HEATH EVANGELICAL CHURCH MAGAZINE December 2020 - January 2021
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HEATH EVANGELICAL CHURCH MAGAZINE December 2020 - January 2021 God’s glorious autumn colours in Aberporth Road. See p9 Grace is more than a doctrine Preaching as the Word of God News from around Wales Advent memories Books Craft Afternoon Editors: Mr Leighton Hargest Tel: 029 2068 9075 Dr Paul Tench Tel: 029 2061 9109 email: [email protected] Pastor: Rev. Wyn Hughes 122 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff CF14 3LZ. Tel: 029 2061 7738 email: [email protected] Church Website: www.heath-church.org Pastoral Letter Dear Brothers & Sisters, Christmas Eve I sometimes get asked "What is our ethos that seek to look out for one another and be Carol Service as a church?" This is a very good question a witness to Christ. So many do so much and even though it includes what we behind the scenes it's not just about those in Given the ban on congregational believe in, it is more than that. Neither is official positions but a living church. singing and the need for 48 ethos limited to the way we do things. In Our lineage is that of men and women like hours gap between services some ways it's best "felt than telt"! Yet we Lloyd-Jones, Helen Roseveare, Tozer, Isobel with different congregations, the still need some sort of definition as to what Kuhn, Spurgeon, Hudson Taylor, John Elias, Elders have decided that this we are about, our raison d'être. So let me Jonathan Edwards, Daniel Rowland, Whitfield, year's Christmas Eve Carol have a go at giving a rough definition. Bunyan, Luther etc etc. Not all of these Service will be wholly on line. Surely our ethos as a church can be put in 2 would have held Reformed convictions but There are a number of positives words: Calvinistic Methodist (the were men and women who knew God. We from this. God willing, it will be denomination we came out of), or Word and love true believers from different traditions viewed by more people than Spirit, or experiential Christianity etc. We and this is reflected in our congregation. We would come to the church. To hold to a historic Reformed theology but want to worship God in a reverent but not a that end, it is being advertised in with an emphasis on the Gospel, that is, dour manner, teaching one another in our nearly 8,000 Christmas cards preaching Christ. Also we believe in the need hymnody as well, not a performance but that are being delivered by Royal for the Holy Spirit to make this Gospel worship in Spirit and in Truth. This is Mail in the second week of effective, and to revive us as believers. This is reflected in a wide variety of hymns December. It is being advertised why we are not into gimmicks even though including Sankeys and Stuart Townend. We on the church website and on we believe in using every means to spread don’t just want to be concerned about social media. The words of the the Gospel. Prayer is also essential especially spreading the Gospel in our local area but carols will be displayed so that in upholding the preaching for which the wider afield and hence an emphasis on people at home can join in pastor is set apart and called by God. sending missionaries all over the world. singing. The elders as well as the minister have the Those are some random thoughts of our As for the service itself, it will responsibility of pastoral oversight, and to ethos. More could be said, but I love this be led by the Pastor and he will help him and uphold him. Not only are we kind of Christianity; it does something to my preach. There will be several blessed with godly elders married to godly soul. I consider it a great privilege to be Bible readings from men and wives but church workers/assistants/trainees pastor of such a church and how we should women and Sunday School to help with this. Also we are blessed with a be proud of who we are and especially of children. The carols will be hard working diaconate to look after the being Christ's people. May we guard and recorded and will include one running of the church and with a membership nurture these precious things. each by the Sunday School, our young people and by a group of our adults. Please pray that the Yours in Him, Lord will richly bless the truths Wyn Hughes preached and sung to the salvation of precious souls. Preaching Diary (in the church building and live streamed) Online access to services YouTube : Sundays 10.45am & 6.00pm Midweek select Heath Evangelical Church. This is also the case for Daily December Midweek Bible study Thoughts. 6th *, 13th The Pastor /prayer session 7.30 Computer : 20th The Pastor [am ] Wednesdays throughout December www.heath-church.org ; select Hywel George [pm ] and the foreseeable future Live streaming in the top banner 27th Rev David Jones [Merthyr ] on the home page Wednesday 9 December Telephone : dial 029 22 670600 January - Michael Prest (UFM) 3rd *, 10th The Pastor Week of prayer 17th, 24th The Pastor Tuesday 5 - Friday 8 January Christmas Services 31st Dr Dustin Benge [UST ] February Home Bible studies Christmas Eve 7th *, 14th The Pastor Monday 7 December 5.30 (live streaming only) 21st The Pastor Monday 4 January Christmas Day 10.30 The pastor Monday 1 February Watchnight service 11.15 pm * Evening Communion Material for the next issue must be in the editors’ hands by 17th January in order to avoid delay in publication. 2 Wales Prayer Update There are encouraging signs that some Christians and churches are seeking to prioritise prayer. The Evangelical Alliance (EA), for example, called for a Day of Prayer on the 13 November for UK churches which has met with an encouraging response. The EMW Board has similarly been exercised concerning the matter of prayer and would like to reinstate monthly regional prayer meetings on Zoom for Churches/Christians. As a church at Heath we will have our own times of prayer early in January to seek the Lord for His blessing and a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit in Wales. This is a personal challenge to each of us, too, to seek the Lord, but please pray for the Lord’s work in Wales, including the following items. A new Christmas edition of the EMW evangelistic Ask/Holi magazine is available for purchase and distribution by churches and individuals. The size is A5 which is ideal for posting and for giving away to friends and relatives. There are 32 pages divided equally between both Welsh and English children linked with their club and toddlers. There will be an languages. There is a clear and warm Gospel presentation online carol service video on the 20th December and people with testimonies, as well as Bible teaching and a children’s will be invited to watch. Bilingual children's videos about local page. Newtown church are considering another town wide Christian history have been well received by local folk; the mail drop of 8,000 copies of this edition of Ask/Holi . Other videos show what God has done in their area in the past. churches have ordered varying quantities with Mount Elim, Pete's wife Rachel has kept the Toddler Group going Pontardawe intending to distribute 2,000 copies in their area. informally in the park, which has been appreciated with good Their pastor is Steffan Jones. Feel free to obtain copies for contacts being made. your distribution to friends and family over Christmas. Paul Tench distributed recently 400 copies of a previous edition of Please pray for John Bolger, a church member who is a Ask/Holi in the streets around Heath church while 1,000 committed open-air evangelist regularly preaching in copies are on order for distribution in a different part of the Porthmadog, Pwllheli, and Dolgellau. Over a few years, some Heath area. folk have been converted through this preaching, and John has a good hearing from locals, so it is a strategic ministry. Seion, Maerdy: Andrew Scully is finding ministry complicated under current restrictions but recorded services are Pete Campbell is grateful for like-minded churches in transferred to CDs for people to listen to on Sunday Criccieth, Bala (Gareth Williams), Bangor (David Finney in mornings as most people are not on line. They have a Ebeneser and Dafydd Job in Capel y Ffynon) and Talsarnau midweek telephone conference prayer meeting with good (where the pastor is Dewi Tudor). The Criccieth church is numbers joining for that. Nearly all their congregation are stable but in need of prayer. A charismatic church in Criccieth vulnerable due to age or ill-health but they are encouraged in has plans to establish a witness in Harlech so please pray that that after the CDs have been distributed, they are later the witness will be Christ-centred. handed on to others so they reach more people than used to There is a Christian Cafe, The Big Rock , in Porthmadog, and attend their services. They ask for prayer and wisdom in Graham, the owner, was encouraged last summer as he held preparing for Christmas outreach. meetings outside. Please pray for their witness over the Pete Campbell in Penrhyndeudraeth (North West Wales) winter. In Ffestiniog, there is a Christian doctor currently gives thanks for encouragements during lockdown and for working in a practice there who would value prayer. being able to support the foodbank in the village. The regular Please continue to pray for the Lord to give pastors to Zoom prayer meetings and Bible studies have been a source churches in Caergwrle (Wrexham), Llansamlet (Swansea) and of help while notes of sermons have been given to people in Clarbeston Road (Pembrokeshire).