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.co.uk
26th April 2020
As we are now entering the sixth week of lock down, many have settled into a ‘new’ routine. We have continued to publish the weekly newsletter to keep everyone in touch and to let you know that our churches are still working!
Phil is certainly working albeit in a different routine, we are extremely lucky that he has got to grips with technology!
We are still receiving a Sunday reflection, which this week has been prepared by Rev Ray Vincent. As usual Ray has given us food for thought!
Each week, Phil posts a mid-week video to the website encouraging dialogue and debate. This week, Phil asked us to suggest – or even make – our alternative symbols of hope, peace, love, joy, at this time via the usual channels. If you have suggestions for future midweek reflections…or would even be willing to film one yourself…please contact Phil.
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Church Family and Pastoral News
We include this in the news sheet to inform our prayers.
- Valerie Henson had a bad fall this week whilst John continues to struggle with his duties. They are receiving increased evening care now and will be grateful for all prayers and contact.
- Jane Jones is in need of our prayers as she is confined to the house with Coronavirus symptoms
- Chris Fennell has had the plaster off and in now in Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda, she has started Physio and was able to sit out of bed for a while…. she was exhausted!
- We think of our Muslim friends as they cope with the restrictions during Ramadan.
- We pray for Julie and Ian as they reflect on the blessings and challenges of rural ministry in a time of lockdown.
- We think of the small local businesses and those like hairdressers who are self-employed in these difficult times
Thanks from…..
Vena
Vena is so grateful to everyone for their kind phone calls and concern for her and Wynne. She is glad to say that Wynne was moved on Tuesday to Llwynypia. She is very pleased about that because it is a lovely hospital with a pleasant outlook.
Lynda
Lynda says ‘Thank you to everyone who took the time to post or deliver cards and gifts, both on the day and before. My phone was quite busy with even more people ringing me! A special thanks to those involved in the video message, I must admit I did shed a tear. But I now have it as a permanent memory! All in all it was a marvellous day! Thank You!
Last week on her 70th Birthday, she had dedications on both Beverley’s radio show and by Aled Jones on Classic fm
Many people have said how good it is to receive the newsletters and reflections, and want to thank Phil and everyone involved in getting them out to people in their homes.
Birthdays & Celebrations this week!
Jamie Davies will be 17 on 26th, Mark Crowley celebrates his birthday on 27th, and Julie Kirby 29th. Twins Luke & Toby Jones will be 3 on 29th & 30th! Congratulations also to Val Stone who is celebrating the ‘big one’ 90 on 26th.
Cerys and Stephen will be celebrating their Silver Wedding on 29th – Congratulations to you both!
We send them all our good wishes and hope they can celebrate in some way.
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Puzzles!
If anyone has a ‘Brain Teaser’ or puzzle they would like to share please send it to Marcia.
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News
Techno Trials
Castle Square continues with its weekly conference call each Sunday at 2:30pm. Those involved want to thank Pete (Jan’s son) for setting up the conference calls We manage to chat for about 45 minutes and it cheers us up to hear each other. Contact Jan if you would like more details.
St David’s Uniting elders will be attempting a ‘Zoom meeting’ on Monday. Please pray for patience with technology (especially for Phil!).
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Something to keep you busy while Self-Isolating!
BRAIN TEASER ON THE BIBLE contributed by Lee Suan’s sister. The Answer!
HOW OBSERVANT WERE YOU ???
The sixteen (16) books of the bible hidden in the paragraph in order are: Mark, Luke, Kings, Acts, Revelations, James, Ruth, Numbers, Job, Amos, Esther, Judges, Titus, Lamentations, Hebrews, Peter. Howard Culbertson. © Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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Bringing cheer or help in a time unknown! –
A minister when leaving to go to church in the pouring rain couldn’t find his umbrella, he just couldn’t remember where he had left it and he’d searched everywhere! In the end he left and arrived at the church rather wet!
As the lesson was being read he heard the words ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’ he remembered where he had left it!
Useful numbers
Tonteg Fish Bar 07584675967. They will deliver! Minimum order £5. ORDER EARLY IN THE DAY FOR YOUR EVENING MEAL They only cooking to order. State name, address If collecting – please note people cannot wait inside the shop.
RCT Help Line 425003 Volunteers will collect prescriptions and shopping.
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Responses to Mid-Week reflection challenge 15th April – more next week!
All have been edited and are now anonymous!
Communion
Communion in St Gwynno’s on a Maundy Thursday evening, about 14 years ago, when Father Paul, who officiated at my wedding, washed my feet, while I sobbed with all the overwhelming emotion of the experience;
One of my memorable meals is one where we took 35 young people, from local churches to Boverton near Llantwit Major for a weekend away. We all had Communion overlooking the sea, with orange juice and biscuits. It was over 30 years ago, but I’ll always remember it!
Church Family
Caldey Island retreat in 1989 with Dr John Morgans. Every meal was a joy but what I remember was breakfast and Andrew, who cooked for us all, would warm up milk every morning for me to have on my Farley’s rusks!
Last year’s Maundy Thursday meal was special, we had reflections, displays and as we shared the food and passed the wine to each other we shared the words which brought the experiences of Jesus, his family, friends and disciples to life.
The first Christmas party which we shared with our Syrian and Sudanese friends was a true picture of God’s kingdom.
Personal
The wonderful chaos of family meals is my first thought where everyone talks at once and no one gets to finish a sentence but everyone knows they are bathed in love so it doesn’t matter.
Every time I and my family, or latterly I by myself, went back to my home village, my aunt would ask me to cook a curry for the family, mother, sister, uncle, aunts, cousin, and us. It became a must have on each of my visits.
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A thought in these times
We are sailing in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be!