Weekly email w/b 23rd October 2023
This weekend is, for many, the start of half term. The young people seem to have been counting down ‘how many more mornings to get up?’ for at least a fortnight now, and I’m sure many teachers have been doing exactly the same! Even if our lives are not governed by the academic year, we still notice the ebb and flow of the school terms, with many things taking a break or working at an easier pace during the holidays.
It’s good to remind ourselves that the need to take a break is a Biblical imperative. I know we’ve talked so much about this over the years, but the reality is that many of us (me included!) are still a work in progress where this is concerned. One of the most helpful things I’ve ever heard on this subject is from Rick Warren who talks about, ‘Diverting daily, withdrawing weekly, and abandoning annually.‘ This is the model we see in the rhythm of the life of Jesus during his three years of ministry.
This is an encouragement to make sure that we have space for at least one daily activity that gives, and doesn’t drain, life. This will look different for each of us, whether it’s exercise, TV, taking a nap, cooking, walking. We each of us need a full day each week to try and switch off from the seemingly unstoppable and relentless busy-ness of life and communication. And then each year we need to completely un-plug to get our sense of perspective back.
We are made in the image of the God who both worked and rested. Let’s encourage one another, and hold one another accountable, as we seek to live out this calling to work, rest and play.
Revd Fi Iddon, Associate Vicar
PS A reminder that the clocks go back this coming Sunday. Without naming names we know that some people struggle to get to church on time, so this is the week to give it a go! Just think, you could either forget to change your clocks and be 55 minutes early, or change your clocks and be on time!
In our morning congregations we are over halfway through our series called “Kingdom Come.” We are looking through the book of Nehemiah, which is full of themes like praying and vision, working together, and rebuilding when things are broken down. Alistair Magowan will be speaking at 9am and 11am services, whilst Neville Willerton will be speaking at CTK and Nick Webb is speaking at Belle Vue at 10.30am.
In the evening we’re gearing up for the next part of our climb up the “Mount Everest” of the book of Romans. Having scaled the heights of Romans 8 last week (thank you Fi!) Phil Cansdale will be taking us on the next steps of our mountain journey as we get to Romans 10.
The next Trinity Men’s Breakfast takes place on Saturday 11th November. Come and join us for a legendary breakfast, great fellowship and a bit of Saturday morning inspiration. We kick off at 8.30am, and will be clear to crack on with the rest of the day by 10am. All are welcome. And bring a friend!
It is now less than sixty days to go till Christmas! One of our big ideas for this year is to bless the local communities with some knitted choirs of angels, which in mid-December will be ‘winging their way’ to various public spaces in Meole Brace and Radbrook Green. People will be able to take one to decorate their own homes, and to think what it might mean for each and every one of us to ‘join the song’ the angels sang when Jesus was born.
As we work towards this we’d love to reach our goal of three hundred small knitted figures. Are you able to help us with this? You can do so from your own home, ideally using the sample pattern. Or come and join with others and enjoy being creative alongside other people. Dates and times as below. For more details contact Amal Moore via the Church Office who can also let you have a copy of the suggested pattern, or via the Church Office (email or in person)
The Meet Place. Thursdays 26/10, 9/11, 23/11 and 7/12 from 1.15pm to 2.45pm
The Trinity Centre. Tuesdays 31/10, 14/11, 5/12, 12/12 from 10am to 12pm.
The Trinity Centre. Thursdays 9/11, 16/11, 23/11, 30/11 from 7.30pm to 9pm.
We’re hoping this could be a really fun thing to be doing together, as well as a small way of blessing our local communities as Advent begins and Christmas approaches.
It was good last weekend to continue conversations with parents of 0s to 3s about developing, resourcing and staffing a creche on Sunday mornings. They have asked for there to be someone present in the sessions who isn’t looking after their own children alongside the parents. So we are looking for three people, to oversee a week each month, and be part of sharing the love of Jesus with some of the youngest members of our church family. This is a really important part of our vision to be growing younger. Talk to Cerys for more details.
We’re so grateful to all those who help keep the gardens and grounds around the Church looking so beautiful at all times of year. Our gardener Tim Creyke is looking for volunteers to form a working party to do some undergrowth clearance, and tree and hedge planting in the Glebe Field. If you could spare one or two Saturday mornings over the next 2 months please contact Tim via the Church Office.
And – advance notice – our annual churchyard leaf clearing is pencilled in for Saturday 18th November. Could you come along, and bring suitable rakes / brooms etc. This really is one of those “many hands make light work” moments, and could be a great fun way of getting together with other people on a Saturday morning. Many thanks.
A service to give thanks for the life of Kelly Booth will be held at Holy Trinity, Meole Brace, at 4.30pm on Friday 10th November. Lots of people have asked, ‘how can we practically support the family?’, and perhaps one way is to offer to make some cakes to be enjoyed after the service. It’s really helpful to know that these are coming, so if you are able to do so please let us know by clicking below. And, of course, please do keep praying for Guy, Annabel, Imogen and the wider family at this time.
Offers of cake gratefully received
The Life Exhibition is a multi-media experience designed for primary school children taking place at ChristChurch Bayston Hill. During the daytime local schools will be exploring the life of Jesus. Also open Tuesday evening at 6.45pm for Trinity Youth, and Wednesday evening (tours start at 4.30pm and 6pm) which is suitable for primary / younger secondary children and their families. We’d love to find four to six people who might be able to help Cerys and the team with setup for two hours on the Sunday afternoon. Please see Cerys for more details.
More about the LIFE exhibition
The latest Trinity Life is now out, with a slightly shorter-than-usual edition which gives us space and time to get ready for Christmas. You’ll find in there details of the Life Exhibition coming up the week after half term, Remembrance Sunday – including a reminder of the 1045am start – and Create for Christmas. Pick up a copy in Church, or click below for a link.
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