Weekly Email w/b 19th April 2021

April 22, 2021

Last night saw the ‘guilty’ charges for Derek Chauvin, the former police officer in the George Floyd trial. You’ll remember how the widely watched footage of the murder and its aftermath sparked worldwide protests against racism.

Closer to home I don’t know whether you’ve been able to watch the BBC Panorama from Monday evening. Titled “Is the Church Racist?” it features interviews with a number of church leaders and includes claims of a culture which creates a hostile environment for Christians of colour. I’ve found it pretty uncomfortable viewing, more so because I know a few of the people featured on the programme.

A weekly email will never be the place for the ‘last word’ on what feels a timely and crucial gospel issue. But I do would want to commit us at Trinity to more fully creating a culture where every member can fully thrive. Racism has no place in any community, and especially not in one that seeks to live out God’s love to all people. I’m sorry where we as churches haven’t got that right in Shrewsbury.

Please join me in acknowledging and lamenting the failings of the Church to stamp out racism, and to be proactive and intentional in being “God’s amazing family” in this place. This is always a process of listening, learning and changing, and is one I invite your prayers and your wisdom. Do be in touch with me if you’d like to help us reflect on that more fully or for your voice to be part of our listening and learning.

Grace and peace

Phil Cansdale

We’d love you to come and join us for our 9am or 11am Sunday celebrations this coming Sunday 25th April. We’ll be meeting in person for these two services, as well as online and with phone church. We’ll continue to run a “waiting list” for those who would like to worship with us, and will do all that we can to accommodate as many as we can.

Let us know you’d like to come this Sunday

Find us on Facebook Live

Each year – as we approach the Annual Meeting – we invite people to “join us and join in” by joining the electoral roll. I’m aware that for many – including the Vicar – the electoral roll can feel something of a mystery, but in effect it is a way of saying “count me in” to the life of the church locally and further afield.

If you have joined the roll in 2019 or 2020 then there is no need to join again. But for those who are newer, or havent yet joined, we’d love to invite you to do so. You’ll find out more details on our website, or if you contact the Church Office we’ll put you in touch with Ann Peppiatt, the Electoral Roll officer.

Find out about the electoral roll

Contact the Electoral Roll Officer

CLOISTERS pop-up cafe is now a week and a half into its new home in the beautiful cloistered courtyard of the Trinity Centre. We remain open from 10am to 2pm, and invite you to join us for drinks, snacks and light lunches to eat in or take away. We’ve got a new menu, take-away and eat-in options, and can assure you that we’ve taken all the necessary precautions to make the outdoor venue COVID-safe and follow the latest guidance on social distancing.

Take a look at the menu

Our new Easter booklet of prayers and reflections is now available. This one features a new section called “My Pandemic Experience”, with some questions and encouragement about thinking back over this last year by thanking / lamenting / learning / praying. There are further resources available online to help you do each of these. We hope it will be a gift to those across the local community and beyond, as well as the different congregations who make up Trinity Churches. You’ll find them available outside Meole Brace Church and Cafe Connect, from the front page of our website, and available at our Easter day celebrations.

Download the Easter Booklet