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: [email protected]
16th October 2022
Iestyn is leading this morning’s service, whilst Phil will be worshipping with us. When asked why he wasn’t leading, Phil explained:
‘This Sunday was booked off last year as a holiday Sunday after the conference in Budapest and having got back to Wales Thursday night, I attended the ministers’ day Friday and Synod on Saturday. Always a joy to connect with the wider church but little time to prepare a service. BUT as we are a church who celebrate the worship-leading gifts of the congregation I look forward to the service Iestyn will lead.’
Link for Live Stream – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ftWuXHexnfFdo1FKwXBZA
Today Rev Ray Vincent will be leading the last morning service at Castle Square at 11am. It will no doubt be a service to remember. The Church will hold its final service at 4pm on October 30th.
Phil will be leading our 6pm zoom storytelling communion service tonight which, this month, is on the topic of friendship, so if you have a story, poem, anecdote on the theme…or simply want to listen, break bread, and be together, you would be most welcome. Usual sign up.
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Church Family and Pastoral News
We include this in the news sheet to inform our prayers.
- Martha is pretty good and waiting for an OT assessment and will hopefully discharged not long after that. We hope she doesn’t have to wait too long.
- We continue to hold Gareth, and Pat, as she cares for him, in our prayers.
- We are pleased to report that Ann Powell is feeling a lot better.
- Kath has received her results and will be having an operation once a date has been arranged.
- Unfortunately, due to postal problems Elsie has missed an appointment which has resulted in a delay for her planned operation date. Very frustrating. A new date has been arranged for her scan on Monday.
- David Jones is still waiting for results; he has an appointment this week. We keep him in our prayers.
- Jayne Bright has received a date for her knee operation. We wish her well.
Can you imagine?
As our friends at Castle Square are planning their final service, various ‘last’ meetings and sorting out what needs to be kept, passed on, returned to donors’ families or disposed of after so many years?
So many emotions, so many memories and so much work…..they must be exhausted!
We may not be able to help physically but we can support them in our prayers.
Birthdays
There 3 people we are aware of who are celebrating their birthdays this week:
Maralyn Tomlinson – Sunday 16th. George Tustin – Tuesday 18th and Brian Hurley – Saturday 22nd
We give them our best wishes as they celebrate!
Appeals Update
The Pakistan Floods Appeal to date is £197. Our Harvest Appeal for the PCW quinquennial appeal –‘Seeds of Hope’ – which supports Christian Aid’s work for climate justice in Kenya as at October 12th is £245.
Castle Square News
The final communion service led by Phil on 2nd October has been described as ‘a beautiful last communion’ and the meal at the Otley was excellent – All who were there enjoyed it.
At the penultimate Guild meeting on October 5th there were celebrations for Marilyn’s 80th birthday. Marilyn is the one who plans the Guild meetings. A good time was had by all!
Thanks from…..
Alison…..My thanks to all from the congregation for your generosity in donating to BHF for my Cardiff half marathon run. My total now stands at £945.00 in donations + £192.75 gift aid = £1137.75. I never expected to raise that much and am totally blown away. I have had a couple of late donations, so if there are any more latecomers they can still donate at the link, or via cash directly to me.
Kath…Thanks for the messages of support I have received and for the flowers, they are absolutely beautiful.
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Diary for the Week ~ St David’s
Monday 17th Language Classes 10.00-12.00
Tuesday 18th 50+ Forum ~ Armchair Yoga and Kurling Session 13.30-15.30 All are welcome!
Wednesday 19th St David’s Guild 14.00 -15.30 (see below…) Guides 18.00-19.30
Thursday 20th Sing for Life Choir 18.30-19.30.
Sunday 23rd See – Sunday Services
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St David’s Guild
Last week Robert’s subject for Black History Month was inspired following a visit to Coed-y-lan school. We spent and interesting afternoon hearing about the life of Mary Seacole.
This week we will have our last afternoon with Phil! Inspired by the radio series ‘A History of Britain in 100 objects’, Phil will offer a more succinct ‘A History of my time in Wales in 10 objects ‘.
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Sunday Services
St David’s
October 23rd our service, which will include communion, will be held at Castle Square at 10.45. We are encouraged to attend this service so that we can ‘get a feel’ of worshiping there. No decision has been made; we are just exploring the options. We are advised that the seats are not padded! So come prepared. This Service will NOT be live streamed.
Anyone wanting a lift / or able to provide transport to Castle Square please contact Marcia,
We remind you that due to road works in the area there is restricted parking, please will those who are able, park in the Treforest Station carpark and walk across the bridge. For people with mobility issues there are 12 spaces in the Castle Court Car Park. River Street Car Park is a short walk and currently only has 5 spaces.
October 30th – Phil’s Final Service – will take place at 10.45. More details next week.
There will also be an online Synod Service, with input from Castle Square and St. David’s Uniting Church
Castle Square
October 30th at 3pm – A chance to chat over a cuppa before the Castle Square Thanksgiving Service at 4pm, where we will thank God for the worship and witness of Castle Square over 117 years.
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Phil’s Farewell Party
Church party from 4.30 – 8pm on Saturday 29th October, before Phil’s last services with both churches the following day.
4:30pm – Please come from this time and bring something to add to our bring and share buffet
5.00pm – The Twmpath begins! 7:30pm – Quiz answers given and prizes awarded 8pm – Carriages
A sign-up sheet with food suggestions is on the table…..we don’t want too many sausage rolls!!.
Anyone wanting to contribute to a farewell gift for Phi l can give their donation to Anne Coles, Lynda or make a bank transfer. Cheques to be made payable to St David’s Uniting Church, for bank transfers please use the reference GIFT.
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Message from Julie Kirby …
…after receiving an invitation to Phil’s Farewell Event
I’m so sorry we are away on leave that week, it’s such a shame it would have been a great chance to catch up with everyone.
I’m sure that there’s a roller coaster of emotions happening at St David’s Uniting as you all prepare for Phil’s departure. St David’s is made up of such an amazing group of folk with varying gifts and talents, I know that with God all will be well.
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Christmas Cards
In just over 12 weeks we will be celebrating Christmas! So, it’s time to think about greetings cards.
Colleen is very busy making cards, traditional, winter scenes, cute, large and small, all of which can be personalised in Welsh if requested. Please get your orders in early! All the proceeds go to church funds. Hopefully in the coming weeks the cards will be on display for us to purchase.
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Tea, Coffee and Handmade Cards
Tea and coffee will be served after services of the 1st and 3rd services each month – on these Sundays, a selection of handmade cards will also available. Large cards are £2 and small are £1.50 All proceeds to Church funds.
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Thought for the week
The church is described in the New Testament as a body with Christ the head.
Some of us are hands, some feet, yet others are other parts of the body.
For the body to function as it ought, all the parts have to work with each other,
contributing to the welfare of the whole.
Anon