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
3rd October 2021
Today we welcome Haydn Blackey to St David’s as our worship leader as Phil is leading the first Service at Castle Square since 22 March 2020. The service in St David’s is being live streamed at 10.45
The 3rd of October is the day when St. Francis of Assisi died, though he is normally commemorated on the 4th for historic reasons. Given the COP in Glasgow and the increased importance of a focus on creation and its many gifts, and the way we have overused them at times, it seems to be a perfect focus for us as we are in the season of creation.
This Sunday is the final Sunday in the Season of Creation and today’s reflection and prayers for those not on line comes from friend of our churches, Revd Gethin Rhys.
We’re sorry that technical difficulties meant that members couldn’t join the livestream last week. We’ve worked out the issue and last week’s service is available on YouTube as usual.
https://www.stdavidsuniting.org.uk/sunday-reflection-26-september/
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Church Family and Pastoral News
We include this in the news sheet to inform our prayers.
- Vena hasn’t been very well since her booster Covid vaccination and we are all thinking about her
- We pray for Doreen who hasn’t been well lately so is staying with her son in Abergavenny.
- We hold Pauline Robbins in our prayers as she mourns for her sister who passed away recently.
- Hilary from Castle Square is pleased to say that recent scan results show there is nothing to be concerned about! Keep taking the tablets Hilary.
- We remember those who live with debilitating illnesses and pray they are all keeping well.
- As the weather is not so good, we think of those who are unable to leave their homes as much as they would like and don’t get to chat with people.
- Now we have less Zoom services, we think of all those who will miss the weekly chat and catchup.
Good News
As Isobel has returned to university, we give thanks that on line learning has been replaced and lectures will now be given in person with fellow students in a lecture theatre.
Buffie has just returned from a short cruise to Ireland and Scotland and was very glad to get away after all this time.
Many people have received appointments for their booster jab….Mountain Ash here we come!
Birthdays this week
There are 4 people that we are aware of who have their birthdays this week:
TODAY (3rd) – John Henson, Wednesday 6th – Bethan Walkling, Thursday 7th – Alan Hills and also Magdi Kajo who will be 16! Pen-blwydd Hapus, Happy Birthday.
Thanks
We would like to say ’Thankyou’ to everyone who sent cards, gifts and good wishes to us on the occasion of our Golden Wedding. We had a lovely time away at the hotel where we spent our honeymoon.
Susan and Huw
Next Sunday’s services.
10:45am – Zoom service. Those zooming in are encouraged to bring their favourite mug to the service to aid a discussion (feel free to fill it too!). If you’re attending on church premises, feel free to take it to show others there too.
4pm – Communion. This month’s 4pm Communion will be harvest-themed. Service to be live-streamed.
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A reminder of some items from St David’s AGM
The worship routine for at least the next 6 months was accepted.
THE CHURCH IS NOW OPEN EVERY SUNDAY
First Sunday
10.45 Guest preacher in house Phil will be at Castle Sq.
Second Sunday
10.45 Zoom service Shown on the screen in church.
16.00 Contemplative Communion – in house
Third Sunday
10.45 Minister-led in-house Service with communion at St David’s
11.00 Minister-led Service at Castle Square
Fourth Sunday
10.45 Minister-led in-house Service at St David’s
18.00 Zoom story-telling communion service
Fifth Sunday
10.45 Synod Sunday worship in-house/St. David’s on tour
ALL IN-HOUSE SERVICES WILL BE LIVE STREAMED
A reminder was given that we are seeking volunteers to join our IT team and premises management.
Our harvest service will be on October 17th. Physical or monetary donations to the food bank are welcome
Church Lunch. As a marker of our return to more physical gatherings together, we have lunch booked at The Heritage Hotel on Sunday 17th October. at 12 noon. The service will finish early!! ALL from Castle Square and St David’s are welcome to attend!
The sign-up sheet for the lunch is now available. More details next week
Following the Election of Elders a new Church Directory will be issued soon. If you have a new Elder they will be in touch with you shortly.
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Afghanistan – How we can help
Monetary donations can be sent to Valleys of Sanctuary or Friends of DPIA
Valleys of Sanctuary is coordinating how we can support the families with Jan Thomas in RCT and while no further items are needed for now, people can still donate money as the local authority’s funding is limited
Anyone wishing to donate cash or cheques should contact Catherine Naamani or Lynda Duddy from Valleys of Sanctuary in the first instance. valleysofsanctuary@outlook.com
Or you can donate online, at Paypal Pool https://paypal.me/pools/c/8CMThHNxDZ
Friends of DPIA –help displaced people. Your donation – whether it is one-off or regular – will help us to achieve our mission to support displaced people in Wales to live and be well within our communities. To make our work sustainable, we are asking for your support.
This is the form to complete to become a DPIA Friend. Please donate via our Localgiving page, or contact us for more ways to help. www.dpia.org.uk or email kate@dpia.org.uk or phone 07714 458 262
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Community Saints Project
After the floods last February, Rhondda Cynon Taff’s high rate of Covid infections and deaths, and the general hardship we have all encountered over the past two years, some of us on St. David’s Uniting Church’s Justice & Peace Committee thought it was an opportune time to plan another community project – one which might share good news, celebrate acts of kindness, and shine a light in our town.
Our plan is that local residents will nominate people who have made a difference in our community over the past couple of years (post-flood volunteers, neighbours who have picked up shopping, checked up on the elderly, frontline workers etc) who will in turn receive a certificate and be welcomed to a Community Saints Party on the Saturday after St. David’s Day next year. We’ll be talking more about this in future weeks but in the meantime, immediately after the zoom service next Sunday (10th) and before the morning service on the 17th, we will be screening the recording of a presentation that outlines our plans for the project. We hope it will inspire us all to be thankful for the saints in our midst and to ‘do the little things’ that make a big difference.
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Recycling!
Did you know that RCT has a new policy on green waste collection?
From November 1st green waste will be collected in a reusable green sack and will no longer be collected in clear recycling bags. The green sacks are equivalent to two and a half clear recycling bags.
Residents must register for the new scheme in order to have their green waste collected.
https://forms.rctcbc.gov.uk/en/Web/ResidentialGreenBagsRequest/EnterAddress or phone 01443 425001
They will continue to be collected fortnightly in winter (November to March) and then weekly in the busier summer months.
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A Thought for the Week
“We can no longer let the people in power decide what is politically possible.
We can no longer let the people in power decide what hope is.
Hope is not passive. Hope is not blah, blah, blah. Hope is telling the truth.
Hope is taking action. And hope always comes from the people.”
Greta Thunberg
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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.
LIVE STREAM SERVICES – to join go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ftWuXHexnfFdo1FKwXBZA where you should be able to join the service. Don’t join too early!