Weekly email (w/b 31st October)

Over the last few weeks children have been arriving at Trinity Tots clutching the autumn treasures they found on the way in. We’ve seen shiny conkers, huge leaves of all colours, pinecones, dandelions, sticks and even some beautiful pheasant feathers.

If you’ve ever walked with a toddler, you will know it’s almost impossible to get anywhere in a hurry because they like to stop and investigate everything along the way, and for me there’s been many times over the years that I have reached into my coat pocket and found something a child has popped in there on a walk. Toddlers just have the most amazing sense of awe and wonder, don’t they? Things that might get trampled underfoot or overlooked by busy adults suddenly become amazing treasures to small children.

This time of year can feel hard; the days are shorter and often grey and wet, we might be worried about heating costs as the temperatures drop, or maybe we just feel that life is too busy. But these children remind us that we are surrounded by glimpses of amazing creativity in the world that God made for the people he loves, and perhaps like a toddler with no sense of urgency we too sometimes need to stop and notice the treasures.

Writing this has reminded me of a classic hymn from my primary school days; “Autumn Days when the grass is jewelled…” Do you remember that one? I might have given you an earworm now, but the chorus ends with the words, “To say a great big thank you, I mustn’t forget“.

Today I’m thankful for the children at Trinity Tots and all that they teach us. I wonder what you are thankful for?

Cerys Hughes

Children and Families Minister

P.S. Read on for various snippets about autumn leaf clearing, as well as thinking about the “autumn of our lives” at Gravetalk. And there’s mention of our first Advent event with “Curry by Candelight” coming up…

Read our November / December Trinity Life online

We are three weeks or so into our Blessed to be a Blessing initiative. We’ve had a few responses so far, but recognise that we’ve a long way to go!

Did you know that at the heart of this project is the invitation to be generous. We are renewing a “Cost of Living” fund, fuelled by 25% of any new or increased giving to the church. This will go towards individuals, families and specific projects to support people and communities over these next months. If you, or someone you know, are seeking support please be in touch with us.

You can be generous in lots of other ways too. How much your time, your gifts and your money be a blessing to others? There are many needs at the moment, and we want to be inviting everyone to consider what their response might look like. You can do so really easily online by clicking on the link below. Or pick up a paper copy of the response form at Church, complete it, and let us have it back by 27th November.

Blessed to be a Blessing Website

This Sunday Alistair Magowan will be speaking at the 9am and 11am services at Holy Trinity, and Robert Parsons will be speaking at the 1030 service at CTK. We are getting near to the end of a few weeks looking at the amazing prayer from Numbers 6 “The Lord bless you and keep you”. Children and youth work – ie Creche, Trinity Kids and Trinity Youth – continues in the usual manner as part of the 11am gathering, as well as the 11am service being both in the building and online.

At the 630pm evening service we’ve got our monthly Presence gathering, hosted by Annali Hindle and Phil Cansdale. There’s a lovely comment – based around a child talking about stained glass windows – that a saint is “someone who the light shines through.” We’re going to be thinking about how we might all be everyday saints, as well as some of the ‘saints’ and others who have cheered us on in our lives of faith.