Saint David’s Uniting Church
& Castle Square URC
Minister: Rev. Dr Phil Wall
Tel: 01443 300345 Mob: 07855090360
Website: www.stdavidsuniting.org.uk
Admin email: office1.sduc@gmail.com
10th January 2021
Today, for St David’s Uniting, would be the 19th Anniversary of our Uniting! By next year we should be able to celebrate in style, but that is a long way off and as we look to the future Phil has this message for us……
We pray that you might see signs of God’s presence with you and your communities at this continued troubling time. Whilst hopes for an Easter Sunday physical return to worship might now seem a little optimistic, the days are getting longer; the vaccines are on their way; and we will continue to meet with God and one another in worship – online, on the phone and in print. In the meantime, a reminder that all members can participate in worship on a Sunday if they would like to – through their telephone or computer. However you choose to participate, please keep safe and well.
The link to our zoom services is at the end of this newsletter.
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Church Family and Pastoral News
We include this in the news sheet to inform our prayers. We ask you to pray for:
- Colleen as she and her sisters and their families say farewell to their Mum, Gran and Nan on Tuesday 12th January at 9.45am in Glyntaf. Due to Covid restrictions only family will be able to attend the service.
- David Jones, Sue, Simon, Bethan, Ben and the family as they prepare to say a final goodbye to Ann on Monday 18 January. The funeral will be held at Glyntaf at 2.15. There will be a link for live-streaming of the service for those who cannot come another way.
- We remember Helen and the family as they prepare for Ceinwen’s funeral which will be held at on Tuesday 19th January. The cortege will leave the house at 12.50 for a private service, which will be led by Rev Gethin Rhys, at the chapel of David L Evans, Brook Street Williamstown, at 1.15pm. followed by interment at Trealaw Cemetery at 2pm. Phil will be representing the church. Flowers may be sent to the funeral home.
- Janet Butler and the family, whose father-in-law died before Christmas. The funeral will take place this week, but they are unable to attend as it will be in Devon.
- Sheila’s Son is improving slowly, we remember Sheila in her concern for him.
- We continue to remember Bernice and Sue Salmon in Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda
Birthdays this week …..
There are no birthdays that we are aware of this week! If you would like to have your birthday acknowledged in the newsletter, please let Colleen or Marcia know.
Sharing Good News ~
We are delighted to pass on the news from Chris that she will be returning home on Wednesday – a year after she was admitted to hospital. Take care Chris, we look forward to being able to ‘see’ you soon.
Brenda finally returned to her home in Cardiff Road on Friday! The estimate for the work to repair the damage caused by Storm Dennis to be completed was 8 weeks, that was in mid-September! We rejoice that she is home at last.
Thanks from…Colleen
Thank you everyone for your kind words, the cards, messages and phone calls that I have received following my Mum’s death. They have been a great help and comfort to me and the family.
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Something to think about
The Garden of your daily living must have:
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- Thyme for each other 2. Thyme for family 3. Thyme for friends
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Discussion Evening ~ Monday 11th at 7pm
The Topic is ‘Building Back Better – Resolutions and Hopes for a Post-Covid Wales’
We will discuss the future of a post-Covid Wales with Pontypridd MP, Alex Davies-Jones, and Cytun’s National Assembly Policy Advisor, Revd Gethin Rhys. To join in follow the link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82229587377
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Thanks, from the Finance Team ….
….to all who continued to make their contributions in 2020, they are much appreciated as, although the building is closed, we still have bills to pay e.g. the levies to the denominations, insurance payments, safety checks, utilities, manse expenses, printing.
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Christmas Appeal News
We smashed £2000!! The current total is £2024. It will be split as requested, between Christian Aid, Women’s Aid RCT and the David Griffiths Church School in Madagascar. The appeal closes TODAY. If you wish to donate the link is https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stdavidsunitingpontypriddcastlesquareurc-church 1?utm_term=kykwWg93Z
If you choose to donate anonymously and wish to Gift Aid, please let Lynda know the amount.
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Midweek Reflection
Last Wednesday, with no sign of lockdown ending for a little while we had our first Midweek Reflection of 2021!
Across the world many of our sisters and brothers from the western part of Christianity were celebrating the feast of the Epiphany, marking the visitation of the Magi from the East, the first Gentiles to visit Jesus. a kind of signalling of God working in the world in a fresh new radical way.
There were all sorts of celebrations taking place – in Spain children got sweets put onto shoes, in Italy on the Eve of Epiphany the witch Befana gives out sweets, and in Peru they put grass and water out for the camels. There are all sorts of parties, parades, church services and feasts. Everything from spiced rum on Prague to King cake in New Orleans in Louisiana.
The celebrations were more muted this year. But one ritual that could be done is the chalking of the front door, Christians around the world have done this for centuries, they take a piece of chalk which is sometimes blessed and they write 20†C†M†B†21…so what does it mean? 20 and 21, easy the old and new year, † the sign of Christianity, C.M B? There are two options the traditional Casper, Melchior Balthazar or Christus Mantione Benedict which is an abbreviation of the Latin blessing May Christ bless this house. In a year in which we are spending more time in our homes we may want to take time to give thanks for what we have, to think of those with no homes, to maybe look to the future and how our homes can be places of hospitality and welcome to friends and strangers alike. and take a moment to recognise that God is with you in your dwelling. May your house be a place of peace and love and God be with you.
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A Thought for the week
“You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.!” Eleanor Roosevelt
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ZOOM SERVICES: Log in opens at 10.30 for pre service chat. Services will start at 10.45 or as advertised.
Zoom service link – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89461145366?pwd=S3ExNTVjdGVGdXlGVlNQc2k3eldudz09
To join via the app use Meeting ID: 894 6114 5366 Passcode Worship