Newsletter 3rd May 2024
Dear Friends
Central to the Diocesan strategy is the plan to grow the church younger. You probably won’t find it hard to understand why this is. Apparently, the average age of the country is 47, while the average age of a Church of England member is 62. Of course, it’s a problem if we don’t do something about this. There won’t be a Church of England in 20 or 30 years’ time trend continues. However, there is something rather more important at stake. We have the Good News to share and should want to share it with people of all ages. There is no less joy Heaven when a 95 year old meets Jesus for the first time than a young child. And in the same way, septuagenarians, octogenarians, and nonagenarians make a pretty formidable army in my experience.
Moses was eighty when God appeared to him in a burning bush and called him to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt. Moses offered many excuses as to why God should choose someone else, but at no point claimed that he was too old. Young people aren’t better than old people – just different.
Tea-time Church
The first Tea-time church service in Minsterley Parish Hall last Sunday seemed to go well, with 22 in attendance and an animated exploration of the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. The next service will take place on May 28th at 4 p.m. All welcome.
Praise Evening
Our latest Group Praise Evening will take place at Holy Trinity Minsterley on Tues 7th May at 7 p.m. All welcome.
Group Social
Sadly, we have had to postpone the Group Social scheduled for this Saturday at St George’s. We still want to prioritise getting the whole family together later in the year.
Quiz
Shrewsbury Youth for Christ and Shrewsbury Street Pastors are hosting a quiz at Christ Church, Bayston Hill on Friday May 10th at 7 p.m. Tickets are available on the door. Please speak to Greg if you would like to know more.
Tea Service
The monthly Tea Service hosted by St George’s for all those who appreciate a shorter mid-week communion service takes place next Tuesday 7th May at 2.30 p.m. All welcome.
Songs of Praise
We have been warmly invited to attend a Songs of Praise service at Pontesbury Methodist Chapel on Pontesbury Hill at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday May 19th. This is the first such invitation we have received from Pontesbury Methodists in several years, so do prioritise going along if you possibly can.
Open Gardens
Pontesbury Open Gardens is scheduled for Sunday May 19th from 12.30-4 p.m. Tickets will be available from St George’s Church. Do pray for a sunny afternoon.
Car wash for 1st Pontesbury Guides
1st Pontesbury Guides need a new camp tent so to raise funds towards the cost they’ve given each guide £1 with the challenge to ‘make it grow’. My daughter, a member of the Guides in Pontesbury, has bought a sponge and talked nicely to her grandparents so on Sunday 5th May from noon – 6pm she will be washing cars at 9 Little Minsterley for £5 per car. If you’d like to spot a time slot give me a shout on sarahedwards90@hotmail.com or 07971984925.
Plant Sale
The busy weekend includes a Plant Sale, hosted by HTM at the Crown & Sceptre carpark on Saturday May 18th from 11 a.m. Plants of every kind available for sale, with refreshments supplied.
Hope and Shelve Fete
The Hope and Shelve Summer Fete will take place on Saturday June 1st from 2-4pm at Leigh Manor, Minsterley SY5 0EG.
We are looking for help on the day, as well as contributions of books, plants, cakes, raffle and tombola prizes. We also need someone to do face painting. Please contact Fran on 07982 324760 if you can help.
Minsterley Jumble Trail
Declutter your home and make some money for you and Holy Trinity! Minsterley Jumble Trail is taking place on 15th June from 10am – 2pm. Book a seller’s spot for £10 and your address will be added to the FREE Jumble Trail map which will be circulated to the wider community. For more information and to book your table contact Sarah on 07971 984925
Minsterley Show
The Minsterley Show is back again on the 17th of August, and we need people to start making delicious cakes! If you think you can bake some cakes and pop them in the freezer then please do start as your support is very much appreciated! This is a big fundraiser for Holy Trinity and our stall is very much appreciated by the show attendees due to our reasonable prices – we can keep our prices down due to the fact that cakes and sandwiches are donated. Keep the date in your diary and on your marks, get, set, bake!
The show ground is situated 5 miles Southwest of Shrewsbury on the B4386, Shrewsbury to Westbury Road.
SatNav users should input SY5 8PW as the postcode.
Ascension Day
There will be a Group Service for Ascension Day at Holy Trinity Minsterley on Thursday May 9th at 7 p.m. All welcome.
APCMs
The following have been re-elected as Churchwardens at the APCMs that have been held over the last week: Susan Lockwood, Sarah Edwards, Marianne McCall, Mary Worrall, Pearl Hannigan, and Pauline Stopford. We are immensely grateful to them for their continued service. They will be licensed by the Archdeacon at a Visitation Service at St George’s on Monday June 17th at 7 p.m. Do come along to this to hear the Archdeacon’s vision for the Deanery and support our wonderful churchwardens. We also pray for the Hope/Shelve APCM which will take place on Weds May 15th at 2.15 p.m. at Hope Village Hall.
Calendar for the Week
Fri 3rd May
Coffee Stop at St George’s from 10-12
Sun 5th
Holy Communion at Shelve at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
Family Service at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Evensong at Habberley at 5 p.m.
Mon 6th
The Bible Course at 3 Earls Court at 7 p.m.
Tues 7th
Foodbank at Minsterley 10-12
Little Dragons at St George’s 10-11.30
Tea Service at St George’s at 2.30 p.m.
Ichthus Programme at Brookfield Waterwheel 2.30 p.m.
Praise Evening at HTM at 7 p.m.
Weds 8th
Baptism Preparation evening at St George’s at 7 p.m.
Pontesbury Youth Café at 3.20 p.m.
Thurs 9th
Trinity Tots 10-11.30 a.m.
Pontesbury Foodbank 10-12 noon
Ascension Day Service at HTM at 7 p.m.
Fri 10th
Quiz Night at Christ Church, Bayston Hill at 7 p.m.
Sat 11th
Repair Shop at St George’s 10-12
Pontesbury PCC Away Day at Pontesbury Baptist Church 10-3 p.m.
Sun 12th
Holy Communion at Hope at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at HTM at 10.30 a.m.
Morning Prayer at St George’s at 10.30 a.m.
