Newsletter 7th January

Dear friends

A happy and blessed New Year to all our readers.

For me, the highlight of Christmas was not a religious moment. Rather, a couple of days after Christmas, we visited the Quarry with our two and a half year old grandson. After a bracing walk, we stopped for refreshments, taking a seat in an outdoor café. After we had been sat for a few minutes, a man wearing a bright red jumper and a Father Christmas hat came and sat with his family a couple of tables away. Without saying anything, our grandson got up from his seat, went over to the man and stood before him, gazing in wonder. The innocence of the young and the magic of Christmas captured in a moment.

I was much encouraged by the number of children who attended church over Christmas, especially at the Crib Services where Shirley Battleaxe gave Joseph unwelcome feedback and Craig Rebel Nutcase gave Christmas dinner very low marks. Children have been conspicuous by their absence up to now. Our challenge is to persuade them that the wonder our grandson found in his imagined Father Christmas and the fun they had at the Crib Service might be experienced on a regular basis, in church of all places.

Covenant Services

There will be joint services with Methodists and Congregationalists on Jan 9^th at 10.30 at Pontesbury and Jan 16^th at 10.30 at Minsterley. The Methodist Covenant will be incorporated into our regular services. This is an important opportunity to welcome our brothers and sisters from other denominations. There appears to be an encouraging and increasing appetite for joint ministry with our friends from other denominations

Introducing Richard Lonsdale

We are pleased to announce that Richard Lonsdale will be serving as curate in our group from next summer. Richard is married to Clare and has two children, Moray (aged 12) and Liv (aged 8). They will be living in the Vicarage at Minsterley from June, but Richard’s ministry will be across all parishes. There will be an opportunity to meet Richard and his family on Sunday Feb 6^th when we will be hosting a group service at Minsterley at 10.30, followed by a reception at Minsterley Village Hall after the service. Please do make every effort to join us on this occasion. Instead of a group service on 30^th Jan, we will have our regular first Sunday services that day.

Muddy Church

Please note there will be no Muddy Church this month.

Growing Leaders

We are still very keen to recruit more participants for our Growing Leaders course. This is for anyone in the Deanery of any age, who carries any kind of responsibility in the church (or would like to). Please contact Greg.

Christmas thanks

Greg and Fran would like to thank all our new friends for their very kind messages for Christmas. We are sorry we cannot respond individually to each one. We wish you a blessed and joyful Christmas and God’s peace for the New Year.

Bereavement Group

We continue to develop our plans for an ecumenical bereavement group to serve Minsterley and Pontesbury. Anyone who thinks they might be interested in volunteering to work with bereaved people in a café setting (e.g. serving refreshments or spending time talking) is welcome to attend our next open meeting, which takes place on Tues 11^thJan at 12 noon at Minsterley Methodist Church.

Confirmation

Anyone who thinks they might be interested in being confirmed should speak to Greg

Empowering Women Day

A date for your diaries. Maureen Ross will be leading a day for Women at Holy Trinity Minsterley on Sat March 12^th. The day, which is suitable for both Christians and non-Christians, is open to all women who live in the area. Please make a note of this in your diaries. Details of how to obtain tickets will follow shortly.

Calendar for the Week

Sat 8^th               Planning meeting for Minsterley service on the 19^th at 10 a.m.

Sun 9^th              Holy Communion at HTM at 10.30 a.m.

                        Covenant Service at St George’s at 10.30 a.m.

                        Evensong at Habberley at 5 p.m.

Mon 10^th           Pontesbury Churchyard Committee at 11.30 

                        Youth Café at HTM at 3.30

Tues 11^th          Bereavement Group meeting at 12 at Minsterley Methodist Chapel

Weds 12^th         Pontesbury Standing Ctte at 9.30 a.m.

Sun 16^th            Holy Communion at Hope at 9 a.m.

                        Holy Communion at Shelve at 9 a.m.

                        Covenant Service at Minsterley at 10.30

                        Holy Communion at Pontesbury at 10.30

                        Healing service at Hanwood at 4.30 p.m.