Newsletter 15th July 2022
Dear friends
A riddle for you. What do you see every day, but are not supposed to look at? The answer of course is the sun. You may think I am getting carried away by the current heatwave and that there are plenty of days in mid-winter when it rains all day, and the sun doesn’t make an appearance. But such is the power of the sun that even on the very darkest day, it still sheds sufficient light for us to see by. I have been musing on this because I have been trying to find an easy way to explain glory as in the “glory of God”. That challenge is deepened by the fact that we tend to use it exactly the opposite way that it is used in Scripture. The England women’s football team have enjoyed some glory this week following their 8-0 demolition of Norway. However, using glory in this way suggests something very attractive that persuades people to look (even I have wondered about the possibility of watching a match later in the tournament), whereas the glory of God is such that we might want to look, but it is far too bright (like the sun) for human eyes to behold. This makes sense, doesn’t it? If the Creator has made something (the sun) that is too brilliant for human eyes to fix upon, how much more true must this be of the Creator Himself? This is why He needs ordinary Christians to reflect his glory in the world.
Treasurer for Minsterley
We continue to look as a matter of urgency for a new treasurer for Minsterley. If you know of anyone, please let Greg know.
Healing Service
Our next group healing service, shared with Hanwood takes place at Hanwood on Sunday at 4.30 p.m.
Richard Lonsdale
Richard may be contacted at richardlonsdale1@gmail.com or on 07922 830488. For now, his day off will be Wednesdays. Please respect this.
Repair Shop
The first Pontesbury Repair Shop was a great success with plenty of people attending and a number of items being successfully repaired. Plans for a second event are underway at St George’s on Saturday Sept 10th.
Hope/Shelve
The proposed merger of Hope and Shelve parishes has now entered its final stage of consultation. If you wish to raise any objections to this plan, there is a notice by the front door of each church detailing how to do this.
Foodbank Volunteers
A volunteers evening for potential foodbank volunteers was well attended earlier this week. We should have sufficient volunteers to launch at Minsterley on Tuesday mornings and Pontesbury on Thursday mornings from mid-September. Full training will be provided over the summer, including a visit to the Shrewsbury foodbank on Thurs July 21st at 1.30 p.m. If you haven’t already signed up but are interested in helping, please speak to Greg.
Mike Titchford
We are sad to announce the death of Mike Titchford at the age of 60. His funeral will be at St George’s on Thursday July 21st at 11 a.m.
Spring Harvest
We now have a viable group to take a party from Pontesbury & Stiperstones to Spring Harvest next Easter, April 10-14 in Minehead. We will be booking this at the end of July. Costs are £160 and up per person (with discounts for children) depending on the type of accommodation. The event provides worship, teaching and fellowship for all ages and has been a joyous and upbuilding time for every church I have attended. If you want to know more, speak to Greg or Fran. It will be possible to book a place later, but the early bird discount will be lost, and you may not be accommodated near others from the church.
Confirmation
St George’s is hosting a confirmation service on Sunday October 16th at 3 p.m. We have two candidates already wanting to be confirmed. Greg would be very pleased to hear from anyone else who would like to pursue this.
Organ Recital
There is a free organ recital at Holy Trinity Minsterley on Saturday July 23rd at 11 a.m. with refreshments served from 10.15. The recital is being given by Richard Walker, FRCO, and will include the rededication of the newly restored organ.
Sponsored Walk
A sponsored walk along the Shropshire Way from Church Stretton to Stokesay (approximately 15 miles) is planned for Saturday Sept 24th. As last year, half the monies will go to the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust and half to our own churches. Let Greg know if you are interested in walking that day and it would be good to have a couple of drivers to staff a support crew.
Group Service
Please note that there will be a Group Service at Holy Trinity Minsterley (not at Hope as previously advertised) on 31st July at 10.30 a.m. All warmly invited.
Calendar for the Week
Fri 15th Prayer at HTM 9-10 a.m.
Choir Practice at HTM and St George’s
Sun 17th Morning Prayer at Shelve at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Morning Worship at Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
Healing Service at Hanwood at 4.30 p.m.
Mon 18th Youth Café at HTM at 3.30 p.m.
Tues 19th Little Dragons 10-11.30 at St George’s
Oasis Review at Minsterley Methodist Chapel at 12
Church Council at 2 p.m. at St George’s
Alpha week 10 at the Deanery at 7 p.m.
Weds 20th Café at HTM 10-12
Thurs 21st Trinity Tots
Mike Tichford’s funeral at 11 a.m.
Visit to Foodbank Plus at 1.30 p.m.
Sat 23rd Organ Recital at HTM at 11 a.m.
Sun 24th Morning Prayer at Hope at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at Pontesbury & Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
