Newsletter 23rd June
Dear friends
Some of you may have caught the BBC drama, Best Interests, with Michael Sheen and Sharon Horgan, the story of two parents whose daughter is on life support and go to court to decide whether her treatment should be terminated. We haven’t finished watching it yet, so no spoilers (!) but we have reached the episode where the Christian enters the fray, arguing that life is sacred, and that it should be preserved at all costs. As Fran said to me when watching it, “I would let her go, but I might feel differently if I was her mother,” a reminder that such things are fraught with huge emotional overtones. Nevertheless, it seems important to say that life is indeed sacred, but that’s not quite the same as saying that it should be preserved ad infinitum by machines. I once took the funeral of a mother who as next of kin kept her daughter, who had suffered traumatic brain injury in a car crash, alive via a machine for 29 years. Resisting God, who knows that we are but dust (Psalm 103.14) and His call upon a soul, is not necessarily the Christian thing to do.
Meanwhile, we pray for all those (parents, doctors, lawyers) who are caught up in these terrible things and ask for grace, mercy, and strength.
Revd Fran Brealey
Fran has now started work amongst us. Her regular days off will be Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Note that Fran’s first service will be Holy Communion at Holy Trinity Hope at 9 a.m. this Sunday 25th June. The service patterns at Hope/Shelve will continue as before.
Fran’s contact details are as follows:
Email: revfran@val
Phone: 07982 324760
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.
Bishop’s Visitation
Please pray for our churchwardens who will be formally inducted at the Bishop’s Visitation at St Lawerence’s Ludlow on Monday evening at 7 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend in support of them.
Thanks
To all those who supported the afternoon tea at Merrileas last week, and especially Ann Smith who generously opened her home. £302 was raised for Minsterley church funds.
Richard’s Ordination
Richard will be ordained priest at Hereford Cathedral on Saturday 1st July at 10 a.m. Thanks to Susan Lockwood for organising the coach. 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 this Tuesday June 27th at 7 p.m. This time of worship and prayer is open to all in the Deanery.
Healing Service
In the light of low numbers at Healing Services in recent months, we have decided to make the service at Hanwood on July 16th the last. Thanks to all those who have supported the service over the last year.
Group Service
The next Group Service will take place at St George’s on Sunday July 30th at 10.30 a.m.
Espé
We invite your prayers for Espé, the granddaughter of Michael Dennis, who has just undergone major brain surgery in Chile, where she lives. Please pray for a full recovery and that no long-term damage has been sustained by the brain.
Songs of Praise
Espe’s family needs financial support because there is no NHS in Chile. To this end, a Songs of Praise service has been organised at Holy Trinity Minsterley, where Michael Dennis sings in the choir, at short notice this coming Thursday evening at 7 p.m. We are inviting people to nominate a favourite hymn or song and are charging £20 for the privilege. Other donations will be taken on the night. Please do support this family, well known to the people of Minsterley if you possibly can. Nominations for hymns/songs should be sent to Sarah Edwards by midday Wednesday. Please see the poster below:-
Calendar for the Week
Fri 23rd
Coffee at St George’s 10-12
Sun 25th
Holy Communion at Hope at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at Habberley & Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Morning Prayer at HTM at 10.30 a.m.
Afternoon Tea at St George’s
Mon 26th
Youth Café at 3.30 p.m. at HTM
Bishop’s Visitation at St Lawrence’s Ludlow at 7 p.m.
Tues 27th
Foodbank at HTM 10-12
Oasis at 12 noon at Minsterley Methodist Chapel
Funeral of Vic Phillips at St George’s at 2 p.m.
The Gathering at Marton Village Hall at 7 p.m.
Weds 28th
Café at HTM 10-12
Rea Valley Prayer Group at 7 p.m. at Hove-to, The Gravels
Thurs 29th
Foodbank at St George’s 10-11.30
Church Council at 2 p.m. at St George’s
Fri 30th
Prayer at HTM 9am
Coffee at St George’s 10-12
Sat 1st
July Richard’s Ordination at 10 a.m. at Hereford Cathedral
BBQ for Richard at The Deanery at 6 p.m.
Sun 2nd
Holy Communion at Shelve at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
Morning Worship at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Evensong at Habberley at 5 p.m.
