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
11th October 2020
This month is Black History Month and also the month when the Nobel Peace Prize 2020 is awarded.
This year the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) are the recipients “for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.” A very fitting tribute on World Health Day.
This week’s Wales Corona-virus update informed us that the virus was ‘waking up for winter’ and that we must ALL follow the guidelines!
So, take care everyone and be patient, bur remember to keep in touch with the vulnerable and those who live alone.
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Church Family and Pastoral News
We include this in the news sheet to inform our prayers.
- With the rise in corona-virus we remember especially all those working in our local hospitals as they cope with the stress of their daily work.
- We think of those who are in residential care and are unable to receive visitors, especially Diana Hayns, Brenda Jones, Caroline Jones, Margaret Major and Edith Thomas and for their families who cannot visit.
- We continue to remember those who have lost loved ones in recent weeks, and those for whom this week is the anniversary of a loved ones passing.
- We remember those who are unable to leave their homes: especially Sharon, Cyril, John & Jean, Peter Dillworth, Valerie H, David & Doreen, and Gwyneth S. There are many who are nervous about going out, we remember them and all who care for them.
- We pray for Bernice, Chris and Sue who are still in hospital; may they get better and in time be able to return to their homes.
- We pray also for those who are preparing to self-isolate prior to having surgery in the coming weeks.
- We are pleased to say that Cerys came home last Monday. She is taking small steps and is very tired but coming along slowly. We wish her well and also Stephen as he cares for her.
- Please remember the Elders of St David’s they meet via zoom today to plan for Advent and beyond as is seems that lockdown may continue into next year.
Birthdays this week …..Just two birthdays that we are aware of this week and they are both on the same day.
We send Marilyn Tomlinson and David Marshman our best wishes for Friday 16th October.
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Sharing Good News
Gwyneth has received good news from her specialist in Guys Hospital.
Catherine is delighted to share the news that she will formally retire from her work at the University of South Wales on 16th October! We wish her a long, healthy and happy retirement.
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Something to make you smile
A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood Trying to make the matter clearer, she said,
‘Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.’
‘Yes,’ the class said.
‘Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn’t run into my feet?’
A little fellow shouted, ‘Cause your feet ain’t empty.’ © God’s Little Acre
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An alternative Rule of Six
The news that the current Covid restrictions could last another six months was a blow for many of us. As we commit ourselves to keep supporting and caring for one another – and for our neighbours near and far – members might find a short video presented the Bishop of Oxford to be helpful. In it, he uses the new rule of six to frame 6 things for Christians to consider at the moment:
SIX MONTHS IS THE NEW HORIZON. Focus on Easter and lean back into the great themes of the church year.
SIX DAYS TO WORK AND A SABBATH TO REST. Reclaim the gift of one day each week for rest and re-creation.
SIX PEOPLE TO JOURNEY WITH. Rediscover church as small groups of people supporting one another.
SIX WAYS TO BE SALT AND LIGHT. Identify the people and community organisations you can support.
SIX PERCENT TO YOUR CHURCH. If your income is stable, increase your giving to sustain the local church.
SIX PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR. Pray for people you know to discover the riches of our faith.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnOTJKVON9c
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Our newsletter in print
Approximately 33% of our joint congregations receive the weekly newsletter and the Reflection & Prayers in paper form. They are delivered by 14 loyal couriers. Some of the couriers do their own printing but the majority are printed in the Church Office. We discovered when we received the latest invoice that the cost of including colour in the printing was 10 times more expensive, so regrettably we have taken the decision to print in ‘gray scale’ where possible. We apologise for taking this decision – colour won’t completely disappear – We will use it when appropriate.
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Midweek Reflection
During his midweek Reflection Phil mentioned that lockdown had been a season of creation for some people as they have taken up a new skill. Whether you are an expert or an apprentice it’s good to remember that we are creative beings! Back in January St David’s were celebrating the 18th anniversary of becoming a Uniting Church. Phil recalled saying something about embracing adulthood and the challenges and blessings that come with it. Little did he know what was to come… local floods… national recession… and global pandemic! But then like many 18year olds stepping out into the world of adulthood be that into work or university at the moment must be a little difficult – we think of those we know who are in that situation.
Phil then recalled his own 18th birthday – he could remember the day, who had been there and what he had done, but he couldn’t remember what presents he had received. That may be the same for many people.
Now we are asked to think ahead to Christmas (it’s 10 weeks away!) ..No Challenge this week, instead we want you start thinking! We are hoping to create an online advent calendar – what we want you to do is record a short video of yourself showing a present you’ve been given, saying who gave it to you, what the occasion was and why it means a lot to you. It can be anything. Obviously, we will need 24 videos and we have till the end of October to get them done.
We’ll give details of who to send them to and how, in future weeks. So, start thinking!
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A Thought on the Pandemic and life after.
I think one of the amazing things for me to see is that we can actually adapt to anything.
We can modify the way we live in quite radical ways when we have to.
I think there’s some quite good stuff to come out of that.
magnificentmidlife.com
Weekly Zoom service:
Log in opens at 10.30 for pre service chat. Service will start at 10.45.
Zoom service link – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89461145366?pwd=S3ExNTVjdGVGdXlGVlNQc2k3eldudz09