ORDER OF SERVICE
Gwynllyw’s pious zeal also lead him to erect a church on the spot where he had found the ox; he remained on the site until his death and was buried there. That church has been rebuilt and enlarged over the years and is now St. Woolos’ Cathedral, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Monmouth. For her part, Gwladys lived out her last days in Gelligaer; Capel Wladus is named in her honour and a memorial stone from her grave is displayed in the parish church.
A Collect of St. Woolos King of kings and Lord of lords, from whom all authority on earth takes its name: grant that we who revere the memory of your servant Woolos may claim the crown of unfading glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Troparion of St Gwladys and St Gwynllyw Rejoice, thrice-blessed Gwladys, WELCOME TO THE WEDDING OF daughter of King Brychan, wife of holy Gwynllyw and mother of Saint Cadoc. O worthy Gwynllyw, BARBARA ELIZABETH WRIGHT thou didst forsake thy pagan warfare to fight as a Christian ascetic and didst end thy days as a hermit. AND We praise you, Gwladys and Gwynllyw. ALEXANDER JAMES BALL A CELTIC COMMISSION FEAST OF SS. GWYNLLYW AND GWLADYS Be Christ’s cross on your new dwelling, Be Christ’s cross on your new hearth, MONDAY, 29 MARCH 2004 Be Christ’s cross on your new abode, Upon your new fire blazing. 2PM
Be Christ’s cross on your means and portion, ST. MARY’S CHURCH, EAST BRENT Be Christ’s cross on your kin and people, Be Christ’s cross on you each light and darkness, Each day and night of your lives, Each day and night of your lives.
PASTORAL INTRODUCTION SS. GWYNLLYW AND GWLADYS
A wedding is one of life’s great moments, a time of solemn commitment as well as good wishes, feasting and joy. St John tells Gwynllyw and Gwladys are one of only three canonised couples to us how Jesus shared in such an occasion at Cana, and gave there a have a joint feast day, the other two being Joachim and Anne (25 or 26 July) and Philemon and Apphia (14 February, 6 July or 22 Nov- sign of new beginnings as he turned water into wine. ember). Marriage is intended by God to be a creative relationship, as his blessing enables husband and wife to love and support each other Both Gwynllyw and Gwladys were born around AD 470 in south- in good times and in bad, and to share in the care and upbringing east Wales. St. Gwladys (Gladys, Claudia) was the eldest and fairest of children. For Christians, marriage is also an invitation to share of the daughters of St. Brychan Brycheiniog, a Christian Welsh king life together in the spirit of Jesus Christ. It is based upon a solemn, based at Talgarth. St. Gwynllyw (Woolos, Gundleus) was a neigh- public and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, bouring king based at Caerleon. He fell in love with Gwladys, and declared and celebrated in the presence of God and before petitioned Brychan for her hand in marriage. Brychan, aware of witnesses. Gwynllyw’s reputation for being impulsive and brutal, refused. On this their wedding day the bride and bridegroom face each Gwynllyw, however, was used to getting what he wanted, and other, make their promises and receive God’s blessing. You are successfully raided Talgarth and captured Gwladys. Legend has it witnesses of the marriage, and express your support by your that on the way back to Caerleon, the couple were intercepted by presence and your prayers. Your support does not end today: the Arthur, the High King; despite desiring Gwladys for himself, Arthur couple will value continued encouragement in the days and years was persuaded by Bedwyr (Sir Bedivere) and Cai (Sir Kay) to ahead of them. arbitrate, and came down in favour of Gwynllyw against Brychan.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant Gwladys tried her best to convert Gwynllyw, as did their son, or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; St. Cadoc, but to no avail. Then one night, Gwynllyw received a it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all vision of a white ox with a black spot on its forehead — an Ych things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Bannog, a potent image in Welsh mythology. An angelic voice 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 explained that Gwynllyw should repent of his secular obsessions, and that he would find the ox on Stow Hill, Newport. The next day,
Gwynllyw went in search of the ox, and upon finding it just as the vision had said, converted to Christianity.
Following Gwynllyw’s conversion, he and Gwladys took up a life of ascetic piety. They lived as hermits on Stow Hill, and as part of their asceticism bathed nightly in the River Usk, preceded and followed by a mile-long walk exposed to the elements. Perhaps out of acute embarrassment, Cadoc eventually persuaded his parents to cease this practise, and to be on the safe side moved Gwladys to a new hermitage in Pencanau.
The Dismissal ORDER OF SERVICE God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, The bride enters to: Trumpet Voluntary — Jeremiah Clarke defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace; and the blessing of God almighty, The Welcome the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, All Amen. and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you All and also with you.
Recessional: Toccata in F — Charles-Marie Widor Hymn Please stay behind in church for cake and wine. Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us o’er the world’s tempestuous sea; guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us, for we have no help but thee; yet possessing every blessing, if our God our Father be.
Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us: all our weakness thou dost know; thou didst tread this earth before us, thou didst feel its keenest woe; lone and dreary, faint and weary, through the desert thou didst go.
Spirit of our God, descending, fill our hearts with heavenly joy, love with every passion blending, pleasure that can never cloy; thus provided, pardoned, guided, nothing can our peace destroy.
Prayers of Penitence The minister invites us to consider our failings, and continues Lord, in our weakness you are our strength. Lord, have mercy. All Lord, have mercy.
Lord, when we stumble, you raise us up. Christ, have mercy. Minister ...... Rev Martin Lee All Christ, have mercy.
President ...... Rev Dr Rob Harnish Lord, when we fail, you give us new life. Lord, have mercy. Organist ...... Greta Plank All Lord, have mercy. — 8 — — 1 — The minister pronounces absolution, to which we respond Prayers after Communion All Amen. The president says the post-communion prayer, to which we respond All Amen. The Declarations Following the declarations by the couple, the minister asks us All Faithful God, Will you, the families and friends of Alex and Barbara, in baptism you have adopted us as your children, support and uphold them in their marriage made us members of the body of Christ now and in the years to come? and chosen us as inheritors of your kingdom: All We will. we thank you that in this Eucharist you renew your promises within us, empower us by your Spirit to witness and to serve, Readings and send us out as disciples of your Son, Apocrypha: Tobit 8:4-8 Julia Malpas Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. New Testament: 1 John 4:7-12 Donna Murray After each reading, the lector says Hymn This is the word of the Lord. Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, All Thanks be to God. pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak but thou art mighty; Hymn hold me with thy powerful hand: How welcome was the call, bread of heaven, bread of heaven, and sweet the festal lay, feed me now and evermore, when Jesus deigned in Cana’s hall feed me now and evermore. to bless the marriage-day! Open now the crystal fountain And happy was the bride, whence the healing stream doth flow; and glad the bridegroom’s heart, let the fiery cloudy pillar for he who tarried at their side lead me all my journey through: bade grief and ill depart. strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
His gracious power divine be thou still my strength and shield, be thou still my strength and shield. the water vessels knew; and plenteous was the mystic wine When I tread the verge of Jordan, the wondering servants drew. bid my anxious fears subside; O Lord of life and love, death of death, and hell’s destruction, come thou again today, land me safe on Canaan’s side: and bring a blessing from above songs and praises, songs and praises that ne’er shall pass away. I will ever give to thee, I will ever give to thee.
— 2 — — 7 — The Lord’s Prayer Before thine altar-throne this mercy we implore: Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us as thou dost knit them, Lord, in one,
so bless them evermore. All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; Gospel Reading thy will be done; Alleluia, alleluia. on earth as it is in heaven. God made them male and female and the two will become one. Give us this day our daily bread. All Alleluia.
And forgive us our trespasses, Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. as we forgive those who trespass against us. All Glory to you, O Lord. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. The Rev Martin Lee reads from John 2:1-11 For thine is the kingdom, This is the Gospel of the Lord. the power and the glory, All Praise to you, O Christ. for ever and ever. Amen. Sermon Rev Dr Rob Harnish
Breaking of the Bread Hymn We break this bread Jesus, Lord, we pray, to share in the body of Christ. be our guest today; All Though we are many, we are one body, gospel story has recorded because we all share in one bread. how your glory was afforded to a wedding day; All Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us. be our guest we pray. Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us. Jesus, redeemer of the world: grant us peace. Lord of love and life, blessing man and wife as they stand, their need confessing, Giving of Communion may your hand take theirs in blessing; The gifts of God you will share their life; bless this man and wife. for the people of God. All Thanks be to God. Lord of hope and faith, Communion is distributed. faithful unto death, let the rings serve as a token All are welcome at the altar. If you would like to receive a blessing of a love sincere, unbroken, instead of communion, please bring this booklet with you to the altar love more strong than death; rail. Lord of hope and faith.
— 6 — — 3 — The Marriage Preparation of the Table
Registration of the Marriage Taking of the Bread and Wine During the signing of the registers, the congregation are asked to sit quietly and listen to the music provided. The Eucharistic Prayer Sheep May Safely Graze — J S Bach Kate Shuttleworth The Lord is here. All His Spirit is with us.
Prayers Lift up your hearts. All We lift them to the Lord. The following response is used Lord of life and love: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All hear our prayer. All It is right to give thanks and praise.
The Peace The president praises God, concluding with the words To crown all things there must be love. Let the peace of Christ Therefore we raise our voices, rule in your hearts. The peace of the Lord be always with you with all who have served you in every age, All and also with you. to proclaim the glory of your name:
Let us offer one another a sign of peace. All Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, All may exchange a sign of peace. heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Hymn Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. O perfect Love, all human thought transcending, Hosanna in the highest. lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne, that theirs may be the love which knows no ending, The president recalls the Last Supper, and then says whom thou for evermore dost join in one. Praise to you, Lord Jesus: O perfect Life, be thou their full assistance All Dying you destroyed our death, of tender charity and steadfast faith, rising you restored our life: of patient hope, and quiet brave endurance, Lord Jesus, come in glory. with childlike trust that fears nor pain nor death.
Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow, The prayer concludes with the words grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife; …all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, and to life’s day the glorious unknown morrow for ever and ever. that dawns upon eternal love and life. All Amen.
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