Newsletter 17th January 2025
Pontesbury & Stiperstones
Family of Churches
Newsletter
17th January 2025
Dear Friends
I know that I don’t cope well with having my plans changed by external forces, a lack of flexibility that my wife calls stubbornness! I seem to have had quite a lot of that sort of thing lately – meetings being cancelled because the host was ill (that happened three times in 24 hours), other meetings cancelled or moved because of the weather and not least Fran’s operation being cancelled, moved or rearranged (for what sometimes have seemed like made up reasons). I do feel very unsettled when what is written in my diary isn’t then what happens, and I hate crossings out!
You may recall the incident of Jesus on his way to raising Jairus’ daughter, when he is accosted in a crowd by a woman with blood issue (Luke 8.40-56). Leaving aside how the Lord can possibly know that He has been touched in such a crowd, do we think that His response is of someone annoyed that His plans have been interrupted by an uninvited healing or do we think, here is someone who knows that the Holy Spirit has been at work and that it’s important at all times to pay attention to what the Spirit is doing? While I know which of those fits best with my personality, I am fairly confident it is the latter explanation we should heed.
Group Services
Please find below our programme of Group Services for 2025. Why not make a New Year’s
resolution to visit a sister church you’ve never attended before?
Wednesday= March 5th Minsterley
Sunday; March 23rd Pontesbury
Thursday* April 17th Pontesbury
Sunday+ June 1st Snailbeach
Sunday June 29th Worthen
Sunday Aug 31st Shelve (outdoors)
Sunday ++ Sept 14th Habberley
Sunday Sept 28th Hope
Sunday Nov 30th Pontesbury
Sunday** Dec 14th Pontesbury
Sunday Dec 28th Minsterley
= Ash Wednesday; In place of 5th Sunday of March which is Mother’s Day
*Maundy Thursday
+Additional service because of Deanery service at end of the month
++Afternoon Pet Service at Habberley Village Hall
**Evening Carol Service
David Small
We are sad to report the death of David Small on Monday morning. Please continue to pray for Shirley who has supported him so wonderfully over many months.
Fran’s Operation
With many thanks to all those who have been praying so hard, Fran has a date for her knee replacement operation for next Wednesday. Your continued prayers for a full and speedy recovery will be very gratefully received. Please note that Greg will be on leave from the 23rd to the 28th January inclusive.
Evening Prayer
A reminder that there is a short service of Evening Prayer at Holy Trinity Minsterley every Monday at 5 p.m.
Bible Study Groups
We offer two opportunities to study the bible together to which all are welcome. On alternate Monday evenings, a group meets at 4 Parry Drive on Young’s Way in Pontesbury at 7 p.m. with the next taking place on 20th January. And on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday afternoons of the month at 2.30 pm. alternating between The Blessing in Snailbeach on 2nd Tuesdays and Waterwheel in Wagbeach on 4th Tuesdays.
Coffee morning at HTM
There’s a coffee morning on 25 January from 10am – 12pm. As well as cakes and refreshments there’ll be a Burns night-inspired quiz sheet with a bottle of whiskey up for grabs! Everyone is welcome.
If anyone is able to make cakes or help on the day, please contact Sarah on 07971984925 / sarahedwards90@hotmail.com.
Games Evening
St George’s will be hosting a Games Evening at 7 p.m. on Saturday January 25th , tickets £5. For further details, please speak to Marianne McCall.
Community Meal
A second community meal is to be offered at Minsterley Parish Hall on Thurs Feb 6th at 4.45 p.m. We need 10/12 people to buy tickets for a three-course meal prepared by a professional chef at a donation cost of £10 per person. We also need 2 or 3 volunteers to help serve the meal and wash up afterwards. If you would like to do either, please contact Greg.
Lay Worship Training
The Deanery is offering a five week course on alternate Tuesday evenings, commencing 11th Feb for anyone who is currently helping to lead worship or would like to do so in the future. If you would like to know more, please speak to Greg or Fran Brealey.
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.
Little Dragons/Trinity Tots
Little Dragons will be continuing in the new year. Thanks to Aimee for stepping forward. We will still need more volunteers, as we do for Trinity Tots which meets on Thursdays at Holy Trinity. Please speak to Greg or Sarah Young if you would like to know more.
Minsterley Coffee Morning
A coffee morning is to be held at Holy Trinity on Saturday 25th Jan. For further details, please contact Sarah Edwards.
The Gathering
The monthly opportunity to worship with Christians from across the Deanery takes place this week and every third Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Marton Village Hall.
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.
AGM
Please contact Marion Elliott if you are interested in attending the AGM with her to find out more. mepontebury@gmail.com or 07833 325755
Calendar for the Week
January 2025
Fri 17th
Coffee Stop at St George’s 10-12
Sun 19th
Morning Prayer at Shelve at 9 a.m.
Minsterley Praise at Minsterley Methodist Church at 10 a.m.
Holy Communion at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Minsterley Youth Team meeting at 5 p.m.
Minsterley Standing Ctte at 7 p.m.
Mon 20th
Pontesbury Finance Ctte at 10.30 a.m. at The Deanery
Eco-ctte at 3.30
Youth Café at Minsterley at 3.30
Lord’s Prayer Bible Study at 7 p.m. at 4 Parry Drive
Minsterley Standing Ctte at 7 p.m.
Tues 21st
Foodbank at HTM 10-12
Little Dragons at St George’s 10-11.30 a.m.
The Gathering at 7 p.m. at Marton Village Hall
St George’s PCC at 7 p.m. in the WER
Weds 22nd
Coffee Hub at HTM 10-12 noon
Pontesbury Youth Café at 3.30 p.m.
Thurs 23rd
Trinity Tots at 10 a.m. at HTM
Foodbank at St George’s 10-12
Messy Church at St George’s at 3.30 p.m.
Sat 25th
Minsterley Coffee morning at HTM 10-12
St George’s Games Evening at 7 p.m. in WER
Sun 26th
Morning Prayer at Hope at 9 a.m.
Family Service at Pontesbury at 10.30 a.m.
Holy Communion at Minsterley at 10.30 a.m.
Holy Communion at Habberley at 5 p.m.
