Blog

What are the things that cause your heart to shout for joy?  Success at work?  A wedding?  A poem?  Autumnal colours?  A piece of art?  A newborn baby?  Choral evensong? 

I don’t know whether Psalm 98, in particular, was the inspiration but the words in verse 4 ‘Shout for joy to the Lord…’ and elsewhere brought to my mind Hillsong’s ‘Shout to the Lord’.  Darlene Zschech is said to have written it when she was struggling with money worries and the stresses of raising a young family.  She says that the line: ‘Nothing compares to the promise I have in you’ was something she could cling to when her circumstances seemed bleak.  Does that ring true for you today?

Our cares and problems daily crowd out the joy we should be feeling but surely if we could completely and consistently take in what God did for Israel and Jesus did for us, our hearts would not only ‘shout for joy to the Lord’ but also we would be led into a Life of Worship. 

Not only, of course, should we reflect on who God was and is today but also on the promise that he is yet to come; that is the basis of all the exuberant praise of Psalm 98.  It is the anticipation of the appearance of God to bring peace, justice and healing over the earth; to wipe away every tear and to produce in us a joy for which the joyful things of this earth are but an inkling.

Old Rectory Update
Last Sunday Busbridge held its ‘Big Sunday Dig’. We have heard many stories of people taking their turf home and praying for the project.
We were short of our target last week but, due to incredible generosity, we are able to update everyone across Busbridge&Hambledon (with many in Hambledon committed financially – thank you)…
…So, with amazing congratulations, we can say building work starts Monday because, over the past week gifts have been pledged which means we have…fully reached the target!!
Plus have additional mission giving on top of this! We are grateful to those with standing orders into 2018 which have been factored into the plans for covering the cost of the works.
Hooray!
Please note that the Old Rectory is now a building site so there is no access. Any questions, please speak with Anthony Charter or Mark Williams (not Mark Pateman).

A warm welcome to all the people attending our Remembrance Services today (children will remain with the congregation). If you’ve not been to Busbridge or Hambledon before and you’d like to know a bit more, please ask one of our lovely welcomers for a welcome pack.

More exciting news…
The four part adaptation of Howard’s End starts this Sunday at 9.00pm on BBC 1. The scenes featuring Howard’s End, the house and its village are filmed in and around Hambledon and include a funeral procession across the fields and the burial itself in the churchyard at St Peter’s. Enjoy the scenery including Vann as Howard’s End and a member of the 9.00 congregation amongst the extras! We think the churchyard scene is likely to be at the beginning of episode 2 on Sunday 19th November.

Could you be our Mary or Joseph?
We are looking for 2 children to be part of the town procession on Saturday 9th December at 3.00pm. Have you ever wanted to be Mary or Joseph? Then now’s your chance! You’ll get to dress up as these important Bible characters and walk from Crown Court all the way to the Pepperpot. Ideally our Mary and Joseph need to be aged 8-12 years. To put your name forward, please contact Becky on becky.bradley@bhcgodalming.org or call 01483 421267 for more details.

Alternative Advent idea…(It’s not all about the chocolate!)
With Christmas fast approaching and the ever growing choice of advent calendars probably getting all too overwhelming, we have an idea for your family for a non-conventional advent calendar. The ‘25 days of Christmas Bible verses’ is an alternative family advent calendar for you and your family to find and read different bible verses together. It gives you a taking point at a family meal or an activity to do after the busy school day to relax at home. If you would like this alternative advent calendar, email becky.bradley@bhcgodalming.org.

Hambledon prayer breakfast
The next prayer breakfast is on Saturday 18th November, 8.30am in the Hambledon Church room. All welcome!

Save the Date
Busbridge Ball will be happening on 24th February 2018. Put it in your diaries now. More details to follow.

Upcoming musical events…
The Creation: A concert by Blackheath and Bramley Choral Society Saturday 25th November, Holy Trinity, Guildford. For tickets ph 01483 285654.

Godalming Community Gospel Choir invite you to join them for a very special Christmas celebration on Saturday 16th December 2017 at 7.00pm at St Peter & St Paul’s with guest soloist Anu Omideyi. A selection of contemporary and traditional Christmas gospel songs, wine and mince pies!

Nexus Christmas Quiz
Tickets for this popular annual event happening on Saturday 2nd December are now on sale.  Tickets are £12 and include a quiche supper with homemade desserts. There will also be a raffle for the Nexus charity of the year, ‘Topic of Cancer’. All welcome! To buy your tickets call Janet Harvey on 423264 or Kate Kaye on 415296.

La, La, Laaaaaaaaa!
We are rapidly approaching Christmas and the time has come to get our fantastic choir together for the carol service on Sunday 17th December! If you’d like to sing in the choir, please drop Jenna an email at jenna.brown87@yahoo.com, everyone is welcome! Rehearsals will be on Mondays 20/11, 04/12 and 11/12, 8.00pm – 9.00pm, in the church. (NB. you don’t need to be able to attend all three rehearsals). 

Advent
This year we would like to turn Busbridge Church Centre window into a giant Advent calendar. To do this we will need 24 x A3 pictures, which could be artwork, a phrase, photo or other creative celebration of the season. Schools, children, groups or individuals are all welcome to get involved. For more details please contact advent@bhcgodalming.org.

Jingle & Mingle
Only a few tickets left for this lovely Christmas craft event happening Wednesday 29th November at Clock Barn Hall. Book your tickets (a mere snip at just £5) by contacting karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org.

please pray for…
· Those working in medicine
· All those who came along to  the wonderful Choral Evensong service on Wednesday
· Those organising various Christmas events
· Rectory Close and their road steward, Shelagh Godwin
· Woodlands Road and Roundals Lane

 We have had quite a lot of deaths in our community recently; each person loved, cherished and remembered. Yet these numbers are small when we think of the many who have died in war. I can imagine relatives here, mostly wives and mothers, scouring the newspaper lists for news of their husbands and sons; or living in fear of the arrival of a certain telegram.

We remember those who have died. Their lives, both individually and corporately, have shaped who we are. So remembering is not just looking back, but bringing into the present all that has brought us to this point. The two central events of both Jewish and Christian practice centre on remembering: the Jewish remembering deliverance from Egypt in the Passover, and the Christian remembering Jesus’ own remembering of this, overlaid with his own death and resurrection as a new expression of it.

In the Jewish Passover, the youngest child asks, ‘Why is this night special?’ not ‘Why was this night special?’ In a similar way, when we share the bread and wine we recall Jesus’ words, ‘This is my body … this is my blood’. Our remembering brings the past into the present and shapes the reality we inhabit.

Hear these words of Jesus (John 10.28): no one will snatch them out of my hand. No one.

BIG SUNDAY DIG at Busbridge
Today at Busbridge may seem slightly strange if there are people on your pews holding shovels…DO NOT BE ALARMED! Today is all about the ‘Big Sunday Dig’ as we come to the end of a month of fundraising for Old Rectory. There’s more information about this in a handout available in all services as well as more gift forms available if you haven’t yet had the chance to fill one out.

A warm welcome to the family and friends of William Taylor, Grace Gaskell and Eloise Rouzel who join us this morning for their baptisms at Busbridge Church.

Remembrance service
A reminder that next Sunday, 12th November, is Remembrance Sunday. Both churches will be having combined services; a family friendly service which will include our local uniformed organisations at Busbridge at 10.00am (please note the different service time) and Hambledon Remembrance at 10.30am.

A message from June Higgins…
“A big thank you to all the lovely people who helped after Dick’s death. He would have liked to join me in thanking you for coming to the service, for sending so many cards and flowers and for all the kindness during his last illness. With love, June.” 

Most of you will know by now, that Terry Swanton died suddenly on Sunday 22nd October, at home.  Please continue to hold Margaret, Steve and Angie in your prayers.  There will be a Service of Thanksgiving for Terry’s life in Busbridge Church on Friday 10th November at 2.30pm, to which all are warmly invited. Please note, parking is available at the village hall (reserved for this service).

Space for God – Prayer Event
Do you want one hour away from pressure? One hour away from noise? One hour in which to know God’s peace? Then ‘SPACE FOR GOD’ 8.00pm – 9.00pm on Tuesday 7th November  in Busbridge Church is the place for you.  For you earlybirds, there’s also an alternative session at 6.45am in the centre. All welcome.

La, La, Laaaaaaaaa!
We are rapidly approaching Christmas and the time has come to get our fantastic choir together for the carol service on Sunday 17th December! If you’d like to sing in the choir, please drop Jenna Brown an email, everyone is welcome! Rehearsals will be on Mondays 20/11, 04/12 and 11/12, 20:00 – 21:00, in the church. (NB. you don’t need to be able to attend all three rehearsals). 

Fairtrade Days
You are warmly invited to a sale of fairly- traded crafts, charity Christmas cards, gifts and food on Friday 10th November (11.00am – 4.00pm) & Saturday 11th November (11.00am-4.00pm). There is also a simple soup lunch each day – proceeds to Christian Aid. This is being held this year at 3 Braemar Close, Godalming  (Liz & David Burndred).

Nexus Christmas Quiz!
Tickets for this popular annual event happening on Saturday 2nd December are now on sale.  Tickets are £12 and include a quiche supper with homemade desserts. There will also be a raffle for the Nexus charity of the year, ‘Topic of Cancer’. To buy your tickets call Janet Harvey or Kate Kaye.

Advent
This year we would like to turn Busbridge Church Centre window into a giant Advent calendar. To do this we will need 24 x A3 pictures, which could be artwork, a phrase, photo or other creative celebration of the season. Schools, children, groups or individuals are all welcome to get involved. For more details please contact advent@bhcgodalming.org.

Jingle & Mingle!
Tickets for this lovely Christmas craft event are selling quickly – don’t miss out! Wednesday 29th November at Clock Barn Hall. Book your tickets (a mere snip at just £5) by contacting karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org.

A service of Choral Evensong – Wednesday 8th November
Busbridge Church is the venue for a special Choral Evensong service to celebrate the joint 150th anniversaries of both Busbridge Church and King Edward’s School’s move to Witley.  The Chapel Choir from King Edward’s School will be joining us for this event and it promises to be a very special occasion having a robed choir back in Busbridge Church for the first time in many years.  Our very own Margot Spencer is leading the service so do come along and support Margot and the students who have all put in so much effort in preparing this for us.  This event is hosted by Prime Time, but it is a service for all to enjoy as part of our 150th Anniversary celebrations – not just Prime Time members.  Refreshments will be served from 4pm, with a short talk about the history of Busbridge Church commencing at 4.15pm. The service itself will start at 4.45pm. All welcome!

please pray for…
· The Big Sunday Dig at Busbridge this Sunday
· The final giving before building work starts on the Old Rectory
· Please give thanks and pray for Fr David Parmiter, who was this week inducted as the Catholic priest for Godalming.
· The family and friends of Terry Swanton, Dick Higgins and Rae Taylor
· Anne Sheldrake’s Thanksgiving service on 11th November
· Those being baptised today
· Those working in Social Services
· Ramsden Road and their road steward, Ruth Roseblade
· Underhill Close and Rock Hill

                                    Been on a diet recently?
  According to those who know these things 70% of us are on/off dieters.
               ‘Bread is the staff of life’ …heard that one?
        Or how about ‘Adam’s ale’. Do you know what that is?
Food is a pleasure and delight (especially in the hands of a good cook) but also food and drink are necessities for our overall health and well-being.
Without food and water we die – it is as basic as that.
What are the parallels between your basic appetite for  food and drink  and your hunger and thirst for the new, full life Jesus offers?
What do you need to do to increase your daily intake of sustenance?  On that depends your well-being as you face challenges ahead.

Light Party
Are you 4-11 years old? Do you want to be happy instead of scared on the 31st October? Yes? Then we have the perfect place for you. Come along to celebrate our Let it Glow – Light Party and join us for fun, games and a silent disco! It’s £2 on the door per child. Book your ticket online as spaces will go. Parents go free (you’ll need to stay for the party). Children, get your parents to sign up now!  31st October 4-6pm at Busbridge Church. Go to www.bhcgodalming.org/light-party. We hope to see you there. For more information email becky.bradley@bhcgodalming.org.

We are shocked and sad to report that Terry Swanton died unexpectedly last Sunday 22 October.  We send our love to Margaret, Angie, Steve and the whole family.  As soon as we have details of Terry’s funeral service, we will let you know.

We are also sad to hear of the death of Rae Taylor, a longstanding member of Hambledon Church.  Rae’s funeral service will take place in Hambledon on Friday 3 November at 11.00 a.m., followed by burial in the churchyard.  All friends are welcome.  Please surround Rae’s daughter, Helen, and her family with your prayers.  (Family flowers only; donations instead of flowers for the National Deaf Children’s Society.)

A number of people have been asking about Anne Sheldrake’s Thanksgiving Service.  The arrangements have now been finalised and the service will be held in Godalming Baptist Church on Saturday 11th November 2017 at 11.30am. There will be a buffet lunch afterwards, to which all are warmly invited.  However, if you are intending to go (and eat!), it would be really helpful if you could please let Graham know graham.sheldrake@yahoo.com.  Thank you very much.

New babies!
We are delighted to hear of the safe arrival of Joshua Francis Lambert, a son for Suzie and Ollie, on Wednesday 18th October.   Congratulations, also, to Vicky and Phil Scarborough, whose daughter, Aurora was born on Thursday 19th October.  All doing well, as far as we know!

Old Rectory Driveway
Sundays : please don’t use the old rectory driveway for parking unless for disabled use

This year we would like to turn Busbridge Church Centre window into a giant Advent calendar. To do this we will need 24 pictures, which could be artwork, a phrase, photo or other creative celebration of the season. Schools, children, groups or individuals are all welcome to get involved. For more details please contact advent@bhcgodalming.org.

A service of Choral Evensong – Wednesday 8th November   Busbridge Church is the venue for a special Choral Evensong service to celebrate the joint 150th anniversaries of both Busbridge Church and King Edward’s School’s move to Witley.  The Chapel Choir from King Edward’s School will be joining us for this event and it promises to be a very special occasion having a robed choir back in Busbridge Church for the first time in many years.  Our very own Margot Spencer is leading the service so do come along and support Margot and the students who have all put in so much effort in preparing this for us.  This event is hosted by Prime Time, but it is a service for all to enjoy as part of our 150th Anniversary celebrations – not just Prime Time members.  Refreshments will be served from 4pm, with a short talk about the history of Busbridge Church commencing at 4.15pm. The service itself will start at 4.45pm. All welcome!

Be messy next Sunday!
The next in our series of amazing Messy Church services will be at Hambledon next Sunday, 5th November at 10.30am. We have a wonderful new team heading up our Messy activities – do come along and join us!

Nexus
On Thursday 2nd November, Graeme Lewington, of the Wey and Arun Canal Trust, will tell us about the history of the canal since it opened in 1816, and illustrate the tremendous task the Trust is now undertaking on the restoration of the canal for leisure purposes. So, come along and discover more about ‘London’s Lost Route to the Sea’. We’ll meet in Busbridge Church Centre at 8.00pm. All are very welcome, including men, to what should be a fascinating evening!  We look forward to seeing you.

Jingle & Mingle!
Tickets for this lovely Christmas craft event are selling quickly – don’t miss out! Wednesday 29th November at Clock Barn Hall.. Book your tickets by contacting karen.kinder@bhcgodalming.org.

Old Rectory – half way point update
Thank you to the people who have given so far in this final push. Remember – we can’t do this without your help. We have 1 week left until we hope to sign the contract with the builder. Please do prayerfully consider your gift and be reassured that no gift is too small. More information and a giving form is available in all services, or contact Martin Lambert.

Hambledon Ladies Breakfast
The next event is happening on  Saturday 4th November, 8.30am at West Surrey Golf Club. Tickets are £9 and available from Hambledon Village Shop.

Verger – Correction: Ben has accepted a part-time role as a Facilities Person and not as verger as noted last week.  We are grateful to Veronica Jefferies for taking on the verging responsibilities for Funerals and Weddings. 

please pray for…
· The final fundraising push for Old Rectory
· The families of Terry Swanton, Dick Higgins, Ann Sheldrake and Rae Taylor
· Catherine McBride in her new role
· The work of Nexus
· Quartermile Road and their road stewards, Jan Pinto and Denise Brunning
· Tuesley Lane and Potters Hill

It seems a long while ago since we began our journey together through John’s gospel; admittedly we have done it in three sections, not covered everything and covered other books and issues in between. For myself, it has been a most rewarding series of studies and sermons.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed.

This Sunday we come to the last chapter which I have always had titled in my mind as ‘Breakfast in Galilee’. (Is this the only description of breakfast in the Bible?).  The two halves of the chapter are equally but differently evocative –first, sunrise on the lake, stillness and mistiness, tired frustrated fisherman, the lone figure hailing them and giving advice, the miraculous catch, the recognition of who he was and Jesus greeting them; and then secondly, the catch landed, breakfast eaten, most of them relaxing, but one person tense and probably still ashamed, how can he be forgiven, he who was to be the rock for Jesus to build on, the gentle questions and the charge given.

Can we not see ourselves in both these settings – struggling with the cares and details of life and failing to see the figure of he who promised to be with us always, failing to hear his voice and his guidance, and, – avoiding his presence and his gaze when we are feeling embarrassed or guilty at our failures, he wants to forgives us, to be with us, working with us to bring the good news of forgiveness to our world of family and friends, colleagues and acquaintances and those we seemingly meet randomly.

Then Jesus said to Peter, ‘Follow me’ .

Old Rectory – half way point update

Thank you to the people who have given so far in this final push. Remember – we can’t do this without your help.

We have 2 weeks left until we hope to sign the contract with the builder. Please do prayerfully consider your gift and be reassured that no gift is too small. More information and a giving form is available in all services, or contact Martin Lambert.

We send our love and prayers to Claire Clench, whose mother died on 30th September.  And also to the family and friends of Rae Taylor, who passed away very peacefully on 19th October.

The funeral service for Dick Higgins will be on Friday 27th October at 4.00pm, to which all friends are welcome. This will be preceded by a committal at the crematorium. After the church service, there will be refreshments at Glennie. Everyone is warmly invited and anyone is welcome to turn up at the last minute, but if people know they are likely to be there, it would be really helpful to know in advance, for catering purposes. Please send replies to Anne at allthetates@gmail.com.

Catherine McBride writes…
Thank you so much for all your prayers and good wishes as I leave Busbridge&Hambledon Church to move to be Vicar at St Mary’s, Market Drayton. Thank you, too, for your amazingly generous gift, which was truly humbling. This has been a great benefice to work in: a fantastic team, an exciting vision and a loving family. God has done some exciting things here and I’m sure he has plenty in store yet. The church office has my new address and details; if you are ever passing through Shropshire do look me up. Every blessing, Catherine.

Jingle&Mingle!
Tickets for this fab and festive Christmas craft event for the ladies on Wednesday 29th November are now on sale! They are selling fast so book yours asap – who could you bring? Tickets start at just £5. More information on www.bhcgodalming.org/jinglemingle or call Karen Kinder at the church office. We need some bits and bobs for crafts if you have them (1) any late Hydrangea blooms (2) can any handy folk cut us some slices of wood?; 9cm in diameter, just under a centimetre thick with bark around the outside (we need about 200!) and lastly (3) some small white buttons. Please drop any donations of these items to the church office asap.

Light Party
Are you 4-11 years old? Do you want to be happy instead of scared on the 31st October? Yes? Then we have the perfect place for you. Come along to celebrate our Let it Glow – Light Party and join us for fun, games and a silent disco! It’s £2 on the door per child. Book your ticket online as spaces will go. Parents go free (you’ll need to stay for the party). Children, get your parents to sign up now!  31st October 4-6pm at Busbridge Church. Go to www.bhcgodalming.org/light-party. We hope to see you there. For more information email becky.bradley@bhcgodalming.org.

Hambledon Ladies Breakfast
The next event is happening onSaturday 4th November, 8.30am at West Surrey Golf Club. Our Speakers are Chris and Denise Arthey. Tickets are £9 and available from Hambledon Village Shop.

News
As we wish our verger at Busbridge, Simon Marriage, farewell (he is also leaving the infant school where he is caretaker) we are delighted to announce that Ben Rogers has accepted the role of verger for Busbridge Church. Congratulations, Ben.

Thanks to everyone for their generosity in donations for the foodbank for Harvest.

Catherine McBride Licensing
Catherine’s licensing service at St Mary’s, Market Drayton will be at 7pm on 22nd November. If you would like to attend to support Catherine, please let Alan Harvey know as soon as possible, as he is coordinating arrangements. The kind people there are offering some accommodation; equally if you would prefer to make your own plans for B&B that is fine. There is no coach on offer. Instead, people are largely making their own way: if you do need a lift, let Alan know, and he will sort something out. Please note, this is not an event where you can just turn up! The churchwardens there have asked for details well in advance and Alan is liaising with them, so as to allow for a seating plan, etc. The absolute deadline for letting Alan know of your plans is close on Monday 30th October. alan.harvey@bhcgodalming.org or 01483 423264.

Gill and Rog Matthews thank everyone for all the good wishes they received from Catherine and the whole congregation at their last service at Hambledon in September. “Thanks to everyone also for the gifts of cards, flowers, local gin and the generous John Lewis voucher. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve with everyone at St Peter’s and we hope it remains forever the very special place it has been for us for the past eighteen years. We are making St Jude’s, Southsea our new church home and have already joined a local house group but the children’s craft materials and guitar remain in their respective boxes and case – for now.”

Note: If anyone needs to use the hoover from the Church centre in either the Church or old rectory, can you please make sure you return it to the centre when you’ve finished?

please pray for…
· The final fundraising push for Old Rectory
· The families of Dick Higgins, Ann Sheldrake and Rae Taylor
· Claire Clench and family
· Catherine McBride as she prepares to move to Market Drayton
· Local Schools and the work of Trinity Trust
· Pullman Lane and their road stewards, Kate Brockman and Kate Kaye
· Thorncombe Street and Markwick Lane

If it’s true that seeing is believing, I wonder what some of the things might be that you believe because you have seen them with your own eyes.  Maybe you were not sure, but once you have actually seen them, you are convinced.  The Pyramids, perhaps … the Taj Mahal … Angkor Wat …

At a more mundane level, perhaps a child tells you that they have tidied their room and you think “A likely story!”   But when you check, they have!  Seeing really is believing.

Jesus has already appeared to Mary, but – as a woman in those times – she is not considered a reliable witness.  Now the disciples have an appearance of their own; so it is true after all.  For them, too, seeing is believing.  But Thomas is not there and he is sceptical when he hears their story.  He wants a slice of the action; he needs to see Jesus for himself.

Graciously, Jesus appears again and Thomas’ need for tangible proof is dispelled.  Amongst other things, I think that Thomas’ experience is meant to be an encouragement to us.  We are not eye-witnesses (born too late!) but we can depend on the testimony and witness of those who were there.

Thomas is the first person in John’s gospel to look Jesus in the eye and say: “My Lord and my God!” 

John’s primary aim is to point each one of us towards Jesus, as the Son of God.  Has he succeeded, or has he wasted his time?

Today the theme is Jesus the prayer partner – the heading of John 17 : 20 – 26 is ‘Jesus prays for all believers’

Where are you with prayer – and discovering how prayer can make a difference? Writing things down to share with others can sometimes help.  In the National gallery book ‘The art of worship’, in a section on ‘church’, the Rev Nicholas Holtam describes the prayer board in St Martins in the Fields. He writes: 

“In praying for the particular we pray for the universal. The intercessions board may provide us with requests for prayers for people to find jobs, for people who are sick, for someone longing to find love, or in thanksgiving for friends who have died”.

We have our own prayer boards at the back of both Busbridge & Hambledon churches, with blank cards available to add your own prayer requests. On anything! Do feel free to use them to write your own. Every Wednesday at 9.00 in Busbridge and on Thursday at 9.00 in Hambledon, a number get together over half an hour to read God’s word and bring before Him not only the needs of the world, but also those requests mentioned on the prayer cards.  There is something quite special about praying alongside fellow believers and hearing God speak his peace into the situations we bring before Him. All are most welcome to come along and join in.