7691 Kidwelly Magazine Feb 19.Indd
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Cylchgrawn Plwyfi Cydweli A Llandyfaelog Kidwelly & Llandyfaelog Parish Magazine February 2019 WHO’S WHO Priest-in-Charge Revd. Trevor Copeland The Vicarage (Cartref) Castle Court, Craylands Park Cydweli Carmarthenshire SA17 5EF Tel: 01554 891311 Trevor mob. ~ 07484 251 964 Email: [email protected] ST MARY’S KIDWELLY ST MAELOG’S, Vicar’s Warden LLANDYFAELOG Brenda Evans, Dolcoed Vicar’s Warden 83 Water Street 01554 890803 Sarah Walters Nantygoetre Uchaf People’s Warden 01267 267730 Gareth Harries, Caer Wenallt People’s Warden Vicarage Lane Rheinallt Jones Ystrad Ferthyr 01554 890975 01269 860385 Secretary Secretary Kath Nicholas, 66 Morfa Maen Kath Williams, 6 Bro Pedr 01554 891084 01267 267391 Treasurer Treasurer Diane Cuff Meinir Solloway, Llwyn Celyn, [email protected] Upland Arms Organist 07870 266 969 Ceris Harries Organists Children's Work Coordinator Lynwen Anderson Dee Copeland Carys Thomas mob. 07837 382 216 Llinos Thomas Friend's of St. Mary's Church Mr. I. Hughes 01554890682 Parish Room bookings MAGAZINE Christine Hughes 01554 890235 Editor &Advertisements email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Web address: ST TEILO’S, www.stmaryskidwelly.org.uk Floodlighting Co-ordinator MYNYDDYGARREG Christine Hughes 01554 890235 Vicar’s Warden email: [email protected] Nefin Davies, Gelliwerdd Kidwelly Reporter 01554 890 441 Kath Nicholas 01554 891084 People’s Warden Mynyddygarreg Reporter Jayne Roberts, 68 Water St., Dorian Reeve 01554 890213 Kidwelly Llandyfaelog Reporter Tel: 01554 891 107 Sarah Walters 01267 267730 Organist Magazine Treasurer Jean Peace Kath Nicholas 01554 891084 STRADEYGWESTY PARC Y PARK HOTEL PARStradeyK HOTEL & SPA HHHH THE PERFECT RELAXING GETAWAY Restaurant fine dining - Award winning Parc Spa Celebrations - Afternoon Tea - Weddings - Events - Business Gift vouchers available for that unique gift idea Stradey Park Hotel & Spa, Llanelli, SA15 4HA. T: 01554 758171 e:[email protected] | www.stradeyparkhotel.com Mr Ian M. Smith Pastoral Letter Dear Friends, It is my dearest hope that 2019 will be a good year for you, your loved ones and our churches. Sadly, just before Christmas St Ismael’s Church was attacked and the lead taken from the roof, causing a great deal of damage. Despite this, the Christmas services went ahead as usual. I was particularly pleased at the attendance at St. Mary’s Christingle service and I am looking forward to our “Messy Church” starting up again. I recently came across the story of “Solomon’s Bee” which I would like to share with you. According to Jewish tradition, when the Queen of Sheba made her royal visit to King Solomon at his palace in Jerusalem, she decided that she would test Solomon to see how wise he really was. The Queen of Sheba had her servants set out two flower arrangements. One was of real flowers and the other was of finely crafted artificial flowers and she challenged King Solomon to tell the genuine from the fake without going close to them. Tradition says that King Solomon responded by opening a window and before long a bee flew in. The bee, of course, went straight to the real flowers for the nectar and in this way King Solomon knew which the real flowers were. The year 2018 has been a period when it has been very difficult to discern what is ‘real’, or true from what is false, right from wrong. In many ways our old certainties have gone and it can seem as though the only thing we can be sure of is the growing uncertainty of this time. In the Western world, the foundations that were built on the Bible and Judaeo-Christian values are all too quickly disappearing under pressure from commercialism and secular humanism. In other parts of the world, there is a rise in new ideologies based on religious or nationalist totalitarianism. With the changes in the world order, it is difficult to know friend from foe. All these situations are putting the Church under increasing pressure. Countries that once prided themselves on their religious liberty and human rights record may still make an outward show of openness, but in reality things are often quite different. Saudi Arabia is a country where it is so dangerous to leave Islam and to follow Christ, that Saudi Christians must keep their faith entirely secret in fear of being executed. There are over a million Christians in Iran who worship regularly, some have been imprisoned and one has been executed. Iran is openly condemned by the Western nations, but why not Saudi Arabia also? Christians today can find themselves bewildered by what they see happening in world politics. We seem to be in a new age of anti-Christian marginalisation, New & Second-Hand Scooters Bought & Sold inc. Part Exchange Morfa House Servicing - Tyres - Batteries 16 Bridge Street Cydweli 60% OFF Carms. SA17 4UU Cym ra e g Cymraeg Free prescription delivery service 01554 890332 / 07772 583288 Tel: (01554) 890279 Deb’s Holistic Health & Foot Care Local community toenail trimming clinics in Morfa Vestry, Kidwelly and Village Hall, Ferryside by appointment only For further details and to book, please phone Debra Byers 07968-553634 discrimination and developing persecution and it is hard to know how to respond. God’s Church is growing in places of persecution like Iran, India and China. Yet where we live in comparative freedom, our churches are fading away. Many Christians in our Western culture live out good respectable lives unaware that there is a problem, some want to get out now while they can and others want to make a stand and try to turn the tide, but how? In the Old Testament we read of the men of Issachar who understood what believers should do (1 Chronicles 12:32). The Church has a great need for such men and women today. We need people who can understand our times and are open to God’s plan for them, His people and the world. Jesus said “I am …the truth “(John 14.6). The Greek word for truth is aletheia: this is the opposite of pretence or sham. So better than any honey bee, we have Christ, the wisdom of God (Corinthians 1:24) who can truly guide us into His divine pathways. So, this year I am asking that you join with me in reviewing your prayer life. Let us be a people of prayer, let us give time and effort to discerning God’s plan for us, our Church, our community, all our Christian brothers and sisters the world over. We must also have the courage to act with discernment and be guided by Our Lord’s Holy will. Then we shall know how we should live, how we should serve Him, how we should care for each other and our world. Amen. Your Priest-in-Charge Trevor A group of friends from our churches had the privilege of celebrating the Epiphany this year in London in the company of Rev.Helen Harknett (Evans). Helen is a Curate at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Clapham but, is currently on placement at the Church of St John the Divine, Kennington, where under the guidance of Canon Mark Williams, she has become a valued and much loved and appreciated member of the team. Canon Mark hails from South Wales and is a Welsh speaker and a gifted musician. Diolch Mark am y croeso mawr i'r Ficerdy ac am yr adloniant gawsom. We attended the morning Epiphany Mass at St John's in the company of some two hundred people and music from three choirs, which is normal for any Sunday service and later in the day, attended the Epiphany service of Carols and Lessons. Both services were truly inspirational, and it was a joy to be a part of such a large congregation who gave us such a warm welcome. A diolch i ti Helen am y gwahoddiad i Lundain i ymuno yn oedfeuon yr Ystwyll. DR Renault Clio Kia Sportage New Renault Koleos Dacia Stepway Sidespersons 9:30 am 03/02/19 Eileen Bryant & Pearl Rowland 10/02/19 Ieuan Hughes & Maureen James 17/02/19 Brian & Liz Lewis 24/02/19 Mandy Jones & Lynne Davies 03/02/19 Harvey Jones & Kath Nicholas Readers 9:30 am 03/02/19 Kath Nicholas 10/02/19 Maureen James Cymun Bendigaid – Christine Evans 17/02/19 Edwin Atkinson 24/02/19 Jean Giess 03/02/19 Harvey Jones N.B. We would be very grateful if the nominated Sidespersons on duty for the day would count the collections in the vestry at the end of the service, as this helps our accounting. Thank You. If anyone would like to volunteer as a Reader or Sidesperson please see Church Wardens or Pearl. St. Mary's Flower List Altar Pulpit Lady Chapel Feb3/10 June Lloyd Ceris Harries Feb17/24 March 3rd No flowers in Lent PCC Dates St. Mary’s PCC meeting will be held on Wednesday 20th January, 2019 in the Parish Room. Birthday Wishes. Congratulations to Kath Morris for her 90th birthday on February 9th. With all our good wishes for your health and happiness. • Upset digestion • Poo eating • Bad breath • Full anal glands • Itchy skin/ears/feet • Weight problems • Tear staining • Body odour • Persistent moulting • Lack of vitality • Fussy eating • Behaviour problems • Stiness • Tooth tartar For the best advice service in the business, call our in-house nutritionists on freephone: 0800 083 6696 Developed by Veterinary Surgeon BVMS MRCVS www.burnspet.co.uk St Mary’s Church Floodlighting We thank all our sponsors 07/02/19 Loving and cherished birthday memories of a much loved father. Forever in my thoughts. Much love as always, Enid. 08/02/19 Cherished birthday memories of Eric Gwynfor, beloved dad, grandfather, and great-grandfather, from loving daughter Gwyneth, Alan, Ann and families.