Newsletter 12th April 2024
Dear Friends,
Well I’m just back from a tough week at Spring Harvest. Liv threw up on the way (fortunately we made it to a passing place); we carried on thinking it might be either travel sickness or nerves but by Monday night both Moray and Claire were starting to wobble and then Moray was sick on Tuesday morning. Claire remained in bed for the rest of the week, Moray was little better and I was absolutely fine!
Trying to find meaning or good in such events is difficult. I had a lot of dad and Liv time (she having recovered to enjoy a full week of activities) which was lovely but it seems strange to have that at the expense of other family members being ill and frustrated at a wasted week. Life is topsy-turvy sometimes with no “normal” explanation as to the ways things are. It can be very frustrating. There is a temptation in Christian circles to try and make light of pain and frustration, a kind of “best of all possible worlds” approach which I don’t think is all that helpful, as it seems to try and minimise or dismiss it.
Do we instead approach God and say that we don’t understand why this is happening, but that we trust God will meet us in the midst of our pain and use it to transform us ever so slightly to be more like our Lord? Again this might seem easy to say when you’re not in the midst of the storm but it is maybe a good starting point. What do you think? Perhaps it is something that will never be fully understood until we meet with God and all things will become clear, but on this side of eternity then we are called to trust in our Lord for all things even when we can’t see an easy way forward.
Rev. Richard Lonsdale
Website
Richard Elliot formally stands down as St George’s Webmaster this weekend after many years of loyal service. His reliability, creativity and professionalism are hugely appreciated and will be much missed.
Dentist
For those who haven’t heard, Pontesbury Dental Practice will soon be exclusively private patients only. Final appointments are being offered to existing NHS patients before they will be asked to pay or go elsewhere.
April 28th
Please note that the service pattern on Sunday April 28th will be different in Minsterley and Pontesbury. The 10.30 service at St George’s will celebrate St George’s Day, with the uniformed groups in attendance; and will not be eucharistic. There will therefore a short said communion service at 12 noon. This will be followed by the APCM. People are welcome to attend any combination of these three events. In Minsterley that day, we will launch Tea-Time church at 4 p.m. at Minsterley Parish Hall, with no service in the morning.
Calendar for the Week
Sat 13th
YFC Prayer Breakfast at St George’s 8:30 a.m.
Coffee & Cake for Pontesbury extended Church Yard 10:00 a.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.
Mon 15th
Youth Café at Minsterley 3:30 p.m.
Tues 16th
Foodbank at Minsterley 10:00 a.m.
Little Dragons at Pontesbury 10:00 a.m.
Wed 17th
Coffee Hub at Minsterley 10:00 a.m.
Youth Café at Pontesbury 3:20 p.m.
Thurs 18th
Foodbank at Pontesbury 10:00 a.m.
Trinity Tots at Minsterley 10:00 a.m.
Fri 19th
Coffee Morning at Pontesbury 10:00 a.m.
