Weekly Email w/b 28th March 2022

This year, I have the great joy of leading a Lent group with a few children of upper primary school age, exploring some themes in the film “The Greatest Showman”.

In our latest session, we considered how the circus performers became a family, joined by their common experiences of being different and outcast by society and how as they grew as a family, they sustained one another. The children shared their own thoughts on why family is important, and I was moved to hear them describe themselves as part of our church family, where they are loved and accepted no matter what! Here at Trinity Churches, we often use the phrase “God’s Amazing Family” but isn’t it great to know that this is not just a label we apply to ourselves but something our children feel and experience as they grow in their faith and understanding?

You may be familiar with the African proverb that says, “It takes a whole village to raise a child”, meaning that the whole community has a part to play in the care, nurture and growth of a child. As God’s Amazing Family, we all have our part to play in the lives of children too, perhaps we could say “It takes a whole church to raise a child of faith”?

God welcomes his children and uses his whole family to help them grow. He uses the mess makers and the tidy up-ers, the storytellers and the singers, the pray-ers and the do-ers, the fruit choppers and the drinks makers, the smilers and the wavers. I wonder how God might use you?

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. Psalm 78:4

Cerys Hughes

Children and Families Minister

In our morning congregations at HT we’re continuing to think about what helps us to grow, and what it would look like to be bearing ‘good fruit’ in our daily lives. It’s the first Sunday of the month and so there will be groups as normal for 0s to 18s at the 11am congregation. It was so lovely to be blessed with gifts from Trinity kids last Sunday, so let’s continue to find ways of being an all-age community and talking about Jesus across the generations.

At the 6.30pm congregation it’s the monthly “Presence” service where we share communion together. It also gives us an opportunity to look at something current and topical, so we’re going to be reflecting around what happened at the Oscars and “that slap” from Will Smith. How do we ‘tame our temper’, and deal with the heat of emotions when they arise?

Oh… and see below for a reminder about the Trinity Men curry night to finish the day off.

 

Thank you for all those who have expressed support for all that is going on in the Ukraine. We’ve been talking to “Shropshire Supports Refugees” and other networks of support across Shrewsbury and Shropshire. A few families are beginning to arrive in the county, and it is good to see the beginnings of ideas about how the local area will be offering a warm welcome to Ukrainian families.

A brief update includes:

Hosting. We’re still waiting for “Phase 2” of the government refugee scheme, though there are some opportunities for one-to-one links to be made with families seeking to come over. Thank you to those who have let us know they are currently offering rooms, an empty property, furniture or particular targeted support. If you haven’t yet done so could you please complete our online form if this is something you have registered for and are interested in.

Serving. We continue to explore ideas like access to language provision, regular hospitality, supporting those who are supporting, and specific help for children and families. The church doesn’t have a monopoly on love, compassion and serving others, but these are important times for us to be stepping out and serving all God’s people.

Giving. Thank you for those who’ve already contributed to our Ukraine giving fund. We’re sending off the first amount of money this week and will let people know how much has been raised.

Praying. We will of course continue to find ways to pray during our Sunday services and midweek gatherings, and want to share resources where we can to help others continue in prayer. 24-7 Prayer has a number of good resources which we recommend. As below.

Online form about offering support

Sanctuary Foundation with Krish Kandiah

24-7 prayer resources to pray for Ukraine

Duolingo Language Learning

After an amazing time – and lots of people – at the “Women’s Chill Morning” our next Trinity Men event this weekend sees a return visit to the THIRD PLACE in Frankwell for a curry night.

We’ll start off at 8pm with a meal together, and a chance to sit down with friends old and new over a three course blow-out. This time we’re also going to have a speaker, Michael Carding, who will be talking about his experience of mountains, walking and faith with the title “High Altitude, Heightened Spirituality”.

We’re asking people to book tickets and to pay online. Drinks will be extra…. and you’ll be asked to pay individually “on the night” depending on what you’re having. We really need final numbers by Friday, so please get booking today!

Trinity Men Curry Night

Our next newcomers event has a family-feel to it. Coming up on Sunday 10th April, we are inviting people to lunch in the Trinity Centre. This is for all those who are new here, or still feeling new. Do let us know if you are able to come by chatting to one of the team today or signing up online.

Newcomers Lunch on 10th April

Palm Sunday sees lots of different things going on at Trinity.

Alongside our regular morning services – and a newcomers lunch – there’s a “service of remembering” at 3pm, part of our ongoing support for those who have been bereaved recently. At our evening congregation we’ll then be welcoming Jon and Elise Fletcher, and family. They’ll be sharing about their experiences in working in Bangkok, and we’ll have opportunities to pray with them as they enter a new season in their work and family life there.

Meanwhile there will also be some ‘stalls‘ in the Trinity Centre during the morning, available to both the 9am and 11am congregations. Roy-Rak Jewellery, Windfall, Fairtrade etc… so you might like to come appropriately prepared to buy some goodies and take them home with you.

A reminder of the good news for church life in Radbrook Green. After meeting monthly since lockdown restrictions allowed, we will now be meeting weekly from Easter Sunday, 17th April. We begin at 10.30am in the Community Centre. We continue to be exploring how best to resource this congregation, and share leadership as widely as possible.

Talking Easter Day, look out next week for details of our Easter 2022 events.

The Electoral roll is a really important way of saying “I belong” to the life of the church, both locally and nationally. It seeks to be an indication of the strength of church life, recording the amazing family of God who make up churches across England seeking to be a Christian presence in every community.

You can now fill in the electrical roll online. So if you’re not currently on the roll then we’d love to encourage you to consider joining. You’ll find more details on the website, and by clicking below can fill in and sign the necessary form. If you have any questions or concerns then please do contact the Church Office in the usual way.

Find Out more about the Electoral Roll

Complete the Electoral Roll Online

We’ve released our latest guidelines around “Next Steps on our COVID journey.” These will be displayed around Church to support visitors and all who worship with us at Trinity. It recognises that the lifting of most regulations is good news, but – particularly given quite a few of our Trinity family currently have COVID – it also notes how we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe and well, especially those who are more vulnerable or are feeling more cautious.

There will be slightly different arrangements with distanced seating at different services. Please ask the stewards or follow instructions as you arrive. We’re also trialling having some suitably polite signs which you can put on a seat next to you asking for greater distance around you.