Weekly Email w/b 4th October 2021

You may know that Facebook, Instagram and Messenger crashed earlier this week, and were out of action for a few hours. The outage meant that teenagers had to talk to parents rather than texting, colleagues got to gaze out of a window rather than look at a device, and cute cat videos were in short supply. It did also impact six o’clock live on Monday evening, with no Facebook Live available for our daily gathering.

Whatever your social media status, we’re continuing to learn what fellowship looks like as part of our HOLY HABITS Sunday theme. Whether you’re in person or online, whether you’re new or old or somewhere in between, we are all called to a profound sense of belonging to God, and out of that to one another in fellowship. The early church coined the term koinonia which is not always easy to translate but beautiful to see at work. That’s the vision of the life of the early Church, and we pray will be breathed into our life at Trinity today.

Read on below to find a few things coming up at Trinity. You’ll find updates on Apple Day and a Radbrook Quiz night, as well as ways of saying ‘count me in’ to the life of the Church by being baptised or confirmed. New this week is “Living in Love and Faith” and us being part of a national conversation around some big issues, as well as a reminder about Cafe Connect and Cloisters.

With our thanks, and prayers, as always, as together we seek to be “growing faith, proclaiming hope and living the love of Jesus.”

Grace and peace

Phil Cansdale

Vicar of Trinity Churches and Area Dean of Shrewsbury

 

Saturday 9th October, 12pm to 3pm, sees a welcome return of our annual Apple Day featuring Cloisters Cafe, great food, apple pressing, games, crafts etc. We’ll be meeting outdoors in the courtyard and on the Glebe Field.

Over that weekend there is also a scarecrow trail taking place across the local area.

Sunday 10th October sees us meet at 9am and 11am as usual at Holy Trinity Church. It’ll be the second week of harvest celebrations, with Peter Madley speaking at 9am and an all-ages celebration at 11am.

Talking Sundays, 17th October sees a service and brunch at Radbrook Community Centre at 9.30am hosted by Phil, Keith, Amal, and others. We’re going to have an opportunity to be talking and praying about our shared life in Radbrook Green. And in the evenings – during October, November and December – we’re trialling meeting on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, with the hope to return to a weekly gathering from January 2022. (October 3rd and 17th, November 7th and 21st, December 5th and then something Christmas-shaped on 19th)

Thank you to those who brought harvest gifts last Sunday We are inviting people to bring gifts once more this coming Sunday. As usual we will be sharing these non-perishable goods with both Shrewsbury Food Bank and Shrewsbury Ark, who work closely together to support those who are vulnerable across the town and beyond. You’ll see above the sort of things which Food Bank are running particularly low on….

Shrewsbury Food Bank

The Shrewsbury Ark

Come and join us for our Big Quiz Night on Saturday 9th October at 7pm in Radbrook Community Centre! We will be having lots of fun including a fish and chip supper, desserts and refreshments and you can even bring your own drinks! All for only £10 per person. Sign up online or give Keith and Amal a call on 07512135584.

Let us know you’re coming and pay online

Living in Love and Faith is a conversation churches and Christians all across the Church of England are having at the moment. How do we listen, learn and work together in some of the important areas of relationships, marriage, sexuality and identity? And what does it mean to live in love and faith together as a Church?

At Trinity we will be hosting a five session course on Wednesday evenings using the really excellent study materials. Starting Wednesday 3rd November we want to be learning together, listening to one another, and discerning what “growing faith, proclaiming hope and living the love of Jesus” means in these important areas. We’re asking people to register if they’re interested in attending. So find out more – and book on – below.

Find out more about Living in Love and Faith

 

There’s something really important about finding ways of saying “count me in” to God and to the life of the Church. We’d love to help people to do that. Bishop Sarah, the Bishop of Shrewsbury, will be with us on Advent Sunday, 28th November. At our mid-morning gathering that day we’re having a service of baptisms and confirmations.

For those who haven’t already been baptised – either as babies or older – baptism for young people and adults is an amazing opportunity to commit to following Jesus and to live as life-long and whole-life disciples of Christ. Before the big day there will be opportunities to meet together to check out what this means, and to support you as you take a step of faith.

Confirmation is for those who have been baptised already, particularly as babies. It gives people an opportunity to “confirm” for themselves their commitment to follow Jesus and be part of the life of the church, and for your church family to pray for you and cheer you on as part of God’s amazing family here and across the world.

To let us know you’re interested in being baptised or confirmed please answer the questions below, and we’ll then be in touch with you about ‘next steps’ to get ready for November 28th. And if you want to chat further, do talk in particular to Phil, Fi or Craig and we’d love to meet up….

Let us know you’re interested….

Cafe Connect is open 9am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays, plus Saturday mornings. You’ll not only find good drinks and great snacks available but also a listening ear and a prayerful presence. Did you know that we meet to pray in the Cafe on Friday mornings from 8.30am till 9am? Come along and join us, we’d love to see you.

Meanwhile CLOISTERS cafe continues on Tuesday mornings 10am to 12pm only. We’ve found our new autumn home at the back of Holy Trinity Church. Whether you’ve been a regular or not yet found your way there yet, we’d love to see you.