Newsletter 22nd December 2024
Pontesbury & Stiperstones
Family of Churches
Newsletter
20th December 2024
Dear friends,
With the tragic plight of victims (of violence and sex abuse) much in the news this week, we should remember that Christmas is the time when we celebrate that God chose to enter our world, eschewing worldly power and prestige, as a fragile tiny baby, inhabiting vulnerability. A baby is utterly defenceless and completely without artifice. This allows us to recognize that the most vulnerable in our own society are closer to the Christ child than the richest and most powerful among us. The magi eventually find their way to the stable, but only after the humble, marginalised shepherds had already drawn near to worship. In its care for the vulnerable, the Church has often led the way, and sometimes lost its way. Christmas is a good time to be reminded what God’s priorities are. We pray for all victims to be comforted by him at the same time as we pray for Christ to be born in us afresh this Christmastide.
The Benefice Council recently agreed that from the beginning of January there will be a new pattern of services across our benefices:
1st and 3rd Sundays at St George & Holy Communion at 10.30
2nd and 4th Sundays at HTM Holy Communion at 10.30
1st Sunday at Minsterley: Tea-time service at 4 p.m.
2nd Sunday at Pontesbury: Morning Worship at 10.30
3rd Sunday at Minsterley: Minsterley Praise at 10/10.30
4th Sunday at Pontesbury: Family Service at 10.30
2nd Sunday at Habberley: Evensong at 5 p.m.
4th Sunday at Habberley: Holy Communion at 5 p.m.
Services at Hope and Shelve will remain unchanged.
Christmas Wishes
The clergy and churchwardens of the Pontesbury & Stiperstones Group wish all our readers a happy and holy season and every good thing for 2025.
Christmas Lunches in Minsterley
We have had an offer of free Christmas lunches for any resident of Minsterley who would like a lunch delivered on the day. If you know anyone, please ask them first, and then let Greg know asap.
Evening Prayer
A reminder that there is a short service of Evening Prayer at Holy Trinity Minsterley every Monday at 5 p.m.
Survey
A reminder to all those who attend St George’s (regularly or irregularly) that we would very much value your completing the survey that was sent out a couple of weeks ago. Please either return to Greg or the address shown on the survey. If you can’t locate a copy, contact Emma at officepontstip@gmail.com
Mary Webb Governor
After three years as a governor at Mary Webb School, Greg is standing down. However, the school would still appreciate a church representative. This doesn’t have to be a member of St George’s Church, but anyone with an interest in secondary education from any of our churches. If interested, please contact Greg.
From Darkness to Light
‘From Darkness to Light’ is a musical written in 2019 that has been revised and extended on its five-year anniversary. It tells the Christmas story from a fresh perspective, including more unusual characters that don’t normally get included (such as Zechariah and Elizabeth!), and shares a new perspective on the refugee aspects of Jesus’ early life.
The show is being performed by the Shrewsbury Theatre Singers and is on Saturday 21st December at Bayston Hill Methodist Church at 7pm (with a preview performance at Yockleton Church on Sunday 15th December at 4pm).
The original show was performed in three towns/venues, including Hereford Cathedral, and is suitable for all ages. Tickets are available here: https://www.kscleaton.co.uk/event-details/from-darkness-to-light-a-musical
Christmas Carols & Readings by Candlelight
All are welcome on Sunday 22nd December at 3pm for our service of Christmas Carols and Readings by Candlelight at Holy Trinity, Hope. Refreshments will be provided.
Group Service
Please note that the service at Minsterley on Sunday 29th December will be Holy
Communion for the whole group at 10.30 a.m.
Year of Engagement
Hereford Diocese has badged 2025 as the Year of Engagement. The launch event takes
place on Saturday January 4th at 3.30 p.m. All welcome. If anyone would like a lift, Greg and Fran will have two spare spaces on a first come first served basis.
Tea-time Church
Will switch to first Sundays from January 5th and will take place in Holy Trinity rather than
Minsterley Parish Hall. The service still starts at 4 p.m. and all are welcome.
Monday Bible Study Group
The bible study series on The Lord’s Prayer will take a break over Christmas, reconvening in the New year on Jan 6th. The venue for this is 4 Parry Drive on Young’s Way in Pontesbury. Anyone is welcome to join us.
Coffee Hub reminder
This week (18 December) was the last Coffee Hub for 2024. We’ll be back on Wednesday 8th January 2025 at HTM.
Thank you to all the volunteers who work so hard throughout the year, and to everyone who comes along for coffee, cake and conversation. See you next year!
Newsletter
Please note that the next newsletter will be distributed on Jan 10th.
Richard
We are now able to officially confirm that from 1st Feb, Richard’s curacy will be extended to
cover the parish of Chirbury, where he will be supporting the congregation through the early
stages of their vacancy. He will remain curate of Pontesbury and Stiperstones but will only
have half the time to devote to this as before. Please be understanding of this.
The Gathering
The monthly gathering of Christians from across the Deanery for praise and prayer which is hosted at 7.p.m. Marton Village Hall. as follows:
21 January 2025
17 February 2025
18 March 2025
WW2 80th Anniversary
To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War next year, we’d like to feature your recollections throughout the 2025 Minsterley Parish Magazines. These can be a memory of the war years as a whole, of VE/VJ Day, family history etc. They don’t need to be specifically Minsterley or even Shropshire centred – we’re excited to hear about wherever you were.
Pieces can be from 50 to 500 words. We can include an image though it will appear in black and white. Any image should be your own (rather than taken from the internet).
Please send your pieces to Sarah Edwards (sarahedwards90@hotmail.com) or David Young (minsterleyparishmagazine@gmail.com) and watch out for what we hope will be a really interesting feature for 2025.
Little Dragons
Little Dragons will be continuing in the new year. Thanks to Aimee for stepping forward. We
will still need more volunteers. Please speak to Greg if you would like to know more.
Minsterley Youth Café
Continues to be a great success, attracting as many as 14 young people for pizza, games
and craft activities, overseen by Joe Barnes. There is a small band of dedicated volunteers
who would love some additional help even if it is once a month. Please contact Joe or Greg
if you want to know more.
Safeguarding
Anyone concerned by news reports this week of calls for the resignation of the Archbishop of York, following alleged safeguarding failures, should speak to one of the clergy about this.
We remain committed to delivering safeguarding at parish level to the very best of our ability and are grateful to our two safeguarding officers, June and Erin for all their hard work, and to the wider congregation for their support and ongoing cooperation.
Calendar for the Week
December 2024 & January 2025
Fri 20th Dec
Coffee Stop at St George’s 10-12
Sat 21st
Messy Christmas at St George’s at 3 p.m.
Sun 22nd
Holy Communion at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Carol Service at Hope Church at 3 p.m.
Tues 24th
Carol Service at Habberley at 5 p.m.
Carols on the Green at 6 p.m. in Pontesbury
Midnight Communion at 11 p.m. in Pontesbury
Weds 25th
Holy Communion at Snailbeach at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at Shelve at 9.30 a.m.
Holy Communion at Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
Holy Communion at Habberley at 10.30 a.m.
Sun 29th
Group Service at HTM at 10.30 a.m.
Tues 31st
Foodbank at HTM 10-12
Jan 2nd
Youth Drop in at St George’s at 7 p.m.
Jan 4th
Year of Engagement Launch at Hereford Cathedral at 3.30 p.m.
Jan 5th
Holy Communion at Shelve at 9 a.m.
Holy Communion at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Tea-time church at Minsterley at 4 p.m.
Jan 6th
The Lord’s Prayer at 7 p.m. at 4 Parry Drive
Jan 7th
Rea Valley Prayer Group at 7 p.m. at Hove-to, The Grit
Jan 8th
Pontesbury Standing Ctte at 9.30 a.m. in WER
Jan 9th
Messy Church Planning at 3.30 p.m. in WER
Baptism Team meets at 7 p.m. in WER
