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

 

 

19th December 2021

This Sunday is the fourth in advent! At the time of writing, we are still planning on hosting the following events in church:

Sunday 19th               10:45am –       A Nativity Service –                at St David’s

‘What’s Christmas got to say about… farmers, foreigners & fishermen?

Sunday 19th               2.00pm            Carols and readings               at Castle Square

Friday 24th                 4.00pm            Christmas Eve Communion   at St David’s 

This service may be changed to a zoom service. Please check beforehand!

What’s Christmas got to say about …the pandemic?

Saturday 25th             10.00am          Christmas Day celebrations   including a baptism!

What’s Christmas got to say about …family?

We encourage all planning on attending these services to have a lateral flow test prior to the service and to bring a donation for the Christian Aid Afghanistan Appeal, alongside their mask and a thick coat, for the ventilation might well bring a decreased temperature, alongside decreased risks! All these services will all also be live-streamed and available later on YouTube. 

Link for Live Stream – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ftWuXHexnfFdo1FKwXBZA

 

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Church Family and Pastoral News

We include this in the news sheet to inform our prayers. Please pray for:

• Bethan Walking, Ianto Phillips and their families as they step into an unknown wedding week. May God bless you all.
• Phil, as he copes with multiple issues while ensuring that we will all be safe at our services!
• Gwyneth, as she waits for results from recent tests which may affect her future treatment.
• Gill Miller who at the time of writing is in RGH for investigations. We hope all will be well.
• People suffering with Covid – Sheila’s granddaughter’s partner; & Mark, Brian and Marcia’s son-in-law.
• For many Advent is a time of celebrating, for others it is a difficult time as there are sad memories.

 

Thanks

Marilyn Edwards wishes to thank everyone for their cards and messages on the occasion of her birthday!  She had a great day.

 

Volunteering

We think of all those who are working so hard to keep everyone safe and well, including our own Claire Hughes, who has signed up as a volunteer to help with the booster vaccination roll-out. Da iawn, Claire!

 

Park Ramblers

The Park Ramblers resumed their walks in May, before we walk, we are challenged to answer a quiz question, for which we have the privilege of donating a small amount of money to the Pontypridd Food Bank! Our Donations this year amounted to £75.  Thankyou Everyone!

 

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Birthdays during the festive period   

Today and this coming week – Today! – Susan Thomas and on Thursday 23rd December- Gail Stewart.

Post-Christmas week –Chris Morris on Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, Jayden O’Callaghan-Williams will be 10! and on New Year’s Day – Mair Healy and John King have their birthday’s

First Week of 2022 –Sunday 2nd January Renda Alkawas and her Sister, Susan Kojo have their birthdays Susan will be 15!  Finally on Thursday 6th (Epiphany) Carol Powell will be celebrating!

We wish them all a Happy day and hope they are able to celebrate with family and friends.

 

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Upcoming zoom services.

The URC is holding a joint service on Zoom with the Evangelical Christmas Lutheran Church (ECLC) in Bethlehem on 19 December at 6.30pm. The service will be led by the Revd Dr Munther Isaac. If you would like to register for the service and receive the link please email the Ecumenical team here ecumenical@urc.org.uk

26th December – 10:45am. We’ll be gathering online to sing carols and reflect on the next step of our journey as we worship with the URC pre-recorded service. Christmas clothing (especially pyjamas!) recommended!     

31st December – 4pm. As we say goodbye to the old year and greetings to the new, join us for a more contemplative online Communion service.

Link for ZOOM:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89461145366?pwd=S3ExNTVjdGVGdXlGVlNQc2k3eldudz09

 

Other Services

St Lukes, Rhydyfelin are holding the annual Nine Lessons and Carols service on Sunday 26^th December at 5pm.  We have been asked to read Matthew 1.18-23, will anyone who is willing to read please contact Lynda. 

 

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Services in the New Year

New Year’s Eve           4.00pm            New Year’s Eve Communion (Zoom only Usual Link)

Epiphany celebrations

At St. David’s Uniting Church – 4pm, 9th January 2022. Maintaining the usual tradition, we hope to have an amended poems & pies service on the Sunday after epiphany in which all participants are invited to bring a poem or reading to share.

Castle Square will be sharing the tradition on the Sunday before epiphany and so are inviting members to bring a poem or reading to share at the Sunday Communion service at 11am on Sunday 2nd January.

All subject to changing Covid restrictions

 

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50^th Anniversary of the United Reform Church

Free tickets are now available for the United Reformed Church (URC’s) 50th Anniversary Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving taking place on 1 October 2022, at Methodist Central Hall Westminster, London, where the Uniting Assembly of the United Reformed Church took place in 1972. Book your tickets through the Eventbrite booking system here: bit.ly/urc50.

 

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St David’s Christmas Appeal

Our Christmas Appeal closes on December 31st!  Our charities this year are NSPCC, who support Childline, and Money for Madagascar. Cheques made out to St David’s Uniting Church can be sent to Lynda or brought to church, please indicate if you wish to gift aid your donation.

 

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     Christian Aid Afghanistan Appeal

We have all seen the horrific reports on television of the emergency in Afghanistan.

This is part of a letter we have received from Christian Aid asking for our help.

The Situation
Drought, conflict and the Covid-19 pandemic are causing a catastrophic rise in hunger. Children are dying, and a million more under the age of five are at risk of dying over the next three months. We need to act now to save lives. Decades of conflict, poverty, and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were already taking their toll on the people of Afghanistan. The recent conflict and change of government, coupled with the worst drought in 27 years, have tipped the country over the edge. Economic collapse has sent food prices soaring. Afghanistan’s health care system has reached on the brink of collapse. If we don’t act now, many lives could be lost. More than 22 million people face going hungry as the freezing winter sets in, with children amongst those most vulnerable.

To donate follow the link DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal 

 

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Thought for the Christmas       

Christ was born in the first century, yet he belongs to all centuries.
He was born a Jew, yet He belongs to all races.
He was born in Bethlehem, yet He belongs to all countries.                           

-George W. Truett

 

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 The next edition of the newsletter will be on the weekend of January 8th

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you all

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi i gyd.