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
2nd May 2021
We say ‘Hello’ to all who read this newsletter, whether you are in, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Cayman Islands, or somewhere in the World or the UK! We welcome you all.
In Pre-Covid times, Phil would have been leading worship in Castle Square today as it’s the first Sunday of the month.
Until we find our new normal, the St. David’s Uniting Church elders have agreed to continue welcoming guest preachers on first Sunday services so to hear different voices and welcome different perspectives, as well as keeping Phil free to lead worship at Castle Square once they have returned to on-site worship. We are grateful to our Pulpit Supply Secretary – Brian – and to all our guest preachers who enable this to happen.
With that in mind, today we welcome back friend of the church, Dave Kitchen. Dave is a former Head teacher and a Methodist lay preacher. This will be a service with a difference!
We will (hopefully!) be live-streaming this afternoon’s short service of Holy Communion from St. David’s Uniting Church premises. Those wanting to join live are advised to go to our YouTube channel at 4pm where the link will be made available: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ftWuXHexnfFdo1FKwXBZA
Whether you’re coming to the service in person, online, or through the printed word, you are invited to print out the order of service (which will remain the same for upcoming afternoon Communion services) and is being sent to those we have email addresses for. Please contact the Admin email address if you require a copy.
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Church Family and Pastoral News
We include this in the news sheet to inform our prayers.
- We continue to keep Doreen, and the family in our prayers; especially Doreen who was unable to attend David’s funeral as she was admitted to hospital, with a heart condition.
- John Davies is back in hospital and is being assessed. We keep him and Jean in our thoughts.
- We were very sad to hear of the death last week of Moira Davies, a dear friend of Castle Square. Our sympathy goes to Russell and the family.
- Dorothy, who has been struggling to walk is looking forward to walking with the Park Ramblers again soon!
- Sue Salmon is now in Ty Gwynno in Hopkinstown. We send her our love as she settles into her new home.
- There are several people we are aware of who are waiting for the results of scans, biopsies and the like, we hope for good news for them!
- We think of those who live with illness or are in constant pain.
Good News
The Park Ramblers were able to meet up last Monday, in two groups, and some went for coffee after!
Several people have been able to book a table for an outdoor for a meal today. Enjoy!
Thanks
Thank you to everyone for their birthday wishes, phone calls and cards, I’ve had a lovely 4 day in Barry with Margaret and Glyn and have been thoroughly spoilt! Thank you. Love Val S
Julie Kirby has sent both congregations her love and was very grateful for the card and Birthday well-wishing.
Birthdays this week
Birthday’s this week that we are aware of are: Wednesday 5th May Steve Jones and Saturday 8th May Graham Healy.
Have a good birthday ‘boys’ !!
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Upcoming elections.
In this afternoon’s service, Phil will pray that we ‘do not try to separate politics and prayer…do not try to escape, but to engage with, God’s world‘. With that in mind, the Joint Public Issues Team, in collaboration with Cytun, have produced briefings on a range of issues for Christians to consider as they prayerfully reflect on how they will vote –
http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/elections/wales/
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May Services
Zoom worship at 10:45am EVERY Sunday (also available on YouTube and on printed material).
- Sunday 9th May, 10:45am –in St. David’s Uniting Church
- Sunday 9th May, 6:30pm – National Christian Aid Week service [details to come]
- Sunday 23rd May, 10:45am – in St. David’s Uniting Church with Communion
- Sunday 23rd May – Lunch in the park!
[We hope to arrange an outdoor meeting once a month but this is dependent upon yet to be released Government guidelines. More info to come].
If you are intending on coming to a service on church premises, please remember the following:
- Aim to arrive at church about 10 minutes before the service begins.
- Bring a face mask (not a visor) to wear at all times and your own water if required.
- Sanitize your hands and check in on entry.
- Allow the stewards to show you to your seat and then remain seated until guided by a steward at the end of the service, leaving promptly.
- This will be tough…but please maintain a 2-metre distance and keep all conversation for outside.
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Malarchi Trust
“In view of the grim news regarding the corona virus situation in India, Jan contacted Carol Evans of Malarchi Trust which is based in Pooncholai, India. Castle Square members supported the Trust for many years.
Carol has intimated the following: She has sent face masks, sanitizers and soap regularly but wearing PPE and social distancing is difficult due to local culture and family honour when attending funerals and marriages, exposing many to the virus. Hospitals are indeed overwhelmed especially government hospitals and the news on TV is probably a damped down version of the reality. The poor are particularly badly affected with no means of transport apart from overcrowded public transport exposing them to the virus, but they have to continue to get to work to prevent their families from starving. Like everywhere, the elderly tend to succumb to this virus and sadly families may not be able to fund funerals and thus deaths may not even be registered.
However, not all the news is bad. The children and their families that Castle Square have supported are not too badly affected as their villages are in remote areas and most of the work is outdoors, reducing the risk of infection. One of the first children to be supported by the Malarchi Trust, Esakkimuthu, has now returned to his own village and is a valued staff member of the Malarchi Trust. The recent legacy left to the Malarchi Trust by a kind supporter has been invaluable in saving lives especially during this pandemic.
Finally, Carol sends her love, warmest regards and thanks to Castle Square for their help and support in the past.”
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Something to make you smile
A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.
Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote ‘Revelation 3:20’ on the back of it and stuck it in the door.
When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, ‘Genesis 3:10.’
Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter.
Revelation 3:20 begins ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.’
Genesis 3:10 reads, ‘I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked.’
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Book Launch
Former minister of St. David’s Uniting Church, Mary Cotes has a book coming out and we have been kindly invited to its online book launch!
At 10am on May 8th, ‘Women Without Walls’ will be launched as part of an international panel discussion.
We shall firstly be asking how God shapes ordinary women for extraordinary Kingdom work. We shall also be discussing how the Churches can better support and encourage ‘women without walls’, and tell their stories in meaningful and powerful ways.”For more information and to register for the event, click on the link below: https://tinyurl.com/womenwithoutwalls
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Phil’s 40th Birthday (May 11) Plans!
Phil’s Christian Aid fundraising adventure ~ On May 15th he will be attempting to climb the Welsh 3 Peaks (Snowdon, Cader Idris & Pen-y-fan) in 24 hours. Details of how you can support him can be found at the following link. Diolch yn fawr! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/phil-is-old Cash Donations are also acceptable. Christian Aid Envelopes will be available next week, Speak to Marcia if you would like one.
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Midweek Reflection
Phil recorded the reflection while walking through Lan Wood, with a carpet of bluebells around him and bird song in the background. He was making the most of the glorious weather!
Last Sunday, and in the previous Wednesday reflection we talked about light and about what we are here for as churches – we are to shine with God’s love and God’s light.
Light is the medium of photography. The word photography comes from the Greek: photos meaning “light,” and graphé meaning “representation by means of lines.” So, you could say that photography is “drawing with light”!
SO, this week’s challenge is to send in your photographs on the theme of light – whether metaphorical light (acts of kindness, times of celebration) or literal light. Please make sure you have the permission of anyone in the photographs for us to show them online next week.
Those wanting to think about this further might want to take part in a one-day seminar where participants will be encouraged to see God within the ordinary, using light as a metaphor for life. More details can be found at:
Light in Life: Seeing God in the Ordinary (Online)
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A Thought for the Week
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. Martin Luther King Jnr.
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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 by phone (call 0203 901 7895. then, when asked, type in the meeting ID – 894 6114 5366; followed – when asked – by the passcode – 8453605) Calls are charged at standard UK call rates.