Newsletter 28th April 2023
Dear all
Please beware email scams. Some people are receiving emails purporting to be from me, which refer to an errand. Undoubtedly if you respond to this, you will be asked to send money or pay for something. There are three ways to check the veracity of any email that you think might have come from me. First, check the email address. Second, check the vocabulary and turn of phrase (I am familiar with the word errand, but I can’t imagine using it) and third check the signature. This scam has me signing myself as Rev Greg Smith. Most of you know how much I avoid using titles.
I take some consolation from the fact that a stranger (even with help from a computer) can’t pull off a passable impersonation of me. You may like to reflect on what are the unmistakeable aspects of your character that mark you out. How would anyone recognize that it was really you? You will recall that in the Emmaus Road story (Luke 24) that the disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread. This is his unique signature which we remind ourselves of every Sunday.
Group Service
This Sunday, being a fifth Sunday, will be a Group Service of Holy Communion. This will be hosted by Holy Trinity Hope. Do join us for this special family time together. The service will be taken by Pam & Richard, while Greg attends the Confirmation service in Ludlow (see below)
Geoff Edwards
The collection at Geoff Edwards funeral was £1410. Thanks to all those who came to pay tribute to Geoff in such large numbers and to support the family.
Tea Service
The monthly Tea Service will be held at St George’s at 2.30 p.m. on Tues May 2nd. All welcome.
Confirmation
Please pray for Grace Garrett, from Pontesbury, who is being confirmed this Sunday at Ashton Carbonel
Big Breakfast
Thanks to all those who supported the Big Breakfast last Saturday. Over £400 was raised towards St George’s funds. Special thanks to Marianne and her magnificent team.
APCMs
Following a whirlwind round of APCMs, the following have been elected (or re-elected) as churchwardens:
Minsterley: Susan Lockwood & Sarah Edwards
Hope/Shelve: Barbara Venables
Pontesbury: Mary Worrall & Marianne McCall
Habberley: Pauline Stopford & Pearl Hannigan
Pontesbury has yet to elect officers, but Minsterley has elected Susan Lockwood as PCC Secretary and Mike Bowen as Treasurer; Hope/Shelve Sara Young as PCC Secretary and Kevin Bowers as Treasurer; and Habberley Pauline/Pearl sharing the Secretary role and Robert Currie as Treasurer.
Foodbank AGM
Weds May 3rd sees the first AGM of the Rea Valley Foodbank, the organisation responsible for delivering Foodbank out of St George’s and Holy Trinity churches. This takes place at 2 p.m. at St George’s. Our guest speaker is Karen Williams, manager of the foodbank in Shrewsbury. Anyone who is interested in what we have been doing over the last year is welcome to attend. Please note that giving to foodbanks has remained at the same level compared to last year, but the usage has doubled. We continue to welcome all gifts however small.
Scam
Rest assured Greg’s address book has not been hacked. The people who have been targeted with the aforementioned scam all have email addresses posted on our website.
Worship Survey
The worship committee has now had opportunity to review responses to the worship survey conducted at St Georges and Holy Trinity. This has resulted in a small number of recommendations to the respective PCCs to be considered in the next 2-3 weeks. The recommendations have emerged where the committee was confident that there was a broad consensus. We were conscious that we can’t please all the people all the time. We ask people to be respectful of the fact that something that one person really doesn’t like may be the favourite thing of someone else.
Unanswered Prayer
There is a zoom course on Tuesday evenings entitled “unanswered prayer” produced by Pete Greig, who recently addressed 300 people at a Diocesan Study Day. For details of how to join others in the Deanery who will be taking part in this, please contact Mark Hackney at mark.hackney@hereford.anglican.org
Walking to church
As the weather improves, we want to encourage people wherever possible to walk to church, mindful of our collective carbon footprint. If this is not possible, do explore the possibility of sharing transport. Remember there is no Planet B!
Coronation
There will be special services celebrating the Coronation on May 7th at the normal times. This means that the service at St George’s led by Greg will be Holy Communion and not Morning Worship.
Ascension to Pentecost
There period from Ascension (May 18th) to Pentecost (May 28th) is designated by the church as Thy Kingdom Come. This is envisaged as a time of prayer, with resources provided daily to guide you in your prayers. The period will start with a Group Service at St George’s on Thurs 18th at 7 p.m. and conclude on Sunday 28th with a Group Service at Minsterley. There will be a special Deanery Service that evening at 6 p.m. at St George’s to which everyone is warmly invited.
Cliffdale
Church services at Cliffdale are going to switch to the first Wednesday of the month from May at 11 a.m. There are a good number of representatives of other churches, but rather less from St George’s. There is no expectation of members of the team coming every time and no need to do anything more than sing along to the hymns and chat with the residents. Please speak to Greg if you want to know more.
Calendar for the Week
Fri 28th
Coffee at St George’s 10-12
Wedding of Tim & Bethu at St George’s at 2.30 p.m.
Sun 30th
Group Service at Hope at 10.30 a.m.
Mon 1st
May Foodbank Committee meeting at 3.30 p.m. at the Deanery
Tues 2nd
Foodbank at HTM 10-12
Tea Service at St George’s at 2.30 p.m.
Minsterley Magazine editorial committee at 4.30 p.m. at the Deanery
Minsterley Standing Committee at 7.30 p.m. in Ash Lea
Weds 3rd
Pontesbury Standing Committee at 9.30 a.m. in WER
Café at HTM 10-12
AGM of Rea Valley Foodbank at 2 p.m. at St George’s
Thurs 4th
Foodbank at St George’s 10-12
Sun 7th
Holy Communion at Shelve at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at St George’s and HTM at 10.30 a.m.
Image by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com, modified by RE
