Newsletter 31st January 2025
Pontesbury & Stiperstones
Family of Churches
Newsletter
31st January 2025
Dear friends,
Fran and I are exceptionally grateful for all the prayers, good wishes, cards and flowers following her knee replacement operation last Wednesday. The day itself was rather more traumatic than we had hoped. Having arrived at Gobowen at 7.30 a.m., she only finally emerged from theatre at 7.40 p.m. the epidural having failed to work after an hour of unsuccessfully trying. The answers to the two questions I have most often been asked since are not straightforward. How did it go? We probably won’t really know until after she has been for her follow up appointment in approximately six weeks’ time. How is she now? Well, actually a lot worse. It’s generally about three weeks before someone starts to feel better after a knee replacement operation.
There are many occasions in life when things get worse before they get better. I am told that giving birth for instance works in that way. We are primed by Scripture to expect this. Hebrews 12 speaks of Christ enduring the cross for the joy set before Him. Often the best way of coping with the most difficult periods in our lives is to look ahead. As the letter of James puts is: “Blessed is those who perseveres under trail because when they have stood the test, they will receive the Crown of Life God has promised to those who love Him.”
Group Services
Please find below our programme of Group Services for 2025. Why not make a New Year’s
resolution to visit a sister church you’ve never attended before?
Wednesday= March 5th Minsterley
Sunday; March 23rd Pontesbury
Thursday* April 17th Pontesbury
Sunday+ June 1st Snailbeach
Sunday June 29th Worthen
Sunday Aug 31st Shelve (outdoors)
Sunday ++ Sept 14th Habberley
Sunday Sept 28th Hope
Sunday Nov 30th Pontesbury
Sunday** Dec 14th Pontesbury
Sunday Dec 28th Minsterley
= Ash Wednesday; In place of 5th Sunday of March which is Mother’s Day
*Maundy Thursday
+Additional service because of Deanery service at end of the month
++Afternoon Pet Service at Habberley Village Hall
**Evening Carol Service
Richard and Chirbury
We pray for Richard as he takes up ministry in Chirbury this Sunday – for supportive relationships and much fruit.
Evening Prayer
A reminder that there is a short service of Evening Prayer at Holy Trinity Minsterley every Monday at 5 p.m.
Bible Study Groups
We offer two opportunities to study the bible together to which all are welcome. On alternate Monday evenings, a group meets at 4 Parry Drive on Young’s Way in Pontesbury at 7 p.m. with the next taking place on 3rd February. And on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday afternoons of the month at 2.30 pm. alternating between The Blessing in Snailbeach on 2nd Tuesdays and Waterwheel in Wagbeach on 4th Tuesdays.
Tea Service
The monthly Tea Service for those not able to get to church on Sundays takes place at St George’s on Tues Feb 4th at 2.30 p.m. This short communion service, which is followed by tea and cake, is open to all.
Community Meal
A second community meal is to be offered at Minsterley Parish Hall on Thurs Feb 6th at 4.45 p.m. We need 10/12 people to buy tickets for a three-course meal prepared by a professional chef at a donation cost of £10 per person. We also need 2 or 3 volunteers to help serve the meal and wash up afterwards. If you would like to do either, please contact
Greg.
Youth for Christ Prayer Breakfast
St George’s is hosting a prayer breakfast for Shrewsbury Youth for Christ on Saturday Feb 8th at 8.30 a.m. The prayer meeting which is attended by c 15 people from across the area lasts an hour and is followed by breakfast. All welcome.
Service of Meditation
Our monthly time of meditation takes place at Longden Church on Sunday 9th Feb at 7 p.m. Please contact Greg if you would like a lift.
Lay Worship Training
The Deanery is offering a five week course on alternate Tuesday evenings, commencing 11th Feb for anyone who is currently helping to lead worship or would like to do so in the future. If you would like to know more, please speak to Greg or Fran Brealey.
Coffee Morning Thanks
A huge thank you to everyone who baked, donated and helped at the HTM coffee morning last Saturday, and of course to everyone who came and supported. Our next event is a coffee afternoon at HTM on Saturday 15 February, 2pm – 4pm.
Minsterley Youth Café
Continues to be a great success, attracting as many as 14 young people for pizza, games and craft activities, overseen by Joe Barnes. There is a small band of dedicated volunteers who would love some additional help even if it is once a month. Please contact Joe or Greg if you want to know more.
Little Dragons/Trinity Tots
Little Dragons will be continuing. Thanks to Aimee for stepping forward. We will still need more volunteers, as we do for Trinity Tots which meets on Thursdays at Holy Trinity. Please speak to Greg or Sarah Young if you would like to know more.
The Gathering
The monthly opportunity to worship with Christians from across the Deanery takes place this week and every third Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Marton Village Hall.
17 February 2025
18 March 2025
WW2 80th Anniversary
To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War next year, we’d like to feature your recollections throughout the 2025 Minsterley Parish Magazines. These can be a memory of the war years as a whole, of VE/VJ Day, family history etc. They don’t need to be specifically Minsterley or even Shropshire centred – we’re excited to hear about wherever you were.
Pieces can be from 50 to 500 words. We can include an image though it will appear in black and white. Any image should be your own (rather than taken from the internet).
Please send your pieces to Sarah Edwards (sarahedwards90@hotmail.com) or David Young (minsterleyparishmagazine@gmail.com) and watch out for what we hope will be a really interesting feature for 2025.
AGM
Please contact Marion Elliott if you are interested in attending the AGM with her to find out more. mepontebury@gmail.com or 07833 325755
Calendar for the Week
January & February
Fri 31st
Coffee Stop at St George’s 10-12
Sun 2nd Feb
Holy Communion at Shelve at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Tea-time service at HTM at 4 p.m.
Mon 3rd
Youth Café at Minsterley at 3.30
Lord’s Prayer Bible Study at 7 p.m. at 4 Parry Drive
Tues 4th
Foodbank at HTM 10-12
Little Dragons at St George’s 10-11.30 a.m.
Tea Service at St George’s at 2.30 p.m.
Weds 5th
Coffee Hub at HTM 10-12 noon
Coffee Stop Review meeting at 2 p.m.
Pontesbury Youth Café at 3.30 p.m.
Pontesbury Safeguarding Ctte at 3.30 p.m.
Thurs 6th
Trinity Tots at 10 a.m. at HTM
Foodbank at St George’s 10-12
Messy Church at St George’s at 3.30 p.m.
Community Meal at Minsterley Parish Hall at 4.45 p.m.
Sat 8th
SYFC Prayer Breakfast at 8.30 a.m. at St George’s
Sun 9th
Holy Communion at Hope at 9 a.m.
Morning Worship at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Holy Communion at Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
Evensong at Habberley at 5 p.m.
Service of Meditation at Longden at 7 p.m.