Click here for Easter events and services
This Sunday
The clocks spring forward for British summer time at 00:00!
Reading: Colossians 3 12-17
9am Choral Eucharist
Church Street
9.30am Café Church
Franklyn Road
Every 5th Sunday of the month. Come at the earlier time for breakfast which rolls into an informal service seated café style in the hall. All welcome at 9.30am (or for the start of worship at 10am).
10am Classic Service
Brighton Road
10am Morning Worship [HC]
Hambledon
10.30am Contemporary
Church Street
Coffee from 10.15am and children’s groups in the Octagon.
6pm Praise Night
Brighton Road
The 6pm congregation gather for an extended time of worship on 5th Sundays. Roots Youth (11-18s) meets in church before leaving for their time together in The Hut.
Next week 6 Apr is Passion Sunday
Passion Sunday marks the start of Passiontide, the last two weeks in Lent which commemorate the final acts and suffering of Jesus before his death and resurrection. We will also be using the name ‘Passion’ to think about our response to Him through our service and giving to Godalming Minster. We’ll be looking at the things that help us lead a full and fruitful life in Christ, and what we can achieve together with the right resources.
Coming Up
Prayer Gathering for the Minster and Vacancy
Wed 2 Apr 8pm Franklyn Road GU7 2LD
This month’s prayer gathering follows the shortlisting of applications for the Rector position (interviews will take place on 7-8 May), and an interview for a new Associate Minister for Mission and Evangelism and Franklyn Road. We will come together to pray at this critical time and share a short time of worship and reflection together. Please join us.
Nexus
Thu 3rd April 8pm Busbridge Old Rectory GU7 1XB
This month’s talk is on Godalming Youth Service – Empowering our young people to thrive and will be given by Tom Manning, Youth Officer Godalming Town Council
Tom will share with us initiatives by Godalming Youth Service, to empower local young people to achieve their potential through diverse and fun programmes. These are available free of charge to all of secondary school age in Godalming and villages who would like to participate. Come along and find out what our local Town Council is doing for our youth! Join us at 8.00pm in the Busbridge Old Rectory for drinks and nibbles and a chance to chat to friends before Tom starts his presentation. All are welcome, including men!
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.
NEW: Palm Sunday All in One followed by a bring and share lunch at Church Street
Palm Sunday falls on the middle weekend of the Easter holidays this year, and is a nice time to all get together. We’ll start with a procession from the Pepperpot down Church Street to the church. Meet at 9.50am. It will be an all age service, followed by lunch in the Octagon. Please drop you food (savoury or sweet) in the Octagon from 9.30am. Coffee will be available after the service.
Easter Events to sign up for
Everyone is welcome, but there are a few events which we ask for sign ups to help with catering:
Maundy Thursday supper and communion
We remember the last supper at Franklyn Road. There will a light supper of soup, bread and cheese at 7pm. Sign up.
Good Friday Hot Cross Bun Hambledon-2-Busbridge cross country adventure
Approx 5 km walk finishing at the Old Rectory for tea and hot cross buns. How many hot cross buns do we need? Sign up
Easter Garden Service and Egg Hunt
This service is already half full. Sign 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
Homes for Ukraine
We share a request from Diane Alder who has been involved in placing individuals and families from Ukraine. She asks if anyone can provide a home for the sister-in-law of a lady already supported locally: Marina (36) and her daughter, Milana (1.5) are currently living in Kyiv and have recently taken the difficult decision to leave her husband and family in Ukraine for the sake of their daughter. Marina is a manager in an e-commerce company, speaks good English (B2), and has a driving license. Please contact diane.alder@btinternet.com for more details.
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.
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
Alpha
Please sign up or register your interest at any time and we’ll be in touch when the next dates are announced.
The Bereavement Journey
Please register your interest at anytime for the next series of sessions for anyone who has been bereaved recently or some time ago. The pastoral care team would be happy to speak to anyone who wants to find out a bit more, so please do get in touch now. More details.
Church Family News
We have been saddened to hear of the death of Raymond Brown on 13 March. For many years Ray was a faithful member of the 8 o’clock service in Busbridge, and served as Treasurer for the Warehouse Christian Trust (The Cellar Camino Café and Skillway). His funeral will be on Wednesday 16 April at 2.15pm at Guildford Crematorium. Please hold Lesley, Neil and Tracy in your prayers, and ask for God’s comfort to surround them all.
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.
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.