Our Monastic Focus

PRAYER-WORSHIP-WORK-STUDY-HOSPITALITY-SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

We believe the Church’s vocation, at its very heart, is to offer worthy worship to God.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2.42

Example: Ensuring we remain faithful to these words by making sure our worship is accessible and inclusive to all people, regardless of where they are on their journey of faith.

As our religious history repeatedly reminds us, we are called to pray and foster our corporate and individual prayer life.

Build yourself a cell in your heart and retire there to pray. Catherine of Siena
Example: Weekly Prayer Group, Prayer Board & Prayer Cards.

Work is an integral part of our worship and prayer.

St Benedict reminds us that we believe that God is present everywhere; so, when we work, we are working with God and for God.
Example: Caring for God’s Acre, Environmental Group, Eco Church and supporting those in their professional lives to live up to the call to be salt and light in the workplace.

Study is encouraged here, whether that be God’s Word or indeed matters relating to faith, belief and the needs of wider society.

Make me know your ways, O Lord; lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Psalm 25.4-5
Example: Bible Study Group, Book Reviews & Seasonal Courses.

Hospitality is at the heart of how we understand God as Trinity.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13.2
Example: Coffee Mornings, Soup Lunch, Ploughman’s Lunch, Refreshments after Church serving good quality fair trade coffee, Parish Lunches & Encircled in Care.

Religious Renewal.

‘This community lives in the covenant with God and is made up of a people who journey through the history of this world with the mission of embracing the whole of humanity. Just as God takes this process seriously and patiently waits for history to unfold, so God invites Christians to profound acceptance of their humanity, to commit themselves fully to history, not to fear secularism, and to dedicate themselves fully to solidarity, hospitality, and dialogue.’ Luigi Gioia OSB.
Example: We take the Cure of Souls seriously and have a strong sense of calling to meet the spiritual needs of people regardless of where they are on their journey of faith, their sexual orientation, colour or creed.

We celebrate the monastic heritage here in Much Wenlock and our desire is to continue integrating this afresh into our worshipping and community life.

As a Team we hold steadfast to these particular words by Bert Ghezzi:

‘Spiritual awakening emerges neither from clever programmes or detailed strategies: it comes one heart at a time. Second God sometimes chooses to bring spiritual replenishment to millions through one person’s life of faith.

None of the saints set out to found religious communities. None had planned to spawn renewals or to reform the church. Their aims were more personal. They simply wanted to love God above anything else- a goal we would be wise to make our own.

I’m smart enough to know that all the hard work in the world won’t “earn” me God’s touch. If the Holy Spirit is going to strike, I want to be ready on target. Prayer, study and the like can put me right on the bullseye.’

Mystics & Miracles True Stories of Lives Touched by God

PRAYER

Prayer – Build yourself a cell in your heart and retire there to pray. Catherine of Siena

Over the years we have endeavoured to foster and encourage the prayer life of the Parishes, affirming those who especially meet on a Monday morning to offer up Intercessory Prayer, in the light of those prayers left by visitors on our Prayer Board. Prayer Groups have gathered in the Bee Garden at Wenlock Abbey which have been gratefully received. Prayer Cards are also regularly distributed to the sick and members of the community.

Thanks to a bequest the prayer board is to be upgraded to signify the churches commitment to intercessory prayer.

We have had two successful Weeks of Accompanied Prayer that have been well attended.

By raising the profile of St Milburga, we have done a great deal of contextual mission through our partnership with the English Heritage, The Lord Lieutenancy, The Orthodox Church in Shrewsbury, Christ Church CofE Primary and Paddy Ryans.

In 2023 Pat Pain of Stanton Long commissioned a new Icon of St Blaise to connect us with the Saint who had had long associations with the district. Mucknell Abbey will be visiting shortly to explore the possibility of commissioning an Icon of Our Lady of Pity.

WORSHIP

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2.42

Our aim at Holy Trinity is to ensure that regardless of where people are on their journey of faith our traditional worship is formally informal, engaging and meaningful.

WORK

Work - St Benedict reminds us that we believe that God is present everywhere; so when we work, we are working with God and for God.

The Parish Church works hard to build relationships with our local businesses and endeavours to offer a chaplaincy role within the Town.

The Rector is Chaplain to The Mayor of Much Wenlock and leads prayers at Town Council Meetings and Officiates at the yearly Civic Service.

Those within the congregation who are still in full-time work are supported and encouraged to live out their faith in the workplace in both word and action.

The Rector endeavours to support those who especially work in front line services such as the NHS, Fire & Rescue and our Care Homes through Encircled in Care.

STUDY

Study – Make me know your ways, O Lord; lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Psalm 25.4-5

The study of God’s Word is encouraged in the worshipping community of Much Wenlock through Bible Study, Contextual Sermons, Confirmation Classes, The Week of Accompanied Prayer and School Visits to the Priory.

Members of the congregation have been supported in attending Diocesan Study Courses and Training Days.

We have a Library at the back of church where book recommendations can be found and are regularly updated.

HOSPITALITY

Hospitality – Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13.2

At the heart of the Trinity is the fostering of relationships and the hospitality of God. At Holy Trinity this is lived out in a variety of different ways.

The Regular
St Milburga’s Day
Refreshments after church

RELIGIOUS RENEWAL

Religious Renewal – This community lives in the covenant with God and is made up of a people that journeys through the history of this world with the mission of embracing the whole of humanity.

Just as God takes this process seriously and patiently waits for history to unfold, so God invites Christians to profound acceptance of their humanity, to commit themselves fully to history, not to fear secularism, and to dedicate themselves fully to solidarity, hospitality, and dialogue. Luigi Gioia OSB