Pwllheli Story
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Newsletter Winter 2017/2018 Pwllheli Story As people, especially Welsh speakers, we love listening to stories from time to time, and also telling a story of our own from time to time. That was the core of the idea behind ‘Pwllheli Story’, a mission campaign held in Pwllheli from the 28th of June to the 2nd of July. Our intention was to reach out to members of the community and show that we have an interest in them by asking the question ‘what is your story?’ and afterwards to share our own stories, which inevitably point to Jesus Christ. We wanted to go beyond the doors of the Chapel and take a ministry of servitude that declares the gospel right to the centre of Pwllheli. On Wednesday we had the honour of giving very tasty cupcakes – thanks to the bakers – away for free on the street to the people of Pwllheli, asking for their stories and then draw them together as part of the ‘Pwllheli Story Gallery’. We were given a very warm reception by locals and visitors. Many were ready to stop and chat with us about what was happening as well as well as to share a little of their own stories. By night we were in the Capel y Drindod vestry, enjoying delicious food, live music by the Chwedlau and an opportunity to enjoy the Pwllheli Story Gallery, including the stories collected on the day as well as old pictures and the history of Pwllheli. Gwilym Tudur shared with us about the Samarian woman and her story of meeting Jesus Christ. It was lovely to speak with attendees after the talk and hearing would have been hard to find a better their enjoyment, and we were glad lunch anywhere that day! After we all that we had decided to go out and filled our bellies, Gwilym shared this share the Gospel. verse with us: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and Thursday morning was the morning this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of ‘Tea and Toast and Tudur’ in Capel of God.” (Ephesians 2:8). Berea Efailnewydd. Plenty of tea, plenty of toast and an opportunity to Our final day was the Sunday, when hear Gwilym talk about Jesus Christ, we came together for an afternoon the Lamb of God. In the afternoon of fun and a service for the whole eleven if us went on a prayer walk family, an opportunity to celebrate around Pwllheli, praying for the town, and give thanks for a special week. a very special opportunity to be in the After the campaign another chapter presence of the Lord and present thee was added to the history of Pwllheli, town to him. and to our story as a Pastorate, and it was a great honour for us all to be a As per usual, we held the weekly part of it. Our hope is that we have set prayer meeting on Friday morning in down foundations on which to build Ala Road Chapel, and the topic was and venture more in order to share Psalm 22. After the meeting drew the good news of Jesus Christ with to a close it was time to prepare for Pwllheli, Wales and the World. the English event – a free lunch and talk. It was incredible to see the feast Elin Bryn Williams prepared by the Ala Rd crowd, it Pwllheli Have you visited our website? www.camustep.cymru Llansannan Sunday School ‘What shall I do tomorrow at Sunday the whole families come together to School?’ Something that every Sunday services and that make a conscious School teacher has pondered some effort to be relevant to all ages, and time on a Saturday night, I’m sure, this has also been a way for a few more additionally to thinking who will be children to come to Sunday School. there (maybe no children at all!) After seeing a decline in the numbers Here in Bro Aled over the past year in attendance in Sunday Schools we have tried to adapt a little in over the past few years, we saw the order to strengthen our ties with the need to have one or two people to families in some churches in order to work together as coordinators for the create momentum and a new focus. Sunday School here in Llansannan. The We have witnessed enthusiasm and coordinators decide on the theme for continue to wait on what God will give the term and then prepare a detailed us in the form of opportunities for the lesson plan for teachers from week to church to serve the area’s families. week. This order has also helped to Holding regular Family Services in focus and regulate from one week to some churches has been nice because the next, giving the feeling of working towards a specific goal. Therefore and tested format to present a Sunday this term for example, the lessons all School message like an infallible have an emphasis on looking at Jesus institution! Rather than loosing heart through Old Testament characters when we see numbers fall, we can take which will (hopefully) lead to the history advantage of the opportunity to look of Jesus’s Birth at the end of the term. at new ways to convey the message. The coordinator doesn’t have to be a This can be during a weekday club Sunday School teacher, therefore it is or on Saturday. Our aim is to make possible for someone with children too sure that each child hears about God’s young or who go to a different church love through Jesus Christ, and how to fill this role, and through this help Jesus can be a best friend that never to share the burden between teachers. lets them down or disappoints. In a In a vast pastorate, one coordinator world full of confusion and pain, it is can be in charge of all the churches, our honour to present this message to emailing different Sunday School them. teachers. Gwenno Glyn At present, this is what works best Llansannan here, but the important thing is to keep the format flexible. Even though the Bible’s message remains the same each time, it is important to realise that we shouldn’t hold to the same tried Building Bridges in the Community here in Tudweiliog There is a concerted effort here in success can be attributed to the links Tudweiliog to build bridges between formed with the children through Open the Chapel, which is part of the the Book activity. pastorate of the Rev. Robert Roberts, and the community. Three years ago In October of this year, CIC (Christian a Tuesday Evening Club was started. Youth Club) for Year 7 and older pupils At the time, 7 attended; this number commenced. So far, 6 from Ysgol doubled the following year and Uwchradd Botwnnog attend every presently there are 25, equating to other Thursday to enjoy a variety of about 80%, of Years 2 to 6 from the interesting activities, in addition to local primary school attending. This listening to a Christian message. This venture would net have succeeded without the support of the Minister and Elders, but especially the faithfulness of the team of workers / volunteers, namely the Rev. Olwen Williams, Betty Roberts, Andrew Settatree, Sue Miller Jones and Angela Rhydderch. They are to be greatly thanked. It is so good to socialise occasionally with the children’s parents and local people over a cuppa or delicious meal and every family is very prepared to Our hope is that the young people contribute towards the food and join in of Tudweiliog would hold similar with the activities. evenings, shortly after finishing the An Annual Big Picnic is held at Plas kitchen refurbishment. Looking to the Amwlch and our grateful thanks go to future, it is hoped to make extensive Mrs Wynne Finch. What would Howell use of our new facilities, in order to Harris think? The children and their serve the local community. parents come together to enjoy a This is not a new idea. It is seen that delicious feast and lots of fun is to had sharing meals together featured playing games. prominently in the gospels. One We hold an annual Family Supper. scholar said, “... Jesus ate himself A good few come together to share through the gospels!” The Pharisees supper and enjoy each other’s would have hated him for “... eating company. with ‘sinners’ and tax collectors” (Mark 2:16). The Lord never missed the An extension of this can be see at the chance to reveal the Kingdom whilst Tudweiliog Annual Show, sharing tea sharing meals with others. How could and cake at the Christians Together we forget his last supper with the stall. disciples on the night he was betrayed? To develop the work, a project is in The intention of all Tudweiliog Chapel’s the pipeline at Tudweiliog Chapel to activities is to see children, young refurbish the kitchen so that evenings people and adults of all ages and can be held there, such as ‘cooking@ backgrounds, socialising and forming chapel’. This is a scheme that is already a relationship which would bear fruit a at work with the Rev. Carwyn Arthur hundred fold for the spreading of the in Tregaron, where young people kingdom of our God. come together to cook supper under the supervision of two ladies from The Rev. Gwyn Rhydderch the chapel and then enjoy eating it Tudweiliog together. Following the meal, everyone comes together for a Bible study.