Newsletter 10th May 2024
Dear Friends
Claire and I have been watching a detective series called “Under the Banner of Heaven” which is based on a true story about a murder in the 1980’s but what makes it particularly compelling is that it happened amongst the Mormon communities of Utah in the USA. The series explores ideas of faith and sin, corruption and compromise with “the world” and follows the experiences and thoughts of the main character, an honest and devout Mormon detective who finds his faith challenged by the events he is called to investigate.
It’s a very good series and is challenging in terms of how we as Christians are called to live out our life and how to follow Christ amid the temptations of compromise on the one hand and exclusive fundamentalism on the other. I’ve seen plenty of both and neither are attractive but in a world that seems to be increasingly out of control then there is often a sense of safety and/or comfort in following either of those two extremes. However we are called to follow the narrow way of Christ, neither excluding others nor compromising the truth, which is very hard indeed.
However we have the Bible, we have God’s Spirit and we have the wisdom of Christians before us who have wrestled with these things, three tools to provide guidance and support. Do pray for Greg, Fran, Stuart and myself as we try to lead you through difficult times.
Rev. Richard Lonsdale
Thy Kingdom Come
The national period of prayer, entitled Thy Kingdom Come, begins today (May 9th ) with Ascension. We are encouraged alongside Christians across the world to pray for five people every day to come to faith in Jesus until Pentecost on May 19th . For more information, please visit: https://www.thykingdomcome.global/
Quiz
Shrewsbury Youth for Christ and Shrewsbury Street Pastors are hosting a quiz at Christ Church, Bayston Hill on Friday May 10th at 7p.m. Tickets are available on the door.
The Bible Course
The eight-week course introducing the Bible finished on Monday; and was very well received. We are going to follow this up with a similar course on the Book of Romans, St Paul’s great masterpiece, commencing on Monday 20th May at 7p.m. at 3 Earls Court. Please speak to Richard or Allen if you would like to know more.
Songs of Praise
We have been warmly invited to attend a Songs of Praise service at Pontesbury Methodist Chapel on Pontesbury Hill at 6p.m. (not 6.30 as advertised last week) on Sunday May 19th. This is the first such invitation we have received from Pontesbury Methodists in several years, so do prioritise going along if you possibly can.
Open Gardens
Pontesbury Open Gardens is scheduled for Sunday May 19th from 12.30-4p.m. Tickets will be available from St George’s Church. Do pray for a sunny afternoon. Cakes needed please, help to serve teas.
Table-Top Sale
June 1st. Table top sale. Tables £10. Book with Mary Worrall.
Duck race. Ducks £1, Starts at 12:00 noon
Plant Sale
The busy weekend includes a Plant Sale, hosted by HTM at the Crown & Sceptre carpark on Saturday May 18th from 11a.m. Plants of every kind available for sale, with refreshments supplied.
APCMs
The following have been re-elected as Churchwardens at the APCMs that have been held over the last week: Susan Lockwood, Sarah Edwards, Marianne McCall, Mary Worrall, Pearl Hannigan, and Pauline Stopford. We are immensely grateful to them for their continued service. They will be licensed by the Archdeacon at a Visitation Service at St George’s on Monday June 17th at 7 p.m. Do come along to this to hear the Archdeacon’s vision for the Deanery and support our wonderful churchwardens. We also pray for the Hope/Shelve
APCM which will take place on Weds May 15th at 2.15 p.m. at Hope Village Hall.
Hope and Shelve Fete
The Hope and Shelve Summer Fete will take place on Saturday June 1st from 2-4pm at Leigh Manor, Minsterley SY5 0EG.
We are looking for help on the day, as well as contributions of books, plants, cakes, raffle and tombola prizes. We also need someone to do face painting. Please contact Fran on 07982 324760 if you can help.
Minsterley Jumble Trail
Declutter your home and make some money for you and Holy Trinity! Minsterley Jumble Trail is taking place on 15th June from 10am – 2pm. Book a seller’s spot for £10 and your address will be added to the FREE Jumble Trail map which will be circulated to the wider community. For more information and to book your table contact Sarah on 07971 984925
Minsterley Show
The Minsterley Show is back again on the 17th of August, and we need people to start making delicious cakes! If you think you can bake some cakes and pop them in the freezer then please do start as your support is very much appreciated! This is a big fundraiser for Holy Trinity and our stall is very much appreciated by the show attendees due to our reasonable prices – we can keep our prices down due to the fact that cakes and sandwiches are donated. Keep the date in your diary and on your marks, get, set, bake!
The show ground is situated 5 miles Southwest of Shrewsbury on the B4386, Shrewsbury to Westbury Road.
SatNav users should input SY5 8PW as the postcode.
Calendar for the Week
Fri 10th May
Coffee Stop at St George’s from 10-12
Evensong at Habberley at 5p.m.
Sun 12th
Holy Communion at Hope at 9a.m.
Holy Communion at HTM at 10.30a.m.
Morning Prayer at St George’s at 10.30a.m.
Mon 13th
Minsterley Youth Café at 3.30p.m.
Evening Prayer at HTM at 5p.m.
Tues 14th
Foodbank at Minsterley 10-12
Little Dragons at St George’s 10-11.30
Holiday Club planning meeting at 7.30p.m. in WER
Weds 15th
Hope/Shelve APCM at Hope Village Hall at 2.15p.m.
Pontesbury Youth Café at 3.20p.m.
Pontesbury PCC at 7p.m.
Thurs 16th
Trinity Tots 10-11.30a.m.
Pontesbury Foodbank 10-12noon
Messy Church at Minsterley Parish Hall at 3.30p.m.
Sat 18th
Minsterley Plant Sale at Crown & Sceptre from 11a.m.
Sun 19th
Morning Prayer at Shelve at 9a.m.
Holy Communion at Snailbeach at 9a.m.
Minsterley Praise at Methodist Chapel at 10a.m.
Holy Communion at St George’s at 10.30a.m.
Open Gardens in Pontesbury 12.30-4p.m.
Holy Communion at Habberley at 5p.m.
Songs of Praise at Pontesbury Methodist Chapel at 6p.m.
