Click here for Easter events and services
Dear Friends
The Alpha course concluded this week with some really positive reviews. This term’s group had very little Christian background and all have found Alpha impactful and taken significant steps forward. We’re now preparing for at least 2 baptisms shortly!
All the guests agreed that sharing a meal at the start of each session is hugely valuable in building a sense of community. Here are some of the feedback comments from participants: "What lovely people looking after us every week", "simply delicious meal again tonight", "please pass on my thanks for all the wonderful suppers", and from one of the table hosts; “I hadn’t realised how vital it was that each session started with a hot meal, but it enabled the group to get to know each other in a relaxed way. So many folk were involved and I’m not going to attempt to list them, but please assure them that it was such a witness to the attendees. Heartfelt thanks to them all!”
Finally a huge ‘thank you and well done’ to Lesley Mason for organising and running the course. It’s been an enormous undertaking and very well received.
You can register your interest for the next course at anytime, and we’ll be in touch when the next series of sessions is in the diary. See godalmingminster.org/explore/growing-faith/Alpha.
The other great news this week is the new Godalming Minster web site. Take a look at godalmingminster.org and you can quickly get a sense of what a wonderful lot of work to build God’s Kingdom everyone is up to. The mobile phone version of the web site is still being finessed and there is doubtless some dud links and QR codes in the digital ether, but we hope you agree it shows a degree of the progress we have made as Godalming Minster. Do get in touch if you can’t find what you are looking for.
Now back to the final weeks of Lent before Easter. Don’t miss a Sunday! This week we are thinking about what it takes to grow more as a thriving Christian community, and how we’re going to do it. Then comes Palm Sunday (13 April) when we’ll all come together for a procession and service at Church Street followed by lunch, before Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Day. We look forward to seeing you!
This Sunday
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.
Readings:
Malachi 3:6-12 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
9am Choral Eucharist
Church Street
Find the music list for April here
10am Morning Worship
Franklyn Road
10am Classic Service [HC]
Brighton Road
10am Morning Worship
Hambledon
10.30am Contemporary
Church Street
Coffee from 10.15am and children’s groups in the Octagon.
6pm Evening Worship
Brighton Road
Coming Up
Mothers’ Union
The next meeting of the Mothers’s Union is at 2pm on Wednesday 9th April at St John’s, Farncombe when the Rev James Rattue will be speaking about Gardens Designed to Scare. All are welcome.
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
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
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
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.