Last Sunday was a proud day for Godalming Minster as the choir which leads worship at the Choral Eucharist and Evensong services at Godalming Minster Church Street, were invited to sing for the morning and evensong services at Winchester Cathedral.
Those who went were treated to the choir's singing in the fabulous acoustics of the cathedral building, and lots of people said they didn't know that Godalming had a Minster, and were excited to hear what was happening.
Thanks to everyone at Winchester Cathedral who made the choir and their guests feel so welcome. Thanks to our committed choir members, Matthew (Master of Choristers) and Mitchell (Organist) for leading and accompanying them.
We look forward to their next invitation, but in the meantime you can find the choir at Godalming Minster Church Street 1st, 3rd and 4th (and 5th) Sundays of the month. See the Sundays page for service times.
Foodbank shopping list for March
March Shopping List for the Godalming Foodbank
Thank you for taking the time to check the March 2024 foodbank requirements.
Urgent
Hot Chocolate
Tinned Sweetcorn
Custard
Rice pudding
Ham
Pasta Sauces
Squash
Cooking Oil
Sugar
Coffee
Biscuits
Washing pods/Tabs (non Bio)
Foil
Washing up liquid
The following are all welcome too! Items in bold are repeated from the Urgent list.
Tinned
Ham
Minced beef
Rice pudding
Carrots
Corned beef
Hot dogs
Meatballs
Peas
Spaghetti
Sweetcorn
Other
Angel Delight
Biscuits
Custard
Coffee
Cooking Oil
Cream crackers
Dog food
Hot Chocolate
Jelly
Marmalade
Marmite
Microwave rice
Oat milk
Pasta sauces
Peanut butter
Rice pudding
Ritz crackers
UHT semi skimmed milk
Cooking oil
Squash
Sugar
Toiletries & Cleaning
Antibacterial spray/wipes
Black bin liners
Bleach
Cleaning products
Foil
Kitchen roll
Laundry pods/tabs (non bio)
Toilet cleaner
Toilet rolls
Washing up liquid
Plasters
Razors (gents and ladies)
Roll on deodorants
Shaving foam/gel
Baby
Baby wipes
Nappies (pull ups sizes 5/6/7)
Rector's Reflection: The shoulders of Giants
Rev Ian Gordon-Cumming (left) with past and present members of the Busbridge and Hambledon clergy team on the 150th Anniversary of Busbridge Church in 2017.
Eph 1:15
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”
As we look forward as a Minster, it is important to remember that we build on deep foundations laid by God. Those foundations include thankfulness for people who have been so inspired by Jesus Christ that they have built the incredible legacy which we are inheritors of.
One such person is Rev Ian Gordon-Cumming. Ian’s name may not be widely known in the Godalming area as he was the vicar of Busbridge between 1978-1987, yet his legacy lives on. Ian died recently and his funeral is at Chichester Cathedral on 29th Feb.
Ian came to Busbridge Church at a time of financial challenge and when there questions about its purpose and future. Ian’s energy and Christ focused love brought something new. He brought a fresh focus to youth work, guitars into Easter services, an innovation called a family service which has grown into our Muddy Church, and a passion for preaching and for God to grow His church.
There is a saying that good work builds on the shoulders of giants. Much that we take for granted today across the Minster has a direct or indirect path back to Ian’s beginnings. He loved all God’s people and he remembered the people of Busbridge Church in particular in his prayers, long into retirement.
Ian had been long retired as I took up my own ministry in the Godalming-Hambledon area in 2010. He was one of the first people to ring me to express hope for the Gospel to continue to be preached locally and to offer to pray for me. His faithful love of Busbridge Church and the people of Godalming lived on.
Ian returned to the area in 2017 for the 150th anniversary celebration of Busbridge Church. Rev Rachel Heathfield (Head), who was in Godalming in the 1980s, wrote at that time “so many people… have gone on from Busbridge to other ministry around the country. It is indeed a "sending" church. I wonder how many people can tell the same story as me of an encounter with Jesus during a service there that has set my lifetime vocation? I was only 13 but it’s as vivid now as it was then. I am forever grateful for Ian Gordon-Cummings for taking me seriously and for hastening me into leadership opportunities”.
As we build on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ who we follow, we do so in thankfulness for the foundations of people and their work for God. Without Ian there may not have been successors to him who built on his pioneering work and his shoulders of faith.
This is an opportunity to give thanks for those who have supported our personal firm foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. It is an invitation to ask God to enable us to become people who others might look back at in decades to come.
Godalming welcomes new Minster
Godalming Welcomes new Minster
Sunday 14 January witnessed a historic moment for the Godalming area as Bishop Andrew Watson led a service at the new Godalming Minster on Godalming’s Church Street.
Local police, school leaders, voluntary group leaders, MP for Southwest Surrey Jeremy Hunt, the Mayors of Waverley and Godalming, local councillors and the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey Michael Molyneux joined Rector Simon Taylor, the Bishops of Guildford and Dorking and the clergy team in an informal procession from the Pepperpot to the church before the service started.
Associate Vicar Sheila Samuels opened the service and set the scene for an hour of worship which encompassed the diversity of styles and people that Godalming Minster gathers in. From roof-raising choral anthems and rousing hymns led by the choir, to foot-tapping, and raising worship songs led by Rev Simon Willetts and the band. The music provided the lift-off.
While the children left for some lively and engaging prayer activity, Bishop Andrew gave a sermon sharing about the sacrifice and risk undertaken by the parishes involved in forming Godalming Minster and the need for us to orbit our lives around Jesus, rather than revolving life around us.
Community leaders were invited to welcome the Minster to Godalming and shared their commitment to work together for the good of the community.
The Mayor of Godalming, Adam Duce, commented that he’d not been in a service quite like it! The children returned to let off 50 giant party poppers and enjoy the cake. “It was a bit messier than I expected!” remarked Rev Simon Taylor, showing the creativity of the members of the Minister.
The Minster Launch service took place in one of the oldest, and certainly largest buildings in Godalming. St Peter & St Paul’s is a historic landmark which will inevitably be a flagship for Godalming Minster. But the Minster is not about one building or even the four churches that it unites.
The adage that “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts” is fitting, as each church, hosting multiple congregations and sharing Jesus’ care and love in the community will be just as much Godalming Minster as the other.
St Peter’s Hambledon has been at the centre of its rural community, emitting God’s love and teaching to its special village for centuries; Busbridge Church Brighton Road is known for its vibrant and contemporary approach to worship and spirituality; and St Mark’s Franklyn Road runs the Godalming Foodbank. St Mark’s also celebrates 90 years of service this year at the heart of Ockford Ridge and Aaron’s Hill.
So, Godalming Minster is a community, sharing the goal to serve the community and lead people to follow Jesus, love people and refresh what it means to be church.
What’s a Minster?
For 1,000 years Minsters served wide areas with a heart for God’s mission to care for all people. A Minster was a dynamic innovative community of Christian worship, rooted in Scripture, making sense of the World in a way which showed love and compassion. Ministers were hospitals, supported the local economy, developed pubs for safe low alcohol drinking, provided education, community support and alleviated poverty. They preached Christ and lived it daily around a pattern of prayer and praise.
What is your Godalming Minster?
Godalming Minster is a centre of love and care, serving and creating community, wellbeing and hospitality, breaking down barriers; spiritual nourishment and teaching about the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and God our loving Father.
Godalming Minster is a community which seeks to follow Jesus, love people and renew Christian faith in a way which makes a good difference in our lives and the lives of others. We represent people from many walks of life, backgrounds, ethnicities, political views, employment routes, incomes, places we live, where we work and what we do for hobbies. Our mission is expressed in groups and activities for every age and stage, for those with particular interests and those with particular needs, touching all areas in our wonderful community. If you are open, Godalming Minster is for you, for life.
Welcome to Godalming Minster
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common… with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Godalming Minster: an exciting time, now
We’ve arrived! We are Godalming Minster and we are part of the future. What an exciting time to be living in the Godalming area. Even for someone not connected to Christianity, this about living in a time of the possibility of Godalming being known as ‘The Minster Town of Godalming’ and the good that this could bring to the town.
The Minster: “Is it a building, is it a place? no it’s a people and language”
I was recently talking to some people about The Minster. The conversation led me to share an image which I have used several times recently about who and what we’ve become, and it is exciting to share it with you because it is about being united in faith and far from monochrome in how we serve and worship.
The cinema
Imagine going to the cinema. The cinema doesn’t play multiple films in the same space because that wouldn’t work and not everyone likes the same thing. Instead, as you enter you have a choice of start time, style and genre. One film might be loud and exciting, but your friend’s film might create a reflective space. You might go in the morning, but another film might be on in the evening.
This is a great image for serving across Godalming Minster. The Minster offers different ways to serve the people of the area. There may be activities which are loud and exciting, and others which create a reflective space for healing and pondering. One activity might be geared for children, another for the recently bereaved who are asking questions of life, faith and purpose.
It is also a great image for worship across Godalming Minster. The worship in a place is not confined to being for a particular group or location. It belongs to everyone and everything of the Minster because everyone is invited. One person may prefer something choral with robes, another person may seek something loud and contemporary with the leader in jeans; one person may only have mid-afternoon free on a weekday while another person may have been brought up to see Sunday morning as special. The style, location, time, ambience and genre is available for all that which is right for that moment. You’re invited to try all the styles and see which helps you worship. They’re all equally valid and important.
Godalming Minster is about recognising that we live in a small town and the joy that the Minster brings to this is that the whole town can now be the Minster Town of Godalming. We’re bringing people together across locations, life-backgrounds, finances, past-times, ages, political views and so much more.
The bowling alley
I relate this unity to an event of was at about twenty years ago. I had the unique experience of being required to take my passport to a Christian conference! There was to be a surprise speaker whose identity was kept under wraps for security reasons. This speaker, who was well known in politics, made a comment that has stayed with me.
They told the story of being in a ten pin bowling alley. Towards one end was a particularly large group which struck the speaker as so different that they approached one of the party. What attracted the speaker was the uniqueness of the group. All other groups in the bowling alley were a small family group, or teens of a similar age and dress code, or professional bowlers in full kit. This group were different. They were a large group, they laughed without dominating the place, they were ages from toddlers to the elderly, people who were clearly not related were helping one another to bowl, and there was an atmosphere around the group that stood out as different. I guess we’d call it love.
The speaker told the conference ‘they were the local church. They were different to anyone else in that bowling alley. They were bowling because one of the older people had missed it since her husband had died.’ That group made a significant impact on the speaker.
Godalming Minster is about being the people of the bowling alley. All ages, all backgrounds, different and offering something different in Christ that people may not recognise, but they sense the difference and want to come over and find out more.
Recognisable
Whether the cinema or the bowling alley makes more sense to you, what they have in common is:
· they express worship, mission and style differently,
· accept that people travel to them based on what is offered,
· whilst being clear about their purpose and identity.
You know a bowling alley when you enter one. You know what a cinema is when you see it. They have a clear purpose, and so do we. We’re a Minster that is united in faith in Christ as our Saviour, Scripture as God’s Word, the work of the Holy Spirit to change us as we seek to follow Jesus, love people and see faith in Christ renewed because a we long for everyone to discover what we know to be true.
Welcome to the future as Godalming Minster. It is a language, and we are its people who are being changed by God into following, loving and renewing faith. It is the language and people of Acts 2:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common… with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
We’re following Jesus, loving people and renewing faith. Following Jesus is our personal response. Loving people is how and why we share our faith. Renewing faith is about growing younger with a new generation of renewed faith taking their place as Godalming Minster.
As we enter 2024, following Jesus into the World of Godalming Minster, try a different service, step into God’s mission and offer to support worship and activity on a Sunday. We are Godalming Minster. That’s why I am excited.
Easter 2023 with Hambledon Church
Simon Willetts writes for the Hambledon Village magazine:
We did things a little differently this year to mark the start of Holy Week –
2000 years ago Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem for a wonderful event known as the triumphal entry. This momentous occasion marked the occasion that God was going to liberate his people Israel which is why they celebrated with palm leaves shouting Hosanna! (which means – to save, or saviour). The people of the day expected this to be a political and religious liberation which of course it was but not in the way they expected. This king – King Jesus came humbly on a donkey (not in pomp and circumstance on a war horse like his Roman counterparts) to set people free from the far deeper, universal and eternal tyranny of evil and sin.
Llamas at Hambledon Church on Palm Sunday
In true Hambledonian style – we used a couple of Llamas and imagined that they might be long eared donkeys! We are so grateful to the Merry Harriers, Martine, Clara, Tilda and Abbi for bringing two very well behaved Llamas called Champagne and Diesel! We trekked to the large Oak tree and back as part of our service and then explored the meaning of Palm Sunday through creative prayer back at the church.
Diesel and Champagne lead the Palm Sunday procession to the oak tree
On Maundy Thursday we had an evening service of Holy Communion. Alan Betts spoke about the significance of the Passover meal and how Jesus applied all that it means to himself. This tied in really well with what we had learned at Messy Church earlier in the term where we shared (elements of) a Passover meal together as one of our activities.
On Good Friday we held a quiet reflective service that considered how the message of the bible and of salvation can be captured in the story of 3 trees. The 1st Tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve ate from it this separated us from God. The 2nd Tree was the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Through his act on the cross Jesus pays our penalty for sin and re-unites us with God. The 3rd Tree is the Tree of life in the book of Revelation. This tree is a symbol of healing, peace and eternal blessing in God’s presence for all those who trust in Jesus. We are grateful to Frances Shaw for these valuable insights and how she shared them
A Messy Easter activity in the sandpit on Hambledon Common
We picked up on this theme of the Three Trees at our Messy Church Easter Egg hunt on Easter Saturday. We are grateful to Stephen Dean for allowing us to use the sandpit on Hambledon Common. Here we hid some Easter clues that led to the eggs! We then played some games with the parachute followed promptly by Hot cross buns and few more eggs!
On Easter Day the church was full as we celebrated Jesus’ rising from the dead, triumph over death and his leading us to eternal victory. There was a family quiz, which reminded us that Jesus rode on a donkey not a llama or a bmx! We’re unable to say who won the quiz but at least we had coffee, croissant and few more eggs!
Godalming Minster Update March 2023
March Headlines:
The Godalming Parish PCC and Busbridge and Hambledon PCCs met on 13 March 2023 and approved the following proposals:
The service pattern for the 4 churches in the Godalming Minster. A final schedule of Minster wide services has been developed and is now agreed by all three PCCs. The schedule accommodates the needs of most congregations and provides for stability and growth. Inevitably compromise is required by the Sunday morning Choral and Contemporary congregations and this is genuinely appreciated. The pattern of services is as shown below. The focus so far has been on establishing the timing of specific services. Holy Communion services for the Contemporary service at 10.30am will be added shortly. The service pattern will begin in January 2024 for a trial period of 12 months, dependant on completion of the SPSP church re-ordering. It is anticipated there will be one off contemporary services held in SPSP during the 4Q 2023.
The 2023 Minster Budget for communications and media, and new Contemporary music equipment at SPSP.
The Parish Scheme to legally consolidate the parishes and charities, which will now go to Bishop Andrew for approval.
Godalming Parish PCC also approved the proposal and budget for the temporary re-ordering of St Peter and St Paul’s.
For fuller details about the points above, and news from the Minster Leadership Team, please read the full update. For the background and more details about the transition process, see Godalming Minster
BHC Men's Breakfast celebrates 20th anniversary!
It hardly seems possible, but our monthly Men’s breakfasts started 20 years ago, in March 2003. In the early days we often followed courses or had presentations from internal or external speakers, but in February 2009 we moved to the format we now have of breakfast followed by a discussion of a topic of (usually current) interest. The list of topics we have covered makes fascinating reading, and you might want to skim through it (but please have pity on the planet’s resources and don’t print it out!).
In celebration of this milestone, this coming Saturday, 4th March your tag team of Alan and Dudley will be serving up a 20th Anniversary Fry-Up. Instead of our usual porridge and toast, join us at 8.15am for an Old Rectory All Day Breakfast (so named because you won’t feel like eating anything else for the rest of the day…!).
Afterwards, we thought that we would reflect on some of the topics and discussions we have had over the years (so if you are coming, do take a few minutes to refresh your memories from the attached Topics list).
It would be lovely to see as many fellow travellers as possible, so do come along at 8.15 on Saturday. It would be helpful to the caterers to have an indication of numbers, so if you know you’re coming do ping us a quick response (but that’s not essential, do come anyway – we’ll have enough grub to cater for all who turn up!).
There’s no charge but any contributions on the day will be very welcome (unfortunately we are still old school and don’t have a facility to accept plastic – other than £50 notes, that is!).
Alan and Dudley
for Busbridge&Hambledon Men’s Group
Church, Mission and Football!
Church, Mission & Football
How often would you use Church, Mission and Football in the same sentence? KARL BARTH once advised preachers to read the Bible and the news together. His point was a principle of interpretation: God's story should always be related to the world's stories. This is the way in which the gospel remains relevant but also "definitive", as all the stories of the world are found to be encompassed by God's redeeming narrative.
Footballing events such as the World Cup create a great 'hook' bring the community together and Football World cup 2022 has presented us with this amazing opportunity to keep the Gospel relevant by opening the doors of the church to the community who otherwise might never see the church relevant to them.
After all our mission statement, focuses on loving God, making disciples and transforming communities'. You don't have to love football to recognise what it does well, in bringing people together, allowing them to participate, offering them shared purpose and even a kind of spirituality. Therefore, as a church, we need to grab this opportunity to keep the Gospel relevant and demonstrate that the church is not a power structure with no entry point for the outsider!
A striking feature of the England games in the run up to this world cup in 2018 as well as 2022 has been how many people want to watch them in community — in fan-zones, in pubs, and on packed sofas. Lives more commonly lived on individual devices have re-encountered the collective experience of joy, sorrow, and a greater whole. There are few better words for this than "religion": what brings people together. But, of course, this national religion cannot save - it can only inspire. The Church has an alternative saving story that offers much the same experience, and more. We would love you to be part of that story here in Busbridge.
World Cup 2022 is a missional opportunity and as a church we have decided to do exactly that as well as offer people a warm space and that is why we have signed up to the warm space initiative with the Waverley council. Therefore, during the England games not only can members of the community watch, enjoy & support the national football team, we will also offer free warm drinks and snacks in a warm family friendly atmosphere, bringing the community together!
However, yes - you guessed it, to offer all of that we need your support because this isn't a job just for one or two individuals. If we are to show the church as welcoming place, then we need a few teams.
Set up Team - To ensure that the church is suitably set to accommodate both the young and old to enjoy the atmosphere and the community. This will involve arranging and rearranged the chairs before and after the games.
Hospitality – Part of the Warm space initiative, we have to offer free warm drinks, so we need a team to offer hot drinks for the adults and some cold drinks for the children.
Welcomers & Prayer Ministry – as part of our outreach we need to have a couple of people at every game to offer a warm, welcome & may be possibly prayer ministry to anyone who might come to watch the game.
Friends, we are proposing to stream the Group 'B' games, the semi-finals and the final and if England progresses as we hope they will, then there might be additional games, but we will cross that bridge when we get to it. However, to make this missional opportunity come to fruition, I'm reaching out to every member of the church, with this plea, would you please help with any one of the above (we only need a minimum of 2 or 3 people per team for the duration of each game)
If you would like to be part of this amazing opportunity, please drop me a line on patrick.samuels@bhcgodalming.org and which team you would like to serve with.
Look forward to hearing from you soon
Kind regards and Blessings
Patrick
Rally for Ukraine - 12 noon on Sat 12 March at Godalming Bandstand
Please join in a show of solidarity for Ukraine this Saturday at the Godalming bandstand in Phillips Memorial Park. All political parties and local churches are coming together at this time, with speakers including Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Councillor Paul Follows (Lib Dem), Nick Palmer (Labour) and other local dignitaries. Prayers will be led by Rev Simon Taylor.
Time to set some goals!
2021 Annual Report
In advance of the APCMs on Sunday 23 May 2021, the Annual Report is available to download here, and copies are available from both churches.
Quality! - God’s Future for us
For details and to register to attend the Annual Parochial Church Meetings next Sunday, please go to the APCM page below.
Approval for a cafe at Busbridge Church
At a Special Meeting on Monday the PCC unanimously agreed to convert the Church Centre into a Café.
For the past two years the Centre Improvement Group has been working on the plans for the Centre to include a coffee area to create a welcoming environment, not just to the building but also to the church.
The Centre was built in 1975 and is now due for an upgrade to enable the church groups to carry out their evangelistic role fully.
It has been clarified that the church can run a café for parishioners and can widen this to the local community, this would be deemed ancillary use, which is a valid church activity.
The Team has done a vast amount of design, navigated some complex issues and carried out much research including visiting similar projects and the information is nearly complete.
The faculty permission was granted in January and the work has to be completed by 28th January 2022.
(See Appendix A for the Application and Faculty Documents)
Planning permission for the works has also been granted.
The Centre Improvement Group will continue to oversee the conversion of the building with the aim of an opening in the Autumn.
A new Sub Group of the PCC – The Café Management Team has been formed to look into the policies, procedures for the running of the café, advertising for Cafe Manager, Staff and Volunteers.
For more information please contact Michael Stubbs via the Church Office.
Plan of the internal layout
Outward Giving - HMP Send Prison Revisited
Please watch the latest video about our mission partner HMP Send in which Rev David Jenkins talks to prison chaplin Rev Lesley Mason about her experiences.
To donate to the work in prisons and the Nazareth Way, please use the Donate function, and find out more on the Outward Giving page here.
Unification of the Ecclesiastical Parishes of Busbridge and Hambledon - update on the proposal
NOTICE of Hambledon PCC Meeting 20 April to discuss the matter above, and invitation to those on the electoral roll to attend.
Thank you for those that fed back about the proposal to unify the Ecclesiastical Parishes of Busbridge and Hambledon. All comments were in support of the proposal but with some points of clarification concerning three of the caveats:
1. That a clergy house (in the village) and a minister would be safeguarded for the future.
2. Finances can be restricted as per the wishes of the donor. i.e. Strictly for Hambledonian purposes if desired: in practice the means:
· One parish would mean one ‘pot’ from which all costs of the parish would be paid.
· Donors to either church would be free to restrict their giving for specific purposes (just as they are now) e.g. Hambledon fabric, Minister’s salary, etc.
· Absent specific instructions all gifts including collections would be treated as unrestricted (just as they are in other parishes made up of two or more churches) meaning such money would go into the parish ‘pot’ from which all parish costs would be paid.
· It is the job of Hambledon PCC to discuss all ideas and options and set any terms or conditions of merger. A question remains how a new single PCC should be made up (relevant to the next bullet point) but will obviously have representatives from both Busbridge and Hambledon.
· Going forward it would be the job of a single parish PCC to set the parish budget each year.
3. Worship in the village would kept under the control of the Rector, Hambledon’s Associate Vicar and the elected PCC. (All set within the wider parameters of the Church of England)
The caveats in the unification proposal specifically address these issues and these can and will be safeguarded as the process develops.
The Hambledon PCC are meeting 20th April at 19:30 on Zoom to vote. Any member of the electoral roll is welcome to attend and observe but will not be eligible to speak or vote.
Yours Faithfully
Rev Simon Willetts
Bell Tolls for Duke of Edinburgh, and Prayers for Royal Family at Hambledon Church
Bell Tolls for Duke of Edinburgh, and Prayers for Royal Family
The bell at St Peter’s Church, Hambledon, tolled 99 times yesterday in remembrance of the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on Friday.
Today (Sunday April 11th) prayers were said for the Royal Family at the 9am service, which ended with the congregation assembling outside to sing the National Anthem.
Derek Miller was the bell ringer at midday yesterday as Hambledon associate vicar Simon Willetts and a small number of villagers gathered outside to witness the occasion.
Bell Tolls for Duke of Edinburgh, and Prayers for Royal Family. A limited number of worshipers are allowed inside the church under the recent relaxation of Coronavirus restrictions and Simon said he wanted to share with villagers prayers for the Queen and other members of the Royal Family as they mourn the passing of Prince Philip, who was 99.
The 9am service is open to those who register their wish to attend on the Busbridge and Hambledon Churches website here: https://www.bhcgodalming.org/
Services are also streamed on line and details can be found by clicking on the same link.
in Hambledon, tributes have been paid by our vicar, MP and Parish Council chairman. Under current Government Coronavirus guidelines, a physical Book of Condolence is not allowed. An on-line one is to be made available. Details can be found here: https://www.royal.uk/.
The Union Jack is flying at half-mast at St Peter’s Church. Tomorrow (Saturday April 10th) the church bell will be rung 99 times, beginning at 12 noon. Villagers are welcome to attend but must remain outside and observe 2 metre distancing.
Simon Willetts, associate vicar of Hambledon, said: “On behalf of the parish of St. Peter’s, we are deeply saddened by the news of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. We offer our condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and her family. We are holding them all in our prayers, may he rest in peace and rise in glory.”
Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey and a Hambledon resident, said: “Today all of us are feeling a special sense of sadness following the loss of the Duke of Edinburgh. He personified a sense of duty which made us proud of the Royal Family and proud to be British. He sacrificed his own ambition as a promising Royal Navy officer to dedicate himself to a life of service at the Queen’s side and her wonderful longevity is in no small part thanks to his unstinting support. We remember Her Majesty on this sad day and will hold her and her family in our thoughts and prayers.”
John Anderson, chairman of Hambledon Parish Council, said: “It is with great sadness that we learnt today of the death of HRH Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Phillip was a man who has always served our country loyally with devotion to duty and has supported Her Majesty the Queen throughout her reign.
As consort he has carried out his role with good grace and good humour in his own inimitable way. Our thoughts and prayers are with Her Majesty and all her family at this very sad time.”
For other village information following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, please see previous news stories on this website, including how to sign the official Book of Condolence.
We are remembering HRH Prince Philip
We are remembering HRH Prince Philip. The bells at both Busbridge and Hambledon church were tolled 99 times at 6PM on 9 April, once for every year of his life. You can submit a message to the public online book of condolence, and access prayers and liturgy, at
https://www.churchofengland.org/remembering-his-royal-highness-prince-philip.
We will be paying tribute to and praying for HRH Prince Philip, the Queen and the royal family at our Sunday services 9AM at Hambledon, and 10.30AM at Busbridge.
BHC seeks a Digital Producer and Technician for Online Ministry!
Busbridge&Hambledon is a thriving evangelical and charismatic Anglican Church looking for someone who can help us fulfil God’s vision for our church. Over the last year, we have rapidly developed worship online, and our online services are part of an emerging strategy for ongoing digital ministry which will support and sit alongside our physical community.
The Digital Producer and Technician will work closely with the existing BHC team and take responsibility for the aligned creation and delivery of content across all our digital channels in order to grow our community, increase the reach of our ministry and ensure the smooth production of our services and events streamed online.
A personal Christian faith consistent with our Church is essential for this role.
This role is a fixed 6 month contract, from 25 June to 31 December 2021, with a view to extending the term and role in 2022.
How to apply for the job
For full details on this position, including the Person Specification, Job Description and an Application form, please see the Job vacancies page for the Role description, and application form. If you have the skills, passion and calling for this role with us, we look forward to hearing from you!
Join the National Day of Reflection | 23 March
Organised by Marie Curie, the National Day of Reflection looks to reflect on our collective loss, support those who've been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
We are tolling the Busbridge church bell at 12 noon today to mark the minutes silence.
You may like to use the CofE prayer card:
https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/COFE_03015_DayofReflectionPostcard_AW.pdf
Other suggestions to mark the anniversary:
Encourage people to phone or send a card to anyone who may feel bereaved: Church of England research shows that 6 out of 10 adults have lost someone in the last year where they would have attended the funeral. 4 out of 10 say they have lost someone close to them.
Plant a seed, a bulb, a bush as a sign of hope.
Tie a yellow ribbons to a prayer tree or railings as a sign of their prayer and support for all who are bereaved.
Use the 8.00pm ‘share the light’ moment to light candles and lanterns in windows.
Reflect
Loving God,
You hold all our times in your hands, our past, our present, our future. Be close to us now as we remember all the difficulties and disappointments of the past year. Be especially close to all of us who are thinking of someone we loved and knew, but see no longer, whether family, friend, colleague or neighbour. Help us to trust that they are at peace with you, and comfort us with your presence.
Connect
Loving God,
You place us in families and communities, and we give you thanks for all those around us who serve us and help us in so many ways. Give wisdom to community leaders, to our schools, hospitals, care homes and other agencies who make a difference to our lives. Help each of us to have the courage to reach out with thanks and kindness to those around us and to speak words of faith as we share the good news of your love.
Hope
Loving God,
As we journey towards Easter, help us to live as people of hope, knowing that beyond the pain of the cross lies the joy of resurrection. Inspire us in our worship, through our churches and in our homes, that we may bring glory to you and joy to others. Be with those who are struggling in mind, body or spirit, and give courage to those who are facing uncertainty and change ahead. Help each of us to keep our eyes fixed on you, that we may reflect your light to all whom we meet.
Prayers
Dear God,
Be with us as we think about all that has changed this year,
And help us to trust that you are always with us.
Be close to us as we remember those who have died,
And help us to trust they are at peace with you.
Show us how to reach out to others with kindness and care,
So that hope shines out in every heart and home,
Amen
God of Love,
As we think about all that has changed this year,
help us to trust that you are always with us.
As we remember those who have died,
help us to trust they are at peace with you.
As we reach out to others with kindness and care,
may hope shine out in every heart and home.
Amen
The BHC Online Ministry team - An invitation to serve on the Online ministry production team
We are on a recruitment drive for new volunteers, or “disciples” as we think of them at Busbridge&Hambledon church. If this is something you’d like to be involved in, or find out more, please contact Jacob Taylor, e: jacob.taylor@bhcgodalming.org. (Jacob is currently leading our online ministry).