Singing returns – and other weekly news

Monday was “Freedom Day”. A friend of mine shared the following verses from Galatians with me, from The Message version of the Bible:

‘It is absolutely clear that God called you to live a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out – in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?’ (Galatians 5: 15-15)

We’ll no doubt all have different views on what this freedom is going to look like. Read on below for what this will look like for us at Trinity. We are entering a period of time when we try to steer our way around the absence, rather than the presence, of the restrictions to which we’ve grown accustomed. It’s going to be a learning curve for us all. As Christians we know that the purpose of our freedom is to love God and to love our neighbours. The Christian idea of freedom recognises our need of one another. Let’s pray for one another as we navigate this next stage of the journey.

Fi Iddon, Associate Vicar

We’ve spent the last few days reviewing our current COVID guidelines. The really good news is that we will be singing again, which we haven’t been able to do fully since March 2020. Much of how we are doing life together will remain the same, including asking people to wear face coverings and enabling you to be able to keep physical distance from others. To help monitor capacity we are requesting that people let us know that they are coming in the usual way, though if you haven’t booked in there should be space for you ‘on the day’ if you turn up. We will, of course, continue online too for those who aren’t yet comfortable in being alongside other people.

We’ll be reviewing this on a regular basis, and are committed to church being a safe space for everyone. If you have any questions or concerns do please chat to one of the team.

This Sunday – 25th July – we continue to meet at 9am and 11am for our Sunday celebrations. We’re wrapping up these few weeks looking at the “I AM” saying of Jesus, with Keith Moore speaking on John 15 and the “true vine.” As always, we would love you to join us, and whether online or in person find ways in which we can encourage each other and build up the life of our church.

Over August we’re going to be making some space for “The BIG Conversation”, and reflecting on our COVID journey of thanking, lamenting, learning and praying.

The summer also sees some activities for children and youth at our 11am gatherings. This will include provision for under 5s, with the Fiwila Room being available with a large selection of toys available. The room won’t be staffed, and you will need to stay with your child (or organise for a trusted friend or family member to do so). No drinks or snacks will be provided so please bring your own. You are very welcome, and indeed encouraged, to join with the coffee time after the service. If you have a small, non-mobile, baby then please do make use of the Tower Vestry where the service is livestreamed into the room, with a sofa, changing facilities and some toys available for use. Many thanks to Catherine and Simon C-S for facilitating this.

Let us know you’d like to come to one of our services

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As we all know, Judith Clarkson will be retiring from her work as Children’s Minister at the end of July. We’ll be praying for her, and saying our customary “thankyou” on Sunday 25th July at the 11am service in particular.

We’d love for as many people as possible to write a note of thanks and appreciation in a virtual ‘card’. You can do that by clicking on the link below, and it will take you to a really simple way of leaving your message.

We’d also love to give Judith a gift from all of us as congregations across Trinity Churches. The easiest way if by giving online by bank transfer, details below. There will also be some envelopes available at Holy Trinity church into which you could put a gift. Thankyou.
PCC Holy Trinity Meole Brace, Christ the King Radbrook
Account Number: 01317554
Sort Code: 30-97-62
Reference: JUDITH

Leave a short message to say thankyou

It’s a few days to go until the deadline for our Operations Manager role. You’ll be working with the wider staff team and the hundreds of people who make up Trinity Churches to ensure our operational life remains strong, with particular oversight for personnel, finance and our premises. If you’ve got exceptional admin skills, and experience of ‘getting stuff done’ we’d love to hear from you. For more details go to www.trinitychurches.org/jobs.

Find out more about the Operations Manager role

Over many years the New Wine Summer Conference has been an important part of life for quite a few of us at Trinity. This year’s summer conference – online – starts on 29th July with some really great speakers. We’re exploring some of us getting together on the late afternoon of Friday 30th for some food in the area around the Trinity Centre, and then we’ll join in with the evening celebration on a big screen. If some people want to camp on the Glebe then that’s hopefully possible, and we might could do something on the Saturday morning for those still around.

We’re also going to be joining with New Wine on the evening of Sunday 1st August for our monthly celebration.

If you’re interested – or want to find out more – chat to Fi Iddon or Craig Silcock.

More about New Wine 2021

With continued lifting of some of the COVID principles we’re pleased that Cafe Connect and CLOISTERS continue to be places of warm welcome. Cafe Connect remains open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday as well as Saturday mornings. And CLOISTERS pop-up cafe continues at its new opening times of 10am to 2pm.

Meanwhile we’d love a discussion with anyone who’d like to join the team at either Cafe Venue. Got some spare time? Would love to get alongside others and make a difference? Come and have a conversation with us and we’ll put you in touch. It’s great fun, a good way to serve God and be a blessing in the local community.