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
6th November 2022
We as a church are facing a new future! We won’t see Phil walking, or running around Ponty. Like Phil, we are facing new challenges. It is time for us to move on.
Our Sunday worship will feature a mix of ‘guest’ preachers, zoom services, festival services and ‘in-house’ services planned by our worship group. SO we are in for a variety of styles in our worship.
Today we are very pleased to welcome Revd Aled Edwards – Chief Executive of Cytun: Churches Together in Wales and Chair of Displaced People in Action. Aled is no stranger to us, and we are grateful that he is leading our worship while being ‘under par’. Diolch Aled!
We welcome everyone who joins us, especially if this is your first visit. And we invite you to join us in the hall following the service where tea and coffee will be served and a selection of handmade cards will also be available.
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Church Family and Pastoral News
We include this in the news sheet to inform our prayers.
- We continue to hold those who have recently said farewell to loved ones, in our prayers. Especially Pat whose husband Gareth’s funeral was on Friday and Heather whose family gathered together at the end of September to say goodbye to Jeff.
- Elsie has a date at University Hospital, Heath on 30th November before her keyhole operation by robot, under the charge of Mr Lim on December 1st. Isn’t medical technology marvellous? As Elsie says, ‘I don’t care if a monkey does it as long as they are able to remove all the cancer.
- We are aware of others who are waiting for operations and trust that they don’t have to wait too long.
- There are a number of people who have been unable to join us for worship since the pandemic as, like many, those many months of inactivity has taken its toll. We look forward to welcoming them when they feel able to return.
- As we face new challenges, we think of our friends from Castle square as they adjust to life outside their chapel. May they be happy when they eventually find new places to worship.
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Birthdays
There are four people we are aware of who have birthdays this week. ~ Heather Owen on Sunday 6th Christina Morris on Wednesday 9th, Beti Jones and Michael Howells both on Friday 11th
Good News
Kath Couchman came home on Monday evening and is recovering well! Although not up to visitors yet, as it’s still early days; the consultant has been really pleased with her recovery, and she has a follow-up visit, possibly at the end of this week for the results.
Thank You to so many people for all my cards, phone calls and messages. It has been amazing!
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Thanks…..
….from Brian….Many thanks to everyone who sent me Birthday wishes, they were greatly appreciated.
….from Phil….Diolch yn fawr! Don’t worry…you won’t be getting constant interference from me but I had to write to say a huge thanks for the celebrations and well-wishing last weekend. The party was…as my dance partner Imogen put it, ‘the best night ever’…and I felt so much joy, connection, and praise in the Sunday service. As for the presents…the mug and chocolate, the beautiful Welsh pictures, the framed photographs, photobooks, watch, and IOU for £500+…not to mention all the personal presents, cards, and messages…I was absolutely overwhelmed, but not surprised, by your generosity and love. You’re in my prayers, as I hope I’ll be in yours. And if I don’t bump into you before the move to MK…in the words of a Kids’ Club favourite…’Go well and safely, the Lord be ever with you’. Much love, Phil
….from Brian and Marcia…….When we were wed, at the ages of 35 and almost 25, we never imagined we would reach our Golden Wedding, but we did! We’ve had a wonderful weekend celebrating and we thank everyone for their messages, cards and gifts.
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Diary for the Week
Sunday 6th Elders Meeting 15.00 – (see below)
Monday 7th Language Classes 10.00-12.00
Wednesday 9th St David’s Guild 14.00 -15.30 (see below) Guides 18.00-19.30
Thursday 10th Sing for Life Choir 18.30-19.30.
Sunday Service
Sunday 13th Remembrance Sunday.
Our Zoom Service will be led by Rev Ray Vincent at 10.45 with the usual pre-service chat from 10.30
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89461145366?pwd=S3ExNTVjdGVGdXlGVlNQc2k3eldudz09
At the parallel Service in Church Michael, as well as conducting the National Remembrance will also be remembering those we have loved and lost Those attending, are invited to bring a photograph of a family member or friend to use in the service
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Agenda for the Elders meeting
At the Elders’ meeting on Sunday afternoon we will be discussing the feedback from the service at Castle Square, future ministry including profile update and our Safeguarding Policy.
St David’s Guild
We look forward with anticipation to Robert giving us a pictorial presentation of The Art of WW1. There will be an opportunity afterwards to participate in craft work under the guidance of Carol. We look forward very much to the afternoon and thank both Robert and Carol for their collaboration in putting together the afternoon’s subject.
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Who to contact
Now that Phil has left, pastoral care will be in the hands of the Elders, their ‘Buddy’s’ and the Church Secretary. If you are not sure who they are – check the directory. Your elder/buddy’s name is alongside yours, so if anyone needs help, support or information please contact them or Lynda.
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An interesting article
Phil saw this while journeying to North Wales. It is an article on the BBC News website, about the struggles people living in Penrhys are facing. Phil found it very interesting. Maybe it is something we could help with!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63414648.amp
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Future Thoughts
When Phil was asked to contribute ‘A Thought for the future’ ~ It was meant to be in place of our usual ‘Thought for the week’ – something brief and profound! This is how he responded!
When challenged by Marcia to offer some thoughts about the future of St. David’s Uniting Church for the newsletter with about 5 minutes to think, my brain went in a million directions!
Do I just type ‘see last week’s sermon’ and hope I don’t get a slap?!
Do I go for the oft-quoted quip from Father Brown author (amongst other things!) G.K. Chesterton – ‘At least five times the [Christian] Faith has to all appearance gone to the dogs. In each of these five cases, it was the dog that died.’
Do I throw down a Jerry Springer-style’ Final Thought’ for your consideration?!
No, instead, I thought I’d emphasize one of my answers to the ten questions I’m being asked on Sunday.
Don’t be scared to talk about your faith. About what you believe…or don’t believe. We’re a church who think deeply and ask questions – and that is absolutely something to be cherished – but it can sometimes mean that we live in our heads and are scared to talk about our faith – even to one another. But my experience, being privileged to have many intimate conversations with you wonderful lot over the years, is that you want to talk about these things. And we should! So, with everything that the future holds – changes in ministry, in buildings, in direction – don’t be scared to talk about what you believe, and how that impacts what you think, how you act, and what kind of church you would like to be a part of.
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YouTube Links
October Synod Sunday – featuring Rev Dr Phil Wall with input from Castle Square and St David’s Music group https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeNDTOAo0gw
The Thanksgiving Service from Castle Square is now available at https://youtu.be/T82zDaOXU-4
Unfortunately, there was a problem with the sound on the video of Phil’s last time at St David’s Guild on October 19th, so it will not be available.
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Thought for the Week
“There are only two ways to handle tense situations:
you can change them, or you can change the way you look at them.
There is enlightenment to be had in changing the way you look at things”.
The Little Book Of Calm” by Paul Wilson (1996)