Vicar’s Mailings

14th April 2023

Dear Godmanchester & Hilton Church Family,

I should have reminded everyone sooner that the weekly Bible study resumes today (Friday) at 10.00 am on Zoom. All are of course welcome to any session – no need to commit to coming every week. We usually look at the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday, which this time will be John 20:19-end, and finish around 11.00. Here’s the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85790786358?pwd=LzExMW9CalN1NHBsb1BVVkEwejlUQT09

If it asks for a password, it’s ‘bible’. 

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

6th April 2023

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

As we move towards the climax of Holy Week, here is a reminder of the services and events of the next few days, But first, I am still looking for people able to hold vigil in the church tomorrow night, Maundy Thursday, after the Eucharist of the Last Supper (which starts at 7.30 pm) until midnight. I have a confirmed offer for the first half hour, until 9.00 pm, but nothing for sure after then. Anja and I will do the final slot, 11.30 pm to midnight, so there are five more to fill. I know one or two of you made offers on Sunday, but I can’t remember who you were or what you said you could do! Please let me know asap if you can help.

Maundy Thursday (April 6^th)

There is no 9.45 am Communion service this day. The clergy of the diocese renew their ordination vows in the Chrism Eucharist (at which Holy Oil is also blessed and distributed for use in the coming year) at 10.30 am in Ely Cathedral. The service, presided over by Bishop Stephen, is of course open to all, with refreshments served afterwards.

The Eucharist of the Last Supper, with washing of feet, stripping of the altars, and a vigil till midnight, will be at 7.30 pm. 

Good Friday (April 7^th)

The Good Friday Liturgy will be at 1.30 pm. The most solemn and often the most moving service of the year – we try to keep silence in church before and after the service. At the same time the Children’s Church will have their Good Friday workshop, in which they make the Easter garden and bake hot cross buns, in the church hall. All are invited to enjoy the buns after the service.

‘Grub, Games and God’ will take place as usual at 5.15 pm. We thought about cancelling it for Good Friday, but decided it would be better to hold it and use the opportunity to look at what this day means with people who are new to the church and matters of faith. There will be food similar to a Jewish Passover meal, and we will end with worship appropriate to the day. All are welcome, of all ages.

Holy Saturday (April 8^th)

The First Eucharist of Easter (also known, somewhat confusingly, as the Easter Vigil service) will be at 7.30 pm. We begin with the lighting of the Holy Fire outside the church by the west (tower) door, before processing into the darkened church by candlelight and then acclaiming the Risen Lord with fanfares, bells and in song, bathed in light and surrounded by the Easter flowers. We also renew our baptism vows as we gather by the font and are sprinkled with holy water. This is a most special service – please come and make it more so.

Easter Sunday (April 9^th)

Services are as usual this day – except, of course, that nothing is ‘as usual’ about Easter! 

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

28th March 2023

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

Holy Week and Easter are nearly here. This is to let you know what is happening, and also to ask for people willing to take part in various ways.

Palm Sunday (Sunday April 2^nd)

As usual, we will have the long reading of the Passion Narrative at the 9.30 am service, with a number of people reading various parts. Please let me know as soon as you can if you would like to read one or more of the parts – some are only one line, so it is easy to double up.

There will be a procession from the hall into the church at the start of the service. You can either collect your books and palm crosses from the churchand then come into the hall for the procession, or take your seat in church in the usual way and wait for the procession to enter.

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday in Holy Week (3^rd, 4^th & 5^th)

There will be a said service of Holy Communion at 9.45 am on each of these days.

Maundy Thursday (April 6^th)

There is no 9.45 am Communion service this day. The clergy of the diocese renew their ordination vows in the Chrism Eucharist (at which Holy Oil is also blessed and distributed for use in the coming year) at 10.30 am in Ely Cathedral. The service, presided over by Bishop Stephen, is of course open to all, with refreshments served afterwards.

The Eucharist of the Last Supper, with washing of feet, stripping of the altars, and a vigil till midnight, will be at 7.30 pm. 

If you are willing to take part in the foot washing (which re-enacts Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the last supper), please get in touch. This year we will each wash the feet of the person next to us in turn, so if you offer to take part you will be asked to join in the foot washing yourself, not simply have your feet washed by me as in previous years.

We need a number of people able to hold silent vigil in the church from the end of the service (approx. 8.30 pm) in half hour slots until midnight. There will be a sheet to sign up in the church on Sunday, but you can also let me know in advance if you can join the vigil.

Good Friday (April 7^th)

The Good Friday Liturgy will be at 1.30 pm. The most solemn and often the most moving service of the year – we try to keep silence in church before and after the service. At the same time the Children’s Church will have their Good Friday workshop, in which they make the Easter garden and bake hot cross buns, in the church hall. All are invited to enjoy the buns after the service.

Holy Saturday (April 8^th)

The First Eucharist of Easter (also known, somewhat confusingly, as the Easter Vigil service) will be at 7.30 pm. We begin with the lighting of the Holy Fire outside the church by the west (tower) door, before processing into the darkened church by candlelight and then acclaiming the Risen Lord with fanfares, bells and in song, bathed in light and surrounded by the Easter flowers. We also renew our baptism vows as we gather by the font and are sprinkled with holy water. This is a most special service – please come and make it more so.

Easter Sunday (April 9^th)

Services are as usual this day – except, of course, that nothing is ‘as usual’ about Easter! 

I look forward very much to seeing you at some or all of these services. Whether you can make it to church or not, may you know the depth of God’s love as we seek to walk in the spirit the way of the cross, the way of life.

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday, as you probably know. 

I hope many of you will want to come to the 9.30 Parish Communion, as we have some special musical treats prepared for Mothering Sunday. We will as usual also be distributing flowers to all, not only to mothers – many thanks to the Flower Guild for preparing these. There will be an extra collection plate available for donations to Thrive, the local church-run youth programme that works in our two secondary schools and in the wider community – members of St Mary’s are very much involved as mentors and trustees. There will be croissants served afterwards in the church hall, and donations for these will also go to Thrive, which needs continuous funding to support its paid youth worker.

Sung Evensong is next Sunday, the 26th, at 6.30 pm, with choir, hymns, an anthem, sung canticles and responses, a sermon – and you will be able to leave the church in daylight!

I hope to see you at these services, but in any event, may God give you his peace, now and always.

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Dear Godmanchester & Hilton Church Family,

The Vicarage is full of germs at the moment – both Anja and I have a rather nasty bug (not Covid), which is taking its time to shift. I think it will be in everyone’s interest if we don’t have the Lent Group here on Friday. Instead, we’ll have our usual bible study at the same time, 10.00 am, and hope we can meet in person next week, on Friday 3^rd March. (The Lent material won’t really work on Zoom.) Apologies to those of you who don’t do Zoom. For those who do, if you haven’t been to the bible study before, here’s the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85790786358?pwd=LzExMW9CalN1NHBsb1BVVkEwejlUQT09

I have changed the set-up so you can let yourselves in. If it asks for a password, it’s bible.

Hope to see some of you online this Friday, and perhaps more of you next week in the Vicarage.

Best wishes

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 19th February 2023

Dear Godmanchester & Hilton Church Family,

Ash Wednesday

Lent begins this coming Wednesday, 22nd February.  As usual we will have a Sung Eucharist in St Mary’s Godmanchester that evening at 7.30 pm, including the Imposition of Ashes (the sign of the cross on the forehead in ash made from last year’s palm crosses, as a symbol of penitence) for those who want to receive it.  Please come if you can it’s a good way to begin Lent.

Lent Prayer & Study Group

There will be a prayer and study group, for anyone interested from Godmanchester and Hilton, meeting in Godmanchester Vicarage at 10am on six Fridays in Lent, the first on Friday 24th February and the last on Friday 31st March.  We will be using reflections from a booklet called ‘Dust and Glory’, which looks at faith, failure and forgiveness.  The booklet is provided.  All are welcome – do please consider coming.  There is no need to book in advance, and no need to commit to all six sessions.  Refreshments provided. Please contact me for diretions or more information if needed. There will be no Zoom bible study during Lent – that will resume on Friday April 14th.

Evensong 26th February

Our monthly Evensong at St mary’s Godmanchester, with choir, hymns, an anthem, sung canticles and responses, and a sermon, takes place next on Sunday 26th February at 6.30 pm.  All welcome, from both parishes. It would be good to see the chancel full of people!

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 5th February 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

Tomorrow (Friday 3rd) we have ‘Grub, Games and God’ once again, from 5.15 pm, in church. Hot food, drinks (wine for those who want it), socialising, games and activities, songs, a talk and prayers. Please come – it is for all, not just for those with children. Bring a friend.

As most of you will know, we have resumed the use of the chalice (communion cup). Please note that intinction (dipping the bread in the wine) is not approved by the Church of England guidance. Many people, quite understandably, think that it is more hygienic than drinking from the cup, but research has shown that the opposite is true. Clergy are also instructed not to place the communion wafer directly onto the tongue of the communicant.

Leaf clearing in the churchyard takes place this Saturday (4th) from 9.30 am. Please come, and bring a rake and/or carry-sack if possible. There will be refreshments, and good cheer!

Please come to the coffee morning at Jean Morgan’s (2a Earning Street) on Monday 6th, 10.30 am to 12.00 noon. This is to raise funds for ‘Grub, Games and God’ (see above), which is without charge to all comers. Gifts for the raffle gratefully received, in advance or on the day.

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 20th November 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

Parish Communion this Sunday

This Sunday (20th) is the feast of Christ the King, and we have our Parish Communion service at 9.30 am. This is the shorter service with children present throughout and taking part. 

Christmas Bazaar on the 26th

The annual Christmas bazaar is in church (with teas in the hall) on Saturday November 26^th from 2.00 to 4.00 pm. Please come, please spread the word, and why not bring a friend? We need more bottles for the bottle stall, please. Both alcohol and soft drinks gratefully received. Bring them to church this Sunday, or bring them on the day any time between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm. If you know of anyone who has a stall they might like to run at the bazaar, it is not too late. Please ask them to get in touch asap.

Advent Carols November 27th

Sunday November 27^th is Advent Sunday, and we will once again mark it with the Advent Carol service at 6.30 pm. This is a beautiful occasion, candle-lit, with a different feel from Christmas Carols. Do come.

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 6th November 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family

Grub, Games and God takes place (should be ‘take place’, grammatically) tomorrow, Friday 4th, at 5.15 pm. If you haven’t been before, give it a go! It is for all, not just for children. There is hot food, drinks and snacks (wine for those who want it), games to bring young and old together, and a time of worship, with plenty of time to socialise. Do come – we’d love to see you there.

If you read bible lessons in church, or if you would like to, or just to find out more with no commitment, please come to the lesson readers’ meeting at 11.15 am in church this Sunday. It is a time to share encouragement and wisdom, and to pass on tips and pointers. Bring your coffee from the hall – it should take well under an hour.

A reminder that the funeral of Dai Morgan is on Thursday November 10^th at 3.00 pm. Please wear bright colours in Dai’s memory.

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 16th October 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

We have a couple of newcomers to this mailing list (Welcome!) so for their benefit, and as a reminder to anyone else who may need it, I’ll just briefly outline how this works. It goes out irregularly but fairly frequently, if that makes sense, whenever I feel there is something worthwhile to pass on, to about 130+ addresses. It is blind copied, so it will look as if it is going to you only, and no-one can see anyone else’s address. If you ever have any information you think would be suitable for this St Mary’s-based mailing list, please let me know and I’ll try to pass it on. If at any time you would like to stop receiving these mailings, please let me know. No offence will be taken!

Thrive Prayer Evening this Tuesday

Some of you will know of the church youth project Thrive, which works as a mentoring service in the two local secondary schools of St Peter’s and Hinchingbrooke, and also runs after-school youth cafés. It is funded partly by the Diocese of Ely and also by other local churches of all denominations, and by individual giving, and employs Ruth Hunt, who spoke at St Mary’s recently, as a leader, and uses other local ministers and church members. It is doing excellent and exciting work, and it is really worthwhile getting to know the project.

Apologies for the late notice, but you are invited to join in an evening of prayer for the Thrive Youth Work project in Huntingdon. The evening together will involve giving thanks for the work that God has been doing in Huntingdon through the Thrive project, and praying for the programmes, team and volunteers, and the future of Thrive as it looks forward into 2023. There will also be some ‘Youth Café style’ refreshments, and a short time of worship.

Join us in All Saints Church, Huntingdon on Tuesday 18 October, 7.30 – 8.30pm.

I’ve attached this week’s newsletter, which includes information about the film night this Saturday (22nd) and the All Souls service on the 30th.

With love

David

Sunday 9th October 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

Grub, Games & God (Friday at 5.15 as was)

This is tomorrow, Friday 7th, at 5.15, and is for all, not only families, but very much including them. It has been re-named so that it does what it says on the tin: turn up from 5.15 and there will be hot food, snacks and drinks, with wine for those who want it. Then some crafts and games that bring young and old together, followed by some simple worship songs, a talk and a prayer. All done by 7.00 pm. Please come, and bring friends if you can. Make a date in your diary for the first Friday of every month.

Civic Service this Sunday

Our annual Civic Service is this Sunday (9th) at 11.00 am. There is no 9.30 service that day. This is our yearly chance to thank God for the life of the town, and to pray for all who serve it so well, many of whom will be there: our Mayor and Town Council, the uniformed organisations (Brownies and Cubs, Scouts and Guides, etc), and representatives of other community groups and of the wider district. Please come – there are delicious refreshments afterwards in the Queen Elizabeth School for all who attend the service. It is really our Town Service, and very much for everyone. Excellent music too.

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 25th September 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

A few quick notices:

Friends of St Mary’s AGM

This takes place this Sunday (25th), following the after-church coffee in the church hall. It’s a very good opportunity to hear about the wonderful work the Friends do to support and enhance our parish church. Please stay to join in if you can.

Evensong on Sunday

Choral Evensong resumes on Sunday evening at 6.30 pm. 

A new Archdeacon and a new Rural Dean

We have a new Archdeacon, Canon Richard Harlow, who will be Collated (licensed or commissioned) at St Peter and St Paul’s Wisbech on Sunday at 4.30 pm. Revd Duncan Goldthorpe (Vicar of Brampton and other parishes) is our new Rural Dean. Please pray for God’s blessing on both.

Harvest Festival and Gift Day

This is on Sunday October 2nd. Please come and join in the celebration of harvest, and please give as generously as you can to support the church through what promises to be a difficult time financially.

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 11th September 2022

Sunday 1st May 2022

Wednesday 13th April 2022 p.m.

Wednesday 13th April 2022 a.m.

1. Sunday 10th April 2022

Thursday 7th April 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

As many of you know, on Palm Sunday we have the custom of reading the full Passion Narrative (the story of the Last Supper and the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus) from one of the Gospels (this year it is Luke), using different voices. I am still looking for a few people willing to read one of the parts – most of them are quite minor, often with just a single line. No acting required, just a willingness to stand at the front of church with others and say your line into a microphone. I’ll send the text to those who respond – please do!

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 3rd April 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

As from tomorrow, Sunday 3rd, we will return to the practice of olden times (pre-pandemic), and pass the collection plate round during the third hymn. If you give by standing order, please don’t feel awkward at not putting anything in – or you could drop in an empty yellow envelope if you prefer. We will also bring up the elements (bread and wine) at the same time.

On a personal note, some of you very kindly sponsored Simon and Karin for a skydive in aid of Cancer Research last October. You may recall their jump had to be postponed because of bad weather. They finally completed it successfully this morning – they nearly froze at 15,000 feet (actual frost formed on faces in the minus 30 degree temperature), but they landed with most limbs attached in roughly the correct places and they’re still breathing, so it counts as a success. If you would like to contribute, it’s not too late: https://gofund.me/9a9c3aca

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 27th March 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

Summer Time begins tomorrow – hooray! Clocks go forward an hour tonight – boo!

Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday. (Sons and daughters, now’s your last chance to do something about it!) At the 9.30 am service we have Parish Communion, with children in throughout and taking part, and helping to distribute the flowers kindly prepared by the Flower Guild, to whom many thanks.

We also have our monthly Choral Evensong at 6.30 pm tomorrow. Unlike Evening Prayer on the other Sundays, this involves the choir, an anthem, full sung service with hymns , and a sermon. You may even be able to leave church more or less in daylight, as the sun sets at 7.25. See you there?

Please look at several important notices in the newsletter, especially the ones about a meeting at the Baptist Church on Monday for anyone thinking of hosting Ukrainian refugees, and a time of prayer for Ukraine on Thursday 31^st (this coming Thursday) in church from 5.00 to 7.00 pm. I’d be grateful if you would kindly let people know about the time of prayer.

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 20th March 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

I hope the beauty of spring is bringing you some joy, and a vision of God’s goodness, in these dark times.

This week’s newsletter is attached. Please note that we have begun the new system of organising the prayer list, so it is very short at the moment. If there are any names missing you would like to see there, please contact either Jim Heeley at jskc@btinternet.com or myself. Names will be kept on the list for a month, unless you contact one of us to say you would like the name to stay on the list. As a means of ensuring that the list is always relevant, we ask you to do this each month, no matter how long the name stays there.

Next Sunday, the 27th, is Mothering Sunday, and we have Parish Communion at 9.30 am with the children in church throughout, and flowers for all, with our thanks to the Flower Guild.

With love

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 6th March 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

I have decided, very reluctantly, not to take any services tomorrow, as I was in close contact for over an hour on Thursday with someone who tested positive that evening. All services will go ahead as planned, thanks to the kind offices of Jonathan Young and Christopher Leffler. I know some may see this as an excess of caution, but I could easily be infectious, and do not want to be the cause of spreading the virus if I can help it. I have no symptoms at the moment.

We all desperately want to help Ukraine, not only with our prayers. You will see from the newsletter that we are taking donations in church for the Disasters Emergency Committee. Understandably, people feel they want to give something more tangible, and many people are organising collections of supplies to ship out to Poland and elsewhere. However, the word from the aid agencies is that money is more effective than goods. The trouble is that piles of unsorted and sometimes unsuitable material arrive in places where it is not needed, with no system to distribute it. The agencies know what is needed and where, and can purchase much of it locally and avoid the costs of shipping it there. The church will not therefore be supporting any scheme to collect and transport material.

Christopher Leffler has reminded me of the work of the Barnabas Fund, which supports Churches and Christians in difficulty around the world. They are raising money for minority Christian groups such as Baptists and Pentecostals in Ukraine, who may often be overlooked in such an overwhelmingly Orthodox country. If you would like to support their work, please use this link:

https://www.barnabasfund.org/gb/latest-needs/help-ukrainian-christians-in-their-hour-of-need/

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 27th February 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

I am sure I don’t need to urge you to pray for God’s justice, wisdom and peace to prevail over the chaos that Vladimir Putin has unleashed on Ukraine – but I do urge just that! If we feel helpless offering ‘only’ prayer, it is when we turn to God helplessly that His Spirit is at work in us, and in the world.

The following three items are all in the attached newsletter (which contains other pieces as well), but I want to highlight them here.

Robert Caroe
There will be a memorial service for Robert Caroe in church tomorrow, Sunday 27th February at 2pm, to which everyone is very welcome.  The service will take the form of a thanksgiving Sung Eucharist, at Robert’s request, and there will be refreshments in the church hall afterwards.  This service will replace the Sung Evensong which would have taken place at 6.30pm on the same day.

Ash Wednesday, March 2nd

Lent begins on Wednesday March 2nd. As usual, we will hold a Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes at 7.30 pm. All who wish to are invited to receive the mark of the cross on their foreheads in ash during the service, as a sign of repentance and a desire to follow Christ. The service is otherwise more or less a normal Sung Eucharist, with the choir, hymns, and a sermon. It is a good way to start Lent – please come!

Lent Course

As in previous years, we will offer a Lent Course. This year’s is called ‘Baggage and Treasures’, and is written by Clifford Owen, a retired priest who lives in Hartford, and who often helps out here and in other local churches. The idea behind this course is to explore what gifts and ministries the local church has; its strengths and weaknesses in growth and mission. The course will be online only, at the time of the weekly Bible study on Fridays at 10.00 am. There are six sessions, beginning on Friday March 4th. The link details are:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85790786358 or ID 857 9078 6358. I can send these by email to anyone who wants them, along with the course material if you want it. However, the material will be shown during the sessions, so there is no need to have it in advance if you don’t feel you want it. As always, anyone is welcome to any or all of the sessions, and there is no need to book in advance, or offer apologies for any missed sessions. Please e-mail me at dwbusk@hotmail.com or call 436400 if you need further information or help.

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 20th February 2022

Sunday 30th January 2022

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

I’m sorry I forgot to send one of these last week, with the newsletter attached. Should that happen again, there are now paper copies available every week in church on the table by the south door.

Covid precautions

As you know, almost all compulsory Covid precautions have been removed. In the church, the Standing Committee has agreed that we will revert to our practice before Plan B came into effect. This means face masks are no longer required, but of course anyone should feel comfortable wearing one if they wish. Hand sanitiser continues to be available. We will keep to giving communion in one kind only, the consecrated bread, without the use of wine for now. All of this will be kept under review by the PCC.

Friday at 5.15

We have publicised a new event, Friday at 5.15, to take place in church on the first Friday of each month. We were hoping to start this Friday, Feb. 4th, but we have taken the decision to wait a bit longer, as this is something that involves quite a lot of mingling, hopefully with fairly large numbers, some of whom we hope will be strangers to each other. We want to wait until we can do this comfortably and without anxiety, so it will not happen next week, but it will happen, God willing, and we will keep you posted.

Robert Caroe

There will be a memorial service for Robert Caroe in church on Sunday February 27^th at 2.00 pm, to which everyone is very welcome. The service will take the form of a thanksgiving Sung Eucharist, at Robert’s request, and there will be refreshments in the church hall afterwards. This service will replace the Sung Evensong which would have taken place at 6.30 pm on the same day.

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 5th December 2021

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

Firstly, huge thanks to all who contributed in any way to the Christmas Bazaar. It is too early to have a final figure, but it looks to have been at least as successful, financially, as the last one in 2019. But of course it is about more than money – I think we all valued the chance to mingle and enjoy ourselves. Thank you to everyone.

In line with government and church advice, we would like to encourage the use of face masks in church. It is not a legal requirement, but it is recommended, as are other measures such as hand sanitising and keeping a suitable distance.

We will hold a Christingle preparation session in the church hall on Saturday 18th at 10.00 am. All are welcome – the more hands we have, the sooner it gets done. And then of course on Sunday 19th we have our combined Christingle service and Parish Communion – this should be very special. Do come!

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

Tomorrow is Advent Sunday, the first day of the church’s year. At 6.30 pm we have our service of Advent Carols. This is a beautiful candle-lit service, full of longing, expectation and hope. I warmly encourage you all to come and begin this holy season in a fitting way, and to stay for wine and mince pies in the hall afterwards. Contributions to cover the costs will be welcome on the night.

We have lost two dear members of the church, and others from our wider community, in the past few days: Mary Summers, Freda Pauley, June Sington, Bette George and Elizabeth Brown. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. June’s funeral is on Thursday December 2nd at 1.00 pm. Elizabeth’s memorial service is on Friday 3rd at 1.30 pm. Mary’s funeral, which will follow committal at the crematorium for family only, is on Wednesday 7th at 1.30 pm. Bette was a member of the Baptist church, but her funeral is in St Mary’s on Friday 10th at 12.30 pm. Freda’s is on Wednesday 22nd at 12.00 noon.

Next Saturday is the Christmas Bazaar at 2.00 pm, followed by the Godmanchester 2020 Vase Auction at 7.30 pm. Come to both!

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Saturday 30th October 2021

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

As you will know, we have the All Souls Service of Commemoration tomorrow at 6.30 pm. All are of course welcome – you don’t have to be remembering anyone specifically to find it meaningful and moving. You can add a name even at the last minute – I just pencil it in on the printed list I read from – though of course it is helpful to have the names sooner.

Dilys Roe and Kate Barkshire will be serving bacon and sausage butties after the 9.30 am service with coffee on Sunday November 7th in aid of service charities. Please come and eat and donate.

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday 24th October 2021

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

On Sunday 31st October we will hold our annual All Souls Service of Commemoration at 6.30 pm, in place of Evening Prayer. This is a very moving event at which we remember all the departed, and the names of many are read out. All those whose funerals have taken place through St Mary’s in the last three years are named, plus anyone else people ask to be remembered. There is a list at the back of church where you can add names, or you can contact me directly.

Tomorrow, Sunday 24th, we have Evensong, with choir, sung parts, hymns, and a sermon (if the latter is an incentive!) Please come.

We reviewed our Covid policy at last week’s PCC. Precautions remain voluntary and up to the individual, but we would like to remind everyone that the wearing of face masks is officially encouraged, and is done mainly to protect others. A supply is available by the door, with the hand gel, and with the numbers as they stand it should be possible to keep distanced if desired.

We hope to hold a full programme of Christmas services, but of course like everything else this will be subject to circumstances.

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Wednesday 20th October 2021

Sunday 17th October 2021

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

A rather late-in-the-day reminder of the Messiah concert tonight in church at 7.30 pm – tickets are available on the door. Flier attached, as is this week’s newsletter. Please remember that all are welcome to the AGM of the Friends of St Mary’s at 2.30 pm tomorrow in church, followed by very good refreshments! Please come and learn more about what the Friends are doing to support and develop the church building.

Total donated to date for Gift Day.  

It’s not too late to donate!

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

12th October 2021

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

The Friends of St Mary’s have asked me to circulate this invitation and the £15 ticket application form with further details of an exciting event to be held in the Church to raise money for the Transformation Fund on Saturday 30^th October at 7.30pm.

GODMANCHESTER AT WAR

THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF THE PEOPLE OF GODMANCHESTER WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY AT HOME AND ABROAD

AN ILLUSTRATED LECTURE AND BOOK LAUNCH FROM ROGER LEIVERS

AUTHOR OF GODMANCHESTER AT WAR

Further details are in the ticket application form.

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

Sunday October 10th

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

A quick reminder of the Civic Service tomorrow at 11.00 am. Please come and thank God for the life of this town – it is a special and rather splendid occasion, and is for us all (with very good refreshments afterwards in the Queen Elizabeth School, courtesy of the Town Council, for all who attend the service!)

Please see the attached newsletter for details of a coffee morning on Wednesday 13th at Jane Nicholls’ house, 14 Corpus Christi Lane,  between 10.30am and 12.00pm.  We are raising money for Thrive a Christian youth project working with young people locally.

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

4th September 2021

Dear All

Please note we have Holy Communion at 8.00 am tomorrow Sunday 5th September, kindly taken by Christopher Leffler, and Evening Prayer (a spoken service without music) at 6.30 pm; and that next Sunday, 12th, there is no 9.30am Eucharist – we have Worship in the Park at 10.00 am. Please come and sing and pray with our fellow Christians in the open air – just over the Chinese Bridge, by the children’s play area.

With love, David Revd David Busk Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

29th August 2021

Dear Godmanchester Church Family,

A reminder that we now have a weekly Communion service on Zoom every Wednesday at 2.30 pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82459088697

Next Sunday, September 4th, we will once again offer prayer for healing during the 9.30 am Sung Eucharist. The only difference from pre-Covid times is that there will be no physical contact between those praying and those being prayed for – those praying will extend a hand as a sign of God’s healing touch, but will not place their hand on the shoulder of those coming forward for prayer, as used to happen. For those who don’t know what this is, anyone is welcome to come forward to ask for prayer at the time communion is being distributed, before, after, or instead of receiving communion. You can ask for prayer for yourself or for anyone else, or any other concern in the world. If you mention a subject for prayer, those praying will pray out loud – although quietly – for what has been requested, but if you prefer to remain silent, then they will offer silent prayer – the Lord knows what is in our hearts. In either case, the time of prayer will end with a short word of blessing. Please come forward if you would like to do so; equally, if you don’t feel this is for you, please feel entirely comfortable in not doing so.

One or two people have mentioned to me the matter of standing and sitting during services. I hope that everyone feels free to do what suits them – it is traditional to stand at certain points, such as for hymns, for the Gospel and the Creed, and during the Prayer of Consecration over the bread and wine, but this is merely a convention, there to be followed if you find it helpful as an act of devotion, and to be ignored if you don’t. I think none of us finds it easy to stand out and do something different from what most people around us are doing, but I would like to encourage an atmosphere in church in which we simply don’t mind – I mean this very seriously – what the person next to us is up to by way of standing, sitting, kneeling, raising hands in the air, etc, and we feel equally free to do as we feel led by the Spirit. 

With love,

David

Revd David Busk

Vicar of Godmanchester & Hilton

01480 436400 / 077 8636 1041

PARISH FINANCE

As our church has been closed we are clearly not getting any plate collections, fees or donations in the wall box or votive candle holder.  Although our outgoings have reduced we still have to pay our standing orders of around £8,000 per month including our parish share of £6,647.  We have reserves that will keep us going in the short term so there is no immediate panic.  Although many of our congregation donate by bank transfer (BACS), Standing Orders or the Parish Giving Scheme, for which we are extremely grateful, I know that some people are concerned that they are not able to support the work of the church under the current restrictions.  May I offer the following suggestions:

Free-Will Envelopes – please keep your (filled) envelopes until things return to normal as I am trying to avoid handling cash and hence visits to the post office to pay it in.

Bank transfers – if you wish to donate by BACS transfer, even temporarily,  please let me know and I will email the church bank details to you.  You can then a give one-off donation without any long-term commitment.  Please include your name as the reference.

Cheques – you can send cheques payable St Mary the Virgin Godmanchester PCC  to 49 London Rd, Godmanchester, PE29 2HZ as I have a applied to our bank for postal deposit envelopes.  Please let me know if the donation is for anything specific.

Parish Giving Scheme – this is the preferred method for regular donations as we get a single monthly payment for all of the income followed by a single payment of Gift Aid.  However,  the Parish Giving staff are currently operating from home so they cannot process any new applications.

If you already have a Parish Giving pack with an addressed envelope please note the new address below and wait until things return to normal before sending in the form.

Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) Team will be operating from a new location.

• Our new address will be:76 Kingsholm RoadGloucesterGL1 3BDPlease also note the following new contact information:
• Call the helpline telephone number on:  0333 002 1260 *
• Email the PGS Administration team at: info@parishgiving.org.ukIf you have any queries or suggestions please give me a call on 457018 or 07972712383or candbjt@virginmedia.com.Colin Thirlwall Hon Treasurer