Weekly Email w/b 25th April 2022

This month at the 6.30 service we are trying some ‘Psalm surfing’. This isn’t some kind of spiritual activity requiring the use of a board and wetsuit (though that would be fantastic!) but rather a way of praying and singing through a Psalm together. The Psalms are a kind of ancient hymn book, and the words contained within them have inspired hymn and song writers through the centuries. There are not many Psalms that you can read without being left with a tune forming in your head as you notice the ways in which its words have been used more recently in worship.

The Psalms are rich with emotion. There are Psalms for good and bad times, words of celebration and words of despair. Most recently, Psalm 31 has become a very powerful uniting Scripture for Jews and Christians in Ukraine and using it has helped those of us struggling for words to pray for that besieged nation.

It strikes me that there are two obvious ways of going deeper into the Psalms. One is a scholarly approach, and there is certainly much we can learn about the Psalms which can help us to use them in worship. But we’ve been challenged in this season to use the Psalms as a springboard for our worship: both spoken and sung. The 6.30 service might not be a time that works for you, but how about joining us in reading a Psalm and using it to inspire your prayer and praise as the day goes on?

‘Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.’ (Psalm 103: 1)

Fi Iddon (Associate Vicar at Trinity Churches)

May? Already? Our 1st May services see four congregations gather at Trinity, as well as the joys of a baptism at lunchtime as well.

At the 9am and 11am Meole Brace services we’ll be taking a walk along the road to Emmaus, and Keith Moore will be our speaker. There will be the usual mix of groups and activities for children and youth at the 11am.

We’ll also be gathering in Radbrook Community Centre at 10.30am as we re-establish our weekly congregation at the heart of that local community. This week, alongside our Sunday gathering, we also get together to pray for the local area, with our monthly prayer meet-up on Tuesday May 2nd at 7pm in Cafe Connect.

In the 6.30pm evening service – as above – we’ll be doing some Psalm Surfing, this time around Psalm 22. Phil Cansdale will be hosting, and we’ll be sharing communion together as well.

Our Annual Meeting takes place on Sunday 15th May this year. After the last couple of meetings were held online, this year we will be meeting in person in the Trinity Centre. We kick off from 6.15pm for refreshments, start the more formal part of our meeting at 6.30pm, and aim to finish by 8pm.

As usual we’ll be looking back over the year 2021. We’ll be having an update on current discussions about our life together, and looking ahead to some of the opportunities opening up for us across Trinity. We’ll also have the usual elections for wardens and PCC members who serve in the leadership life of the parish.

There are two particular ways we want you to help us prepare:

• We’re looking for a few people to stand as PCC members who help oversee the life of the church. Talk to one of the ministry team or wardens if you’d like to find out more.
• We are also looking for a couple of people to step forward to become new churchwardens at Holy Trinity with Erica and Richard both stepping back. Might that be you? Or do you know someone who might be good for this role? We’d love you to be praying, and graciously giving each other a nudge if that might be something you’d consider. Again, talk to one of the ministry team or wardens for more.

We’ve set up a web page on which we’ll be gathering all the necessary paperwork for the meeting over the next few days on our website.

Our APCM page (more to come)

As we get ready for the APCM – as well as for other ideas this summer – we’ve got a really simple question for you. Got an answer? Look out for someone with a video camera at most of the Sunday congregations. Or let us know some suitable words you’d like to share.

Go on, give us an answer…

After a fortnight off Six o’clock live returns from Monday 2nd May. Over May we’re going to be looking at the excellent material on “Resurrection People” from engageworship.com, shadowing some of the material we’re using on Sundays mornings as well. There’s a lovely sense of community and togetherness at this daily online gathering, both those who join in live as well as who catch up later. If twenty minutes of some brief input, reflection and prayer would be a support in your daily walk with Jesus then why not join us. Find us online on Facebook.

Find us on Facebook

Who’s been to Cafe Connect recently? Alongside Cloisters Cafe in the Trinity Centre on Tuesdays it’s been great to see increased customers at this stage of our COVID recovery. We’re open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday as well as Saturday mornings. You’ll find a warm welcome, great food and a listening ear on the menu. Our big ‘ask’, however, is to increase the size of the team. Come and spend a morning, lunchtime or afternoon volunteering? Full training provided!

For the second year running we will be hosting a table at the Holy Trinity Belle Vue plant sale on Saturday 21st May, with proceeds going to charity. Now is a good time to prepare spare seedlings, cuttings, divided perennials, etc. to bring for sale if you would like to contribute. Please contact Julian Durbin on 07507 602906 for further information.

And do come on the day! We start at 10am, and alongside amazing plants for those feeling suitably green-fingered there will also be refreshments and cakes.