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For general information about our Parish then select from the links above.
To find out more about the individual churches (information, history, pictures and location)
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These pages were last updated on January 28th 2010

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Welcome

Hodnet Parish is located in North Shropshire, in the West Midlands and is part of Lichfield Diocese.

We are three churches who together are looking to love God and serve Him in our rural area and further afield.

Have a look at our Statement of Purpose on the "About Us" section for more information.

We hope that you find what you are looking for here, if not please use the details under "Contact Us" and we will do our best to answer your query.



About Us

We are an Anglican church with three lovely historic buildings in different parts of the parish:
        * St Luke's Church in Hodnet, of Norman origin, is the Parish Church
        * The Chapel of St Luke at Weston under Redcastle, close to Hawkstone Park.
        * The Chapel of the Epiphany at Peplow, a hamlet south of Hodnet.

We share the following Core Purposes -
Mission - to bring people of every age and background into a living and growing relationship with Jesus Christ
Community - to be a mutually supportive, caring community in which everyone has a part to play
Worship - to offer worship to God that is wholehearted, accessible and relevant
Discipleship - to enable people to grow in wholeness and Christ-likeness in their own lives and relationships
God's Kingdom - to change the way the world around us goes about its business

Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals

Baptism and Thanksgiving
We welcome families who wish to bring their children to be baptised. A first step would be to attend a church service and introduce yourself, or to contact the Rector directly. We will help you to understand the significance of Baptism and what part the Church can play in your child's growth in faith. In it you make a commitment to Christ and to the nurture of your child in the Christian faith. As a church we promise to grow as part of the church. If all you wish to do is to express your gratitude to God for the gift of a child then an alternative to baptism would be a service of Thanksgiving.

Weddings
If you are planning to get married the best way to do so is in church in the presence of God. To say your vows "in the sight of God" concentrates the mind on the seriousness of the commitment and expresses your need for the strength and help of God in your marriage.
You are eligible to be married in one of our churches if either of you are resident in the parish or one of you is a member of the electoral roll of either church. For non-residents to join the electoral roll it is necessary to have attended worship regularly for at least six months.
We believe in a loving and forgiving God and so Divorce is not always a barrier to being married in Church. If either of you have been divorced it's important to discuss this with the Rector, as an opportunity to learn from the past and to move on. Contact the Rector as a first step in your wedding plans.

Addendum
The Church of England Marriage Measure 2008 became law in October
This new legislation, overwhelmingly passed by the General Synod, came into force on the 1st October 2008. This measure offers the Church new ways to clarify, reissue and celebrate its wider welcome, so as to meet the needs of couples requesting church weddings and to better integrate more of them into the ongoing life of the local church. It does not affect the existing right of parishioners but allows couples opportunity to marry in a church which has special significance for them, even though it is not where they live, without applying for a special licence. The changes will mean an engaged couple is welcome to be married in church in a parish if just one of the following applies:

* One of them was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish;
* One of them has ever lived in the parish for six months or more
* One of them has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more;
* One of their parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in their child's lifetime
* One of their parents has regularly attended public worship there for six months or more in their child's lifetime;
* Their parents or grandparents were married in the parish.

Confirmations
Young people may be prepared for confirmation at any age from school year 6 and upwards. This is normally done in a group each year or every other year, which meets weekly for about 8 weeks. Adults may be confirmed at any age, and preparation for this may be done individually or in a group. Contact the Rector with any enquiries about confirmation.

Funerals
For many people the subject of death is a very sensitive issue. When a loved one dies we are in a state of shock and bewilderment. The Funeral Director arrives to make the funeral arrangements and will ask you if you would like to go into church for the service or go straight to the Crematorium. All you need to do is tell the Funeral Director you would like a church service.

The funeral would be a service of thanksgiving with a personal tribute to the person's life. Because of time pressures at the Crematorium, I encourage you to use the church for a short service. Obviously I hope we never need to meet under sad circumstances but if we did I want you to know that your church cares very much and wants to support and comfort you.



Rector's Message

RECTOR'S FEBRUARY MESSAGE

Dear Friends,
Now that we can put the last decade behind us and look ahead, are there lessons to be learned from what the Queen described as best forgotten in her Christmas message and the Archbishop of Canterbury said were gruelling and difficult years for many people?

Our world and its people have suffered from the effects of war, natural disaster, poverty, terrorism and greed. Our financial institutions have been shaken to the core and many of us will face tough times in the year ahead.

However there is hope: hope for change, hope that we can learn to respect the dignity of every individual, hope that we can work together across the world to bring children out of poverty, hope for peace, hope for our planet.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to bring hope, he showed that every one of us is a precious child of God and that our human family, local and world wide is important to Him. We are beginning to understand that we all have to work together to bring about change, in our families, in our community and in our world.

With love, tolerance and respect, you will be amazed what a difference you can make - let's make a start - together we can change the world.

With love.
Charmian

PS Thanks to all of you who sent Christmas cards and gifts. As always your care and generosity are very much appreciated.



Services

Services for January / February / March 2010
HodnetWestonPeplow
Sunday 31st January
Christmas 6		-- 11.00 am Parish Communion
Sunday 7th February
Christmas 7		8.00 am Holy Communion9.30 am Holy Communion-
11.00 am Morning Prayer--
Sunday 14th February
2 before Lent		11.00 am Holy Communion9.30 am Holy Communion6.30 pm Evensong
Thursday 17th February
Ash Wednesday		7.00 pm Imposition of Ashes--
Sunday 21st February
Lent 1		11.00 am Family Communion with Children's Church9.30 am Morning Prayer-
Sunday 28th February
Lent 2		6.30 pm Evensong11.00 am Family Communion 9.30 am Holy Communion
Sunday 7th March
Lent 3		8.00 am Holy Communion9.30 am Holy Communion-
11.00 am Morning Prayer--

Monthly Pattern of Services within the Parish
HodnetWestonPeplow
1st Sunday
8.00 am Holy Communion BCP9.30 am Morning Prayer-
11.00 am Morning Prayer--
2nd Sunday
11.00 am Holy Communion CW9.30 am Holy Communion CW6.30 pm Evensong
3rd Sunday
11.00 am Family Communion9.30 am Morning Prayer-
4th Sunday
6.30 pm Evensong11.00 am Family Communion9.30 am Holy Communion
5th Sunday
11.00 am A single Parish Service at one of the churches



Officers

OfficerNameTel: Number
Parish RectorRev. Charmian Beech01630 685491
Hodnet Church WardensMrs Janice Parker01630 685531
Mr Gerry Whitby01630 685595
Weston Church WardensMr Arthur Fox01630 685180
Mr Brian Harper01939 200636



News and Events

Parish News
A New Lent Group:
You are warmly invited to join an informal discussion group which hopes to explore why we believe what we do.

Has your work and family life influenced your faith what is it about God and Church which draws you?

You will be able to share your own experience, your doubts and certainties and listen to others within the group.

The first meeting will be at the Rectory on Wednesday Feb 24th at 7pm and thereafter on Wednesday evenings through Lent.

For more details please contact Charmian on 685 491


Hodnet News
Valentine's Day:
Services on Feb 14th Valentines Day will be celebrations of love and marriage. Couples who have been married in our Churches over the last three years will be invited.

Confirmation:
The Bishop of Shrewsbury will come to Hodnet for a service of Confirmation on Sunday June 27th. If you feel ready to make this commitment and would like more information, please call Charmian on 685 491

Choir:
We were delighted to welcome our new Director of Music, Rodney Bellamy on Christmas Day — now we would like to grow the choir. You don‘t need to be able to sight read, just enjoy singing. Please come to choir practice on Thursday evening Feb 11th at 7pm at Hodnet. A warm welcome awaits you.

Thanks:
To Chris and Margaret Ashley for donating the Christmas tree by the Lych Gate.
To Mr.& Mrs. Heber-Percy for the Christmas Tree in church.
To Hodnet School for the wonderful Christmas Trees in the windows at church and to all the ladies who decorated the rest of the church so beautifully.
To the choir, the bell ringers, the cleaners, the congregations, the organist and not forgetting Charmian for making Christmas 2009 so magical.

Weston News
Thanks:
To Mr. Derek Whittle for the Christmas tree.
To everyone who decorated the church and made Christmas so enjoyable




Contact Us

For information about all activities within the Parish, services, weddings, baptisms, funerals etc. please contact the Rector:

    Revd Charmian Beech
    The Rectory,
    Abbots Way,
    Hodnet,
    Shropshire,
    TF9 3NQ
    Telephone: +44 (0) 1630 685491
    Email: charmian.beech@virgin.net




Other Sites



Here are some other sites - mainly churches - which may be of interest.