Click here for Easter events and services
Dear Friends
Jesus Comes as King!
We are looking forward to see everyone in one place at 10am this Palm Sunday (13 April) when we’ll all come together for a procession and service at Church Street. The service will carry on into a bring and share brunch-lunch in the Octagon. There are no other services across the Minster so please do come and enjoy this special occasion at the start of Holy Week together.
Here’s the plan:
9.30-9.50am Drop your contribution for the bring and share brunch-lunch (savoury or sweet) in The Octagon, then head up to the Pepperpot and collect a Palm Cross and and song sheet from a welcomer.
10am Join the procession from the Pepperpot down Church Street to the Minster.
After the service: coffee will be available at the back of church after the service, before we head into the Octagon for the food.
If anyone would like to help clear up, please do offer as things start wrapping up.
Easter
Look up Easter events and services here, and pick up a printed programme at church this Sunday. You’ll have the chance to visit all parts of the Minster over the the Easter period, and we’re grateful to everyone who has already put their hand up to serve at one service or event, or other. Offers are still welcome - please get in touch with the office.
Events & Services
PALM SUNDAY 13 April
10am All in One [all age] Service
Starting with a procession from the Pepperpot, and followed by a bring and share lunch.
HOLY WEEK
Mon-Wed 8PM Reflections at Brighton Road
from John’s gospel.
8PM Maundy Thursday Service & Passover Meal at Franklyn Road
Share, Watch and Pray
We remember The Last Supper, sharing a simple meal of soup, bread and cheese,
which flows into communion at our tables.
Please sign up so that we know numbers and dietary requirements for catering purposes.
GOOD FRIDAY 18 April
10AM Good Friday Service [all age] - Church Street
11.30AM Godalming Act of Witness
On Godalming High Street outside Wetherspoons
A short service including a drama by the Trinity Trust Team
and refreshments at Godalming Baptist Church at 12noon. More details below.
12 NOON An Hour at the Cross - Hambledon
2PM The Good Friday Hot Cross Bun Adventure! [all age]
A walk from Godalming Minster Hambledon to Godalming Minster Brighton Road, Busbridge to on footpaths and bridleways via Hydon’s Ball. The full walk is about 5km.
If you would prefer a shorter version, please join the adventure at Hydon’s Ball car park at 3.15pm.
Tea and hot cross buns will await you in the Busbridge Old Rectory Garden at the finish!
Please sign up for the Hot cross bun adventure
Saturday 19 April
3PM Easter Garden Service & Egg Hunt—Old Rectory Garden
This wonderful outreach service is now full, but we’d love more donations of cakes for the tea. Please contact ben.barnes@godalmingminster.org and drop your contribution to the Old Rectory anytime next week in office opening hours 9-4pm, or from 2-4.30pm on Good Friday.
8.30PM Service of Fire & Light - Godalming Minster Church Street
Join the Minster choir at this service.
EASTER DAY 20 April
Celebrate the Resurrection with us on Easter Day, with services for all the family.
6.45AM Sunrise Service at Minster Field
9AM Choral Eucharist for Easter - Church Street
10AM Easter Day Celebration - Brighton Road
10AM Easter Day Celebration [communion] - Hambledon
10AM Easter Day Celebration [communion] - Franklyn Road
11am Contemporary Easter Celebration [communion] - Church Street
6pm Easter Praise - Brighton Road
If anyone can help stewarding on the high street and handing out service orders, please contact Michael Stubbs e: volunteer@godalmingminster.org.
Coming Up
Come to St Mark’s Community Centre “Annual General Meeting” AND QUIZ NIGHT
At St. Mark’s Community Centre, Franklyn Road, GU7 2LD
ON FRIDAY 11th APRIL at 6.30pm for 7pm START
£10 per person, includes ENTRY - HOT SUPPER - DESSERT- and HOT DRINK
Bring your own bottle and glass. Raffle £1 for 5 tickets
Download APPLICATION FORMS or AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE. PLEASE SUBMIT BY MONDAY 7th APRIL (for catering purposes) MORE INFORMATION PLEASE RING KAREN on 01483 418741 or email karen.milton@godalmingminster.org
Big Spring Clean at Brighton Road Sat 10 May
Please join us at Brighton Road from 10-2am for an intensive but joyous time of cleaning, sorting, gardening and light DIY. There’s tasks for all ages, so the whole family can come along. Satisfaction guaranteed: It’s more fun that it sounds, and doing chores together builds us as a family. Liz our facilities manager will be organising the teams and task lists, providing tools and equipment, and lunch will be provided in the Old Rectory garden once we’ve all downed tools.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting 8pm Wed 14 May
Please save the date: As mentioned above, the PCC have confirmed the date for the first Godalming Minster APCM for 8pm on 14 May at Godalming Minster Church Street. Everyone is encouraged to attend as we look back over the first year, elect new members to the PCC, and other church officers. It is also an opportunity to come together and thank and encourage the PCC and those in leadership roles in the parish, and consider what God has in store for the next season. As we are in vacancy, Chris Bessant Area Dean will be chairing the meeting. There’ll be refreshments to start. The Annual Report and Accounts for 2024 will be published in advance.
Nexus in May: Arthouse Unlimited with Colin Stokes
Thursday 1st May at 8.00pm in the Busbridge Old Rectory, GU7 1XB
ARTHOUSE Unlimited is a charity that showcases the artistic talents and skills of adults who live with diverse learning and physical disabilities. Colin will tell how their inclusive art sessions provide a safe and collaborative space for artists to express themselves freely, fostering positive emotional health and overall well-being. He’ll bring along some products for us to see and will talk about future plans for the charity.
Join us at 8.00pm in the Busbridge Old Rectory for drinks and nibbles and a chance to chat to others before Colin starts his presentation. All are welcome, including men! £20 Annual Subscription or £5 for visitors.
Notices
Yew Tree Café seeks new manager
We are sad to let you know that our wonderful café manager, Chantal, is to move back to South Africa at Easter. This was unexpected for her as well as the café, and we are praying for a smooth relocation, and for Chantal and her husband’s next season in Cape Town.
The ad for a new manager is now live here, so please do share it and pray for a swift appointment. If you think you have some time or a skill that could be useful to help the café in the interim (back office or front of house) please let us know. e: yewtreecafe@godalmingminster.org.
NEW Parish Electoral Roll 2025 - Apply before 20 April!
New for 2025: Complete your application online
Every six years we start a new Parish Electoral Roll from scratch. The Parish Electoral Roll is the register of its voting members and allows you to play a full part in the life of the parish. As a member, you can attend and vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting - this year on Wed 14 May, 8pm at Church Street.
Whether or not you have been on the Roll in the past, if you want to be on the new Church Electoral Roll, you must complete a new application form.
A link to the online form was emailed to those on the existing Electoral Roll, by Hilary Reeve on 12 March. If this is you, your invitation is prepopulated with the details we have for you. (This saves filling in your name and address.) If you haven’t received an email from Hilary, you can use the link above.
TAKE CARE to sign the form digitally using your mouse on a PC or laptop, or your finger on a phone, tablet or laptop touchpad.
PROBLEMS?
Don’t worry, if the online form doesn’t work or you prefer paper, application forms are available at all church services or you can download here.
All completed forms must be returned by Sunday 20 April either:
· by placing a paper form in the red box to be found at the back of each church; or
· by emailing a scanned form to the Electoral Roll Officer electoralroll@godalmingminster.org
Hilary Reeve
Electoral Roll Officer e: electoralroll@godalmingminster.org
What’s on Where
There’s lots going on around Godalming Minster every week, for all ages and stages - always too much to list in the notices!
Elsewhere
Next Life Issues at Godalming Baptist Church:
The Challenge of Aging - The Saga Years on Sat 26 April 10-12.30pm
led by Revd Peter Jackson. Peter leads with great compassion, empathy and humour and this promises to be such a worthwhile morning.
Peter will address such questions as: How can we live well as we live longer? Is there a difference between ageing and maturity? Is ageism a factor in our society?
There is no charge for the morning but donations would be very much appreciated towards the work of Age UK Charity. To book a place please contact Sally Pollard-01483-428646 or e-mail pollard3@hotmail.co.uk.
Find out about
Easter Holiday Club for YR-6 at Milford Baptist Church - Deep Sea Divers
Job Opportunity
Falcon Development Officer. This role is now on the CPAS website. Seeking someone who is passionate about children living in tough circumstances having the opportunity to experience Christian hospitality, generosity and kindness, whilst exploring life with Jesus. They will be strategic and drive the first phase of a Falcon strategic review, as CPAS explores the best way to grow this ministry. The role is three days a week, home based, with a monthly meeting at the office in Coventry.
Regular activities which support our vision of Following Jesus, Loving People and Renewing Faith:
Following Jesus
Mid-week prayer gatherings take place in the Zoom Online Prayer Room (8.45am Mon / 9am Wed), and at Godalming Minster Hambledon (9am Wed) and Franklyn Road (9am Mon and Tue). Vacancy Prayers are 1st Weds of the month around the Minster. Please check the calendar.
If you would like to join a prayer gathering online, please use the link to the online prayer room on Zoom with passcode: 2025.
Small groups meet in homes to study the bible, pray and journey together.
New members are invited to join an existing group, or form their own group.
To find out more and connect with the right one for you, contact Rev Hilary Pettman. e: hilary.pettman@godalmingminster.org.
Loving People
The Hub at Franklyn Road provides a free lunch and time to socialise every Tuesday from 12-2.30pm. Open to all in the area, and across the Minster. (Donations of homemade cakes are always welcome.)
Prime Time for older people meets every Monday at 10.30am in the Yew Tree Café for a coffee drop in. For all events and details, see Prime Time.
Nexus meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, with talks and activities for church members and the community. More about Nexus.
The Men’s Group meets for breakfast at 8.15am on the 1st Saturdays of the month. See the calendar for details.
Busbridge Coffee Morning takes place on 1st Wednesdays of the month at 10.30am in the Yew Tree Café.
Hambledon Coffee Morning and Hearing Aid Clinic takes place 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 10.30am.
The Bereavement Café takes place on the last Tuesday of the month, 2.30-4pm in the Busbridge Old Rectory.
Hearing Aid Clinics run at the Busbridge Old Rectory on 2nd Fridays of the month from 2.30-4pm, and at Godalming Library on 3rd Mondays of the month from 10.30am-12pm.
The Yew Tree Café at Godalming Minster Brighton Road is open 8.30am-4pm weekdays in term time, and 10am-2pm on Saturdays, and 9.30am-4pm during school holidays. There’s wi-fi and power for those that want to work, and Prime Time hosts a drop in session for anyone who’d like a coffee and a chat every Monday from 10.30-11.30am.
CYF activities for 0-18s include term-time Toddler Groups, The Youth Café and Friday Night Social, as well as Sunday groups and seasonal events.
Get Involved / Join a team
We're passionate about people feeling like they're a part of our church family and one of the best places to do that is as part of a team.
No matter your age or experience, there's a team that you can join, serving alongside others and getting to know people better in the church. You can find out about all our opportunities to serve and offer your time and talents on the Join a Team page.
Don’t forget about…
MyChurchSuite is an app for members of Godalming Minster to check dates, rotas, church emails, look up church members and sign up to events (without having to enter your details again and again!). Contact the Minster Office if you’ve lost your login details or would like to request an account. See more instructions.
PASTORAL CARE & PRAYER MINISTRY
Can we pray for you?
***Please send prayer requests to prayer@godalmingminster.org***
If you, or someone you know at church, are in need of support and care, please contact Sandra Wilkin via the Minster office, or e: pastoral@godalmingminster.org.
To contact the EMERGENCY prayer chain, email prayer@godalmingminster.org or call 01483 421267.
