Weekly Email w/b 13th December 2021

Amidst my usual Christmas playlists I’ve had occasional bursts of a certain Christmas song by WHAM. “Last Christmas I gave you my heart” go the words. But you know what happens the very next day. It’s a song about broken promises, about hurting people, about a lingering sense of disappointment.

As Christmas approaches this year these are pretty powerful themes aren’t they? Let me encourage you – in the midst of all that is going on – to discover for ourselves more of the heart of Christmas. Of a God who remembers his promises, who reaches out to hurting people, and who can be trusted even in the tough places. To all those who have struggle, who long for light and love in their lives, here is good news.

You’ll find below details of many of our events coming up. This Sunday sees carols in Radbrook Community Centre on Sunday morning, followed by two OUTDOOR carol events at 4.30pm and 7pm in Meole Brace Primary School playground. We’re then heading towards the joys of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and amidst some uncertainty we are looking forward to celebrating with joy and expectation. Whether in person or online, come and join us. And join in.

Grace and Peace

Revd Phil Cansdale
Vicar of Trinity Churches and Area Dean of Shrewsbury

We are heading outdoors for this year’s carol services, and will be meeting outside for a shorter carol celebration in Meole Brace Primary school. (Next door to Holy Trinity Meole Brace.) So you’ll get lots of fresh air and space, alongside the usual opportunities to sing Christmas carols, enter the Christmas story, and think about the heart of Christmas.

A few practicalities:

• The weather is currently looking dry and not too cold, but do please wrap up warm! You will be offered a cup of warm mulled wine – and a suitable festive treat – as you arrive.

• Please bring a torch or suitable light to help brighten up the playground area, and to read the words of the carols. If you have a mobile phone please follow on with the words etc with the carol sheet which will be available on our website at www.trinitychurches.org.

• We’ll be taking a collection during the event towards our Christmas charity supporting a TEARFUND project in Afghanistan. You’ll be able to give online via text message as well as by cash.

• We are advising people to take a lateral flow test before coming out, and if you would like to wear a face covering then you are invited to do so. If you have any of the COVID symptoms, or are feeling concerned about being in larger gatherings, please stay at home and join in via the livestream which will be available at the 4.30pm gathering.

We can’t wait to see you as we celebrate the good news of Christmas together! Do please consider coming and joining us, as well as taking the opportunity to invite friends and family along with you.

With some last minute changes we’re looking for a few more team members to help welcome people and resource these events. Can you help? Can you contact Fi Iddon for more details, thankyou.

This Sunday morning also sees us meeting for a carol celebration in Radbrook. Choirs of angels – and everyone else – are warmly invited to Radbrook Community Centre at 10.30am for a service of well known carols and opportunities to enter into the wonder of Christmas. For all those who are part of life at Christ the King – as well as others who live in the Radbrook Area or who would like to be part of an indoors carol service – we very much look forward to welcoming you.

We’re also doing some COVID ‘juggling’ with our crib services. Weather-depending we are going to be meeting outdoors at Meole Brace Primary school for 3.30pm and 5pm celebrations, making this beautiful celebration available to as many families and others as possible. Watch out for updates on social media, on our website, or by phoning the Church Office.

Meanwhile we are looking for as many shepherds as possible, so do please come suitably attired in dressing gowns, tea-towels and smelly socks…

Cafe Connect will be open as usual on the morning of Christmas Eve. Especially if you’re a regular do pop in and say “hi” and enjoy a glass of something suitably festive.

Later in the day, alongside our crib services (see above) we’ll be meeting for midnight communion at 11.30pm at Meole Brace Church. And then Christmas Day sees celebrations at 9am and 11am. More details and updates to follow.

For all of our events we are advising people to take a lateral flow test before coming out, and we are asking everyone to wear a face covering whilst indoors. If you have any of the COVID symptoms, or are feeling concerned about being in larger gatherings, please stay at home. The Christmas Day 9am and 11am gatherings will both be available on Facebook or via our website at www.trinitychurches.org/live in the usual ways.

We ‘re nearly at the end of week three of our advent calendar with a difference, and the daily SIX O’CLOCK LIVE peek into the story of Christmas and a chance to slow down each day during a busy season. Whether you’re a regular or a newcomer to this daily Facebook meet-up then we’d love you to join us.

A reminder too that we’ll be meeting at Cafe Connect for the four mornings leading up to Christmas, from Monday 20th through to Thursday 23rd. Between 8.40am and 9am we’ll have a short time to hear a Christmas reading, share a brief reflection, and pray. We’d love to see you there. You might think of it like a “six o’clock live” roadshow!

Thank you so much to all who supported our partnership with Shrewsbury Homes for All. (www.shfa.org.uk) They were very grateful for all the support, and ways in which your generosity has made a difference in the lives of vulnerable families across the local area.