Newsletter 7th April 2023
Dear all
I had the joy of watching The Lion King last weekend with my four year old grandson. Halfway through the film which he was watching for the first time, he started to scream at the top of his voice. It was a deafening scream of rage and anguish. I looked at his dad for explanation, for he didn’t appear to be hurt or had been turned down for a biscuit. My son explained, he doesn’t want Mustafa to die. Having seen the film (and the musical) more than once, I had forgotten the horror that the death of the old lion king engenders. I had taken it for granted.
On this Good Friday, do we take for granted the horror of Jesus’ sacrifice for us? Or do we, as perhaps we should, stand before the cross and scream in rage and anguish. It is the sins of the world that take Jesus to the cross, but His love for us that holds him there.
Greg Smith.
Thought from Richard Lonsdale
I had the privilege of taking part along with some members of the choir, in a sing along at Hill Crest home on Monday of this week. We went for an hour and must have worked our way through a good 15 hymns at least with a lot of the choices made by either care home residents or staff. We shall do it again soon.
One hymn was “Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer” and when we got to the final verse:
When I tread the verge of Jordan,Bid my anxious fears subside;Death of death, and hell’s destruction,Land me safe on Canaan’s side:Songs of praises, songs of praisesI will ever give to thee.I will ever give to thee.
It was very moving to see these elderly men and women from all over the country, all with interesting stories and lives, now in a nursing home and approaching the end of their life on this earth, singing this so boldly or just enjoying the words.
It also seemed to me to have even greater resonance this being Holy Week as Jesus himself trod the verge of Jordan with anxious fears, but who went before us so as to ensure our safe landing on Canaan’s side, whatever our age and situation. Our focus upon him this week and especially this Good Friday should encourage us to remember his great sacrifice for us and to offer our songs of praises for ever and ever
Lent Lunches
Thanks to all those who attended Lent lunches in Stiperstones and Pontesbury and for those who so kindly served us.
Geoff Edwards
There will be a celebration of Geoff’s life on Wednesday April 19th at 12.15 at Hope Church, followed by a reception at Hope Village Hall. All welcome. Please continue to pray for his three children: Clive, Gail & Cheryl at this sad time.
Snailbeach Coffee Morning
Many thanks to all those who supported the Snailbeach Coffee morning last Saturday. Over £1400 was raised for church funds. Special thanks to all those who worked so hard to make the event happen.
Good Friday
Depending on what time you’re reading this, it might not be too late to join the annual Good Friday pilgrimage. Starting at Middleton Church at 9.30 a.m. the walkers will arrive at Hope at 12 noon for a service there, lunch at the Stiperstones Inn c 1.30, a service at Shepherd’s Rock at 3.15 and then later at Shelve at 5 p.m. before concluding their journey at the Tin Church in the Marsh at 6.30 p.m. Please join us for the whole walk or any section as you feel able.
Alternatively, there is a time of meditation at Holy Trinity Minsterley from 12-3 p.m.
There is also a Tenebrae service at St George’s at 6.30 p.m. This is a service in which light is extinguished as we enter the darkness of Holy Saturday.
Keyboard Donation
Many thanks to Debbie Bowers who has very kindly donated a keyboard to All Saints Shelve.
It sounded very good upon its debut last Sunday.
APCMs
We are soon to enter the season of Annual Meetings which take place as follows:
Minsterley Sunday April 16th at 1 p.m.
Hope/Shelve Monday April 17th at 7 p.m. (not as advertised last week)
Pontesbury Sunday April 23rd at 12 noon
Habberley Monday April 24th at 1.30 p.m.
Stepping Stones Survey
Stepping Stones is a nature conservation project based in the Shropshire Hills led by National Trust. Our 50-year vision is for natural habitats in the Shropshire Hills to be restored, healthy and connected, and for the people who live, work and play in this remarkable area to understand, benefit from, and support our efforts.
National Trust has appointed Resources for Change to undertake a Needs Assessment to get a better understanding of local needs and examine how nature-based and other local activities might be able to help meet them.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly assist us with the consultation process by either completing. Below is a list of survey links aimed at different audiences. The survey will close on Friday 14th April 2023.
Smallholders & Non-farming landowners https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SSNASNFSSL
Community Residents https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SSNALCR
Easter Trail
There is an Easter Trail around Minsterley on Easter Monday from 11-4 p.m. Free maps are available from Holy Trinity Church or the Flowershop. Alternatively, it can be downloaded from the website stiperstoneschurches.org.uk Thanks to Sarah Edwards for all her hard work in organising this.
Newsletter
There will be no newsletter next week with most clergy away. In an emergency, please contact Revd Pam Bickley.
Easter Blessings
We wish all our readers a holy and joyful Easter. He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Calendar for the Week
Fri 7th
Good Friday pilgrimage from 9.30 at Middleton
Service at Hope at 12 noon
Meditation at HTM 12-3 p.m.
Communion on Shepherd’s Rock at 3.15 p.m.
Service at Shelve at 5 p.m.
Service at the Marsh Chapel at 6.30 p.m.
Tenebrae at St George’s at 6.30 p.m.
Sun 9th
Easter communion at Hope & Snailbeach at 9 a.m.
Easter Communion at Pontesbury & Minsterley at 10.30
Evensong at Habberley at 5 p.m.
Mon 10th
Easter Trail in Minsterley 11-4 p.m.
Tues 11th
Foodbank at HTM 10-12
Thurs 13th
Foodbank at St George’s 10-12
Sun 16th
Holy Communion at Shelve at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Morning Praise at Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
Minsterley APCM at 1 p.m.
Healing Service at Hanwood at 4.30 p.m.
