creations that could become rituals getting in the way of true worship – what mattered was Sunday, each Sunday, every Sunday. It took me many years to begin to see that we all have our own rituals and remembrances – the obvious one being birthdays, and they serve a purpose. Treated well and at their best, key moments in the Christian year are about bringing us closer to the Lord and deeper discipleship.

So, I wonder where you were last Sunday morning? To jog memories, it was Palm Sunday and there were two walks around Busbridge and Hambledon village to help us remember the start of Jesus’ final week. Why do we do such things? Because marking such moments helps us to recalibrate our priorities and put Christ at the centre of Easter in a decisive way. For this reason, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are huge events in many countries.

For us, they can be but one choice in many busy moments – a matter of weighing our options and deciding if we’ll be part of this moment of remembering and celebrating as God’s family.

For many Christians meeting to remember and celebrate is a matter of a careful decision as it marks them out for their faith in Christ.

Last Sunday morning, while we were wandering around peaceful suburbs and idyllic countryside two groups of Coptic Christians found themselves in a very different situation – just because they gathered in the name of Christ. So, this weekend we join as one with Egyptian Coptic Christians in the powerful words of Christian assurance over the emptiness of fear:

Pikhristos Aftonf!  Khen oumethmi aftonf!

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

As we gather to live this exciting Truth, see you on…

· Good Friday service for the whole family (9.30am, Busbridge)

· Good Friday, with over 100 of the church on the amazing church family Hot Cross Bun Adventure Walk (starts 2.15pm prompt at Hambledon Church, walking to Busbridge Church)

· Easter Saturday for the outreach focused Easter Garden service and egg hunt (3.00pm, Busbridge)

· Easter Sunday morning at Hambledon and Busbridge; 9.00am & 10.30am

· And don’t forget there is an extra special Unplugged Easter Celebration (6.30pm) – do come and support the younger people in their growing faith

For more details and other chances to gather, see the church website www.bhcgodalming.org.

Simon Taylor

I have been struck this year by how easy it is simply to miss important bits of the Easter story if one just relies on what we look at in church on Sundays. For example, this Sunday we are looking at the Palm Sunday story. Last Sunday we were looking at 2 Timothy, next Sunday it is Easter and we will be saying ‘He is risen. He is risen, indeed!’ and we will have missed all the events in between.

Of course if we came to church on Good Friday we would look at the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and the crucifixion itself and if we came to the Maundy Thursday evening service we would think about the events of the day leading up to Jesus’ arrest.

Even if one reads daily notes one is not necessarily any further on. Jill and I find ourselves this week in Matthew’s gospel reading about Jesus walking on the water on the Sea of Galilee!

So, we are in danger of the vivid and important events of the Easter season slipping by us unnoticed. Might I therefore suggest to you that you take time in the next week to research and answer the following questions?

What important event happened the night before the triumphal entry into Jerusalem?

Who was involved? What was the significance of it?

What did Jesus get up to in the days following Palm Sunday? Where did he stay?

What important part of the church’s life was instituted on the evening before Jesus’ arrest? What did Jesus promise the disciples? What did Jesus command the disciples?

Clues: John 12: 1-11; Luke 20 and 21; Luke 22: 19-20; John 14: 25-27; 16: 5-16; 15:17.