BERRIEW NEWSLETTER NUMBER 367 FEBRUARY 2019 The Parish of Berriew Vicar: Revd Alexis Smith 01686 641992 Assistant Priest: Revd Esther Yates 01686 625559 Lay Reader: Mr Peter Watkin 01686 640640 Sub-Warden: Mr Jim Maxwell 01686 640840 Sub-Warden: Mrs Iris Tombs 01686 640400 Services in St Beuno’s, Berriew Sunday 3rd February – Candlemas 10.00am All Age Family Service ****** Sunday 10th February – 4th before Lent 10.00am Holy Communion Sunday 17th February – 3rd before Lent 10.00am All Age Family Service Sunday 24th February – 2nd before Lent 10.00am Holy Communion Please note that as from the beginning of February St Beuno’s will have 2 services of Holy Communion and 2 All Age services, in order to serve everyone – and to allow our priests to operate non- eucharistic services. You will be aware that our vicar has responsibility for 6 churches. We hope this will encourage all our church family, young and old, to share worship together. There will be coffee/tea/juice and biscuits in the Old School after both All Age services – an opportunity for us to share in fellowship. Please support us as we try to serve all of our community. St. John’s Mission Church - Fron Sunday 10th February 9.00am All Age Worship th Sunday 24 February 9.00am Family Communion Pantyffridd Church Sunday 3rd February 3.00pm Evening Prayer Sunday 17th February 3.00pm Holy Communion Parish News Wednesdays at 10.30am Our morning services will also have a small change. On the 1st and 3rd Wednesday we shall have Holy Communion in church. On the 2nd and 4th and occasional 5th Wednesday we continue to have Morning Prayers in the Old School. The 10.30 services are an opportunity to share in quiet thought and prayer week by week and enjoy fellowship together. All are welcome. Choir Practices: Wednesdays at 6.00pm - in the Old School A new year and new challenges – we are looking to add to our growing choir You don’t have to be able to sight read music - all ages welcome no-one too old! All welcome to join us.[ we have a cup of tea after the practice!!] Bell Ringers: Wednesdays at 7.30pm in St Beuno’s The Bell ringers would love to welcome some new ringers - all welcome. The Food Bank The Food Bank were very grateful for the greater quantity we were able to give them at Christmas. It is sad to think in these days that our neighbours are struggling while we have plenty – Please add a packet or two to your weekly shop – and place them in the box at the back of church Thank you for continuing to donate food for the Food bank – which is taken regularly to Welshpool. Thanks too to those who transport our goods. Christmas It was wonderful to see so many of the community joining together to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you for supporting our services and gatherings. The Christian celebration of Christmas will come to an end on the 2nd February – the festival of Candlemas – the time when the Holy family presented the baby Jesus in the temple – and the words of what we now call the Nunc Dimittis were spoken by Simeon - in the joy of seeing the Messiah – words used in the service of Evening Prayer – Lord now let your servant depart in peace – for I have now seen your glory. Our celebration of Candlemas is on 3rd February at 10.00am in St Beuno’s– please join us. New Ventures – for all our Community Got Questions about Life and the Christian Faith? Beginning on Monday 21st January – but never too late to join! – using ‘Start Study’ mate- rials -An opportunity to explore what it means to be a Christian. This will be a 7 week course open to everyone. Revds. Alexis Smith and Jeanette Wilkes will be leading. The group will meet at Berriew vicarage at 7.00pm and is free. It will allow you to question – learn and share with others as you explore. For those who might be thinking of Confirmation it will help you to make up your mind. But chiefly it is to help you grow from where you are – whatever your understanding. Sharing together helps us all. Contact Rev Alexis for more information and to book. [Tel: 644912] Open the Book Are you free during school hours? Would you like to help our young folks to hear more of our Bible? Open the Book is a way of helping the Bible come alive. Groups go into schools and act out some of the stories – both Old and New Testaments. You don’t have to have a love of acting or be a talented actor - - the course supplies all the materials to be used – and it can be great fun to work together with the youngsters. Rev Diane Stirling and Rev Alexis would love to have your help to form this group. Please let them know of your interest – Give it a go! The more that help will mean the commitment would not be too onerous – and the children will bring you lots of joy as you work with them. Meeting together! Sadly our Mothers’ Union has come to an end – but we would like to offer a time to come to- gether over a cuppa when we can chat and share our interests – this would be open to every- one and will be held in the Old School - on the last Wednesday of each month. It could be a time to have a quick cuppa before you pick up the children from school – it could be an opportunity to have some company – whatever – all will be welcome. To ensure the weather hopefully will not interrupt the beginning – and to ensure the message gets around – we hope to start in March – starting date and time will be in the March Newsletter. Little saints [Primary School children] What a noisy happy gang of 18 young folks came together on 12th January for the annual Christmas party in the Old School – batting – and sometimes exploding – balloons as they arrived and then sharing in the custom old games – musical chairs, pass the parcel – Kim’s Game etc - and inevitably having a nice little feast! Many, many thanks to the parents who provided the food and helped to serve and wash up. Our next meeting is on Saturday 16th February – 10.00-12.00pm in the Old School when we hope to see all who were at the party and those who missed! New members always welcome. We thank some of our young teens who come regularly to help and join in – keep coming! St John’s Church. Fron Our joyous Christmas Carols with Holy Communion Service on Sunday 23rd December was led by Rev Esther. It was a pleasure also to welcome members of Pantyffridd and St Beuno’s congregations to our service. The service began with Millie singing the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City as a solo, before the rest of the congregation joined in the singing of all the Christmas carols. Claire, Louise and Helen were the readers. Millie played a cornet solo Variations on the carol ‘Away in a Manger’, and Finlay gave a euphonium solo on an item of Christmas Music. The church had been beautifully decorated in its Christmas attire by Sandra, Lawrence and Louise and after the service, seasonal refreshments were provided by lady members of the church. The young people also received gifts of vouchers and chocolates from under the Christmas Tree. We thank everyone for joining us on this happy occasion! Fron 120+ December Winners 1st Prize No 74 Helen Phillips Forden 2nd No 112 Wendy Beaven Montgomery 3rd No 54 David Smith Newtown Helen B Refail Presbyterian Chapel Minister Rev. Dr. D. Stirling Services every Sunday at 10a.m. unless otherwise stated. Jan. 27th Mr. P. Mantle Feb. 3rd Joint Communion in Montgomery Chapel 10.30am. 10th Minister 17th Mr. G. Smith 24th Mr. D. Burnside March 3rd Joint Communion at Brooks Chapel 10.30am. Coffee is served in the assembly room after the service the 4th Sunday in the month. Bridge Club every Friday at 7.30pm. The assembly rooms are available for hire. Contact Mrs. Hall 668085. Pentre Llifior Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Minister: Rev. Bob Thomas, Newtown (01686 625690) Services: 2.30pm Sundays February 3rd Jenny Thomas, Newtown 10th All-Age Cell Group 17th Rev. Bill Rowell, Welshpool – Holy Communion Service 24th All-Age Cell Group ALL are WELCOME to attend our services and we are also OPEN for visits by individuals and groups and talks about the history of the chapel (by appointment – contact Andrew Mathieson, tel: 01938 555376). Our ‘BACON BUDDIES’ Day in February is Saturday 9th (10am-12noon). Andrew Mathieson. Berriew Parish Church Side Person Rota for February 10.00am. service: Rhian Jerman and Quintin Wyvern Batt. Note from the Treasurer The committee are very grateful for all donations and we hope to use them efficiently and economically to keep up the news service to Berriew. Mrs. P. Hall Treasurer. BERRIEW W.I. DECEMBER/JANUARY Berriew W.I. gathered for their Christmas meal at The Lion Hotel on the evening of December 5th. Glamour, elegant attire and sartorial style were on display, contributing to a sparkling evening of conviviality and fun. About forty; members, partners and family, enjoyed the intimate beamed interior, some beneath cobalt walls, festooned with fairy lights and mirrored mosaics, provoking both admiration and good-humoured discussion. Towers of golden baubles adorned the tables and fresh flowers enhanced the decorative surroundings Debbie’s partner Rod was celebrating a special day and Happy Birthday was sung.