Here’s an article Penny contributed to BRF online about her experience and thoughts of leading the Busbridge&Hambledon Seniors Ministry during the past year:

https://www.brfonline.org.uk/blogs/collections/lockdown-stories-business-as-un-usual?utm_source=BRF+E-News&utm_campaign=3174fc4e15-BRF_LF_SALES_22March2021&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_01f315e404-3174fc4e15-314796001&mc_cid=3174fc4e15&mc_eid=b477fb777b

Dear Prime Time member,

I’ve called this email ‘Prime Time News’ just because there seems to be so much information to impart this week!  So I think it best if I don’t say much else for now, so that you can focus on the important stuff!

This coming Tuesday, March 23rd sees the latest in our regular series of Lock Down Quiz events.  Zoom in for a 2.30 start. Prime Time Team member Di Drudge will once again be our quiz master for afternoon, putting our little grey cells to the test in the way that only Di can, (usually with quite hilarious results!)  Join us for an afternoon of fun; yes, it is a quiz – but we are careful never to take it too seriously and there will be plenty of laughter and chat along the way.  New for this time – Di will offer participants a choice of topics on which to answer questions, so do come along and help influence what questions are posed.  We plan to ‘level the playing field’ on this occasion too, so any households competing as a team of more than 1 will find that a small handicap is applied!

If you’re tempted by the thought of joining in, but are worried that your general knowledge might let you down, here are a few example questions from recent Prime Time quizzes (You’ll find the answers at the end of the email!)

1.       The Titanic sank on 12th April of which year?

2.       What is the capital of Portugal?

3.       Which poet composed ‘To Autumn’, the 1819 poem which begins ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’?

4.       In which English town was ‘Fawlty Towers’ set?

5.       Which ruler referred to the England as ‘A nation of shopkeepers’?

Hopefully you’re now thinking, “Yes, I can do this!” so here are the all-important joining instructions:

To join the quiz via your browser:  https://zoom.us/j/9463914833

or type 946-391-4833 into the Zoom ‘join a Meeting’ window.

In both cases enter the password 2021 when asked.

The eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted that this is exactly the same link as for the Thursday afternoon ‘Catch Up & Chat’ sessions. This is because both events take place in the BHC Public Zoom Room.  So keep hold of this link once the quiz is over on Tuesday and join us again on Thursday afternoon anytime between 3.30 and 4pm for a chance to chat with your Prime Time team and other members.  We had 12 people join us on Zoom yesterday afternoon which is our biggest turn-out to date.  We had a very wide ranging discussion, from  jigsaws and books to travelling in Iceland.  Do put next Thursday afternoon in your diaries too and let’s see if we can achieve another record attendance!

Another topic of conversation during the ‘Catch Up & Chat’ session yesterday afternoon was the 2021 Census.  Sunday March 21st is Census Day this year, which is only 2 days away now.  Hopefully you have received a leaflet through your door explaining the process?  If you haven’t dealt with it already, it’s time to dig that leaflet out again and follow the instructions.  You don’t have to wait for Sunday in order to complete the Census form online; it can be done now if you are eager to get it ticked off your ‘to do’ list.  I know we’re approaching Easter, but the Census always reminds me of Christmas.   Thanks to school Nativity plays, children tend to get introduced to the concept of a Census at a very young age.  And we continue to be reminded of that story every Christmas too, as Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the reason for it, is the point in the story at which we tend to start our Bible readings at the Prime Time Carol Service each year.

‘In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child’.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           (Luke: 2, 1-5)

The Roman Census was key to the fulfilment of the prophecies which foretold the birth of a Saviour as it was this event that led Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ earthly parents to be in Bethlehem at the time of his birth, just as it was foretold in Micah: Chapter 5, verse 2.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

So as you complete your Census form on Sunday, maybe consider the importance of that Roman Census and how it influenced the bigger story playing out at the time; a story that had been foretold many centuries previously and which remains relevant in our lives today, especially during this season of Lent.

Looking ahead to Easter, which happily coincides with a further, (albeit small) lifting of some of the current Lock Down restrictions – there will continue to be online Sunday services, but in addition to what is online – for those that wish, on Easter Sunday we are inviting congregations back to worship in person at both Busbridge and Hambledon churches.  The services will be held outdoors at both locations, as this enables more people to attend.  Numbers will be limited to 100 at both sites, so there is a requirement to sign up ahead of the event.  Please visit our website: www.bhcgodalming.org for details as to how to do this.  The congregations will be safely distanced; face coverings are required and congregation singing is not permitted, but there will be hymns and music.

The pastoral team will be offering Home Communion to those who can’t make it to the services on Easter Sunday.  This will be done outside, in front gardens. If you would like a member of the pastoral team to visit and share communion with you or someone else, please email Jill Johnston on: pastoral@bhcgodalming.org

In further news from in and around the church, I am sad to report that our friend and fellow Prime Time member Doris Borthwick died on Sunday evening.  Until ill health prevented Doris from attending our events, Doris was a very regular face at Prime Time events where her smile and warm welcome for everybody lit up the room.  We send our love and prayers to Doris’ family and her many friends as we do for the family and friends of Barbara Hubble who died last month.  Barbara and her son Julian have been Prime Time members for a number of years; indeed, they have been associated with Prime Time for longer than I have!  Julian would welcome any of Barbara’s Prime Time friends to join the service of thanksgiving for her life which is taking place at Clandon Wood on Thursday next week (March 25th) starting at midday.  Due to the current restrictions on numbers, we will be joining the service virtually via the Clandon Wood livestream.  If anyone would like the details of how to access the service for Barbara online, then please do get into contact with me and I will share them with you.

And finally, before I end off for this week – the request for items for the Prime Time Lock Down Yearbook has reached its third week.  I revealed this week’s subject at yesterday’s ‘Catch Up & Chat’ session and I must say it generated a lot of interest, so I’m anticipating a flurry of activity in my inbox this week!  What I’m asking for this week are reflections on the TV programmes that you’ve been watching during Lock Down.  What are the TV programmes that have helped to get you through the last 12 months?  For me it was ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’ during Lock Down number 1, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ during the second Lock Down and most recently, ‘The Great British Dig’  has helped get me through the last few weeks during Lock Down #3.  Does anyone else share the same viewing tastes as me?  Quite possibly not, so do tell me what you’ve been watching over the past year.  You could just send me a couple of lines containing the titles of the programmes, or you can go into detail about the programmes and send me a bit more than two lines.  I really don’t mind, but it would be great to see if we can spot some trends.

Television isn’t everyone’s thing; so instead, perhaps there’s a book that you’ve read during Lock Down that you’d like to recommend to other Prime Time members?  I’d be delighted to receive a few book reviews, (long or short) that we can include in our memories of this last year.

So lots to think about this next week:

1.       Sunday March 21st – Census day

2.       Tuesday March 23rd – Prime Time Quiz on Zoom starting at 2.30pm

3.       Thursday March 25th – Barbara Hubble’s funeral (online) starting at midday

4.       Thursday March 25th – Prime Time ‘Catch Up & Chat’ session on Zoom starting at 3.30pm

5.       Any day – Send Penny TV and Book reviews for inclusion into the Year Book.

 

May God continue to watch over and protect you and those whom you love over the coming week.

 

Until next Friday,

Penny x

 

PS: The answers to the quiz questions are as follows:

1.       1912

2.       Lisbon

3.       John Keats

4.       Torquay

5.       Napoleon Bonaparte

Penny Naylor
Primetime Befriending Co-ordinator

Busbridge & Hambledon Church Office

Phone: 01483 421267

Website: www.bhcgodalming.org

 

(Day off Monday)

 

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