Weekly Newsletter for the 22nd August 2021

From the Rector, The Rev. Greg Smith

Dear friends

Robert Currie and I spent Tuesday of this week re-enacting the fable of the hare and the tortoise. Quite independently, we had decided to preview the route of the sponsored walk that will take place on Sept 18^th.

In my case, the exercise doubled as an opportunity to pray, although no doubt Robert was praying hard when he noticed the Rector was chasing him up Stiperstones. I caught him, we conversed briefly and then I raced ahead (comparatively speaking) for Shepherd’s rock and then All Saints Shelve, where I ate my lunch and noted in my journal some of the things that I felt the Lord had impressed on me.

As I emerged from the church, there was Robert a hundred yards ahead of me. I chased after him and we walked together for a while before I again hurried off in search of Holy Trinity Hope. After sitting on a bench outside Hope church for a while, I climbed back up to the road to encounter Robert for a third and final time.

The walk is designed as a fundraising exercize (please sponsor us generously) and as a family building endeavour. Walking with Robert, and then seeing the homes of many of our congregation (I now know where many of you live, those who have been kind enough to offer hospitality) and I was reminded yet again that the family to which we belong is not 6 buildings but 150 and more people.

Group Service

On Sunday Aug 29^th, there will be a service for the whole family to come together at Holy Trinity Minsterley at 10.30. The service is being led by Revd Carolyn, with Greg preaching. We are going to take in the opportunity to swear in all the churchwardens in the group. It will therefore be a special occasion in more than one respect. Please do join us if you can.

Special services

Bishop Richard will be visiting Holy Trinity Minsterley on Sunday Sept 5^th for the 10.30 service in order to dedicate the refurbished building. This service has been delayed from the Spring, but will still be very special. Also, on September 19^th, we will be hosting joint services with the Methodists and Congregationalists at 10.30 at both Minsterley and Pontesbury. Please do join us if you can in order that we may celebrate that we are one church in the eyes of God.

Sponsored Walk

Takes place on Saturday Sept 18^th. The projected timetable is as follows:

St George’s Pontesbury 8 a.m.

St Mary’s Habberley 9 a.m.

St Luke’s Snailbeach 10.15

Shepherd’s Rock 11.45

All Saints Shelve 12.30

Holy Trinity Hope 1.45

Holy Trinity Minsterley 3.45

Return to Pontesbury 4.30

Please feel free to join us at any point along the route. We have volunteers to transport you back to your point of origin, so you are free to keep walking until you need to stop. We are raising funds for local churches as well as the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust. Stephen Winwood has kindly agreed to provide administrative support and sponsor forms are available from him.

Alpha

There will be an online Alpha course for the Deanery running on Tuesday evenings commencing Tuesday 21^st Sept. There will also be an in-person course at Yockleton on Tuesday lunchtimes. Please contact Mark Hackney at mark.hackney@hereford.anglican.org if you would like to join one of these courses or want to find out more. Please see the attached poster.

Minsterley Show

Please do visit the deanery tent (stand 42) and the refreshment tent (run by Holy Trinity Minsterley) at the Minsterley Show on Saturday.

Prayers

We offer our prayers for the families of Pat Adley, Sheila Bebbington (whose funeral takes place at St George’s next month) and Mark Lewis, all of whom have sadly died this week. And we uphold Alison Bebb, whose father died at the weekend.

Covid restrictions

In light of the ongoing prevalence of Covid 19, we will continue for the time being to request worshippers to wear masks, refrain from physical contact during the peace and receive only the bread at communion.