Weekly Email w/b 15th November 2021

November 18, 2021

What do you feel when a friend phones you..? Energised? Loved?

What does it take to get you praying..? An unexpected diagnosis? Family news? Global warming?

How does it feel when someone really listens to you when you tell them what’s on your mind? Relieved? Cherished?

Prayer takes many forms – we find that in the psalms. It could be a time of complete quiet and contemplation. It could be telling God how you really feel about something that’s on your mind. And then listening for what God might want to say to us.

Of course we can pray anywhere and at any time, but at Trinity Churches we are inviting you to set aside an hour or two (or more) next week – time that is just for you (insert your name) and God. During 9am to 7pm we will be making the Prayer Room available in the tower vestry at the back of church. It will be set out in an creative way, and there will be some resources to help you pray. Then – between 7pm and 9am the next morning – we’ll be online, people praying in their homes and communities across Shrewsbury and beyond.

Will you accept the invitation?

Revd Valerie Pitt

Here’s hoping you will enjoy being part of our week of 24/7 prayer. Sign up for an hour in God’s company! There are no rules about how you spend it, but the following might help:

You can do it at home, or in the interactive prayer room at church.
There is guidance on the website about ways of spending an hour in prayer. Go to www.trinitychurches.org/soul.
Do what most brings you into God’s presence: walking, singing, making something are all fine, as is sitting quietly, or kneeling in church. The point is we come to God as we are, with all our longings for our selves and others, and open to what God may give us.
During the week, a record will build up, as people put words and pictures into the prayer room or online. These can help to inspire your prayer and you may in turn wish to add something.
Of course you can pray whenever you like, but doing it as part of our week of prayer makes it something bigger than just me or you. We become part of a praying community and our vision get expanded.

Do join in!

24-7 How to Pray ideas

Our ongoing record of what we’re praying…

This coming Sunday, 21st November, sees us meeting at 9am and 11am as usual at Holy Trinity. There’s also a 6.30pm gathering in the Trinity Centre where the evening congregation will be part of the 24-7 week of prayer.

We’re also really excited that we’ll be meeting in Radbrook for our regular gathering in the community Centre. We’re meeting a 10.30am (NOTE TIME). It’s good to be meeting in particular on what is “Chrsit the King Sunday” and the birthday of the church. Anyone for cake and candles?

At the 11am service there will be the usual online presence in the usual way via Facebook Live. For those attending services which are livestreamed, if you have concerns about you or your family being ‘on camera’ then please follow the written signs about which parts of church might be visible, and where the ‘safe seating areas’ are. And if you have any questions please speak to one of the team.

We are hosting a quiz in the Trinity Centre on Saturday 20^th November at 7:30pm. There will be quiz questions to suit a variety of ages and knowledge bases, and there’s a little something for everyone! Do please invite your friends and family, organise a team of up to six people. We are asking people to bring your own drinks and snacks, and sharpen your pencils for an evening of fun.

We’ll also be supporting God’s work across the world, asking people to make a donation to Tearfund. Tearfund is a Christian charity determined to see an end to extreme poverty and injustice. They mobilise communities and churches worldwide to help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their God-given potential.

More about the BIG Quiz NIght

We’d love to invite you to come and roll up your sleeves and help this churchyard here continue to be a beautiful place for the local community. We’re looking for people to help clear leaves, and will be getting together on Saturday 20 November 2021 from 09:30. If possible, please bring your own tools, such as rake, broom, wheelbarrow, etc. The more people there are, the less time it will take! For further information ask Richard Boak, or speak to the Church Office.

A new entry this week is “CURRY BY CANDLELIGHT”, which along with carols and whatever else in December is an early Christmas offer from the group who head up “Trinity Men.” Alongside many other events open to everyone – including Christmas Trinity Tables – this is a pre-Christmas evening for Trinity men to get together on Sunday 28th November, 6pm to 8pm at the Third Place curry house in Frankwell. Tickets include eat-all-you-can buffet, and pre booking is required.

Come along (and pay online securely) to Curry by candlelight

ADVENT FOR OTHERS and SHREWSBURY FOOD HUB

The fundraising team at Lingen Davies Cancer Fund have this year lead a large scale collaboration project, ‘Advent for Others‘, a physical calendar, featuring the work of 24 Shropshire-based charities. One of these is the Shrewsbury Food Hub, which Trinity Churches supports, and for which a number of church members volunteer. Another is Shrewsbury Ark.

It takes the core idea of the advent calendar and puts a charitable twist on it. Instead of getting chocolate behind each door there’s a local charity that will receive a cut of the money raised from calendar sales. So, by purchasing this advent calendar you will be supporting 24 charities and will find out a bit about one of the charities each day on the lead up to Christmas. Cost is £24.99 and details can be found at https://adventforothers.squarespace.com/ or by contacting Mike Haddaway.

Contact Mike