Newsletter 12th July 2024
This weekend I spent the Saturday and Sunday away at Condover Hall with a bunch of teenagers from our respective Minsterley and Pontesbury Youth Cafe’s. It was a good if tiring time and on top of joining in on activities like completing the high ropes course (terrifying), kayaking (wet) and archery (scary as our group wasn’t great at keeping discipline in terms of keeping the arrows pointing down range!), we had an opportunity to share a bit about the Christian life, get to know the teens a bit better and enjoy just watching them laugh, overcome challenges and just enjoy being out and about. I got home tired but optimistic about our future generations – they’re good kids!
It’s interesting to see them, like us, go through challenges in life, whether it is loss of a loved one, a falling out with friends or a tough time a school that actually we can bring in the person of Jesus Christ who experienced all that we have and will experience and so can empathise with us, and yet goes so much farther than simply being a shoulder to cry on but because of his death and resurrection, opened the way back to God who provides for all our needs, in this life and the next.
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4.14-16
May you be blessed with the truth of these words this coming week.
Rev. Richard Lonsdale
Tea and Scones
Tea and scones at the New Vicarage, Minsterley on Saturday 13th July between 2 and 4pm. All welcome
Tea in the Garden at Plealey Farm
Sunday 28th July, between 2pm to 5pm. In aid of St George’s Church and Road Peace (Supporting crash victims). £5 per person to include jam and cream scone and cup of tea. There is a Raffle. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. For more information, please contact Marianne McCall 07944 333830.
The Gathering
Tuesday 30th July, refreshments from 7pm, 7:30pm start. An evening of praising and worshipping god. Everyone welcome. Marton Village Hall.
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.
Little Dragons and Trinity Tots
Next week sees the retirement of the Little Dragons Team and two-thirds of the Trinity Tots team after many years of fantastic service. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to everyone who has made these two groups one of the flagships of our life as churches, serving our respective villages. We wish Barbara, Caroline, Judith, Maria, Marion, Marian, Pat and Val God’s richest blessing in their retirement. We are pleased to announce that we have recruited three volunteers to serve in each setting, but would be pleased to hear from anyone else who would like to help. Please speak to Greg, Val or Sarah Young about this.
Van Morgan
Van’s funeral will take place at Holy Trinity on Friday July 12th at 10 a.m. followed by a reception at the Crown & Sceptre.
Garden Service
Everyone is warmly invited to the Garden Service hosted by Pontesbury Congregational Church on Sunday August 11th at 2.30 p.m. If anyone is willing and able to represent St George’s at a planning meeting on the evening of Thursday July 18th, please let Greg know.
Youth for Christ Prayer Breakfast
There is a prayer breakfast at Pontesbury Congregational Church on Saturday 13th at 8.30 a.m. in support of Shrewsbury Youth for Christ, our valued partners in our youth work. The SYFC AGM which took place last Sunday afternoon included lots of good news stories from Pontesbury and Minsterley where the youth cafes are celebrated as a great success.
Snailbeach Summer Celebration
There will be a summer celebration service at St Luke’s Snailbeach on Sunday 14th July at 3 p.m. followed by afternoon tea at Snailbeach Village Hall. This is a new venture, so your support would be much appreciated.
Romans Course
A course on the Book of Romans, St Paul’s great masterpiece, continues on Monday July 22nd at 7 p.m. at our regular venue of 3 Earls Court.
Greg’s birthday party
Greg is hosting a 64th birthday party at Minsterley Parish Hall on Saturday July 27th at 7 p.m. and you are invited. Yes, that means you if you are reading this. It is planned that it should be a bring and share supper, and Mary Worrall worrallwaverley@hotmail.co.uk has kindly offered to coordinate this. Please advise Mary of what you’re intending to bring. It has not been possible to secure a bar, so please bring your own drinks (it’s cheaper!)
Pontesbury PCC
Please note the change of venue for St George’s PCC, which will be held at Pontesbury Baptist Church this Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Group Service
Please note that the next Group Service will be at Shelve at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday August 25th
Holiday Club
The St George’s Holiday Club is scheduled for the week commencing July 22nd and volunteers have been working very hard to get ready for it. We now need children to sign up for it, which they have been reluctant to do up to now. Would you therefore please pray hard about this, that the church will be full of children that week.
Prize Draw
Congratulations to Hannah Rickus on winning the Minsterley Prize Draw. It’s still not to late to fill out a survey, which will help HTM with its development project.
Rea Valley Foodbank Appeal update
We have now received £145 a month additional pledges in response to our appeal. This is such wonderful generosity in our churches and the wider community. Our target of £150 is now so close. Please let us know if you are willing to pledge a monthly amount by 24 th July when a final decision will need to be made as to whether Rea Valley Foodbank can continue to operate independently. At this stage, we are looking for pledges rather than cash so that we can plan effectively. Offers of pledges should be sent to Greg Smith at rectorpontstip@gmail.com or by calling 07902 794653.
Hope Summer Praise
On the third Sunday of the month, over the summer months at 2.30 p.m. there will be a service at Hope Village Hall. The first one will be on 21st July. The short service will be suitable for all ages, followed by tea and cake. We hope to attract new worshippers; but would encourage all our folk to come along to support this new venture.
Survey
A national survey investigating the views of ordinary church members is available at
Calendar for the Week
Fri 12th
Coffee Stop at St George’s from 10-12
Sat 13th
SYFC prayer breakfast at Pontesbury Congs at 8.30 a.m.
Wedding of Lauren & Tom at St George’s at 1 p.m.
Sun 14th
Holy Communion at Hope at 9 a.m.
Morning Prayer at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Holy Communion at Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
Summer Celebration at Snailbeach at 3 p.m.
Mon 15th
Youth Café at HTM at 3.30 p.m.
Tues 16th
Foodbank at Minsterley 10-12
Little Dragons at St George’s 10-11.30 a.m.
Ichthus Programme at Brookfield Waterwheel at 2:30 p.m.
Weds 17th
Coffee Hub at HTM 10-12.
Youth Café at Pontesbury Baptist Church at 3.20 p.m.
Pontesbury PCC at 7 p.m. at Pontesbury Baptist Church
Thurs 18th
Pontesbury Foodbank 10-12 noon
Trinity Tots at HTM 10-11.30 a.m.
Fri 19th
Wedding of Will & Laura at St George’s
Sun 21st
Morning Prayer at Shelve at 9 a.m.
Minsterley Praise at Methodist Chapel at 10 a.m.
Holy Communion at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Holiday Club set up at 2 p.m.
Hope Praise at 2.30 p.m.
Holy Communion at Habberley at 5 p.m.
