Weekly Email w/b 11th September 2023

September 15, 2023

If you are anything like me, then the news this week will have left you feeling pretty broken. We can’t watch the scenes of devastation in both Morocco and Libya and not have troubled hearts, unanswered questions and a deep sense of shock. For many of us at Trinity, this news has carried with it a personal dimension as we cry out to God for our dear friends, and the community they love, who have been so deeply impacted by the earthquake.

Yesterday it was our regular monthly communion service at The Ferns and, in response to a desire from the residents there to be praying for our world, we read Psalm 91 together:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
²I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

The Psalm ends with the Lord saying, ‘I will be with him in trouble.‘ We have placed our trust in a God who is not remote or absent, but who came to earth to live as one of us in the person of Jesus Christ. God entered our messy world, our broken world, our hurting world. It’s a reminder that the Light shines in the darkness, and that the darkness will never extinguish the light.

Fi Iddon (Associate Vicar)

PS Read on for lots of things beginning at this stage of the year. And – lest this gets too long – with lots more on our website or on social media.

In our morning congregations we are in week 2 of our autumn series called “Kingdom Come.” These next few weeks we are looking through the book of Nehemiah, which is full of themes like praying and vision, working together, and rebuilding when things are broken down. Phil Cansdale will be speaking at the 9am, CTK and 11am gatherings, whilst Kevin Roberts will speaking about “hope” at Holy Trinity Belle Vue.

In the evening we’ve just set off on a journey of what many call the “Mount Everest of the Bible” as we look at the book of Romans. Along the way we’ll be taking in the views of the grandeur of God’s eternal purposes before descending to put into practice what we’re learning. Fi Iddon will be continuing our climb as we come to Romans 1-3. Alongside the evening services we’ll be offering an additional midweek group to go deeper. Take a look below…

Our Autumn Alpha Course begins on Wednesday 4^th October, 7pm in the Trinity Centre. It’s a really great way to ask some of the big questions in life which we all live with, and explore some of the basics of the Christian faith. We start with a meal together and ways of making friends round tables, watch some short video content together and then have plenty of time for discussion together.

Especially for those who’ve never done it – or perhaps been around church for a while and wanting to take a steps in faith – this could well be for you. Or you might have a friend or family member for whom Alpha would be a good idea, and you could come with them (at least for the first one) and help them get involved more.

Find out more about Alpha and sign up

Alongside Alpha we’re offering an opportunity for those who want to take their faith deeper. Starting on Wednesday 4^th October at 7.45pm we’re going to be using the new material from the Bible Society as we dig deeper into the book of Romans. Each week we’ll be taking part of this amazing book, and seeing ways in which the gospel can take root more fully in our lives. It’s perhaps for those not in a small group but who’d like to catch up with others for a few weeks. Or for the many of us who’ve always got to the book of Romans, scratched our heads, and given up. All are welcome. Again, sign up and let us know you’re coming.

Find out more about Romans and sign up

This Sunday sees the Big Sunday Lunch taking place. Suitable for all ages and ‘stages’, and whether old-timer or newcomer, you’d be very welcome. For those already in a group then details should have arrived with you already. And it’s not quite too late to join in, especially the group who will be meeting in the Trinity Centre which hopefully makes arrangements a bit less complicated. So if you’d like to join a group – and make the most of opportunities of getting to know other people at Trinity – then let us know and we’ll find some space around a Sunday lunch table near you!

Let us know you’d like to come to the next BSL

We’ve been talking increasingly over the last few months about the need for “fresh vision” to be bubbling up. Most often this begins in prayer, is birthed in longing, and then brings people together to share that and take bold steps together. Over the autumn we want to be making space and time to be doing just that.

We’re inviting everyone involved in leading and serving – in whatever capacity and wherever they do this in our life at Trinity – together for an evening on Wednesday 27th September. We’ve had a couple of these events over the past and called it the “Joshua Group”, building on that moment in the Bible where people went into the promised land to check out what the future looks like, and whilst most panicked Joshua (and Caleb) saw things with the eyes of faith. How we need be like that.

We’ll start from 7.15pm for some quality refreshments together, and get started just after 7.30pm. We’d love you to come and join us. It would be most helpful to some idea for catering purposes, so an RSVP would be really great. Thankyou.

RSVP to the Joshua Group

It wouldn’t be Autumn without Apple Day! On Saturday 7^th October we will be celebrating all things Apple and Harvest related with crafts, apple pressing, live music and, of course, a hog roast. This is such a great community day. Rachel Woods is currently putting together a team – please do speak to her or contact the Church Office if you can help out.

A big thank-you to all of those of you who supported Ride and Stride this year. Some of you manned the church when it was open; others of you supported by donating or sponsoring those people who visited the various churches in the area; and, of course, those who slogged it out in one of the hottest days of the year visiting some of the lovely historic churches in Shropshire.

An event like this has its highs and lows and Trinity Church, Meole Brace is no exception. Our youngest member to take part was 14 years old and visited 13 churches on his bike. Our oldest was 95 and claimed 16 churches on her mobility scooter. Our most unfortunate member came off his bike and broke his arm after visiting 10 churches.

If you have sponsorship money please could you hand it in to the Church Office along with your form? Once again, thank you for amazing efforts.

Are we up for it next year? Watch this space!

We want to take our regular opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of safeguarding in our life at Trinity, and how every child, young person and adult has the right to be safe when engaging with God’s church. This applies to all areas of our life together. You can find out more on our website or by clicking the link below. If you have any concerns then please speak to one of our parish safeguarding officers Rachel Woods or Andrew Prichard (contact below), or to Phil Cansdale or Fi Iddon.