Saint David’s Uniting Church
Minister: Vacancy
Church Office Tel: 01443 300345
Website: www.stdavidsuniting.org.uk
Admin email: [email protected]
Link for Live Stream – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ftWuXHexnfFdo1FKwXBZA
17th March 2024
A warm welcome to all who join us today, either in person or on line. It the fifth Sunday in Lent and Passion Sunday. If this is your first visit you are especially welcome and we hope you will feel the warmth of our welcome.
We give a special welcome to URC Regional Minister, Rev Branwen Rees, who has pastoral charge of 3 particular churches in the East Wales area: Cwmbran URC, Ebenezer URC in Pontnewynydd and Sardis Chapel in Ynysddu which is a URC and Presbyterian Church in Wales.
Branwen is no stranger to us and we are delighted that she has accepted our invitation to be with us today.
All are welcome to grab a cup of tea or coffee following our service before we have a short church meeting to vote on acceptance of the tender for the work on the Castle Square building.
Handmade Cards will also be available, with a good selection for Easter. Orders can be taken.
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Church Family and Pastoral News
We include this in the newsletter to inform our prayers during the week.
- Renda is keeping well, awaiting the big day around 9th-12th of April.
- We rejoice with Kath and Dave that no treatment for the aneurism is needed!
- It’s just a week since Marcia had her replacement hip operation, and she is pleased to say that the pain is greatly reduced and she is feeling a lot better. It will be a while before she is able get out and about.
- Those for whom this time of year holds sad memories.
- Our Muslim friends as they fast daily as an act of worship and self-discipline during Ramadan
- The Open the Book Team as they share the story ‘The Triumphal Entry’ with the pupils at Coed y Lan
- The Elders as they meet on Thursday.
Birthdays
There are no birthdays that we are aware of this week.
Thanks from…..
…. Gwyneth. I would like to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes I received. I was very touched. I had a very nice birthday with the family.!
…. Pam. Thanks to everyone for my birthday wishes and the cards I received. Sorry! I forgot last week!
Diary for the Week
Monday 18th Language Class 10.00am.
Wednesday 20th St David’s Guild at 2.00pm – See below.
Thursday 21st Lent Study at 2.00pm see notice below
Sunday 24th David Powell ~ Palm Sunday including Communion.
An Invitation
Dorothy would like to invite all who would like to do so, to drop in at the District Club in Pencerrig street, on Sunday 24th of March between 2pm and 5pm for an early celebration for her 90th Birthday
There will be a buffet. PLEASE no gifts but donations for the Alzheimer’s society, will be gratefully accepted bur are NOT expected. No individual cards please, (save the planet!) just one from my wonderful church family….I will take great pleasure in reading the messages of the people who sign it.
St David’s Guild
For the third week running guild members enjoyed a musical afternoon. We were privileged to welcome Ben Heneghan, a composer who lives in Graigwen. He has a composing partnership with Ian Lawson and together they composed music for Fireman Sam; The Legend of Lochnagor (based on the story by King Charles); The Little Engine That Could; and Siòn the Fox sung by Aled Jones.
Ben composes in many genres from jazz, pop and cartoon music to classical music and he entertained us with excerpts from his compositions such as A Spiral Round The Sun and The Cloths of Heaven.
We look forward to inviting him again.
This week we will have a visit from a representative of the Pontypridd Citizens Advice Bureau which has its office in Taff Street. We look forward to an informative afternoon.
Lent Studies
This is the final Lent study using the ‘Act on Poverty’ resources prepared by Christian Aid which are available online https://www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/act-poverty-resource-packs
Claire will lead the session at 2.00pm in the Victoria Room. The theme this week is ‘Together’.
Holy week Services
Tuesday 26th Church as Community ~ led by Pam. 2pm
Maundy Thursday 28th Serving Each Other – with bread and soup ~ led by Iestyn. 6.30pm
Please add your name to the sign-up sheet at the back of the church.
Good Friday 29th ‘Broken’ – Music and Liturgy ~ led by Margaret. 6.30pm
Easter Sunday 31st Service with Communion ~ led by Rev Ray Vincent. 10.45am
NB – there will be no Easter breakfast this year, but tea and coffee will be served after the service on Easter Sunday with hot cross buns.’
Future Services
April 7th Lewis Lewis-Head April 14th Rev Ray Vincent
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Denominational Event ~ Saturday 13th April 10am – 3pm
Open Day ~ A one-day course organised and run by the South East Wales Presbytery will take place at Trefeca. The event is free and lunch will be provided. The course aims to lay a foundation for good practice in how to speak with someone in a helpful way and one that can promote healing, growth or assist them to find a way forward in a problem they are experiencing and will be divided into three sessions:
Being, Listening and Relating. More information is available from Lynda
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Thought for the week
‘Everything in the world conceals the One who made it and reveals the One who can be found inside it.’
Rabbi Lawrence Kushner