Newsletter 16th June 2023
Dear friends
It’s more than five years since my father died, but I still can’t pass a card shop in the lead up to Father’s Day (this Sunday for anyone who had missed it) without experiencing a pang. It’s not quite the same at Christmas when I am buying lots of cards or on his birthday when there aren’t displays everywhere telling you that you must buy a card. It is a reminder that these sorts of celebrations are so often bitter-sweet. For every person who looks forward to spending time with their father on Father’s Day, there is another whose father has died, another who has a difficult and painful relationship with their father and another whose father abandoned them. Card shops are not likely to care about this since their sole object is to sell cards and no one has yet designed a card to express these more painful things.
However, the church must care. We celebrate good fathers and good parenting. But we also mourn with those who mourn. And we seek to bring healing to those in pain. All the while, remembering our Father in Heaven from whom every family on earth derives its name (Ephesians 3.14)
Revd Fran Brealey
Many thanks to all those who supported Fran on the occasion of her licensing and for the Hope/Shelve team who catered for us so royally afterwards. Fran officially begins her ministry among us on Tuesday. Her regular days off will be Monday, Friday and Saturday.
Note that Fran’s first service will be Holy Communion at Holy Trinity Hope at 9 a.m. on Sunday 25th June.
Her contact details are as follows:
Address: 2 Bowler Close, Cricketer’s Meadow, Pontesbury. Email: revfran@btinternet.com
Phone: 07982 324760
Congratulations
To Jo, Matt, and Lily Winter on the birth of baby Rosie Grace at 7 lbs 7 ozs
Administrator
Please pray for the appointment of a new administrator. The interview date is the afternoon of Thurs 22nd in the WER. Please do not visit the church that afternoon.
Learning new songs
We had a wonderful time learning new songs and worshipping God this week. Many thanks to Stuart for leading us. We plan a repeat venture at Minsterley in due course. Watch this space.
Mary Webb School
Thank you for your prayers for Mary Webb during its Ofsted, which I am confident the Lord heard. The results will be made known in due course.
Choir
As many will know Dr Paul Bracken has resigned as choirmaster and organist at St George’s. We wish to place on record our thanks to Paul for his gifted leadership of the St George’s choir over the last two years. Going forward, we are grateful to those who have agreed to accompany the worship on a rota basis. We are also grateful to Carolyn Lewis who has agreed to act as choir secretary and should be contacted if a message needs to be conveyed to the whole Pontesbury choir.
Benefice Choir
Following on from the above, we are keen to establish a benefice choir to lead worship at Group Services and on other occasions. Please let Greg know if you would like to join.
Richard’s Ordination
Richard will be ordained priest at Hereford Cathedral on Saturday 1st July at 10 a.m. If you are not able to attend the ordination (everyone is welcome), you are warmly invited to The Deanery that evening at 6 p.m. for a BBQ to celebrate this milestone. Anyone is welcome to come along, but please put your name on a church signup sheet or contact Greg & Fran so that we can cater accordingly.
The Gathering
The next meeting of the Gathering takes place at Marton Village Hall on Tuesday June 27th at 7 p.m. This time of worship and prayer is open to all in the Deanery.
Healing Service
Our latest group healing service takes place at St George’s this Sunday 18th at 6 p.m. All welcome.
Group Service
The next Group Service will take place at St George’s on Sunday July 30th at 10.30 a.m.
Calendar for the Week
Fri 16th
Coffee at St George’s 10-12
Sat 17th
Afternoon Tea at Merrileas at 2 p.m.
Sun 18th
Morning Prayer at Shelve at 9 a.m.
Morning Praise at Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
Holy Communion at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m
Healing Service at St George’s at 6 p.m.
Mon 19th
Youth Café at 3.30 p.m. at HTM
Shortlisting meeting at 7 p.m. at The Deanery
Tues 20th
Foodbank at HTM 10-12
Safeguarding meeting at 10.30 a.m.
Funeral of Norman Jones at 12.30 at Crematorium
Meeting for all group leaders at 1.30 at St George’s
Ichthus at 2.30 p.m. at Brookfield, Waterwheel
Weds 21st
Café at HTM 10-12
Treasurers’ meeting at St George’s at 2 p.m.
Thurs 22nd
Foodbank at St George’s 10-11.30
Men’s Group at the Pavilion from 11-1 p.m.
Administrator Interviews from 1.30 p.m. in WER
Messy Church at Minsterley Village Hall at 3.30 p.m.
Sun 25th
Holy Communion at Hope at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at Habberley, Minsterley & Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Afternoon Tea at St George’s
