Dear Friends,
This week the Minster’s rather long Harvest Festival concluded with the St Mark’s and All Saints school harvest assembly at Franklyn Road. Thanks to everyone who has given so generously to the Foodbank at whichever service you came to, and for your donations to the Harvest Appeal for the Church Army. (If you still wish to give, please see the Giving page.)
Last Sunday Hambledon shared a hot harvest lunch with new friends at the village hall, and many of you from across the Minster came together at Church Street to say goodbye to John and Sue Harkin. The bring and share Harvest lunch was wonderful! John and Sue moved down to Cornwall this week, leaving us this message:
Sue and I wish to thank you all for allowing us to serve alongside you over the last few years, it has been a privilege. Along the way we have got to know many of you from across the congregations and it has been a real joy to share in some small way in your lives. We are very grateful for the opportunity and pray you feel supported and encouraged for the future as you continue to grow and mature in your walk with the Lord.
Thank you too for such a wonderful retirement occasion last Sunday, what a treat! We were very grateful for the 'This is your life' format as a way of saying goodbye after the service. We really appreciate your cards and the gift voucher to use at The Horn of Plenty Hotel and Restaurant near our new home; we shall remember you all as we raise a glass when sitting in the restaurant! We are also grateful for many of you sharing personally, we feel quite humbled, and for your gifts.
Please be assured of our continued prayers for Godalming Minster.
May the Lord bless each one of you.
John and Sue
This Sunday
Who is the Holy Spirit?
And what does the Holy Spirit do?
Readings: Joel 2.28-9,Luke 24.45-49, Gal 5. 22-23, 1 Cor 12.4-11
9am Choral Eucharist
Church Street
10am Classic Service
Brighton Road
10am Holy Communion
Hambledon
10am Morning Worship
Franklyn Road
10.30am Contemporary
Church Street
6pm Evening Service
Brighton Road
Look up services for next Sunday and find more information about congregations and service times on ChurchSuite, or the Sundays page on the web site. If you are on a rota, ChurchSuite will ping you a reminder by email, but you can also use the ChurchSuite app to check yourself.
Notices
Clergy and staff news
Vacancies
You might not be a candidate, but do please be aware and tell others that Godalming Minster is currently advertising for three key roles: Associate Minister for Franklyn Road, Mission & Evangelism, Children’s Pastor 4-11s and now Younger Families Pastor 0-4s. You can find the details on our vacancies page, the diocese jobs page and on New Wine jobs. The most important request is to pray. Pray for God’s people to respond to a calling here, and for those involved with the interviews and appointments.
Goodbye to Juliet
After an incredible 10 years of faithful service, our wonderful 0-4s worker, Juliet Gilbert, will be stepping down to spend more time with her family. Her final working day will be Wednesday, 30th October. We are beyond grateful for the countless lives Juliet has impacted, the love and creativity she’s poured into our little ones, and the joy she’s brought to our church family. Her dedication has truly shaped and blessed this ministry.
While we will certainly miss Juliet, we are excited for this new season in her life and wish her and the family every blessing! Please join us in expressing our heartfelt thanks and praying for her as she embarks on this next chapter. We will be saying goodbye to Juliet on Sunday 27th Oct at Contemporary. Please see ways to give and if you’d like to contribute to a gift.
Prep. for Simon’s leaving and the vacancy starting 5 Jan 2025
Archdeacon’s Public Meeting
Mon 4 Nov, 7.30pm at Church Street
The Archdeacon of Surrey, The Venerable Catharine Mabuza will be briefing the parish of Godalming Minster on the process to advertise and appoint a new Rector, after the departure of Simon Taylor on 5th Jan 2025. Everyone who is part of Godalming Minster is strongly encouraged to attend.
Vacancy Prayers 8-9pm 1st Weds of the month
Starting 6 Nov, Simon Willetts invites you to these prayer gatherings specifically to pray for the Minster during the Vacancy and to seek God for new Rector. There will be a a short and informal time of worship, teaching and prayer at each of the sessions, and the hope (subject to other bookings) is for the gatherings to move each Minster location. The venue for 6 Nov will be confirmed next week.
Remembrance Sunday Services
10am Franklyn Road All Age Service, followed by 11am Act of Remembrance
10.30am Hambledon
10.45am Brighton Road
10.45am Act of Remembrance at Godalming War Memorial, Phillips Memorial Park. Please assemble at 10.30am in advance of the procession of the Mayor’s Civic Party, The Union Flag, clergy and the choir from Godalming Minster Church Street (The Octagon).
Help needed at The Hub on Tuesdays 12.30-2pm
Now going into its third winter, The Hub at Franklyn Road serves a free hot lunch for approx 12-20 guests every Tuesday. The team is in need of a few more helpers on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. Please contact volunteer@godalmingminster.org if you would like to find out more.
Cakes and bakes needed for The Hub, Prime Time and The Bereavement Café
Godalming Minster certainly gets through a fair amount of cake at its many community activities. It’s quite fundamental to the warm hospitality we offer! If you can bake something for any of the ministries above, perhaps on a regular basis, please contact volunteer@godalmingminster.org.
Christmas 2024
The programme for Advent and Christmas will be available in early November, but the events and services across the Minster are already listed in the calendar. We are starting the celebrations even earlier this year, with the new invitation from Godalming Town Council for Godalming Minster Church Street to be the finish of the Lights switch on event on Sunday 24 Nov. The Christmas street lights will be extended into the church this year and the town procession from Crown Court will finish inside with some carols, mulled wine and mince pies. We are asking people to sign up to give an idea of numbers, and so we can email further details nearer the time.
Also on 24th Nov, 6pm at Guildford Cathedral, if you are planning to join Simon Taylor for his installation as an honorary canon of the Cathedral, please book your place, so that catering can be provided for the after-party:
www.guildford-cathedral.org/events/boxoffice/814
Help needed in Advent
Please do express your willingness to serve, at particular events or in general, by emailing the team in the office: e: office:godalmingminster.org. We need musicians, AV, stewards and people to welcome and serve refreshments at numerous services including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
Specifically we are looking for someone or two to coordinate Christmas outreach and giving: Gift hampers for people in our community and fundraising for our mission partners The Cellar and Skillway, and HMP Send. If you can be involved please contact vic.hicks@godalmingminster.org.
Coming Up
October
Annual Memorial Service - 3pm on 19th October at Church Street
Invitations have been sent to all those who have had a family funeral at Godalming Minster in recent years, and we extend a warm invitation to anyone who has lost a loved one, recently or some time ago, to join us for this special occasion. To help with our catering arrangements, please sign up online. If you would like someone remembered by name during the service, please indicate when you sign up. We should be grateful to have the information as soon as possible, please, and by Tuesday 15 October, at the latest. Click here to sign up.
Nexus 7 Nov - Felt Christmas Trees & Mulled Wine
Helen Sturney will once again use her artistic talents to help us make Felt Christmas Trees to use as decorations during the festive season. No cutting or sewing involved so just bring yourselves along to enjoy a fun and relaxed craft evening, with a glass of mulled wine! All the trees will look great so you can take yours home and use it to decorate your home as you choose. All are welcome!
Then on Saturday 7th December, it’ll be the annual Nexus Christmas Charity Quiz, with our excellent quizmasters Alan Betts and Dudley Hilton. It will be held in the Busbridge Church again this year and we’ll make it look very festive and welcoming. Put this date in your diary NOW!! More details will be sent out soon and will be found on the Godalming Minster website in due course. We’d love to see you there!
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! See the full Minster Calendar to look ahead to the end of December, including Remembrance and Christmas.
Elsewhere
Sponsored walk in aid of the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our diocese - Saturday 12th October (9am)
Following two successful sponsored walks over recent years, our Bishops Andrew and Paul are inviting you to join them once again on a sponsored Bishops Camino along the Hogs Back to the Watts Chapel in Puttenham and back via the Wey towpath. The circular route is 7.5 miles (12km) and there will be three prayer stops along the way.
The previous walks have raised over £6,000 for the Bishop of Guildford's Communities Fund, which provides funds for parish projects that help the disadvantaged and vulnerable across the Diocese of Guildford. Bishop Andrew would love your help once again so that the Fund can continue to support deserving community projects. Please follow the link below for more details and how to sign up.
Bishop of Guildford's Communities Fund - Diocese of Guildford (cofeguildford.org.uk)
The next Theology Hub event on 24 October is with Rev’d Prof Jeremy Begbie. Jeremy will give a performance lecture (theology and live music) on the topic of the relevance of the arts for people of faith. This will be an excellent evening for discipleship for your key leaders, for people who have recently done Alpha or who might be interested in looking at theology, and for all who are involved in worship and music.
Jeremy is an academic who speaks in a down to earth way that connects with a range of audiences. You can buy your ticket here:
Life Issues 2024 - a programme of talks and course run by Godalming Baptist Church.
Life Issues Talk: Living with Anxious Thoughts - 19th October at Godalming Baptist Church
The last Life Issue session of 2024 is coming up at Godalming Baptist Church on Saturday 19th October 10.00am-12.30pm (coffee from 9.30am). 'Living With Anxious Thoughts' led by Dr Martin Brunet, GP at Binscombe Medical Centre and Dr Jenna McKeown, Clinical Psychologist.
This promises to be such a helpful and informative morning. The session will look at all aspects of anxious thoughts including intrusive thoughts and health anxiety and aims to understand where these thoughts come from and how best to manage them. There is no charge but donations much appreciated towards 'The Farncombe Community Garden'.
Please do contact Sally to book a place-01483-428646 or e-mail pollard3@hotmail.co.uk by Friday 4th October. Thank you so much for all your support
Following Jesus
Mid-week prayer gatherings take place on Zoom (8.45am Mon / 9am Wed),
and at Godalming Minster Hambledon (9am Wed) and Franklyn Road (9am Mon and Tue). Please check the calendar.
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.)
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.
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.
The 2024 Prime Time programme is now available. For all events and details, see Prime Time.
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.
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.