Weekly Email w/b 21st June 2021

We hosted a gathering of church leaders from across the area last night at Meole Brace Church. “Archdeacons Visitation” is what it was formally called, which does sound pretty formal and potentially painful doesn’t it! It was, if nothing else, a joy to see various colleagues from across this part of Shropshire ‘in the flesh’, to be reminded of the life of churches around us, and that we are more than a disembodied torso on a ZOOM screen.

“Don’t give up meeting together” is how the writer to the Hebrews puts it (Hebrews 10:25) , writing in the context of imminent threats of violence and persecution rather than COVID guidelines. But then the author continues “keep on encouraging each other” and about “spurring each other on towards love and good deeds.”

It’s pretty good advice. Firstly “meet together”, whether in person or online, out for a walk or in a building, in one of our Cafes or in the back garden. And then in that place allow your conversation to grow grace and deepen faith. Listen. Love. Care. Embolden. Dream. That is to say, to use the times that we are together with others – whether in small settings or larger – to bring life. For the sake of our church and the needs of our world, this feels ever important at the moment.

And so this comes – as always – with our gratitude and our prayers as together we are “growing faith, proclaiming hope and living the love of Jesus.”

Phil Cansdale
Vicar of Trinity Churches and Area Dean of Shrewsbury

This Sunday – 27th June – we continue to meet at 9am and 11am for our Sunday celebrations.

As always do let us know that you are coming. You can do so via the Church Office on 01743 362399, or perhaps easier online by clicking below. We continue to operate within all the COVID precautions and distancing requirements, and that there is often still space available at services. So for those who might be thinking “I won’t come as it allows other people to come instead” thank you for your generosity, but do come! And for those who don’t yet feel confident in coming out to larger gatherings we remain online, and linking up with the national “Daily Hope” phone church on 0800 804 8044.

Plans for summer services are taking place, with a similar rhythm of weekly and monthly gatherings as we’ve seen in June. We’ll update everyone over the next few days.

Let us know you’d like to come to one of our services

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Firstly we are delighted to announce the appointment of Cerys Hughes as our new Minister for Children and Families. Cerys brings with her huge experience as Messy Church Advisor for the Diocese of Lichfield, and absolutely blew us away at interview with her passion for ministry to children and families. She also loves cake.

Cerys will be beginning her role on 1st September, so do please be praying for her and her family as they make preparations for a new role for her. We will, in the meantime, be finding appropriate ways of saying “thank you” to Judith Clarkson as she steps back from the staff team, though are thrilled that she will still be very much around the church!

Secondly William Small, our Operations Manager, will be leaving his post at the end of August after six years here. He and his wife Lissi will be moving to Spain where they have increasing family responsibilities caring for Lissi’s father, and William also hopes to be completing his curacy and continuing in ordained ministry as part of the Diocese of Europe. We’ll be thanking William for his time serving at the heart of the Church Office, and we are soon to recruit a new Operations Manager. Interested? Or know someone who might be? As always, we would love to hear from you.

 

Cloisters Pop-up cafe opened its doors last week. We are open 8.45am till 12pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and will drinks, refreshments and biblical proportions of cake are on the menu. It’s been fairly first thing, though on the strike of the ten o’clock bells people seem to start arriving. This is an important part of our vision for the Trinity Centre to be an inspirational place here at the heart of Meole Brace to come and do life together with friends and family. Do please come and join us.

We’re currently looking for a new member of the team at Café Connect after Lissi Small stepped down as co-manager. This is a paid role, 16 hours a week over two days, and for the right person would be a really great way job. We want to be a place where faith is lived, hope is offered, and God’s love can be shared. So if you or someone you know might be interested do get them to look at our website or come and chat to us.

Find out more about the job