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
9th May 2021
We welcome everyone who joins us today for our Service whether you are watching via zoom at home or in church, on YouTube or reading the script. Phil is leading the service as we look at the second of seven monthly questions What would be lost in our community or in our world if we ceased to be?’
As we are entering Christian Aid week there plenty of ways in which we can give our support as Christian Aid is celebrating 75 Years.
The service planned for 6.30 pm today in St David’s has been cancelled but is available on line. Details in the Christian Aid article below.
Next week’s morning service will be led by Rex Simon Walkling as Phil will be resting and recovering after, hopefully, successfully completing his 3 Welsh Peaks Challenge.
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Church Family and Pastoral News
We include this in the news sheet to inform our prayers.
- Doreen, is still receiving treatment in RGH. We pray that she may be back home soon.
- Alan’s recent treatment resulted in stitches that caused a problem, hopefully his next visit will sort this out!
- Dorothy is looking forward to having a steroid injection and being able to walk down to town again.
- We think of Brenda who has an appointment on Wednesday to receive all the results of recent tests.
- We are aware of people who are still waiting for various test results as they continue treatment.
- We remember those from our fellowship who have to travel to London for treatment.
- We keep those who are in residential care or are being cared for in their homes in our thoughts.
- Chris Morris has had his pre-op appointment, so will hopefully have his long-awaited operation soon!
- We think of Jan as she has been invited to represent Castle Square at Moira Davies’s funeral on Tuesday 25th May at Thornhill.
Good News
We are delighted to report that John Davies came home from hospital on Friday. To say he is pleased would be an understatement! Jean is also delighted. Take care both!
We send our best wishes to Nathan on his new job as a Site Manager! ~ Congratulations Nathan!
Thanks
Message from Jean Davies – Thankyou! The calls, thoughts and prayers we have received from the church are much appreciated and a source of great comfort.
Birthdays this week
Birthday’s this week that we are aware of are: Ben Walkling is celebrating his 25th Birthday TODAY!,
Tuesday 11th May Phil will be 40!! Saturday 15th May Eli Bond will be 8. Enjoy your celebrations lads!!
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May Services
Zoom worship at 10:45am EVERY Sunday (also available on YouTube and on printed material).
- Sunday 16th May 10.45 am – Rev Simon Walkling will lead our Zoom Service.
- Sunday 23rd May, 10:45 am – in St. David’s Uniting Church with Communion
- Sunday 23rd May – Lunch in the park!
- Sunday 31st May 10.45 am
[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 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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Christian Aid Week.
Christian Aid Week begins on Monday. Alongside supporting Phil’s ‘3 Welsh Peaks’ fundraising efforts https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/phil-is-old, we are encouraged to mark Christian Aid’s 75 years of existence by thinking, praying or doing 75 things. This could be fundraising, campaigning, awareness-making, or praying. Have a think what you could do on this theme…including possibly following Christian Aid’s own 75 Anniversary Activity Sheet – https://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/appeals/75-years-hope-activity-sheet
The plans for a national Christian Aid service have been altered but those wanting to hear this year’s Christian Aid sermon can do here –https://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/appeals/christian-aid-sunday-video-sermon
We are also invited to attend the debut of a new orchestral work – Song of the Prophets: A Requiem for the Climate – alongside an address by Rowan Williams and panel discussion with climate campaigners, 7-8pm on June 9th https://www.christianaid.org.uk/song-prophets-sign
If you would like a script of the sermon or a print out of the activity sheet – which gives you something to think about, pray for, or donate over 75 days – please speak with your elder/courier or Marcia.
Supporters who don’t have internet access may enjoy the fellowship of special programmes for Christian Aid Week on Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol (S4C), Songs of Praise (BBC1) or Oedfa Radio Cymru, all taking place on Sunday 9th May.
Phil’s 40th Birthday Fundraiser update
It’s on Saturday May 15th and Phil will be attempting to climb the 3 Welsh Peaks (Snowdon, Cader Idris & Pen-y-fan) in 24 hours. He has set a target of £4000 and has already reached 78% ~ £3,130
Those wishing to support Phil and Christian Aid who are not on-line can donate by cheque, (please make payable to Christian Aid), and send to Lynda. Don’t forget to state if you can Gift Aid your donation – Cash Donations are also acceptable. Envelopes are available from Marcia.
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Pentecost Decorations
After so many appreciated our colourful Celtic crosses, we have another creative challenge for Pentecost! You are encouraged to colour the attached flame image in as many colours as you can. Please then post these through the church letterbox on Gelliwastad Road or put them in Phil’s bench on or by May 20th and Sue Walkling and the team will create a Spirit sensation!
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Online retreat
The URC: Spirituality team are holding a week of online events based around spirituality in difficult times. The week runs from 24-28 May and explores where people may find spiritual nourishment in the wilderness. There are three free sessions each weekday. Each session stands alone, but will have the same overarching theme. Each day begins at 7:30 am with morning prayers led by Mark Argent, followed by a variety of speakers from around the URC and beyond. For more information, or to sign up, visit the event page here (https://sitw.eventbrite.co.uk)
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Cytûn: Gethin Abraham-Williams Memorial Lecture 2021
The lecture, to be held on Thursday May 20th, 5-6.30 pm via Zoom, is entitled “The End of the World? Christian apocalyptic and responses to climate change” and will be will be given by Rev Gethin Rhys.
Gethin said, “Many people call the comments of people like Greta Thunberg and some scientists, writers and campaigners about climate change ‘apocalyptic’ – consider the name ‘Extinction Rebellion’ for example. The same word is used to refer to parts of the Bible, such as sections of the Book of Daniel, Mark chapter 13 or the Book of Revelation. I have been considering the relationship between the old Biblical apocalyptic literature and the emerging secular apocalyptic. Is the idea of ‘apocalypse’ a sign of despair, or a sign of hope – as the Bible writers intended? That’s what I will be exploring in this lecture.”
The lecture will be delivered bilingually, with simultaneous translation from Welsh to English, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end.
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Midweek Reflection
The reflection opened with Phil, dressed in a Christmas Hat and Jumper, singing along to Jingle Bells!!
Phil has started to think about Christmas. Celebrations around Advent and leading up to Christmas for us and the community. To get in the mood he put on the jumper and hat and got to thinking about Christmas films.
One of Phil’s favourite Christmas films is It’s a wonderful life’ starring James Stewart as George Bailey, the kind and caring man who gives a lot to his family and friends and the local community after a series of coincidences and calamities he feels that his life is over and on Christmas Eve 1945 he considers ending his life. At this point Clarence comes in – he’s a second degree angel and has some work to do to earn his wings! – He is able to give George the chance to see what his life could be like for the community and the world if he ceased to exist. So George gets to see what happens to his family, workmates and the community and further afield , even in the 2nd World War. Everything was generally a bit darker and harder. The positive is George decides to live and the community rally around him.
The second of the seven questions which we are looking at over the next few months to help us work out what our new normal, what a post Covid church life, purpose, identity might look like. The first one was ‘Why do we exist as a congregation?’ we looked at last month and now we will look at the second one. – ‘What would be lost in our community or our world if we as a congregation ceased to exist?’
So our invitation is to give it some thought. If you are a member of Castle Square or St David’s Uniting Church, you might like to think about the local congregation…try NOT to think about how YOU might feel, but try and think about the wider community in the world ~ what would be lost there if we cease to exist? If you are part of our wider church family you might like to share with us what you would miss about CS or SDUC or, you can think about your own faith community ~ ‘What is it that would be lost if you ceased to exist?’
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A Thought for the Week
“The more information you have to give, the less people listen.” Anon
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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.