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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)
then click on the pictures below.


These pages were last updated on June 1st 2010
On that date this page was updated with the June Services, the Rector's Letter and the latest News.

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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.
This year, 2010 we shall be having dedicated days for baptism. At Hodnet on Sunday 20th June and at Weston on Sunday 25th July.

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 JUNE 2010 MESSAGE

Dear Friends,
Another significant birthday has set me thinking about making time for God, for prayer, for family, friends, time to relish the here and now. This little prayer is one included in a delightful little book by Father Denis McBride called Praying with Pictures. I'm sure he will be glad to share it with you.

"To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under heaven."
Where does the time go to, Lord?
You know what we often say:
"There's plenty of it when you don't need it
and none when you do."
When we're young, we feel immortal,
with time on our side, endlessly ahead of us.
Then, as we get older, we hear the ticking...
As I now know from experience:
the frustrating thing about the past is
that the longer we live, there‘s more of it!
As our past gets longer, our future gets shorter
and we begin to consider the time we have left.

How we talk about time so much:
"Why don‘t you take more time?"
"There was a time when you had time for me."
"It's time to let go and move on."
"Have you got a few minutes to spare?"
"It's only a matter of time."
"We had the time of our life!"
"Sorry, my dear, but time's up."
I know we can't buy time, borrow time.
save time, spend time, cheat time, kill tie.
Can you please help us, Lord, to cherish
whatever time, in your wisdom, you grant us?
Tomorrow may not be another day.

With love.
Charmian



Services

Services for June / July 2010
HodnetWestonPeplow
Sunday 6th June
1st after Trinity		8.00 am Holy Communion9.30 am Morning Prayer-
11.00 am Holy Communion--
Sunday 13th June
2nd after Trinity		11.00 am Holy Communion9.30 am Holy Communion6.30 pm Evensong
Sunday 20th June
3rd after Trinity		11.00 am Family Communion with Children's Church and Baptism9.30 am Morning Prayer-
Sunday 27th June
4th after Trinity		4.00 pm Confirmation Service--
Sunday 4th July
5th after Trinity		8.00 am Holy Communion BCP9.30 am Morning Prayer-
11.00 am Morning Prayer with Baptism--

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
Confirmation 2010:
On June 27th Bishop Mark will take be a Confirmation service in the parish. This will be held at St Luke‘s, Hodnet at 4pm. This will be the only service in the parish on that day. Please come and support our candidates and the other candidates from other Churches in our Deanery. Also please pray for our candidates as they prepare for this important day.

Dates for your diary
Thursday, July 1st: Wines from around the world.
Wine tasting with nibbles. Francis Peel will introduce some delicious wines for you to taste and maybe order.
6.30-8.30pm at The Rectory. Tickets: £3 on the door

Sunday August 8th: The Weston-under-Redcastle Village Show at the Citadel Show Ground. By kind permission of Mr. & Mrs. B. Griffiths. Flower and Produce Show entries on the afternoon of August 7th 2010. A Companion Dog Show will be an added attraction this year.

Sunday October 3rd: Hodnet Harvest Festival
The Archdeacon John Hall will preach for us at Hodnet 11.00 am

Sunday October 17th: The Feast of St Luke - our Patronal festival.
The Rev Dr Jef Leonardi will preach at a special service of healing and wholeness. Hodnet 11.00 am

Saturday, November 27th: Parish Quiet Day
A Quiet Day will be held at Cloverley Hall Centre, Calverhall from 10am-4pm. All are welcome to join us for a time of reflection, reading and relaxation to prepare for the Christmas season. Come and spend a day away from the crowds to renew yourself. A contribution of £10 (or more) is requested to cover the cost of morning coffee, a cooked lunch and afternoon tea with cake. A list is at the back of church for you to add your name, or email: janiceparker@ntopenworld.com



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.