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  • Weekly Notices for Sunday 14 February

    This Sunday

    Handling Stress

    Part 2: Handling Stress from broken relationships

    Children & Youth

    online services

    9AM Heritage (pre-recorded)
    Speaker: Keith Harper

    9AM Classic (live)
    Speaker: Keith Harper

    10.15AM
    Contemporary Conversations from the Couch
    On the couch: Peter Shaw and Simon Willetts

    9AM Ark session (Zoom)
    11.15AM Explorers (Zoom)
    5PM Youth Half-term Party for Pathfinders & Ichthus (Zoom)

    Click the service below to join on YouTube.

      Click here to find all Sunday services on the BHC Godalming YouTube channel.
    Click here to find all Sunday services on the BHC Godalming YouTube channel.

    Then all welcome at any of the following virtual coffee and catch-up sessions. Drop in for 5, 10, or 15 mins…

      BHC Public Zoom Room    946-391-4833 |  PW 2021  CLICK HERE to get together on Zoom after each service for a virtual coffee, and mid-week Morning Prayer.
    BHC Public Zoom Room 946-391-4833 | PW 2021 CLICK HERE to get together on Zoom after each service for a virtual coffee, and mid-week Morning Prayer.

    The next virtual catch up for the Busbridge evening congregation will be on Sunday 7 March at 6.30PM.

    Next Sunday 21 February

    Lent Sermon series: The Challenges of … following the gospel of Luke.

    Lent 1: The Challenge to be inclusive – Reading Luke 4:14-30

    With farewell to the Preece family

    Children & Youth

    Half-term! But you can be getting on with Lent in a Bag…

    Online Services

    9AM Heritage (Live from Hambledon!)
    Speaker: Simon Willetts

    9AM Classic (live)
    Speaker: Dave Preece

    10.15AM Contemporary Conversations from the Couch
    On the couch: Simon Taylor and Dave Preece (and family)

    We bid farewell to our curate and his family this Sunday. Do tune in to listen to Dave preach at Busbridge&Hambledon for the last time, and to say goodbye during the services, and at virtual coffee on Zoom from 11AM.

    the notices

    Keep an eye on What’s On / Lent and Easter for full details of all services, events and activities.

    Over the coming weeks of Lent and Easter, we’ll be thinking about what “A Long Awaited Ending” means to us – as both individuals and global citizens in 2021, and as Christians looking towards the trials, death and resurrection of Jesus.

    Lent begins this week on Ash Wednesday, and there are a few ways to start it well:

    1) 8PM United benefice service for Ash Wednesday – broadcast from Hambledon Church.
    Click here for the link to YouTube on Wednesday.
    Service Leader: Margot Spencer
    This coming week sees the beginning of Lent, which we shall be launching with a simple service on the evening of Ash Wednesday.  As usual, there will be the opportunity to take part in ashing – signing our foreheads with a cross – though we shall give you the words to say and ask you to sign yourself with the cross at home.  The ashes are a powerful symbol of death and repentance.  Traditionally, we are told to burn last year’s palm crosses to make the ash. PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! Ash from your fireplace (if you have one), an uncleaned BBQ, incinerator or firepit will do perfectly well, or something similar.  You don’t need very much, but please collect a small amount in a container beforehand. 

    2) Lent Reflections – Monday to Friday on YouTube. A reading, a thought and a prayer building on the Lent Sermon series in which we explore some of the prevailing challenges to us as Christians, with reference to the challenges of Jesus in the gospel of Luke. Bookmark the Lent Reflections page to check for the latest reflection every week day in Lent. Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to lead a reflection provided by Andy Spencer. There are still a few days to cover, so please contact Andy if you are able to film yourself.

    3) Refresh by text – sign up NOW to receive a text every week day. Let’s Go! >>> For this one we’ve decided to drop “challenge” in favour of “Refresh” and the daily suggestions will aim to boost mind, body and soul; spur us onto positive action locally, and encourage us to consider lifestyle changes that might positively support the environment. We are linking it to our mission partner and the Easter Appeal for A Rocha UK. Let’s Go! >>>

    4) For Ark and Explorers – Lent in a Bag! Collect your bag from either Busbridge or Hambledon Church porch by Ash Wednesday to create the prayer paper chain during Lent.


    Alpha Online – is it for you? / Who will you invite?
    The latest online Alpha course got underway on Tuesday 9 Feb, but it’s not too late to join in! You’ve only missed the introduction, and a short catch up can be provided by course leaders Keith and Hilary. The course is running on Tuesdays, the next 10 weeks. To find out more, and to register your interest, please go to the Alpha page and complete the form, or send the link to a friend.

    Hope in Depression Course – 6 sessions starting Tuesday 23 Feb
    We are pleased to have scheduled a new start date for a group of delegates, and would continue to encourage anyone struggling to please take heart and sign up too. Find all the details, and register in confidence on the Hope in Depression page, and please do share the details with anyone suffering with stress, anxiety or depression, and those supporting them.

    Good news:  We give thanks, and are much relieved that Lily Olsworth-Peter is safely home with her family after quite a serious an accident last Saturday.  Ed and Lisa are so grateful for all the support from their church family while Lisa and Lily were in hospital. “we have truly experienced the beauty and joy of Church family and the power of the prayer in this last week.”  Please keep up your prayers as the family continue medical care and hospital visits for Lily.

    Thank you!

    Huge thanks to everyone who’s made a kind donation to the Church Family Support Fund (CFSF) in the past few days or months. The group who oversee this Fund met this week (and meets monthly all through the year).  This month we made several donations to purchase computers for learning. In past months we’ve supported purchasing computers, food costs, paying household bills, replacing broken white goods, cost of clothing and several other requests where people are in clear and immediate need. To suggest someone to be supported see the CFSF page on the church website.

    We thanked Tom in the FUSE service last week but here’s a written thanks to Tom, Pri, Danny and Oscar for giving time, energy and willingness to help the FUSE service grow and become a great place to bring friends along to. Thank you Tom. The Burfords have been involved in all age services and FUSE for over ten years.

    You have all been hugely inspirational, whether sharing thoughts, writing and performing drama, singing, drumming or playing the guitar. What a talented family you are! We will miss you in the team and send you massive love and affection.

    Mark Puddephatt, Suzie Lambert and the FUSE team.

    Elsewhere

    Vacancy with Waverley Abbey College for the post of College Manager & Academic Registrar. For details see: https://www.waverleyabbeyresources.org/vacancies/

    World Day of Prayer – 5 March 2021. You are invited to join in a service from St Peter’s Church Wrecklesham via YouTube to pray with Vanautu. More details.

    Coming Up NEXT:

    See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event to join the meetings on Zoom, or sign up.

    LENT EVENTS

    REGULARS

    Please Pray for

    • Blewfield and its road steward Shelagh Godwin

    • Hambledon Road and Hambledon Nursery School

    • Local leisure centres and gymns.

    Busbridge Church and Hambledon Church are both open daily for private prayer.

    The Old Rectory is closed for the time being and clergy and staff are working from home. The answerphone is checked regularly, but the best way to reach people is by email.

    PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE

    To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org  or call Lisa Olsworth-Peter on 01483 421267.
    Listening prayer is available mid-week.

    Catch up on News from other areas

    A word from

    Rector’s Reflections

    Prime Time Lockdown Blog

  • Prime Time Calling…! (5 Feb)

    Dear Prime Time member,

    Well, here we are now in February.  How was January for you?  On Monday morning as I ate my breakfast, I was listening to the radio as the presenters were celebrating that what they referred to as ‘the longest month on record’ was now over.  Personally, I found that January seemed to go by pretty quickly, thankfully much like every other month has since we first went into lock down.  I know I have work to keep me busy and give structure to my day, but the time really does seem to fly past for me.  I can barely believe another week has gone by already and that somehow we’re at Friday.

    I know the weather is set to turn cold again at the weekend and into next week, but I’ve been encouraged this week by a few signs of spring.  I was particularly excited at the weekend to find some bulbs shooting up their first green leaves in a pot beside our front door.  I’m particularly excited about this, because I had only planted them 2 ½ weeks before!  I know that you’re going to tell me that I shouldn’t be planting spring flowering bulbs in January, but having dug them out of the ground in early summer last year during lock down number one when we were giving our garden a bit of a makeover, they have laid in a box in the garage ever since.  I had intended to replant them in the autumn, but every weekend during bulb planting season seemed to be wet and the job never got done.  Having been in the garage over the Christmas period, I noticed that these bulbs were beginning to shoot, so I thought ‘well, I can try planting them and if they don’t survive, they don’t – but they definitely will not survive staying here!’  So in about the second week of January, out I went to do some planting – I don’t think I’ve ever gardened in January before; I normally consider it too cold for me to venture out into the garden until at least May!  But I got all these bulbs planted, hundreds of them – some little bigger than a pin head and I just hoped for the best.  Never did I imagine that I would see shoots poking up in less than 3 weeks!  Whether or not my appalling bulb husbandry will be rewarded later with flowers, remains to be seen – I may of course get nothing but leaves (and that would be what I totally deserve!), but we shall see…  I’ll keep you updated as to what develops!

    Just yesterday I noticed some splashes of yellow and purple in the front lawn – the crocuses there are in flower. They are always the first in our garden to show colour.  They are right outside our kitchen window and I see them every time I stand at the sink – so I see them quite a lot! Their joyful colours always make me smile.  And for a couple of weeks now we’ve had snowdrops flowering in the front bank.  They weren’t even spoilt by the snow we had recently. The weight of the snow completely flattened them, but once the snow melted – up they stood again.  Did you know that snowdrops are also known as ‘Candlemas bells’?  I didn’t until very recently when I was reading an article about Candlemas.  Candlemas is a Christian holiday celebrated annually on February 2nd.  Many Christians believe that Jesus’ mother Mary presented him to God at the Temple in Jerusalem after observing the traditional 40-day period of purification of mothers following his birth and February 2nd is forty days after Christmas Day.  (Proof if it were needed that indeed time is passing quickly – does it really feel like 40 days since we celebrated Christmas?)

    When Joseph and Mary bring baby Jesus to the Temple, they are greeted by Simeon, a man of Jerusalem described as’ righteous and devout’. At the Temple at the same time was an elderly widow, Anna; the New Testament’s only prophetess.  Simeon embraces the baby and instantly and independently recognizes Jesus as Messiah. Anna begins to preach: “She … began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke chapter 2, verse 38).  Simeon and Anna saw embodied in the six-week-old baby Jesus, the culmination of all their hopes and longings. Simeon and Anna both had a very close relationship with God and were led by the Holy Spirit. Imagine the joy these two elderly people must have felt when they beheld the infant Jesus. Their whole lives had been leading towards this moment – Simeon felt a total sense of peace. They were among the earliest people to bear witness to Jesus.  One commentary on this Bible passage notes that ‘The story of Simeon and Anna is a great encouragement as we grow older – it’s one of the few occasions in the Bible when older people get the best lines!’

    Simeon, in his wisdom, recognised Jesus as the Messiah who would be the light of the whole world, when he said: ‘For my eyes have seen your salvation… a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. (Luke 2:31–32) In other words, for everyone. Jesus came as a light in the darkness, just as the snowdrops are bright and white in the dark soil. Many Christians see the snowdrop as a symbol of Jesus Christ being this hope for the world, and whatever your beliefs, for everyone snowdrops are also a symbol of hope that springtime will come.

    When you see snowdrops in the coming days and weeks, may they be a symbol of hope for you too.  And if you don’t happen to have any in your garden – you don’t have to travel far to see them.  At this time of year there is a veritable carpet of snowdrops in the churchyard here at Busbridge Church.  When you are out partaking your allowed daily exercise, why not include the church on your walking route and stop to view them yourself?  But if that’s not possible, please do enjoy this photo and may it bring you joy and hope just the same.

    I recently had to post a letter to a property with the name ‘Candlemas Barn’.  I wonder what the origins of that house name could be and in what way a building could be linked to the Christian holiday of Candlemas?  Answers on a postcard please!

    And finally – a word of caution…  According to folklore, there is a superstition that states that snowdrops should not be brought into the home until after Candlemas.  Thankfully, the holiday of Candlemas has passed for this year, so for 2021 we are free to collect up snowdrops from our gardens without worry and enjoy them in vase if we so choose.  But do remember these cautionary words should you be overcome with excitement when you see your first snowdrop of 2022 and be tempted to pick it!

    Happy snowdrop spotting!

    Until next Friday,

    Penny x

     

    Penny Naylor

    Primetime Befriending Co-ordinator

  • Sunday 7 February

    This Sunday

    Handling Stress

    Part 1: Handling Stress from expectations | Luke 24:17-24 followed by Acts 1:6-8

    Essential Links for Sundays

      Find all Sunday services on the BHC Godalming YouTube channel.     Direct links to the live stream broadcasts of the Classic and Contemporary services from the Old Rectory Garden can be found in the THIS SUNDAY service list below.
    Find all Sunday services on the BHC Godalming YouTube channel. Direct links to the live stream broadcasts of the Classic and Contemporary services from the Old Rectory Garden can be found in the THIS SUNDAY service list below.
      BHC Public Zoom Room    946-391-4833 |  PW 2021  CLICK HERE to get together on Zoom after each service for a virtual coffee, at 6PM for Unplugged and mid-week Morning Prayer.
    BHC Public Zoom Room 946-391-4833 | PW 2021 CLICK HERE to get together on Zoom after each service for a virtual coffee, at 6PM for Unplugged and mid-week Morning Prayer.

    Children & Youth

    online services

    9AM Online Heritage Service
    Speaker: Peter Shaw

    9AM Classic Service (live broadcast)
    Speaker: Peter Shaw

    10.15AM FUSE all age service (live broadcast)
    Mark Puddephatt and the FUSE team

    No Ark and Explorers sessions this week.
    See you all at FUSE!

    ***YOUTH MOVIE NIGHT***

    4.30PM Pathfinders (age 11-14s) on Zoom
    7.30PM Ichthus (age 15-18s) on Zoom
    Contact Anto Ficatier for joining details

    Click the service below to join on YouTube

    Then all welcome at any of the following virtual coffee and catch-up sessions. Drop in for 5, 10, or 15 mins…

    Next Sunday 14 February

    Handling Stress from broken relationships
    Reading John 21: 15-19

    Children & Youth

    9AM Ark session on YouTube
    11.15AM Explorers (Zoom)
    5PM Youth Half-term Party for Pathfinders & Ichthus (Zoom)

    Online Services

    9AM Heritage (pre-recorded)
    Speaker: Keith Harper

    9AM Classic (live)
    Speaker: Keith Harper

    10.15AM Contemporary Conversations from the Couch
    On the couch: Peter Shaw and Simon Willetts

    the notices

    LENT & EASTER 2021
    Plans are hatching for our second locked down Lent, Holy Week and Easter. Lent starts (with Ash Wednesday) on 17 February which is during half-term.

    There will be an online Ash Wednesday service with ashing, but no communion, and this year for our younger church families, the CYF team have prepared “Lent in a bag”. The bags with paper chain kits – with a prayer or challange on each link, to be added to the chain once the action is completed – will be available for Ark and Explorers to pick up in the church porches from Sunday 7 Feb.

    Things to get involved in
    Weekday Reflections – there will be daily reflections to expand on the sermon series The Challenges of…, led by different church members on YouTube – please let Andy Spencer know if you’d like to film yourself leading a reflection. The reading, prayer and thought will be provided for you. During Advent it was nice to see many different faces on screen, and those that took part enjoyed making a contribution in circumstances when ways to serve and be involved in church life may seem more limited. Please be encouraged to put yourself forward.

    Alongside, we are also planning “Refreshment by Text”, with topical, eco and community challenges to boost body, mind and soul every weekday through Lent. If anyone has any thoughts or a call to be involved, please contact Vic Hicks.

    Penny (Older People) and Judith (4-11s). Penny and Judith are planning another cross-over initiative for Lent and Easter whereby our younger church members can be involved in sharing a message of love and community with our older people who are perhaps shielding or isolated. Do get in touch with Penny or Judith if you’d like to be involved.


    Preeces’ Doorstop Farewell – if on your daily constitutional walk, run or cycle, you might happen across the curate’s home, you might like to text or ring the bell and stand back to wave goodbye when they open the door. Dave and Hannah have created a doodle with times when this would be convenient, but also to avoid a suspicious crowd of exercising people arriving at the same time. Here’s a link to the Doodle Poll to pop your name in if you would like to see their faces in the flesh for one last time: https://doodle.com/poll/qzkfd5dgqy7h2d6t .

    UPDATE Church Family Support Fund – accepting applications AND DONATIONS
    Thanks to recent notices and people spreading the word, the CFSF has received a number of applications recently and has be able to help support several families with equipment for home learning. A further challenge that has become apparent is that those who don’t have adequate hardware for home learning, may also be without broadband. This is another thing for which the CFSF might be able to support.

    The fund now needs a top up so that we can keep helping people, so the trustees would welcome donations as well as applications. Information on how the fund operates, and to make a donation, or an application on behalf of someone, see the CFSF page.

    Donation of unused laptops or tablets. Please consider if you have any suitable laptops or tablets which could be passed on to children at St Mark’s school. They will be gratefully received.

    Left property
    Following December’s Comfort & Joy exhibition we find ourselves left with a small knitted Christmas pudding.  It measures about 2 ½ inches x 2 ¼ inches and could be a hat for a Sindy doll or maybe it’s a Ferrero Rocher cover (yes, they really do exist – I’ve seen them at craft fairs…!)

    It may be small, but someone has put a lot of time and effort into making this (and often the smaller the item, the trickier it is to make).  It would be such a shame if we were unable to reunite this item with its owner. If anyone recognises this item they are welcome to email Penny on penny.naylor@bhcgodalming.org or leave a message on the Church Office number.

    BRIDGE UPDATE: The JAN/FEB edition of the Bridge is available online … click here. We are still looking for a road steward to cover the bottom part of the Brighton Road.  If you live in, or close to, either of these roads, (or maybe know someone who does and might be willing to take on the role) please contact the editor, Cathy, at editor.atthebridge@gmail.com. We’d be delighted and most appreciative to hear from you.  

    Starting Soon

    Alpha Online starting 9 February – is it for you? / Who will you invite?
    It’s starting again soon! The next course will run on Tuesdays, starting 9 February for 11 weeks. The course begins with a ‘no obligation’ introductory session led by (Rev) Hilary Pettman and Keith Harper, LLM.  Hilary and Keith have been involved in several Alphas, both the physical courses and online. To register your interest, please go to the Alpha page and complete the form, or send the link to a friend.

    UPDATE on the Hope in Depression Course
    We know many people are struggling, and this course offers a lifeline. The course is ready, facilitators are trained, and we are now waiting and praying for delegates to be brave enough to sign up. (The first session was delayed as we await sufficient numbers to make it viable). Find all the details, and register in confidence on the Hope in Depression page, and please do share the details with anyone suffering with mental health problems, and those supporting them.

    NEXT Nexus Talk – Hear about the Godalming and Villages Community Store from town councillor Richard Ashworth. Thursday 4 February, 8pm in the BHC Zoom room.

    This is all about the community supporting its friends and neighbours during these unprecedented and difficult times.  Come along to learn how the Store operates and how much it is appreciated by those in unexpected need.  It will start at 8.00pm, and you can join from 7.45pm to have a chat with others. Bring your own refreshments!! All are welcome, including men!  There will be no charge, but donations can be made on their Just Giving page. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/GodalmingCommunitystore

    Coming Up NEXT:

    See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event to join the meetings on Zoom, or sign up.

    Update on Monday Listening Prayer – NOW Reflective prayer – What is it?
    Since the end of April last year, about a dozen have met on Zoom on Monday mornings to spend time together in the presence of God. In practice, it looks a bit like this:

    We start by quieting ourselves, maybe listening to some music. We then have a short Bible reading with a very brief reflection on it – just a few sentences to help us engage with the story – and after that a time of silence to enter into the story and listen to what God wants to say to us. At the end of this, we may have some more music and then anyone who would like to can share what they have heard, but there is no pressure. We end with thanking God for his presence and asking him to go with us through the new day.

    Please join us if you would like to, on Mondays from 8.45-9.30 a.m.; BHC Public Personal Meeting Room, Zoom ID 946 391 4833, password 2021.

    Lisa Olsworth-Peter, Gertrud Sollars, Shan Hallam

    Catch up on News from other areas

    A word from

    Rector’s Reflections

    Prime Time Lockdown Blog

    Please Pray for

    • Beechway and its road steward Susie Musk

    • Hambledon Park

    • Godalming Churches Together, and our BHC representatives on the committee Michael Stubbs and Margot Spencer.

    What’s On

    Click Here for What’s on this week and beyond. It’s all in the calendar and more details for each event can be found when you select it.

    Busbridge Church reopen for private prayer
    Busbridge Church is open again daily for private prayer from approximately 9.30am-4pm, and Hambledon Church is open daily from approximately 9am-5pm.

    The Old Rectory is closed for the time being and clergy and staff are working from home. The answerphone is checked regularly, but the best way to reach people is by email.

    PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE

    To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org  or call Lisa Olsworth-Peter on 01483 421267.
    Listening prayer is available mid-week.

  • Hello from Prime Time! 29 Jan

    Dear Prime Time member,

    After the flurry of emails yesterday, things have been a little more peaceful today and I’m back on track, doing what I normally do on a Friday afternoon which is writing to you!

    ‘Peace’ happens to be the topic of this week’s email – the fourth and final instalment of my email challenge, prompted by the conductor’s speech at this year’s New Year’s Day Concert in Vienna.  We hear the word ‘peace’ used a lot.  Leaders call for ‘World Peace’, parents trying to work from home during lock down whilst trying to home-school their children may dream of ‘a bit of peace and quiet’ and how many Christmas cards did you receive last month that had the words ‘Peace on Earth’ printed on the front?

    According to one definition I found on Google, peace is defined as ‘a stress-free state of security and calmness that comes when there’s no fighting or war, everything coexisting in perfect harmony and freedom’. So when there are calls for ‘World Peace’ that’s only part of it; peace is more than just the absence of conflict between nations or factions, although the Bible does refer to peace in this context.  Hebrews 12:14 states that we should ‘Strive for peace with everyone’ which is a theme continued into the New Testament in Matthew Chapter 5, Verse 9: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’.  We can take from this that people who strive for peace will be blessed by God.  Our Rector Simon has talked about 2021 when we as a church need to be ‘Reconcilers’, bringing healing to the damaged situation we find ourselves in.  Interestingly, if you look up ‘reconciler’ in a dictionary, you will find it defined as ‘someone who tries to bring peace’; ‘peace’ you just can’t get away from the word.  It’s almost as if we’re being shown how important the concept is.

    In the Bible, we read about ‘the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding’ (Philippians 4:7).  This refers to a more Biblical meaning of peace in that peace is more than just the absence of conflict or state of rest. It means completeness or wholeness, and it points to the presence of something else.  I acknowledge that this is a huge concept, and for someone who tries to be quite methodical and logical it makes no sense at all to say that I’m prepared to put my trust in something that I can’t see and can’t touch.  It really does ‘surpass all understanding’ and I know it sounds rather crazy.

    Jesus is referred to in the book of Isiah (Chapter 9, Verse 6) as ‘The Prince of Peace’.  When we receive a Christmas card with an image of a dove clutching on it accompanied by the words ‘Peace on Earth’, perhaps then the dove is announcing the birth of The Prince of Peace and therefore that peace is now on earth, this ‘something else’ that makes us complete or whole, rather than a declaration that all conflict is at an end.  Although, I admit, that I think world peace would make a very agreeable gift at Christmas too.  Probably my favourite verse in scripture concerning  peace (and actually one of my favourites verses full stop) is from the book of John, (Chapter 14, verse 27) which records Jesus as saying ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you’ which is a far better summary of this concept of the duality of peace than I think I’ve managed in the last few paragraphs!

    And what of those dreaming of a little ‘peace and quiet?’  The dictionary defines this kind of peace as ‘the state of not being interrupted or annoyed by worry, problems, noise, or unwanted actions’ echoing the earlier Google definition that peace is ‘everything coexisting in perfect harmony and freedom’.  We all need those moments, let’s be honest.  Times when we just need to escape, either out of the house and away from other people or just the ability to lose ourselves in a thought, view or piece of music.  A little like those ‘little rays of sunshine’ I talked about in a previous email.

    I’ve always been a fan of BBC’s ‘the Watches’; Springwatch, Autumnwatch, Winterwatch I have them all set for ‘series record’.  Like many other things in life, this programme has had to evolve and adapt due to the restrictions imposed because of Coronavirus.  However, I’m really enjoying the new format and I think it’s given the programme a new lease of life.  I’m particularly enjoying the new feature ‘Mindfulness Moments’ where there is a short clip of a landscape with no voiceovers, no music, just the natural sounds of that environment accompanying some fantastic views.  If you are looking for a ‘little peace and quiet’, I can highly recommend them.  Many of the ‘Mindfulness Moments’ have been added to the BBC website.  The current series of Winterwatch concludes this evening, although you can catch up with the whole series on the BBC iPlayer.  If you just want a quick peak though at what I’m talking about, click on the following link and you’ll see a ‘Mindfulness Moment’ from the current series. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0956656 And if you’re a supporter of British wildlife, you may wish to know that this weekend the annual Big Garden Birdwatch takes place.  It’s not too late to register to take part.  Go to www.rspb.org.uk for further details.  You don’t need to be an expert ‘Twitcher’ to participate and all they are asking is for an hour of your time over the coming weekend.  Maybe this could be where you’ll find your own bit of ‘peace and quiet’ in the next few days…?

    In our world, it can seems as though there’s not nearly enough peace. However peace can be big and small, seen in entire countries or brief moments. Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work – it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.  To quote Vincent van Gogh, ‘There is peace, even in the storm’.  Where you believe that sense of calm or peace originates may depend on your beliefs, but Christians will say that it is God, the Holy Spirit, the Prince of Peace. Or maybe it’s all three – but that’s a story for another day…

    So what have I found out over the past 4 weeks as I’ve researched the content for these letters?  Most strikingly I think is how many times in scripture, the four words of ‘joy’, ‘love’, ‘hope’ and ‘peace’ are connected with each other – however, I have yet to find one passage in the Bible that contains all four – the best I can do is three.  ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace’ (Romans Chapter 15, verse 13). Can anyone tell me differently and enhance my education on this one?!

    Wishing you a peaceful and peace-filled week ahead. (And if you’re finding it difficult maintaining peace with everybody, you may wish to bear in mind some wise words of Mother Teresa’s; ‘Peace begins with a smile…’

    Until next Friday

    Penny x

     

    Penny Naylor

    Primetime Befriending Co-ordinator

  • Sunday 31 January

    Essential Links for Sundays

      Find all Sunday services on the BHC Godalming YouTube channel.     Direct links to the live stream broadcasts of the Classic and Contemporary services from the Old Rectory Garden can be found in the THIS SUNDAY service list below.
    Find all Sunday services on the BHC Godalming YouTube channel. Direct links to the live stream broadcasts of the Classic and Contemporary services from the Old Rectory Garden can be found in the THIS SUNDAY service list below.
      BHC Public Zoom Room    946-391-4833 |  PW 2021   CLICK HERE to get together on Zoom after each service for a virtual coffee, at 6PM for Unplugged and mid-week Morning Prayer.
    BHC Public Zoom Room 946-391-4833 | PW 2021 CLICK HERE to get together on Zoom after each service for a virtual coffee, at 6PM for Unplugged and mid-week Morning Prayer.

    BHC members on TV and radio this week!

    Congratulations to Steve Kinder (Contemporary Congregation) who won a wild card to be featured on an episode of the Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year on the telly on Wednesday night (very exciting!). You can watch it on NowTV and Sky +1 Arts too. Busbridge and Hambledon churches have been lucky enough to show Steve’s wonderful pieces (landscapes and Christian works) at various Christmas and Easter exhibitions, most recently the Comfort & Joy exhibition in Busbridge Church. see https://www.stephenkinderart.com/

    And broadcasting on radio…Simon and Naomi Willetts have teamed up with Tom Rowland to produce some exciting tunes during lockdown. Their first single called ‘Waiting For’ is live on Amazon and live on iTunes at 6pm Friday (29 Jan) evening!!
    Here is the pre-release link:
    https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/homelander/waiting-for
    It’s had airtime three times so far from BBC introducing, with great response and is on air again, as it’s been picked as BBC Sussex & BBC Surrey’s BBC Introducing Track of the Day!  It’ll be played ‪at around 4.40pm Friday 29 Jan, and again on Saturday between 8 & 8.30pm. Listen online here:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_sussex

    An EP is being also planned for  released on Feb 25th with an album to follow shortly after that.  Follow Homelander on Facebook and Instagram @homelanderband

    If anyone else is making headlines or featuring on TV and radio during lockdown,
    – do let us know! (It’s nice to see when many of us aren’t getting out much.)

    Message for 2021 from Simon Taylor – please watch if you missed it last week.

    This Sunday

    Freedom of Contentment | Philippians 4: 8-13

    9AM Online Heritage Service
    Speaker: Simon Taylor

    9AM Classic Service (live broadcast)
    Speaker: Simon Taylor

    10.15AM Conversations from the Couch (live Broadcast
    On the couch: Mark Williams & Simon Willetts

    6PM Unplugged on Zoom – BHC Public
    Led by Anto Ficatier and members of Pathfinders and Ichthus.

     UNPLUGGED - 6PM | 31 Jan | on Zoom (BHC Public)
    UNPLUGGED – 6PM | 31 Jan | on Zoom (BHC Public)

    9AM Ark (age 4-7s) on Zoom
    11.15AM Explorers (age 7-11s) on Zoom
    Contact Judith Hawkey for joining details

    Then all welcome at any of the following virtual coffee and catch-up sessions. Drop in for 5, 10, or 15 mins…

    Next Sunday 7 February

    We begin a two part teaching and discussion series on handling stress.

    Handling Stress from broken expectations
    Readings: Luke 24:17-24 followed by Acts 1:6-8

    9AM Heritage (pre-recorded) and Classic (live) services on YouTube
    Speaker: Peter Shaw

    10.15AM FUSE all age service | Stressful times with a gentle God
    Reading: Psalm 121
    Led by Mark Puddephatt and the Fuse Team
    (No Ark and Explorers groups this week)

    the notices

    Simon and Simon would like to thank Rev David Jenkins for all his work and commitment, particularly to Hambledon during the interregnum and in helping Simon Willetts settle shortly before and during a pandemic. David is taking a well earned sabbatical and we pray every blessing on him and Liz as they take this time to reflect, relax and restore.

    Dave is leaving – last call for contributions to the farewell gift… Following the announcement of Dave Preece’s appointment as Priest in Charge of the benefice of Saxmundham with Kelsale cum Carlton, we are very sadly going to be saying goodbye to Dave, Hannah, Zoe and Esther under the cover of COVID, on 21 February. We can, of course, still send them off with a fitting gift to remember their ministry and time here. If you would like to donate to a leaving gift, please use an online method, ideally bank transfer (or the donate function) on the GIVING web page. Cash/cheques can be sent to the Old Rectory too. The details are here. Use the reference “PREECE” or similar.

    Doorstop Farewell – if on your daily constitutional walk, run or cycle, you might happen across the curate’s home, you might like to text or ring the bell and stand back to wave goodbye when they open the door. Dave and Hannah have created a doodle with times when this would be convenient, but also to avoid a suspicious crowd of exercising people arriving at the same time. Here’s a link to the Doodle Poll to pop your name in if you would like to see their faces in the flesh for one last time: https://doodle.com/poll/qzkfd5dgqy7h2d6t .

    LENT & EASTER
    Plans are hatching for our second locked down Lent, Holy Week and Easter. Lent starts (with Ash Wednesday) on 17 February which is during half-term. There will be an online Ash Wednesday service with ashing, but no communion, and this year for our younger church families, the CYF team have prepared “Lent in a bag” (details to follow next week.)

    Things to get involved in – there will be daily reflections delivered by different church members on YouTube – please let Andy Spencer know if you’d like to contribute a reflection. We are also planning “Lent by Text”, last run in 2017 and now ready for a refresh and reprise with topical, eco, community challenges to boost body and soul every weekday through Lent. If anyone has any thoughts or a call to be involved, please contact Vic Hicks. Thirdly, after the great community response to the Busbridge Walking Advent Calendar, we’d like to dream up a similar activity for Easter, in Busbridge and Hambledon, perhaps with the trail ending with an opportunity to find or collect an egg. If anyone, or ideally a small team, would like to help create, plan and deliver this, please contact Lisa Olsworth-Peter.

    Penny (Older People) and Judith (4-11s). Penny and Judith are planning another cross-over initiative for Lent and Easter whereby our younger church members can be involved in sharing a message of love and community with our older people who are perhaps shielding or isolated. Do get in touch with Penny or Judith if you’d like to be involved.

    Church Family Support Fund – accepting applications
    A timely reminder that the Church Family Support Fund is able to help local individuals and families in need with financial gifts NOW – to pay for things such as a laptop or PC for remote learning, or a replacement washing machine or fridge. Information on how the fund operates, and to make an application on behalf of someone, see the CFSF page.

    Donation of unused laptops or tablets. Hilary Pettman has just had an old laptop cleaned up and given it to St Mark’s school. They were delighted to receive it and it has now gone to a family in the area who really needed it. Please consider if you have any suitable laptops or tablets which could be passed on. It is a great way to support the community around St. Marks.

    Good news! The faculty application for the works to the Busbridge Church Centre has been approved! There are a few processes to follow before any work can commence but the faculty approval is a huge step forward. A massive thank you to the team who have worked so hard on this so far.

    BRIDGE UPDATE: The JAN/FEB edition of the Bridge is available online … click here. We are still looking for a road steward to cover the bottom part of the Brighton Road.  If you live in, or close to, either of these roads, (or maybe know someone who does and might be willing to take on the role) please contact the editor, Cathy, at editor.atthebridge@gmail.com. We’d be delighted and most appreciative to hear from you.  

    Starting Soon

    Alpha Online starting 9 February – is it for you? / Who will you invite?
    It’s starting again soon! The next course will run on Tuesdays, starting 9 February for 11 weeks. The course begins with a ‘no obligation’ introductory session led by (Rev) Hilary Pettman and Keith Harper, LLM.  Hilary and Keith have been involved in several Alphas, both the physical courses and online. To register your interest, please go to the Alpha page and complete the form, or send the link to a friend.

    UPDATE on the Hope in Depression Course
    We know many people are struggling, and this course offers a lifeline. The course is ready, facilitators are trained, and we are now waiting and praying for delegates to be brave enough to sign up. (The first session was delayed as we await sufficient numbers to make it viable). Find all the details, and register in confidence on the Hope in Depression page, and please do share the details with anyone suffering with mental health problems, and those supporting them.

    NEXT Nexus Talk – Hear about the Godalming and Villages Community Store from town councillor Richard Ashworth. Thursday 4 February, 8pm in the BHC Zoom room.

    This is all about the community supporting its friends and neighbours during these unprecedented and difficult times.  Come along to learn how the Store operates and how much it is appreciated by those in unexpected need.  It will start at 8.00pm, and you can join from 7.45pm to have a chat with others. Bring your own refreshments!! All are welcome, including men!  There will be no charge, but donations can be made on their Just Giving page. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/GodalmingCommunitystore

    Junior Lockdown Choir – Thursdays from 21 January
    The lockdown choir continues this Thursday. The choir sings a range of Disney and pop songs suitable for each age group. If you know any primary age children who would be interested, please pass the message on to go to the Lockdown Choir page and complete the registration form.

    Coming Up NEXT:

    See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event to join the meetings on Zoom, or sign up.

    Update on Monday Listening Prayer – NOW Reflective prayer – What is it?
    Since the end of April last year, about a dozen have met on Zoom on Monday mornings to spend time together in the presence of God. In practice, it looks a bit like this:

    We start by quieting ourselves, maybe listening to some music. We then have a short Bible reading with a very brief reflection on it – just a few sentences to help us engage with the story – and after that a time of silence to enter into the story and listen to what God wants to say to us. At the end of this, we may have some more music and then anyone who would like to can share what they have heard, but there is no pressure. We end with thanking God for his presence and asking him to go with us through the new day.

    Our own attendance fluctuates, as circumstances dictate, but there is one who is always there: God, gracious, present, and looking forward to meeting with us.

    The beauty of Zoom is that we don’t have to get extra chairs out, so please join us if you would like to, on Mondays from 8.45-9.30 a.m.; BHC Public Personal Meeting Room, Zoom ID 946 391 4833, password 2021.

    And by the way, we are renaming it ‘Reflective Prayer’ in the hope that it makes it a bit clearer what we are on about.

    Lisa Olsworth-Peter, Gertrud Sollars, Shan Hallam

    Catch up on News from other areas

    A word from

    Rector’s Reflections

    Prime Time Lockdown Blog

    Please Pray for

    • Ashstead Lane and its road stewards Jane Tomes and Caroline Wright

    • Feathercombe Lane

    • The Cellar Camino Cafe and it’s vulnerable customers as they settle into the new location in the old Bury’s cafe.

    What’s On

    Click Here for What’s on this week and beyond. It’s all in the calendar and more details for each event can be found when you select it.

    Busbridge Church reopen for private prayer
    Busbridge Church is open again daily for private prayer from approximately 9.30am-4pm, and Hambledon Church is open daily from approximately 9am-5pm.

    The Old Rectory is closed for the time being and clergy and staff are working from home. The answerphone is checked regularly, but the best way to reach people is by email.

    PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE

    To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org  or call Lisa Olsworth-Peter on 01483 421267.
    Listening prayer is available mid-week.

  • Sunday 24 January 2021

    Message for 2021 from Simon Taylor

    We’re recruiting!

    Here’s the first in a series of ads for new and familiar roles to serve your church. How is God calling you?

    Print the pdf

    This Sunday

    24 Jan: No services from Busbridge&Hambledon Church.
    We are joining Godalming Churches Together for the United Service online at 10.30AM.

    Go to: http://www.godalmingchurches.org/ or directly to the service: https://youtu.be/zOdShqO7pOo

    Every year, Godalming & District Churches Together holds a United Service in January, to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  This year, the service will be online, with several of the local ministers taking part.  The service will be pre-recorded, and set to go live at 10.30am on Sunday morning.

    There will also be children’s work provided by the amazing Trinity Trust Team.  Within the service, there will be the option to go off to do the children’s work and then return to the main service.

    Sunday Morning “coffee and catch up” sessions on Zoom will take place in the BHC Public Zoom room, as follows:

    10AM – Heritage Congregation
    11.30AM – Classic with Contemporary (moved to avoid the GCT United Service)
    7PM – Evening congregation (Busbridge 6.30PM) – SPECIAL for this Sunday – catch up with friends and faces from the evening congregation.

      Get together on Zoom after each service for a virtual coffee:   BHC Public Zoom Room PW 2021
    Get together on Zoom after each service for a virtual coffee: BHC Public Zoom Room PW 2021

    CYF Groups
    As usual:
    4PM Pathfinders (Zoom), 7.30PM Ichthus (Zoom)

    Prayerfest 0-30 in 60 – from 5-6PM on Zoom. This session focuses prayer on our younger people, youth groups and local schools and colleges. All welcome.

    NEXT SUNDAY 31 JANUARY

    Freedom of Contentment | Philippians 4: 8-13

    9AM Online Heritage Service
    Speaker: Simon Taylor

    9AM Classic Service (live broadcast)
    Speaker: Simon Taylor

    10.15AM Conversations from the Couch (live Broadcast
    On the couch: Mark Williams & Simon Willetts

    6PM Unplugged on Zoom
    Led by Anto Ficatier and members of Pathfinders and Ichthus.

     NEXT UNPLUGGED - 6PM | 31 Jan | on Zoom (BHC Public)
    NEXT UNPLUGGED – 6PM | 31 Jan | on Zoom (BHC Public)

    Coming Up NEXT:

    See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event to join the meetings on Zoom, or sign up.

    the notices

    Dave is leaving – Following the announcement of Dave Preece’s appointment as Priest in Charge of the benefice of Saxmundham with Kelsale cum Carlton, we are very sadly going to be saying goodbye to Dave, Hannah, Zoe and Esther under the cover of COVID, on 21 February. There can be no leaving “do” before they go, but the Preeces have promised to return in warmer weather, when gatherings are allowed so we can celebrate Dave’s curacy and their time at Busbridge&Hambledon. We can, of course, still send them off with a fitting gift to remember their ministry and time here. If you would like to donate to a leaving gift, please use an online method, ideally bank transfer (or the donate function) on the GIVING web page. Cash/cheques can be sent to the Old Rectory too. The details are here. Use the reference “PREECE” or similar.

    From Simon T:

    We are delighted that we have people looking at ordination and asking whether God could be calling them into this. Although we aren’t sharing names right now do please be praying for them.

    Shout out for Ruth! Thanks to Ruth, who moved into the area recently, for wanting to get involved with the cameras and tech. Ruth came along to the Old Rectory to help broadcast the services last Sunday, and we’re grateful Ruth wants to get involved. We’re looking for others who’d like to serve for a couple of hours a week or month in this way on a Sunday morning. Contact Jacob to find out more. No experience necessary – really!

    Outward Giving – £1300 raised for HMP Send to pay for phone cards at Christmas
    We’ve received letters of thanks from all the charities that the church supported through Outward Giving in 2020, some with helpful insights into what your money has helped to achieve and support. All the letters can be found on the Outward Giving page HERE.

    Hearing Aids and “Inter-generational” Ministry
    Plans are afoot to restart Hearing Aid Clinics, when restrictions allow, and subject to PCC approval.

    Penny (Older People) and Judith (4-11s). Following Creative Kindness and the hand-made Christmas cards, Penny and Judith are planning another cross-over initiative for Lent and Easter whereby our younger church members can be involved in sharing a message of love and community with our older people who are perhaps shielding or isolated. Do get in touch with Penny or Judith if you’d like to be involved, or have any ideas. It’s a two-way thing – grown up (grandparent age) church members are being invited to record bible stories to add variety for the children in Ark! (Thank you Rosie!)

    Church Family Support Fund – accepting applications
    A timely reminder that the Church Family Support Fund is able to help local individuals and families in need with financial gifts NOW – to pay for things such as a laptop or PC for remote learning, or a replacement washing machine or fridge. Information on how the fund operates, and to make an application on behalf of someone, see the CFSF page.

    BRIDGE UPDATE: The JAN/FEB edition of the Bridge is available online … click here. Kind thanks to Mary Keech who is stepping down as a road steward for Shackstead Lane – our grateful appreciation to her for all her years of service. And a warm welcome to Sarah Wharf who has volunteered as the new road steward for College Hill – great to have you part of the network.

    Meanwhile we are still looking for a road steward to cover the bottom part of the Brighton Road.  If you live in, or close to, either of these roads, (or maybe know someone who does and might be willing to take on the role) please contact the editor, Cathy, at editor.atthebridge@gmail.com. We’d be delighted and most appreciative to hear from you.  

    Starting Soon

    See What’s on above for info on the following:

    Hope in Depression Course
    Clare Haddad is leading the next 6 week Hope in Depression Course on Tuesday evenings, starting 26 January.

    We know many people are struggling, and this course offers a lifeline. The course is ready, facilitators are trained, and we are now waiting and praying for delegates to be brave enough to sign up. Find all the details, and register in confidence on the Hope in Depression page, and please do share the details with anyone suffering with mental health problems, and those supporting them.

    Alpha Online starting 9 February – is it for you? / Who will you invite?
    It’s starting again soon! The next course will run on Tuesdays, starting 9 February for 11 weeks. The course begins with a ‘no obligation’ introductory session led by (Rev) Hilary Pettman and Keith Harper, LLM.  Hilary and Keith have been involved in several Alphas, both the physical courses and online. To register your interest, please go to the Alpha page and complete the form, or send the link to a friend.

    NEXT Nexus Talk – Hear about the Godalming and Villages Community Store from town councillor Richard Ashworth. Thursday 4 February, 8pm in the BHC Zoom room.

    This is all about the community supporting its friends and neighbours during these unprecedented and difficult times.  Come along to learn how the Store operates and how much it is appreciated by those in unexpected need.  It will start at 8.00pm, and you can join from 7.45pm to have a chat with others. Bring your own refreshments!! All are welcome, including men!  There will be no charge, but donations can be made on their Just Giving page.

    Junior Lockdown Choir – Thursdays from 21 January
    The lockdown choir started this Thursday with more than 50 children on Zoom over the 2 sessions. There is now a waiting list for the choir while we establish demand and how to manage the numbers well.

    The choir sings a range of Disney and pop songs suitable for each age group. If you know any primary age children who would be interested, please pass the message on to go to the Lockdown Choir page and complete the registration form.

    Church Member news

    We send our love to Andrew Baker, whose mother “Granny Annie” died peacefully on Tuesday 19th January.  Please hold Andrew, Philippa, Adam, Ben, Dominic and Ellis in your prayers, together with Andrew’s brother Simon and the wider family.

    We send much love to Dave Preece, whose grandfather died on New Year’s Day.  The funeral took place this Thursday in Kent.  Please hold Dave, Hannah and the whole family in your prayers.

    Catch up on News from other areas

    Please Pray for

    • Appletree Close and its road steward Cathy Brook

    • Residents on Hambledon Cricket Green

    • the Citizens Advice Bureau.

      Find Sunday services on YouTube.     Select the services below for a direct link to the live stream broadcasts of the Classic and Contemporary services from the Old Rectory Garden.
    Find Sunday services on YouTube. Select the services below for a direct link to the live stream broadcasts of the Classic and Contemporary services from the Old Rectory Garden.

    What’s On

    Click Here for What’s on this week and beyond. It’s all in the calendar and more details for each event can be found when you select it.

    Busbridge Church closed until 26 January
    We are sorry but the church is closed as we set up and install technology for broadcasting online services. Busbridge Church will be open again daily for private prayer from Tuesday 26 January 2021.  Hambledon Church is open daily from approximately 9.30pm-4pm.

    The Old Rectory is closed for the time being and clergy and staff are working from home. The answerphone is checked regularly, but the best way to reach people is by email.

    PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE

    To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org  or call Lisa Olsworth-Peter on 01483 421267.
    Listening prayer is available mid-week.

  • Lisa Olsworth-Peter:  Worship when you wake? Are you mad?

    Lisa Olsworth-Peter: Worship when you wake? Are you mad?

    When you wake what is the first thing we do? Pop on our slippers? Make a coffee? Watch the news?

    What if the first thing we did was worship the Lord?

    Now you will probably be thinking, “oh come on Lisa who worships the Lord at 6am? I can barely open my eyes when I get up how on earth could I summon the energy to worship!”

    You would be right in thinking that! To suddenly start singing the words of 10,000 reasons or Thine Be The Glory would indeed be a bit of a stretch even for the holiest of people!

    What if I told you that simply uttering the words, ‘Lord I give you this day’ is worship!

    • To thank God for the warmth of the carpet under your feet.

    • To thank Him for the freshly brewed coffee or tea or even the fresh running water from the tap!

    • To take a breath and thank Him for giving us life!

    This IS worship!

     We so often think that worship begins when the band strike their first chord or when we begin to sing! Well if that’s the case God has been starved indeed in these last 10 months!

    Worship is music and singing but it is not limited to this! Music and singing is one of the many gifts and blessings that God has given us and we should be thankful every day for it but there are many ways for our bodies, our hearts, our minds and our souls to worship God.

    Let’s start by being thankful!

    Tomorrow when you wake, thank God for the day and dedicate it to Him.

    It’s like turning on a running tap the rest will just flow from there!

    https://open.spotify.com/track/34plEFbj6nBMG7esY9rzim

    https://youtu.be/FYMjO9mL0Tw

    Lisa Olsworth-Peter
    Music Worship Pastor

     

    “Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts” Colossians 3:16

  • Hello from Prime Time!

    Dear Prime Time member,

    Well – talk about making life tricky for myself;  I seem to have set the bar very high with my email last week…!  Thank you to everyone who replied to me; I know that I haven’t managed to respond to everyone – please try not to take it personally if you haven’t received a response from me – I will endeavour to reply to everyone eventually but I just received so much feedback, that if I had replied to each email, I wouldn’t have achieved much else this week!  I can promise you though that I have most definitely read every email and have appreciated each one for the insights as to your own ‘little rays of sunshine’ and also for your wisdom and encouragement.  Thank you for responding in such a positive way – it means a lot and yes, reading through all your emails did bring me a great deal of ‘Joy’.

    So have you been on tenterhooks, waiting to find out what the subject of this week’s email would be?  Would I pick ‘Peace’, ‘Love’ or ‘Hope’?  Well the wait is over and I can reveal that this week I am shining the spotlight on ‘Love’.  It might have perhaps seemed a more obvious choice to have held onto this one for another month and used it for the email ahead of Valentine’s Day weekend, but as happened last week, this week’s email has rather formed itself thanks to events that have occurred, items of interest that I’ve come across as well as contributions that I have received. ‘Love’ just seemed to tie all these things together.

    On Monday, I wanted to write to my friend and fellow Prime Time Team member Jane whose mum had died a few days previously.  As I pondered over what to say and what words I might use to bring comfort to Jane, I began considering the relationship between love and loss and why grief can be such a painful experience.  I came to the conclusion that grief is our penalty for having the capacity to love and to be loved; we cannot have one without the other.  The author Francis Weller wrote ‘Grief and love are sisters, woven together from the beginning.  Their kinship reminds us that there is no love that does not contain loss and no loss that is not a reminder of the love we carry for what we once held close’.

    Many of us are grieving at the moment.  I am aware that a number of Prime Time members have lost close friends or family members in recent months.  If you are reading this email and grieving the loss of a someone important in your life, I hope that the Francis Weller quote is of comfort to you.  I know I shall return to it again and again to help me through times of loss.  We are all to some extent experiencing loss at the moment.  It may not be the death of someone close to us, but the last phrase of Francis Weller’s quote could equally apply to a population who has lost, if only temporarily, their accustomed way of life, their freedom of movement, freedom of choice.  Our memories remind us daily of the aspects of our lives that ‘we once held close’ and we are experiencing a form of grief reaction when we acknowledge that these things are currently ‘lost’ to us.  When you consider a lost way of life, or a way of life that is no longer open to us in terms of being a grief reaction, it’s easy to see why it hurts.  If this is you, you may find comfort in the words of Psalm 34, verse 18; ‘The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in sprit’.  I can definitely identify with those last three words.  I don’t know about you, but with each round of lock downs, I’ve found it just that little bit harder to stay motivated.  Things seem just that little bit more of a struggle and it’s harder to stay positive.  Yes, at times it feels as though my spirit is being crushed and at those times is comforting to know that ‘The Lord is close’ and those ‘little rays of sunshine’ that we talked about last week certainly do bring me joy and help to lift my spirits when they feel as though the pandemic has just trodden on them with a big boot.

    The word ‘love’ is a commonly recurring word in the Bible; a quick Google search tells me that it appears 551 times in the New International Version which is the one we tend to use here at BHC.  We are probably all familiar with Jesus instruction to ‘Love one another’ which came in his final commandment to his apostles during the Last Supper.  ‘…love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples’.  (John 13:34-35)

    Integral to Christian teaching is the understanding of the need to show unconditional love to all.  I am in the extremely fortunate position in my role here at the church of being surrounded by colleagues and volunteers who completely embody this requirement and live it out in their daily lives and the volunteers who with me, form the Prime Time Team are a terrific example of this.  They are keeping in regular contact with people who we have identified could be particularly vulnerable at this time, especially those who are not on the internet and so do not receive this weekly email.  As the pandemic has gone on, however, I have also become aware that like myself they are continually on the alert for news items, articles poems and sometimes ‘funnies’ that might be of interest to our members and they send them onto me with a note saying ‘I thought this might be good for Prime Time’.  When Jesus instructed his followers to ‘Love one another’, he did not mean ‘just love your family and friends’, the implication is much wider.  In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is recorded as giving the commandment; ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Mark 12, verse 31) and no, he wasn’t just referring to the person you happen to live next door to, he is referring here to the requirement to show unconditional love to all, which is what we on the Prime Time team try to do.

    Earlier this week I received an email from Prime Time Team member Di Drudge reporting that scammers seem to be quite active again at the moment and asking me to consider making Prime Timers aware of a couple of email scams that she has become aware of in the hope that it will make it less likely that anyone would be taken in by them.  Prime Time isn’t all about tea and cake you see (although we would agree they are very important components of life) but we are called to love people in whatever way is needed – public service announcements included!

    So please read the following carefully and if you receive any emails which seem to include similar content, please do double check and think carefully ‘Is this email genuine?’.  If you are in doubt, press ‘delete’ or ask someone you trust for advice before replying.

    TV License Scam Email: Emails are being received purporting to be from the TV licencing authorities advising that a Direct Debit had been cancelled and please would the recipient create a new one by replying to the email and providing their bank account number and sort code.

    Covid-19 Vaccination Scam: Emails are being received purporting to be from the NHS regarding an invitation to attend for a Covid vaccination.  The recipient is being asked to confirm their identity by replying to the email, giving their bank card details as the means of verifying their identity.  You will either get a letter through the post inviting you to attend for a Covid vaccination or you will receive a phone call or text message from your GP surgery –you would not receive an email such as this.  A genuine contact about the vaccination process would NEVER require you to give your bank details.  All NHS procedures are free of charge and the Covid vaccine is no exception.

    Please be vigilant.  Fraudsters are trying to capitalise on a very topsy-turvy world and are catching people off guard when they are feeling low and perhaps pre-occupied with anxieties about the current situation.  If you fall victim to a fraud, you are not to blame – you are the victim of a crime.  Please confide in someone so that they can help you report it, and the more quickly the better as in some instances it can be possible for the money to be recovered.  It might be embarrassing to admit that you were taken in, but the person in the wrong is the fraudster, not you.  There are a number of organisations who can help support victims of fraud, so please do not keep it to yourself if you should fall victim to one of these scams.

    I’m not going to end on such a sobering note and of course I’ve not yet mentioned Olwen, our fourth and final Team member.  Olwen provided me with the ‘Eureka’ moment this week – the point at which I knew I had something to offer you that might just rival Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ from last week.  Olwen had come across some illustrations from a book published last year entitled ‘The Boy, the Fox, the Mole and the Horse’ by Charlie Mackesy.  Have you come across it?  I had heard of it, but wasn’t really familiar with its content until Olwen emailed me about it on Thursday and I must say, I think I’m going to invest in a copy – so advance warning here,  you can expect a few more Charlie Mackesy illustrations cropping up in Prime Time emails in the future!  It’s essentially a picture book with reading of appeal for ages 4 to 104, as the illustrations explore the thoughts and feelings that unite us all.

    So without further ado, I give to you your little treat for this week (courtesy of Olwen)…

    For me, receiving this was another ‘little ray of sunshine’ moment that made me smile and brought me joy.  It also reminded me of a verse from Lamentations, ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases’ (Lamentations Chapter 3, Verse 22).  I’ve attached the illustration to this email as well so that if you wish to, it is easy for you to print out and stick to your fridge (or wherever you like to have such things on prominent display).  This is from the four of us to all of you – and we hope that it helps you to know this week that you are loved.

    ‘So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love’ (Corinthians: Chapter 13, Verse 13)

    With love from us all (how else could we end this email?!)

    Your Prime Time Team; Jane, Di, Olwen and Penny xxxx (It’s been rather a Team effort this week!)

  • Sunday 17 January 2021

    Power of Trust

    PART 2 IN THE NEW YEAR SERMON SERIES ON PHILIPPIANS – Fulfilled lives

    Reading: Philippians 2:12-18

    Speakers this Sunday
    Heritage – Simon Willetts
    Classic – Gertrud Sollars
    Contemporary – Simon Taylor and David Preece are “on the couch”.

    ONLINE SERVICES THIS SUNDAY

    Find Sunday services on YouTube.
    Select the services below for a direct link to the live stream broadcasts of the Classic and Contemporary services from the Old Rectory Garden.

     BHC Public Zoom Room PW 2021
    BHC Public Zoom Room PW 2021

    Catch Up after on Zoom

    Get together on Zoom after each service for a virtual coffee:

    ALL WELCOME to drop in on Zoom at any of the times above.

    Next Sunday 24 January

    No services from Busbridge&Hambledon Church.
    We are joining Godalming Churches Together for the United Service online at 10.30AM. Go to: http://www.godalmingchurches.org/
    Every year, Godalming & District Churches Together holds a United Service in January, to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  This year, the service will be online, with several of the local ministers taking part.  The service will be pre-recorded, and set to go live at 10.30am on Sunday morning.

    There will also be children’s work provided by the amazing Trinity Trust Team.  Within the service, there will be the option to go off to do the children’s work and then return to the main service.

    Sunday Morning “coffee and catch up” sessions on Zoom will take place on 24 January in the BHC Public Zoom room, as follows:

    10AM – Heritage Congregation
    11.30AM – Classic with Contemporary (moved to avoid the GCT United Service)
    7PM – Evening congregation (Busbridge 6.30PM)

    CYF Groups
    As usual:
    4PM Pathfinders (Zoom), 7.30PM Ichthus (Zoom)

    Our online services will resume on 31 January including Unplugged on Zoom at 6PM.

     NEXT UNPLUGGED - 6PM | 31 Jan | on Zoom (BHC Public)
    NEXT UNPLUGGED – 6PM | 31 Jan | on Zoom (BHC Public)

    Coming Up NEXT this Week:

    See the list below or look up dates further ahead in the full calendar. Select the event to join the meetings on Zoom, or sign up.

    the notices

    Outward Giving – January Update
    We’ve received letters of thanks from all the charities that the church supported through Outward Giving in 2020, some with helpful insights into what your money has helped to achieve and support. All the letters can be found on the Outward Giving page HERE. Please do read them and be encouraged in your generosity. The total for the Christmas Appeal for TTT is to follow.

    Congratulations to Philippa and Keith, our new LLMs (Licensed Lay Ministers), who received their academic awards at a zoom ceremony this week presided over by Bishop Jo.  Both say that it’s been a blessing and a privilege to undertake the 3-year training and want to thank their respective Parish Support Groups for walking with them.  The stand-out memories for both are their respective placements at Shalford, St Mary’s and Beacon, Bordon.  They are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the course or you can see the interview they did with Dave last summer: https://youtu.be/ybB2Z_JMYmc.

    On Friday 22nd January we are being called along with all Christians from across the country to join together to pray for our nation in need! To pray for our government, our NHS, our schools and colleges, provision for the poor, mental health and relationships, for a revival in our nation and that our Churches can be visible and beacons of light! Here’s more about it:  https://youtu.be/BKJC3TyZNzg

    You can either take an hour that works for you to pray or join us in one of 3 Zoom prayer sessions which will be hosted at the following times;

    8am – hosted my Michael Stubbs
    1pm – hosted by Lisa Olsworth-Peter
    6pm – hosted by Shan Hallam

    “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

     2 Chronicles 7:14

    Church Family Support Fund – accepting applications
    A timely reminder that the Church Family Support Fund is able to help local individuals and families in need with financial gifts NOW – to pay for things such as a laptop or PC for remote learning, or a replacement washing machine or fridge. Information on how the fund operates, and to make an application on behalf of someone, see the CFSF page.

    The JAN/FEB edition of the Bridge is available online … click here. The printed copies are expected to be delivered to Busbridge Church next week and will be safely sorted and dropped to road stewards for delivery. Those handling the magazines (max 2 people for any copy) will wear gloves and a face covering. Recipients may wish to take an extra precaution and wait 72 hours before reading it to allow for natural sanitisation.

    Road Stewards needed for The Bridge magazine for College Hill and Brighton Road.
    The Bridge magazine is looking for two or more new road stewards who, 6 times a year, would be willing to deliver magazines to either College Hill and High Ridge (59 houses) or the lower part of Brighton Road, Underhill Close and part of Latimer Road (89 houses). We’d be more than happy to split or share these larger bundles between two road stewards if needed. If you live in, or close to, either of these roads, (or maybe know someone who does and might be willing to take on the role) please contact the editor, Cathy, at editor.atthebridge@gmail.com. We’d be delighted and most appreciative to hear from you.  

    CANCELLED Nexus Online Talk – Walking the Camino Way with Ceri Apark
    Unfortunately this event scheduled for 14 January has been postponed. Watch the notices for a new date, or email nexus@bhcgodalming.org to join the mailing list so Janet and Kate can let you know.

    Starting Soon

    See What’s on above for info on the following:

    Junior Lockdown Choir – starting Thursdays from 21 January
    To support children in our church and local community, particularly while they are not attending school physically, Lisa Olsworth-Peter is starting a Junior Lockdown Choir. Singing encourages a child to express their emotions and sharpens their ability to communicate while exercising lip and tongue movement. But one of the biggest benefits of singing is the repeated use of the ‘memory muscle’. (We have all sung nursery rhymes with our children but as children get older the power of singing in their lives can still be extremely beneficial.) The choir will sing a range of Disney and pop songs suitable for each age group, and do different vocal exercises that will stimulate facial muscles, the body and the brain. The choir is being promoted through Busbridge Infant and Junior schools and St Mark’s Primary, but open to all primary age children. If you know any primary age children who would be interested, please pass the message on to go to the Lockdown Choir page and complete the registration form.

    Hope in Depression Course
    Clare Haddad is leading the next 6 week Hope in Depression Course on Tuesday evenings, starting 26 January. Find all the details, and register in confidence on the Hope in Depression page, and please do share the details with anyone suffering with mental health problems, and those supporting them.

    Alpha Online starting 9 February – is it for you? / Who will you invite?
    It’s starting again soon! The next course will run on Tuesdays, starting 9 February for 11 weeks. The course begins with a ‘no obligation’ introductory session led by (Rev) Hilary Pettman and Keith Harper, LLM.  Hilary and Keith have been involved in several Alphas, both the physical courses and online. To register your interest, please go to the Alpha page and complete the form, or send the link to a friend.

    Church Member news

    We send our love to Carol Jones, whose father died on Wednesday, 13 January.  Please hold Carol, Stuart and the whole family in your prayers, together with the wider family.

    Further to the note last week about the deaths of John Winder and Mary Rodway, their respective funerals are to be held over the next two weeks. Because of the current Covid restrictions, both are limited to family only. However, if friends wish to make a donation in their memory, Mary’s family have asked for gifts to go to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Donate to the RNLI and help save lives at sea ; John’s family have suggested Water Aid – one of John’s favourite charities https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/JohnWinderRIP

    Listening – worship recommendations from the Music Pastor
    Thank you Alan Harvey for introducing me to this beautiful piece of music https://open.spotify.com/track/7n4T8CRVo55rXpX2wvtRdF,
    It’s still close enough to enjoy a song that expresses the wonderment of our dear Jesus’ birth.

    English translation
    O great mystery,
    and wonderful sacrament,
    that animals should see the newborn Lord,
    lying in a manger!
    Blessed is the virgin whose womb
    was worthy to bear
    the Lord, Jesus Christ.
    Alleluia!

    Also…

    https://open.spotify.com/track/5qAT7JJik2qSd9lFWsyBqd
    Sovereign Over Us, written by Michael Smith, performed by Shane&Shane

    “Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

    Busbridge Church closed until 25 January
    We are sorry but the church is closed as we set up and install technology for broadcasting online services. Busbridge Church will be open again daily for private prayer from 25 January 2021.  Hambledon Church is open daily from approximately 9.30pm-4pm.

    The Old Rectory is closed for the time being and clergy and staff are working from home. The answerphone is checked regularly, but the best way to reach people is by email.

    Catch up on News from other areas

    Please Pray for

    • Alvernia Close and its road steward Kate Brockman

    • Clock Barn Lane and the Cheshire Home

    • Local health services and surgeries.

     

    What’s On

    Click Here for What’s on this week and beyond. It’s all in the calendar and more details for each event can be found when you select it.

    PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM AVAILABLE

    To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@bhcgodalming.org  or call Lisa Olsworth-Peter on 01483 421267.
    Listening prayer is available mid-week.

  • Hello from Prime Time!

    Dear Prime Time members,

    Welcome to your first Prime Time email of 2021!  The year hasn’t started exactly as we hoped has it?  (Although possibly exactly as we feared…)  There’s not been a great deal of sunshine in evidence this week to help lift the mood, so we’re having to get our proverbial ‘little rays of sunshine’ wherever we can find them.  Every one of us will have different things that have the ability to make our hearts sing and even if only temporarily, these things allow us to cast aside our worries and experience a little bit of joy.  It may be hearing a favourite piece of music being played on the radio, perhaps a sighting of a new bird on your bird feeder or maybe certain smells make your heart swell.  At this time of year it won’t be freshly cut grass, but for me – the smell of wood smoke transports me back to a happy place and the winters of my childhood, with my Dad toasting crumpets on the open fire in our sitting room using a particularly long-handled toasting fork!  Due to the current popularity of wood burning stoves, wood smoke is a common smell once more around Godalming during winter-time; so I tend to get flashbacks of charred crumpets quite frequently at the moment!

    It’s often those small, seemingly inconsequential things that raise a smile – no matter how fleeting.  It could be a newspaper headline that contains a particularly clever play on words; you may not remember it for long – but just in that moment when it caught your eye, you thought ‘Oh, that’s good!’  But even if it doesn’t stick in your mind for long , it’s effect on your mood, your spirit, can last for a lot longer.

    Personally, I’ve found that these ‘little rays of sunshine’ can really help me to get through the difficult days and if we’re honest – we’re probably all experiencing more than the odd one or two of those at the moment; especially when it’s cold, overcast and damp and there really isn’t any other option but to stay indoors.  So, what’s made me smile today?  An email actually; and not a personal one at that.  It was a marketing one, from a retailer of frozen foods that has a shop in Godalming.  Like Prime Time, this company has been sending out regular emails since the start of the pandemic and they often contain quirky little bits of trivia or astonishing undertakings that just somehow appeal to me.  I’m a bit of a trivia magpie and I store up and collect such gems (as anyone who took part in the recent Prime Time Christmas Quiz will no doubt concur – I have a disproportionate amount of slightly random information tucked up both sleeves ready to wheel out at the slightest of opportunities!)

    The headline on the aforementioned email I received today was a play on words based on a line from a song; a song which was quite an anthem for my generation when we were in our early twenties. The song lyric ‘I get knocked down, but I get up again’ had been changed to ‘We get Lock Down, but we get up again’  which immediately grabbed my attention; making me smile for the sheer clever-ness and pertinence of it as well as briefly transporting me back to our time living in Brighton in the late 1990s when the original song was released.  But the real gem in that email was at the end where it contained a link to a video, the content of which ties in perfectly with the topic I had intended to share with you all in today’s email.  But as if that wasn’t enough, what really made me smile was that had I not been running somewhat late today and had I sent the weekly email out at the usual time in the late afternoon,   the marketing email would have arrived in my inbox after I had sent out the Prime Time email and therefore I would not have been able to include it as an added bonus to share with you and that would have been such a shame as it really is a bit like the cherry on the cake that finishes everything off.   When coincidences like this occur, it really does strengthen my belief that there is a higher entity controlling the course of things.  It will come as no surprise to you that for me, that ‘entity’ is God and such coincidences (even seemingly trivial ones regarding the arrival of an email) bring me comfort and reassurance that even though I cannot know how a particular situation will end, I can place my trust in God to make things right because He has shown me even in the minutiae of my life that He is with me putting things in the right order and, therefore that ultimately, things happen for a reason.

    So, I expect you’re wondering now what the theme of this week’s email was always going to be…  ‘Joy, Hope, Peace and Love’.  If you tuned in, either on the radio or television last week to the annual New Year’s Day Concert from Vienna, these words will no doubt be familiar to you. The conductor, Riccardo Muti, spoke about music being more than entertainment and that for musicians it is more than a profession, it is a mission; a mission to make society better through music.  He went on to say that ‘musicians have in their weaponry, flowers; not things that kill. We bring joy, hope, peace, and love’ and he concluded that this is the ‘message of music’.  Whilst in no way was this a religious occasion or an event rooted in Christian theology, it struck me how strongly these four words are reflected in the Bible.  ‘Joy’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Love’ are three of the nine Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5, verse 22) whilst ‘Hope’ is what we gained through Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection.

    God’s word flows through everyday life without many of us really realising it and part of its enduring strength is its timelessness and continued relevance.  It’s use in our everyday parlance demonstrates how we carry God’s word with us without us really even being aware of it and this alone gives me hope for the future.

    My initial thought was to discuss each of the four words at this point, but on reflection – I think my letter to you might begin to read more like a theological essay, so you’ll probably be relieved to know that I’ve had a rethink!  Encouraged by the gem relating to ‘Joy’ that fell into my inbox at the eleventh hour this afternoon, I have challenged myself to try and find something equally as relevant for each of the remaining three words used by Riccardo Muti during his New Year’s day speech and I will share my discoveries with you over the next three weeks.

    Today I’m kicking us off with ‘Joy’, having been nudged in this direction by the discovery of the very appropriate video that came my way earlier today.  It also seems very timely though as we have just had Christmas, which albeit a very different experience this year – is traditionally a season associated with joy.  The line so familiar to us from many a school Nativity Play has the chief angel utter the immortal words: ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy’ which is of course a reference to the fact that the promised Saviour has been born.  True Christian joy, is knowing Jesus as our own, personal Saviour – being a beneficiary of His saving work, and receiving through Him the forgiveness of our sins and the consequent peace with God and sure hope of eternal life.

    But joy like many things in life is a very subjective experience and we each will have different triggers for this sensation.  Aside from biblical definitions, the dictionary definition of ‘joy’ is: ‘a feeling of pleasure or happiness’.  Although both the weather and the news updates have been gloomy this week, I pray that in spite of all the difficulties we are currently experiencing, you are still able to experience moments of joy, those personal ‘little rays of sunshine’ I referred to earlier.

    And if those rays of sunshine are in short supply, hopefully you’ll find one here in this link:

    https://www.facebook.com/ClassicFM/videos/watch-this-incredible-beethoven-ode-to-joy-flashmob/2619211171641583/

    Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’, performed as you’ve never seen it before in the streets of Sabadell in Spain. Surprising, soulful and joyous.

    May the coming week provide us all with unexpected moments of joy to sustain us.  And remember “we get Lock Down, but we get up again’ and collectively together, we will.

    ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him’ – Romans 15:13

    Until next Friday, 

    Penny x

     

    Penny Naylor

    Primetime Befriending Co-ordinator

     

    Busbridge & Hambledon Church Office

    Phone: 01483 421267

    Website: www.bhcgodalming.org

     

    (Day off Monday)