The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, and St Mark s Church, Franklyn Road Wishing all our readers joy and love at Christmas and a Happy New Year 50p
The Parish of Godalming www.godalming.org.uk Useful contact and telephone numbers Clergy: The Rev d Canon Mervyn Roberts - Team Rector (860594) mervynrob@aol.com The Rev d Beverley Hunt - Team Vicar (424710) revbevppm@btinternet.com The Rev d Robbie Harvie - Assistant Priest (414378) robert.harvie@btinternet.com Pastoral Assistants (from Ss P&P): Barbara Stokes (421924) Marion Watkinson (426462) Derek Randell (428240) Pam Powell (415828) Jenny Perry (422569) Pastoral Assistants (from St M): Jacky Tickner (415702) Patricia Harvie (414378) Churchwardens: William Bryans (07968 832464) Edwin Powlesland (420227) Deputy Churchwardens: Susan Lochner (Ss P&P) (415850) Kevin Camp (St M) (490375) Churchwarden Emeritus: Alan Bott (Ss P&P) (416546) Organist and Choirmaster: John Belcher (414858) Parish Administrator - contact for weddings: Juliet Loudon (414135) godalming.church.office@gmail.com Child Protection Representatives: Sarah Higgins (Ss P&P) (418454) Sandy Avenell (St M) (416055) St Mark s Community Centre: (418741) The Parochial Church Council PCC (members in addition to clergy, churchwardens and deputy churchwardens): From Ss P&P Mark Sheppard, Alan Bott, Helen Roche, Victoria Yell, Philip Roche, Malcolm Smith, Andrew Bolton, Peter Andrews (co-opted) From St M Gillian Martin, Jacky Tickner, Cyril Netley, Donna Gibbs, Karin McDonald Deanery Synod: June Davies*, Lin Allen, John Stevens* (* - also member of Diocesan Synod) District Church Council DCC (Members in addition to PCC) From Ss P&P John Graham, Peter Davies, Janet Davies From St M Serena Ewart, Pauline Harrison, Sylvia Gatehouse Hon Secretary to the PCC: Peter Andrews (416143) Hon Secretary to Ss P&P s DCC: Angela Treacy (420581) Hon Secretary to St Mark s DCC: Jacky Tickner (415702) Hon Parish Treasurer: Andrew Bolton (429078) 2
Are you coming to visit Starting on Saturday 30 th November and running through until Saturday 7 th December. Open 10am - 6pm Monday to Saturday, and from 12 noon until 6pm on Sunday. Free Entry, although donations welcome for local charities. Refreshments served throughout the day you could arrange to meet your friends for coffee or lunch, or bring your children in after school for some tea. You could try your luck on our raffle! Table top sale of crafts and gifts in the Octagon on Saturday 30 th November and Saturday 7 th December, selling cards, Christmas gifts and other delightful items. on Friday 6 th December, from 6.45pm to 10pm, in the Octagon. Make and Take workshops involving some of the following: Silk painting, jewellery making, brass rubbing, cake decorating, card making, stained glass work, patchwork fir cones, flower arranging, silver pendant making. Refreshments included. Must be booked in advance. Call Janet or Peter Davies for more information on 01483 416177 or email janetdavies6132@googlemail.com 3
Contents The Rector Writes... page 5 Old Customs... page 7 Music for December and January, and Recitals... pages 10 & 11 Don t forget!... page 12 Bell Ball info... page 15 Calendar and Services and Diary... pages 19, 20, 21 & 22 Link Up... pages 23-28 Saturday 14 th December 2013, from 10am Blessing of the Crib in the Pepperpot at 3.30pm followed by the Town Carol Service at 4pm at St Peter and St Paul. Charity Stalls, Godalming Town Band, Hog Roast and Soup, Rodborough Jazz Band, TTT, Morris Dancers, Witley Pantomime Co, Surrey Hills Ukulele Big Band and many others... 4
DESERT ISLAND DATES! The Rector Writes... One of the classic gifts for Christmas has to be a calendar. This is not surprising when considering that this time of year, marking the birth of the Christ child and the giving of presents associated with the season, is so close to the end of one year and the beginning of another. It is also no surprise that with December and January being in the depth of our winter months, holiday companies will buy up hours of advertising space to bombard us with bewitching images of far-away places, paradise islands where the sun is shining, the golden beach is bare and a supply of ice-cold cocktails is readily available to cool us down. The image of the tropical desert island was alluded to in the writing of the lecturer and theologian William Barclay, who jokingly commented that should he be shipwrecked alone on a desert island he would, if not having the good book with him, be very happy just to have a calendar in his possession. His point was that whereas every book must come to an end, a calendar gives us a never ending supply of memories and of hopes. Starting the new year on a desert island may not be attractive, even to those of us who would at this moment welcome a bit of warmth, peace and serenity, but the thought of having a calendar alongside us does make sense. After all, what better equipment could we have as we enter a new year, than good memories of the past to cherish and as Christians, great hopes for the future: Thankful for all that has been And trustful for all that is to come. A peaceful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Mervyn 5
Confirming our faith? I am hoping to arrange a faith-based discussion course for teenagers who may potentially be interested in confirmation. I am suggesting a 30-45 minute session starting at 11.45 on Sunday 9 th February which will run through until the beginning of April. If you would be interested in attending this course please would you let me know? It is for all teenage youngsters, not just those who at this stage intend to be confirmed and is likely to be held in the Pepperpot. Thanks Mervyn Do you have a few spare hours each week? Read on! The Cellar The Cellar in Crown Court, Godalming, is a café open to the general public which also provides a welcoming place for vulnerable people in the community. People from all faiths and none can find a sense of belonging to an extended family where joys and sorrows are shared. The Cellar is a registered charity and the staff is supported by a team of volunteers. Reliable and friendly volunteers are welcomed and are particularly needed between 9am to 10am, and 3pm to 4pm on weekdays, and 9am to 10am and 2pm to 4pm on Saturdays. Could you give some time regularly on one or more days a week? No experience is needed, just a willingness to become involved in the running of the café and its work. Call in and speak to Debbie or Emma or phone Jacky on 01483 423768. 6
New Year s Day The arrival of spring in mid March is the time we celebrate the true beginning of the cycle of the seasons, but our national customs begin on the first day of January, New Year s Day. We can thank the Romans for establishing January as the year s beginning. A month dedicated to the god Janus seemed appropriate as it embraced the notion of looking back over an old year and bringing in a new one. Janus was depicted as a two-faced god and having the ability to look backwards and forwards at the same time made him an obvious choice as the god overseeing doors and gateways. As the protector and guardian of gates he was the ideal immortal to open and close the year. Our word janitor refers to Janus the keeper of the door. Many of the old customs surrounding New Year derive from the old Roman god. There is for example first footing when it is said that the first foot over the threshold of a house decides the luck of the year. So just before Big Ben chimes in the New Year someone is sent outside the front door. By tradition it should be a male, ideally tall and dark. He is supposed to bring into the house symbols of warmth, wealth and food, often represented by coal, salt and cake. Giving gifts was an important element in New Year celebrations and unbridled kindness would in its turn bring good fortune. In true Janus-like fashion, withholding generosity was deemed to be very bad. So giving credit or causing someone to be in your debt was viewed as an unlucky omen that would remain with you throughout the entire year. Old customs relating to roman gods may not be in keeping with our Christian celebration of New Year, but the twin approach to life in both looking back and looking forward is surely an important element within our faith, which centres on what God has done in Christ and what is promised for us in our future. Mervyn 7
O Christmas cards are still available! ur 2013 Christmas cards are on sale in aid of the Friends of St Peter & St Paul. This year s photograph, which is a winter view of the church, taken from the Lammas Lands, was the winning entry in a Christmas card photographic competition, recently run by the Friends. Christmas cards are on sale in packs of 10 at 3.75 per pack and include the message Christmas Greetings. They may be purchased on Sunday mornings before and after the service, from the Parish Office during normal opening hours, from Pavilion in Church Street or by contacting Julian Hubble on 01483 424268. Cards may be hand delivered locally, by arrangement, or sent by post. Julian Hubble 8
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Music for December and January in the Parish Church - Lunchtime Organ Recitals Friday 6 th December 2013 and Friday 3 rd January 2014 December s Friday Lunchtime Organ Recital is on 6th December at 1 p.m., and is given by our resident Organist, John Belcher (who should know the organ better than anyone!). He has planned a programme to show off not only the impressive chorus-work of the organ but many of the more delicate colours. (Even the plaintive Vox Humana, prescribed by the French symphonic composers but also favoured by the Baroque school, makes an appearance). The season of Advent is reflected in one of Bach's best-known chorale preludes, 'Now come, thou Saviour of the gentiles', and the following Christmas season by Denis Bedard's attractive Variations on 'In Dulci Jubilo'. Opening with a Fantasia and Fugue by C.P.E.Bach and concluding with Rheinberger's majestic Toccata in C, the programme also features music by Guilmant and Eric Thiman (his 'Tune for the Tuba' - a must for Tuba aficianados! - and I think Godalming has the loudest Tuba in the diocese!). I look forward to seeing you on 6th December (the Feast of St.Nicholas) when it will be my privilege to share the glories of our fine instrument with you. I am delighted to give you notice of our first Recital of the New Year - on Friday, 3rd January at 1pm, when our recitalist will be none other than Timothy Parsons, a young local musician who will be known to quite a number of you. An academic and music scholar at Charterhouse (where his father is Head of Strings), Timothy was Organ Scholar at Hereford Cathedral before taking up the Organ Scholarship of Selwyn College, Cambridge, in 2011 where he is reading for a degree in Music. Later this year, he will become Organ Scholar at Winchester Cathedral. Timothy already holds the prestigious F.R.C.O. diploma, and has given recitals in cathedrals in the U.K. and continental Europe. In August this year he was awarded 2nd Prize in the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition. Timothy's programme for us on 3rd January includes attractive pieces by the Welsh composer, William Mathias and Howells' evocative 'Master 10
Tallis's Testament'. The recital concludes with the thrilling finale of Messiaen's great cycle 'La Nativite', 'Dieu Parmi Nous'. Do make a special effort of coming to support a significant manifestation of Godalming 'home-grown' talent - Godalming should indeed be proud of Timothy! JTB Lunchtime Organ Recitals in The Parish Church 1pm on Fridays Admission free to all Lunchtime Recitals retiring collection 6 th December John Belcher, Ss Peter & Paul, Godalming 3 rd January... Timothy Parsons, Organ Scholar, Selwyn College, Cambridge 7 th February.. Norman Harper, St George s RC Cathedral, Southwark 7 th March... David Beeby, Head of Music, Poole Grammar School 4 th April... Gillian Lloyd, Guildford United Reformed Church 2 nd May... Stephen Disley, Sub-Organist Southwark Cathedral 6 th June... Jeremy Lloyd, Organ Scholar, The London Oratory 20 th June... Judith Choi-Castro, Violinist 4 th July... George Castle, Assist Director of Music, Winchester Cathedral BACH S CHRISTMAS ORATORIO - Saturday 7 th December 2013 Blackheath & Bramley Choral Society is putting on its Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 7th at 7.30 pm at Holy Trinity Church, Guildford with a performance of Bach s Christmas Oratorio that will guarantee an uplifting start to the festive season. The Christmas Oratorio has always been a popular favourite and Bach s rich orchestration provides a wonderfully colourful canvas for his joyful telling of the nativity story. Tickets are priced at 12; available from choir members, by phone 01483 222324 or from Guildford Tourist Information Centre 01483 444334. 11
Don t forget... Guided tour of the church by Alan Bott on Sunday 15 th December from 2.30 to 3.30pm. The tour will include views of the silver and the bells. Proceeds to the church fabric fund. Just turn up. The Women s' Group: We meet on Thursday mornings from 9.15am to 10.30am in the Octagon. Everyone is very welcome. For more information call Jeannie Campbell on 01483 420317. (Paula Gooder, whose book we are studying, will, once again, be delivering a lecture at Guildford Cathedral at 7.30pm on Monday 3 rd February 2014 at 7pm. Information about booking tickets will be available soon.) Godalming Museum continues its series of lectures under the heading of The Professions in Godalming Then and Now The next lecture is on Wednesday 29 th January at 7.30pm, by Michael Goodridge, former Partner at Barlow Robbins. Michael will be discussing The Law. Tickets 5 from Godalming Museum on 01483 426510. Christmas Cheese Tasting in The Octagon Tuesday 17 th December at 7.30pm. Guided tasting of 6-10 Cheeses suitable for Christmas Discover how to put cheeses together for a perfect cheeseboard Learn how to eat, store and prepare cheese Bread, chutney, fruit and drinks included 22 with wine, or 15 with soft drinks only Advance tickets only. Buy online at www.flavourtastings.co.uk/events 12
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Parish Office: Our Parish Administrator is Juliet Loudon, who is available in the Office on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 11am to 4pm. Telephone: 01483 414135 email: godalming.church.office@gmail.com. Contact Juliet for Weddings and Octagon Bookings. Magazine: Please let Juliet in the Parish Office have any items for inclusion in our February magazine by 15 th January. Notice: The Magazine does not accept any liability for the actions of its advertisers. However, if you have any problems or are dissatisfied in any way, we would be grateful if you could let us know via the Parish Office 14
Godalming Bell Ball 2013 This year s popular annual fundraiser for the maintenance of Godalming Parish Church will take place on Friday 13 th December 2013 in the very festive atmosphere of the Great Hall at Charterhouse School. Proceeds are always shared with a nominated charity, and this year the Ball will support Headway Surrey, which provides support and services for those affected by brain injury across the county of Surrey. Tickets are now on sale at 65 per person, or 520 for a table of eight. Ticket price includes champagne reception, top quality 3 course meal from the Charterhouse chefs and dancing to live band The Gift, together with tombola and charity auction. Some tables and individual tickets are still available (at the time of writing). In previous years these have sold fast as the date approaches, so please get your tickets quickly to avoid disappointment. For more information contact bellball@goatleys.freeserve.co.uk, find The Bell Ball 2013 on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @BellBall2013 For booking forms and to buy tickets email Jill Uzel jill.bellball@gmail.com or telephone 07712 161835 (evenings only) www.headwaysurrey.org www.parishofgodalming.org.uk/our-church 15
Free Money from easyfundraising.org.uk! So far we have received 1,019.45 completely free It is so easy to sign up, and does not cost you a penny. Christmas is on its way, and you may be about to make purchases on line. Please talk to Juliet to find out how to help raise money for the parish, for free! It really doesn t hurt! See below: easyfundraising.org.uk is a great way to raise money for charities, schools, sports clubs, community groups, and other good causes just by shopping online. You don t pay anything extra. How does it work? 1. Start at easyfundraising.org.uk: Let's say you want to buy a book from Amazon. Instead of going to amazon.co.uk, you go to easyfundraising.org.uk first - or you can use the easyfundraising toolbar. 2. Make a purchase: click from the easyfundraising website through to Amazon to make your purchase. The price of the book is exactly the same as if you'd visited Amazon directly. 3. Get a donation After you have bought your book, Amazon will make a donation to our cause as a thank you for shopping with them. easyfundraising collect these donations for us, and it costs nothing! 16
Mane Chance Animal Sanctuary Christmas Carol Service on Sunday 15 th December 2013 at Godalming Parish Church With readings by Jenny Seagrove and Celebrity Friends of Mane Chance including Timothy Ackroyd, Peter Bowles, Peter Egan, Hayley Mills and Wendy Turner Webster. Special appearances from Mane Chance s Three Wise Men; Grimbo, Mr Smith, and Brandy (aka the Shetland Ponies) From 5pm, followed by Mulled Wine and Mince Pies. Tickets 10 each or 5 for OAPs and Children To reserve your tickets, please contact Fiona on 07512 363400 or email admin@mainchancesanctuary.org 17
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Services in December & January at St Peter & St Paul Morning Prayer at St Peter and St Paul every weekday at 9am. Every Tuesday at 12 noon there is a said service of Holy Communion (except for Tuesdays 24 th and 31 st December) Sunday Services: 8am Holy Communion (1662) This service is followed by Breakfast on the first Sunday 10am Choral Eucharist (with crèche and children s groups) On the first Sunday we have a Family Service See the Christmas Services page for our special and extra services in December In January we have the same pattern of services as indicated above. However, on Sunday 26 th January, there is a joint service by Churches Together in Godalming which will be held at St John s, Farncombe. Therefore there will be no 10am services at St Peter & St Paul, or St Mark s. There will be a service of Choral Evensong at St Peter & St Paul at 6.30pm on Sunday 16 th January. Services in December & January at St Mark s Church Morning Prayer every Monday at 9am Sunday Services: 10am Holy Communion On the third Sunday we have a Café Style Service which starts at the later time of 10.30am. See the Christmas Services page for our special and extra services in December On Sunday 26 th January, there is a joint service by Churches Together in Godalming which will be held at St John s, Farncombe. Therefore there will be no 10am services at St Peter & St Paul, or St Mark s. 19
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From The Church Records: Baptisms: Marriages: 3 rd November Georgina Pennell 3 rd November Matilda Perkins 9 th November Tom Croft and Zoe Bacon Regular Events at St Peter & St Paul Octots meet Mondays & Wednesdays in the Octagon, 10 to 11.30am. The Gospel Choir meets every Monday at 7.30pm in the Octagon. The Lammas Ringers rehearse on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm. Extra Events in our Parish DECEMBER (Christmas Tree Festival from 30 th November to 7 th December) Sun 1 st Countdown to Christmas Advent Family Service 10am Fri 6 th Lunchtime Organ Recital by John Belcher Fri 13 th Bell Ball at Charterhouse Sat 14 th Godalming Town Day, with carol service at 4pm Sun 15 th Guided Tour of the Church by Alan Bott at 2.30pm Sun 15 th Mane Chance Carol Concert at 5pm Mon 16 th Mummers Play outside the church at 8pm followed by a sing song and Christmas nibbles in the Octagon Tues 17 th Cheese Tasting in the Octagon at 7.30pm Sat 21 st Nativity Play rehearsal at 10.30am Sat 21 st GCGC concert at 7.30pm JANUARY Fri 3 rd Lunchtime Organ Recital by Timothy Parsons Wed 15 th St Mark s DCC Fri 17 th Climate Change Lecture by Professor Roland Cliff Wed 22 nd St Peter & St Paul s DCC Sun 26 th United Service at St John s Farncombe at 10.30am Wed 29 th Museum Talk in the Octagon The Law 22
Pages from Link Up, which gives us news from Churches Together in Godalming and District. - for December and January From the Chair of Churches Together in Godalming and District Over the Christmas season all our churches will very probably, at different times, be full of people. They will be there ostensibly to celebrate the astonishing fact of the almighty and everlasting God of heaven entering history in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, although all sorts of other considerations come into the matter! They will look at innumerable representations of the nativity, some static, some live-action, with perhaps an interesting range of non-biblical characters such as stars, page boys, and donkeys. I wonder what they see when they look into the crib? This, of course, is the great fact of all facts that changes everything. Our lives are no longer simply as they were; earth-bound existences lived separate from God and from the eternal. Now, the eternal comes to us, and our lives are bound with his. He shares everything that it means to be a human being, and life can never be despised or rejected afterwards. In the baby in the manger, through whom amazingly all things were made, we are all united, the differences between us broken down in the way a baby focuses everyone s attention. Our hope, as Christian believers, has to be that something of that sense of union comes across in what we do to the people who don t very often join us in worship. And can we learn to see one another reflected in him, too? This is not to deny the differences between us, any more than the many other differences between people of race, class, culture, ability and income are unreal. It is, however, to remember that to God, and in his timescale, they may mean rather less than they mean to us. To draw near to the crib and remember that other Christians are across the world as well as across Godalming doing exactly the same is to find again the need to keep talking, to keep trying to understand and to grow in unity. 23 Rev d James Rattue
Special Events Saturday 30 th November Godalming Town Christmas Festival and the switching on of the Christmas Lights. The Christmas Tree Festival will also begin at the Parish Church. Sunday 1 st December at 6.30pm at Godalming Baptist Church, Queen Street. A Celebration of Advent for choir and congregation with Singspiration. Come and join us, all welcome. Saturday 14 th December Christmas Together in Godalming in the High Street, from 10am to 4pm there will be Stalls and Entertainment, organised by Churches Together giving the opportunity to charities and organisations to publicise themselves and raise funds. At 3.30pm The Blessing of the Crib will take place at The Pepperpot. On Christmas Day, Churches Together are organising the Christmas Meal for those who would otherwise be on their own. To be held at Godalming Baptist Church at 1 p.m. You must book for this event which is very popular. Forms with full details are in the churches and day centres. Organiser: Gillian Martin, 01483 429640. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 18 th to 25 th January 2014 Sunday 26 th January 2014 at 10.30am - The United Service with Holy Communion will take place at St John s Parish Church, Farncombe. Saturday 18 th January 2014 from 10am to 3pm at Godalming Baptist Church, Queen Street. Churches Together Care Connections Day For Clergy, Pastoral Assistants and anyone involved in pastoral care, the day will begin with worship and contributions from Rev d Alan Elkins, Rev d Paul Hulme and Mick Williams from the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham. Refreshments provided, please bring your own lunch. For further information contact: Jacky Tickner on 01483 415702 Wednesday 22 nd January, 1.30 to 3pm at Godalming Baptist Church. Update on welfare reforms and the benefit system. Led by Nick Hetherington from the Citizens Advice Bureau, this promises to be very helpful and informative. Donations appreciated towards the work of CAB. Contact; Sally Pollard 01483 428646, or pollard3@hotmail.co.uk. Please let her know by Sunday 19 January if you are coming. 24
Saturday 25 th January at 8.30am. Churches Together Prayer Breakfast at St Marks Community Church, Franklyn Road, Ockford Ridge. All welcome. News from the Churches and Organisations Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul. A Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone! I am conscious that the recent discovery of skeletons in the vicinity south west of our present churchyard, together with our font, being dated approximately 820-840CE, confirms the fact that there was a sizeable Saxon community living close to the church in the 9 th century. One of the real blessings we have is to know that the building has stood as a symbol of faith and a major focus for town activities and events in the centre of Godalming throughout so many years. So it is lovely to feel we can still contribute to the life of our town by hosting major events throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons. There are far too many things happening to list in this short news info sheet so please check on our website, in our magazine, or look out for posters and flyers telling you about charitable concerts, school productions and church events centred on Christmas. However I would highlight the Godalming Christmas Tree Festival that will begin on the special, town-organised, Christmas switch-on Day, Saturday 30 th November, and will continue throughout the following week. We will have around 40-50 trees fully decorated and lit, with craft events and other activities taking place during the first week of December. Other big town events to highlight include the great Godalming Bell Ball which is a wonderful tradition we organise. It takes place at Charterhouse School on Friday 13 th December and there are still some tickets available for individuals and groups to purchase if they wish to attend this big society function which raises money for charity. We will also again be hosting the Town Carol Service that is an act of worship rounding up the full day of events organised as Christmas Together (Saturday 14 th ) by our churches together. Finally, looking into the New Year, I would like to notify any couples who are planning to get married in the course of the next year to put Sunday 2 nd February at 10am in their diaries. On this day we will hold a 25
Celebration of Marriage Ceremony followed by a reception and presentation on all aspects of arranging a wedding. This is open to all, not just the couples getting married at SSP&P. Check out the website: www.parishofgodalming.org.uk Rev d Canon Mervyn Roberts St Mark's Church, Franklyn Road, wishes you all a blessed Christmas and a happy new year! We are continuing to strengthen our community links with both Green Oak (Vol. Aided Church of England) Primary School and with the community at large in the Ockford Ridge and Aaron's Hill area whom we serve. In doing so, apart from our usual services at 10am on the 1 st, 2 nd and 4 th /5 th Sundays; we are hosting an informal accessible service for anyone, during which time we will have Carols, Croissants/Mince Pies and Coffee, and hear about God's love for us. KS2 Carol Service on the 17th December at 5pm; and a Community Carol Singalong with the school on the 20 th December at 1.00pm. All are invited. Rev d Beverley Hunt Food Bank: Christmas can be difficult for some families as they struggle to provide the bare essentials for their families. Please be assured that we are thinking of you and that our Food Bank is on hand to help anyone who may find themselves in such crisis at any time, including Christmas. So please do contact Rev d Bev Hunt at 01483 424710 (anytime) or Karen Milton at the Community Centre on 01483 418741 (Mondays to Wednesdays: 9-1.30pm). The Trinity Trust Team works in Godalming with young people in schools and churches. Andy Poulson, Team leader, writes: We were sad to see Chris Wheeler return to his native north east of England after two years with us and wish him every blessing in his new youth work role based in Scunthorpe, closer to his family in Manchester and Middlesbrough. We are delighted to welcome Nay Gaydon who has joined the team after gaining experience as a youth worker in Bristol and Brighton. Nay will focus on Farncombe, Binscombe, Northbourne and Broadwater School with Hyekyeong delivering our programmes and groups in Rodborough. The fruits of investing time in young people are not always clear; sometimes we see transformation and at other times we feel that maybe seeds have been sown that will help that young person in later life. It has 26
been hugely encouraging recently that a group of young females who have regularly been attending our Monday night youth café at Loseley Fields have approached us to run a girls only group where they can discuss some of the issues that many 12-16 year old girls face in their lives. I think it says much for the levels of trust that can be built up by being a consistent presence in the lives of young people that they felt that they could approach us in this way. With our prayers for a blessed Christmas and New Year. Andy and the team. The Cellar in Crown Court is a café open to the general public which also provides a welcoming place for vulnerable people in the community. People from all faiths and none can find a sense of belonging to an extended family where joys and sorrows are shared. The Cellar is a registered charity and the staff is supported by a team of volunteers. Reliable and friendly volunteers are welcomed and are particularly needed between 9 am to 10 am, and 3 pm to 4 pm on weekdays, and 9 am to 10 am and 2 pm to 4 pm on Saturdays. Could you give some time regularly on one or more days a week? No experience is needed, just a willingness to become involved in the running of the café and its work. Call in and speak to Debbie or Emma or phone Jacky on 01483 423768. Godalming United Church: Sunday December 1st 10:30am - "Looking Forward" - a family service for Advent during which the crib will be assembled and the advent ring lit. The congregation is invited to bring offerings of toys and other gifts for distribution by the Cellar to needy families in the locality. Sunday December 22 nd at 5:00pm - candlelight Christingle Service with carols, followed by mince pies. On Christmas Eve 4:00 pm there will be a time of Reflection before Christmas Communion and on Christmas Day at 10:00am - short service for all the family: children may bring one of their presents to show. Meanwhile preparations are well in hand for our customary February pantomime - Rumplestiltskin. It has been specially written for GUC, is bang up-to-date yet contains all the usual pantomime ingredients. It will be staged on Saturday & Sunday 8 th & 9 th February (4 performances) and is always a popular event, so book your tickets early on 01483 421268. St Peter s, Hascombe has its Carol Service on Sunday 15 th December at 6.00pm. Our very popular crib service with the children, parents and grandparents is on Christmas Eve at 4.00pm, followed by midnight mass 27
at 11.30pm; and on Christmas Day we have our service at 10.00am. Our assistant priest Roger ter Haar was presented with two paintings by a local artist of both parish churches on Sunday 17 th November before taking up his new LOM ministry near Petworth. He will be greatly missed and we now face the challenge of covering both parish services with both PCC s looking at the alternatives. 2014 will be the 150th anniversary of the rebuilding of St Peter s by Canon Musgrave which we will be celebrating. St John s Church, Farncombe We have been extraordinarily lucky in having lost a number of items in a burglary and having recovered them mere days later, thanks to the efforts of Surrey and Hampshire Police. Now we look forward to the Christmas festivities which, though still a month away, will approach with frightening alacrity. Before that we have our traditional Advent Service of Light on the evening of Sunday December 1 st and will be praying for Bishop of Guildford Christopher Hill as he retires at the end of November. We ll be welcoming Broadwater School, Farncombe Infants, the Ladybirds Nursery and the National Childbirth Trust to celebrate Christmas at St John s at different points in the Advent season, all relationships we value greatly. 28
DIRECTORYADS.DOT Electrical Installation Work, and Domestic Rewiring by qualified Electrician. Free advice and estimates. Good references. Clean and tidy work assured. No local job too small. Approved by Buy with Confidence member. Peter Knottley, 2 Wolseley Road, Godalming 428073. Painting and Decorating by experienced tradesman, Interior or Exterior. Free estimates. Tom Pollard, Godalming 415074. FRENCH TRANSLATIONS & LANGUAGE SERVICES - From small documents to manuals, Help with mail and bookings. French Native speaker. Contact Yvette Grime, MA Translation. Make it all make sense! Tel: 01483 753691 - yvetteangelats@btinternet.com. Titcombe Heating and Plumbing Service - Maintenance and installation, prompt, polite and tidy service. From dripping tap to a full central heating system. Phone Steve on 01483 423425 or mobile 07836 564856. Urgently Required, collectors for the PHYLLIS TUCKWELL HOSPICE/ CHASE Lottery. Local routes available. No canvassing required, routes already established. Please contact Sue on 01252 428 411 for more details. DAWN TILL DUSK Caring for your garden, call Dawn on 07500 808 298. To place your small ads, please ring June Davies, Advertisement Manager, on 01483 428876. Rates - 10p a word and 15p for word in Bold Chequers Electrical 52 Years Experience Electricians: Lighting, Sockets, Wiring, Outdoor Electrics Appliance Repair Engineers: Most household equipment including Washing Machines, Refrigerators commercial and domestic. Commercial Catering and Laundry Equipment also repaired and supplied. Small and Urgent Job Specialist Call Nigel Ham on 07796 591818 29
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