As I sit down to write with a few squares of chocolate left from my Christmas Stash, Christmas feels a long time ago and I can't quite believe we are already in mid-January!
The third Monday of January has been dubbed 'Blue Monday' in a PR stunt that claims a combination of things such as dark days, overspending at Christmas and failed resolutions make this the most depressing day of the year. Of course, the labelling of a day like this is nonsense, but the reality is we do all experience the feelings that 'Blue Monday' suggests: sadness, worry, regrets, disappointment, self-doubt, and we carry them through our lives, not just on one day in January.
Jesus says, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). This is not a PR stunt that tells us what we should feel and when, it's the greatest invitation to lay everything that overwhelms us at the feet of the one who has already carried the biggest weight to the cross, and to exchange all of those 'Blue Monday' feelings for unending love and hope.
Grace and Peace
Cerys Hughes, Children and Families' Minister
See below for more information on our 'Beat the January Blues' party...
This Sunday, 18th January, we'll be continuing our sermon series 'Prayers of the Bible. Our preacher at 9am and 11am will be Charles Ruxton, with Shirley Stevens speaking at CTK, and Ian Budd at HTBV. Our evening service will have a mission focus, with Paul and Bogusia sharing about their recent mission trip. Trinity Youth will be meeting upstairs in the Trinity Centre at 6.30pm.
Praying for the vacancy process
Try Praying
It's great to have around 40 people joining to 'try praying' on Wednesday evenings in the Trinity Centre. There is still time to join us if you would like, or if you know someone else who would like to 'try praying'. Come along to the Trinity Centre at 7.30pm on Wednesday night, and there are more details on the website if you would like them.
Sign up for Try Praying
Beat the January Blues
It's been such a lovely time celebrating together over Christmas that we don't want to leave it behind in January! With that in mind, we are planning a 'Beat the January Blues' party on Saturday 31st January at 5pm. We'll eat some lovely warming pies together – you'll be asked to make a choice when you sign up – and have time for fun and fellowship. We're meeting at 5pm because we want to encourage all ages to be together, and we can cater for any and all dietary requirements. Please do sign up asap so that we can give the wonderful Pie-oneers a 'heads up' about numbers. Thank you!
Sign up for the 'Beat the January Blues' party
First Aid qualifications
As part of our continuing commitment to Health and Safety in all areas of church life, we are looking to establish some guidelines for dealing with incidents in large services. We are very grateful to those of you who have been happy to offer medical assistance when needed in the past, but we would like to have a clearer idea of who has relevant qualifications and is happy to be approached if needed. With this in mind, we've put together a few short form with three questions... please do 'click below' if you are happy to use your medical or first aid qualifications within the church context.
First Aid form
And finally, some news from Street Pastors...
Shrewsbury Street Pastors are delighted to confirm the appointment of Paul Bell as their new CEO. He brings with him lots of experience in, and a deep commitment to, faith-led community work including having been a Shrewsbury Street Pastor for the past decade.
Trinity Life
The December / January edition of Trinity Life is available at the back of Church and online - do grab a copy for more information about what's coming up in the life of our church.
Trinity Life