2. Feb 2019.Pub

BRO FAMAU GROUP OF CHURCHES MAGAZINE February 2019

In the Mission Area of Mold

Rector/Vicar REVD DANIEL STROUD, Tel: 01352 810694 mob: 07391 848 903 THE NEW RECTORY, RECTORY LANE, LLANFERRES CH7 5SR Email: [email protected]

USUAL DAY OFF: FRIDAY

Assistant Curate REVD KATHY STEWART Tel: 01352 753 374

READERS MR. JOHN FOXLEE 01352 810 677 MRS. VALERIE SALVONI 01352 750 734 DR WENDY SHILLITO 01352 720 377

The Bro Famau Magazine is produced by the Editorial Team: Tracy Davies, John Foxlee, Kathleen Mason, Daniel Stroud, Wendy Shillito, Liz Thomas, Janet Wright and Cath Yeardley Please contact team members individually in parishes.

Articles printed in this publication may not represent the views of the church or all of its members. Final date for receiving material is 15th of each month at 12 noon. The right is reserved to edit submissions and the editorial team’s decision about the content of the magazine is final.

FEEEDBACK: The magazine panel would welcome your comments about our magazine. It could be on the size, layout, articles, children’s pages or even crosswords versus Wordsearch. Please let us know using the email address [email protected]

IN THIS EDITION • Letter from the Curate • Presentation of Christ in the Temple • Messy Church • Mission Area Update • Around our Churches • Prayer Diary February

A SPECIAL OCCASION

Many congratulations to the Stroud Family on the occasion of James Henry’s baptism. It took place in the Cathedral of St Asaph on Saturday 5 th Janu- ary. Daniel and Lara were graciously given permission by Bishop Gregory to use the Baptismal liturgy of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The service was a joyous mixture of solemn sacrament and family cele- bration. Lara baptised Henry, Daniel celebrated the Eucharist and the family of the Bro Famau churches were joined by Lara and Daniel’s family, travelling from the United States and Europe. It was a very happy occasion which ended with tea and cake in the cathedral. Everyone who attended felt blessed to have been part of a truly special day.

LETTER FROM THE CURATE

Dear Friends Well after what always seems to be the longest month of the year thankfully we have started to see the spring flowers poking their heads out for the earth.

I always feel this is a time of hope, a time to look forward to less dark nights ( or most afternoons in some parts of the Bro Famau area), and welcome a sense of God’s renewing presence with us.

But this of course is the start of a busy time for our farming communities welcoming in the spring with new births and often the threat of colder nights and frost or snow appearing.

As the church, we celebrate God in creation , our God who brings new life and new hope to us all.

Our churches have begun a course called “Leading your Church into Growth”. We are looking at ways we can grow in numbers, spiritual depth and in our outreach to the community. I have been encouraged by the response to seeking new ways to celebrate church, to develop new life and us being able to look to a hope of transformation as we reach out in our communities.

In all the churches there have been good responses over Christmas to the many services that took place, and for those who took part in organising, decorating the churches and providing food and drinks. This was very much appreciated by everyone who attended.

There is also new birth in the Messy Church held each month. This offers family fun and there is always lovely food to share.

Starting also this month will be the opening of Wellfield Farm for 4 homeless people and as a thank you for all those who have supported this project there will be a celebratory event on Sun- day 24th February 3pm at Northop Hall church Hall.

Diolch yn fawr Rev Kathy Stewart

DIOCESAN LENT COURSE

The Church in Wales has developed a Lent Course which we will follow from around Ash Wednesday through Lent and Holy Week, and unusually, on to Ascension and Pentecost. Exact dates and times will follow, but there will be an afternoon session in St Mary’s Cilcain and an evening one at Christchurch Pontblyddn. The title is ‘ Generosity and the Inheritance of Lent,’ and the subject is our attitude to generosity of spirit as an aspect of Christian disci- pleship. There is a course booklet, which is fully bilingual and can be seen at:

https://dioceseofbangor.contentfiles.net/media/documents/ document/2018/12/Haelioni_a_Gwaddol_y_Grawys.pdf

It can also be accessed via a link in the Bishop’s Ad Clerum on the Church in Wales/ St Asaph website. Copies of the booklet will be made available soon. Further details will be advertised in our churches as soon as we have them.

Myfyrdodau a Gweddïau ar gyfer y Grawys 2019 Reflections and prayers for Lent 2019

WORSHIP IN FEBRUARY 2019

Sunday 3rd February Presentation of Christ in the Temple Cilcain 11.00 Morning Worship Gwernaffield 11.00 Morning Worship 18.00 Holy Communion (Healing Service) Llanferres 11.15 Holy Communion Nannerch 09.30 Holy Communion Rhydymwyn 09.30 Morning Worship

Sunday 10th February Fourth Sunday before Lent Cilcain 08.00 Holy Communion Gwernaffield 11.00 Morning Worship 18.00 Evening Prayer Llanferres 09.30 Morning Worship Nannerch 09.30 Family Service Rhydymwyn 09.30 Holy Communion

Sunday 17th February Third Sunday before Lent Cilcain 11.00 Morning Worship Gwernaffield 11.00 Holy Communion 16.00 MESSY CHURCH in the Church Hall 18.00 Evening Prayer Llanferres 09.30 Holy Communion Nannerch 09.30 Morning Worship Rhydymwyn 09.30 Morning Worship

Sunday 24th February Second Sunday before Lent

Cilcain 11.00 Holy Communion

Gwernaffield 09.30 Family Praise (in Church Hall) 18.00 Evening Worship Llanferres 09.30 Morning Worship Nannerch 09.30 Family Holy Communion

Rhydymwyn 16.00 Family Holy Communion

Week day Services Monday 9.30 at St Berres, Llanferres

Tuesdays 9.30 at Holy Trinity, Gwernaffield

Wednesdays 10.30 at St Mary the Virgin, Cilcain

ELECTORAL ROLL REVISION 2019

17th February Notice of Electoral Roll Revision to go into all churches

10th March – Electoral Roll Revision Period 17th March

24th March Revised Mission Area Electoral Roll into all churches

PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE

On the 3rd February we celebrate Jesus being brought to the Temple in Jerusalem, the meeting with the two elderly and pious Jews, Simeon and Anna, and their recognition and welcoming of the Messiah. ( Luke 2:22 -40 ) Many Christian traditions hold this occasion as a feast -day, and it is variously known as Purification of the Virgin, Meeting of the Lord, and in our own and other traditions, Candlemas. You can see that there are different strands of belief running through the story; one is that Jesus was brought into the Temple to be welcomed by his religious community; another that the prophecies held in the Jewish Scriptures that the Messiah would come to his Temple were realised; also that his mother Mary came for the rite of Purification forty days after the birth of her male child. ( This rite was held at the same time as the Presen- tation.)

By this time in his young life Jesus had already experienced the rite of circumcision, on the eighth day after birth. In those Churches which celebrate it, ( which does not include the Church in Wales ) it is called The Feast of the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus. This is because under Jewish law it is also when a Jewish boy receives his name. We have celebrated the Baptism of Jesus, on 13th January, done by his own choice, not under Jewish law, when he was an adult. Most of us receive our name at our baptism when we are infants; because of Je- sus’ baptism and sanctification by God and the Holy Spirit, baptism is a primary Christian sacrament. ( Luke 3:15 -22 )

So we have several events in the life of the infant Jesus which have come to us from Jewish practice, or in the case of baptism, institution by John the Baptist as a repentance for sins. The Presentation in the Temple is the last, which completed his membership of Jewish religion, and his mother, Mary also had become purified under the Law after his birth. Why then is it called Candlemas, when in some churches all the candles to be used during the year are blessed?

There are two connections. One is that the Light of the World, Jesus, has now come into the world and another with the Virgin Mary. Church candles traditionally contain beeswax because the queen bee was thought in early times to be a virgin insect since she mates high in the sky, away from human view. In very early Christian churches candles were made of pure beeswax, but it does not remain rigid in warmer temperatures, leading to bendy candles, so it was mixed with more stable waxes; these days the amount can be as low as 3%, though the Roman Cath- olic Church insists on 50% beeswax for most liturgical purposes. Candles used in church are therefore a reminder that the grace given to the Blessed Virgin remains with us.

In baptism the priest ( or any Christian in an emergency ) signs the forehead of the candidate with a cross which is an invisible mark that the person belongs to Christ and is a member of the Christian Church. In very early times it became the norm for most to be baptised soon after birth. This was because there was a high incidence of infant mortality. Indeed, it was quite usual for babies in the 17th and 18th centuries to be carried straight from the birthing place into church for baptism. It was justified by accounts of St Paul baptising whole households, presumably including the children ( 1 Corinthians 1:16, Acts 16:15,33 )

That the practice of infant baptism continued is shown by the first note of opposition to it from Tertullian, a Roman Christian theologian in about AD200:

‘ the delaying of baptism is more profitable, especially in the case of little children. For why is it necessary for the sponsors to be thrust into danger….they may be mistaken by the child’s proving of wicked disposition.’

And so the dispute continues, though more in academic circles than the Church community, while the great majority of Chris- tians are baptised as babies. There are exceptions such as in the Baptist Church, where children are admitted to the community by a dedication ceremony, but are baptised, generally by full immersion, when they make up their minds to follow Christ. Indi-

cations from Baptist friends are that this may be as young as 11, but at any later age.

The argument of those who advocate adult baptism is that it follows what Jesus himself did; after studying the word of God and coming to his own decision that it was to be his path, he sealed the commitment by baptism.

My view is based upon that of Martin Luther, who argued that infant baptism ‘ opens the door of the heart,’ that is, allows faith to enter. Baptism, although done only once, is a continuing influence when baptismal vows are repeated, as there is often the oppor- tunity to do in services. Thus, he says, baptism is a continual reminder of renewed faith throughout one’s life.

I recognise that others have strong opposing views, so please put forward in these pages whatever you believe.

The Presentation of Christ is the culmination of Jewish rites that prepared Jesus for his religious life, one which took belief in God in a whole new direction and had enormous influence in the world. From the combination of the careful preparations sprang Christian rites that are widely used but not without controversy. We should have a debate about what God intends us to do in his Name.

John Foxlee

F R

Baptisms

On November 18th Isaac George Moyes was baptised at St Michael’s , Nannerch

Funerals

On 15th January, the late Frank Edward Price of Llys Alyn, Rhydymwyn at Pentrebychan Crematorium.

On 25th January the late Eunice Johnson at St John the Evange- list , Rhydymwyn

‘Grant them, O Lord, eternal rest, and let light perpetual shine upon them’

A brief update, your church representative to the Mission Area Con- ference can give you more detail.

On 28 th November, the Mission Area Treasurers met with repre- sentatives from the Diocesan Office to discuss the Mission Area Share. There is to be an increase of 2.4% to be paid over last year. The group had previously agreed to work towards an equal payment over 3yrs and we are entering the second year. It had already been agreed that payments for the Mold Mission Area would be paid centrally. It was noted that the 2019 rebate of 4% would only apply where the share had been paid in full through the year on a regular basis. At their next meeting on 10 th January, the Finance Sub Committee discussed arrangements for the central payment of Insurance, Copyright Licences and Development Officer’s Salary

A letter from Bishop Gregory was received before Christmas re- questing a meeting to review the progress of the Mold Mission Area and plans for 2019 and beyond. On 12 th January, an Extra Ordinary Conference meeting was held where the Mission Area Leader Revd Carole Poolman presented a draft document. This contained the feedback from churches in relation to church average attendance, LyCiG, Dementia Friendly progress and other events held across the MA. With amendments this was presented to the Bishop at the meeting on 24 th January

All churches are reminded that this year there is to be a formal revision of the Electoral Roll and that the Mission Area Vestry Meeting will be held on 11 th April.

John P-E

We had a Messy Church Christingle before Christmas, when we made Christingles and had a Christingle Service.

January’s Messy Church was starting the theme of ‘God’s Promis- es’. We looked at the story of Jacob’s Ladder. There were various ladder -based activities including a collage, ‘Snakes and Ladders’ game, and building a tower with Jenga blocks.

Jacob slept in the desert with a rock for a pillow so the food theme was rock cakes, of course! We had a dramatized story with angels and an excellently acted Jacob.

Our next Messy Church (on 17 th February) will continue the theme of ‘God’s Promises’ and will tell the story of Abraham and Sarah. Stars, camels and tents are bound to feature in some way! It was great to welcome some new volunteers this time. We hope you enjoyed yourselves and hopefully you will come back again.

We have decided to have the Easter Messy Church on the second Sunday in April (Palm Sunday) instead of the third Sunday (Easter Sunday).

As always, all accompanied children are very welcome

Wendy

WORDSEARCH CHILDREN

PRAYER DIARY FOR FEBRUARY 2019

ON THESE DAYS IN THE MONTH LET US GIVE

THANKS FOR

1 St Bride or Bridget, Abbess, 6th century 2 World Interfaith Harmony Week 1st to 7th 3 Presentation of Christ in the Temple 4 Manche Masemola, Martyr, 1928 5 Shepherds in our Bro Famau preparing for birth of lambs 6 World Cancer Day 7 Nannerch school, as they look forward to federation with Nercwys school 8 Rhydymwyn Kids’ Club in the Football Club 9 St Teilo, Bishop, 6th century 10 Installation of Canons in the cathedral 11 Cathedral Chapter meeting 12 Midweek Communion in Holy Trinity, Gwernaffield 13 Bishop’s staff meeting 14 Mission Area Conference in Christchurch, Pontblyddyn

15 Those who are in fuel poverty

16 Cilcain Community Cafe

17 Education Sunday

18 St Andrei Rublev, Monk & Artist, c.AD1430 and Fra An- gelico, Priest & Artist, AD1455

19 Thomas Burgess, Bishop & Teacher of the Faith, AD1837

20 The Saints, Martyrs and Missionaries of Africa

21 International Mother Language Day ( UNESCO )

22 Founder’s Day or B -P Day in the World Scouting Move- ment

23 St Polycarp, Bishop & Martyr, c.AD155

24 Rhyl 10 mile Seafront Run

25 Morning Prayer in St Berres’ Llanferres

26 Gwernaffield Mothers’ Union in the Church Hall

27 George Herbert, Priest & Poet, AD1633

28 Those who clear snow and grit our roads

WORDSEARCH ADULTS

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple/ Candlemas Candlemas, 2 February, comes exactly 40 days after Christmas. In New Testament times 40 days old was an important age for a baby boy: it was when they made their irst ‘public appearance’. Mary, like all good Jewish mothers, went to the Temple with Jesus, her irst male child - to ‘present Him to the Lord’. Thus, we have the Festival of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. (Luke 2: 22-40) So where does the Candlemas bit come in? Jesus is described in the New Testament as the Light of the World, and early Christians developed the tradition of lighting many candles in cele- bration of this day.

Candlemas Forty Days After

Christmas New Testament Important

Age Baby Boy First Public Appearance Mary

Jewish Temple festival presentation described light world candles lighting early

AROUND OUR CHURCHES Rhydymwyn, St John’s

Carol Service. This annual event was once again very successful. Our organ- ist, Greg Morris brought his quintet and they accompanied us with lovely traditional carols. It was well attended and we ended with mulled wine and mince pies. Many thanks to John Foxlee for helping with this service.

Crib Service. This was well attended once again with over 20 children plus their parents. This year we had extra animals which we hid around the church first. The children then enjoyed the hunt to find them all before placing them in the stable. Thanks to Zen and Marion for taking the service.

Group Service on 30th December. This service was very well attended by all the churches and it was lovely to see quite a few children there also. It was nice to meet some of Lara and Daniels family from the USA. Thank you to everyone who supported us that day.

Gwernaffield, Holy Trinity

Sales Table There is a sales table at the back of the church with marma- lade, books, cards etc. for sale at very reasonable prices to raise funds for our church

Mold Food Bank Donations are very welcome and can be brought to the back of the church.

Mothers’ Union Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 26 th February - our speaker for the evening will be Rev'd Lara Stroud who will

give a talk on 'Outreach'. New members are always welcome - we meet on the last Tuesday of every month at 7pm in the Church Hall. Please telephone Mrs Gaynor Morgan (Secretary) on 01352 741515 for more information.

Christmas Services Despite the atrocious weather, over 30 attended our Lessons and Carols service. Our thanks to all readers who took part, to Colin and Carol Bradley for the welcome mulled wine and to those who kindly provided mince pies etc. at the very enjoyable social time in the Hall afterwards. Thanks also to all who supported the ‘surprise’ raffle held after the Carols and Lessons service where a total of £70.00 was raised for Church Funds.

There was a good attendance at all our remaining Christmas services. Again, thank you to all who helped in any way; in particular to Pat Wells and John Edge for placing and decorating the tree (once again kindly donated by Mick and Vicky White), to the members of Messy Church for their delightful tree and to the Flower Guild for the lovely festive displays. It was a pleasure, too, to welcome pupils from Ysgol -y-Waun, together with their families, at their Carol Service. This year it was the turn of Years l and 2 who both read and sang beautifully. A total of £74 was given in collection, which was kindly donated by the School towards Church Funds and for which we are most grateful.

Congratulations Our warm congratulations to Sue and Wynne Roberts on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary at the end of December.

Fundraising for 2019 Fundraising events for 2019 will commence Saturday 9th March at 7.30pm with a joint Evening of Scrabble and Whist. Tickets are £2.50 and include soup and scones. Fur- ther details available from Carole on 01352 740550.

Following this, our fundraising timetable for 2019 is as follows: - Saturday 13th April at 2.30pm we will be holding an Easter Af- ternoon Tea with hot cross buns, an Easter Egg hunt and an Easter Bonnet parade Saturday 1st June at7.30pm – A Musical Evening Saturday 6th July at 2.30pm – A Strawberry Tea with various stalls Saturday 7th September at 10.00am –12.00pm Coffee Morning Saturday 5th October at 7.00pm – Harvest Hotpot Supper

Further details on all events to follow nearer the time.

Many thanks to everyone for their support, help, donations and kind comments about all our events during 2018

CILCAIN, ST MARYS

Advent Christmas Tree Festival The Christmas Tree Festival was well supported again by the various groups & activities that take place in the Village. Each tree was thoughtfully decorated & beautiful in it’s own way. The Church’s own Christmas tree was once again gener- ously donated and looked gorgeous as were the decorations on the lights in the Church & other areas. Thank you to everyone who participated in the festival & to all who helped with the decorations in the Church. It all looked very beautiful & drew lots of positive comments. Thank you also to everyone who helped dismantle the Christmas decorations and clean the Church afterwards.

Group Service The Group Service on 23rd December was attended by more than forty people and we were pleased to be accompanied by Phil Knowles playing the organ.

Christmas in Cilcain The Christmas Eve Crib Service was attended by a congregation of around 200 with the children all eager to partici- pate in the Service. The figures were all carried to and ar- ranged in the Crib with great concentration by Children. Those that read the lessons & readings did so beautifully & our Guest Sheep Dog complete with his Tinsel Decoration, was once again well behaved while his master did a reading. The Collection raised £340.00 & it will be shared between the Food Bank & The Wrexham Night Shelter Project, two very worthy causes.

We had 20 Communicants at the Midnight Service, and a similar number of people attended the Christmas Day Morn- ing Service.

A very busy & enjoyable & thought provoking time.

Cilcain Show and Mountain Race Cilcain Show meetings have been led by Peter Richards for several years. We are most grateful to him for his chairmanship, which has built up the Show to provide an excel- lent community spirit and good profits for the benefit of St Mary’s Church and local institutions. A new era has started with the chairmanship of Simon Kneale. We always need helpers. The Show Committee is the largest sub -committee reporting to St Mary’s church committee, but there are always jobs to be filled! Whichever of our churches you are from, if you would like to help, please contact John Foxlee on [email protected] or 01352 810677.

Nannerch, St Michael & All Angels

Crib Service Our annual crib service was a very happy, festive occasion and was very well attended . It was lovely to see the church bursting at the seams. This is always a very atmospheric service with our stunning candelabra glowing in candlelight, the Christmas tree and the festive decorations. Parents and children stood to read passages from the nativity story together and the children taking part dressed up as nativity characters. creating a tableau by the end of the service. Many younger children brought up characters for the crib during the carols and Daniel blessed the crib at the end. Many thanks to Dan Jones and Sam Harrison for playing their guitars and leading the singing of John Lennon’s “ So this is Christmas” A huge thank you to all the families who played a part and helped make this such a joyful and quite magical Christ- mas service .

Mothers’ Union We met on December 18 th for our Christmas meeting and sang carols together. We held our AGM on January 15 th Kath Benison stepped down as branch leader and Marion Watts stepped down as secretary. Both were thanked for all their hard work and commitment to Mothers union They were presented with flowers and a gift. Cath Yeardley has taken over as Branch Leader and Lindsay Wilding as secretary. Our annual meal is on February 19 th at The Cherry Pie.

Croeso Pawb Members of Nannerch/ Rhydymwyn Mothers’ Union will be in school in February helping with Croeso Pawb. The theme will be ‘Love’. The children will be involved with craft activities on the theme and afterwards the service in church, with the parents, will also reflect it.

School/ Church/ Community Links Flourish in Nannerch These links were clearly demonstrated in the recent Armi- stice Commemoration and Christmas Celebrations.

St Michael’s hosts a range of school events from worship, to its value as a historical source. Ysgol Nannerch has worked alongside the Church to deliver the Good News. Members of Mothers’ Union have always been welcomed into school; for half termly Croeso Pawb, helping with the thematic activities, or to make Palm Crosses and posies for Mothering Sunday. We were not surprised that the Diocese recognised the value of the church/school link by appointing our, ever supportive, Head teacher, Jennie Downes, as its Education Officer.

For nearly a decade a weekly Act of Worship in school has been led by our cleric or a member of our congregation. Over this period our Family Service has flourished, with our children eagerly accepting written invitations to read or lead prayers. Our Family Communion Service has been resurrect- ed in a form in which the children have a leadership role and the hope is that some will wish to become servers.

After all our church services, the community interact as they meet and share refreshments. We support each other and the age ranges mix and communicate to the benefit of our community’s health and faith.

Our thanks go to all who help to make these links flourish.

St Berres, Llanferres

Open the Book We have had a great welcome from Ysgol Bro Famau and we really enjoy our time with the fabulous children and staff. This term started with the story of David and Goliath and once again acting and special effects were ably provided by our audience.

Christmas Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to ensure that the services went so smoothly. The church looked beautiful and it was great to welcome faces old and new to the services. The Carol and Crib Service were particularly well attended and the collection at the Carol Service raised over £100 for the Food Bank. Thank you for your generosity.

Churchyard You may have noticed that Hugo and Ieuan Watts have been working hard in the churchyard to clear the tree branches which were brought down in the high winds (fortunately no damage was done by the wind to the gravestones). We are less grateful to the parties who brutally hacked at the bot- tom of the variegated holly trees taking a significant quantity of cuttings, leaving their mess behind and unsightly damage to the trees. This is unfortunately one of several instances of trespass or dumping during last year both in the churchyard and church owned footpath from Rectory Lane.

Church Decorating The church decorating team, who made a beautiful job of the Christmas decorations again this year, would like to pass their thanks onto Sue Shaw of Evergreens, Ruthin market. In ex- change for a few clippings from the variegated holly trees (before they were hacked!) They provided the beautiful font decorations and cross for the church door.

Church Bins Another year, same old problem! This time a dead bush was re- trieved from our recycling bin (what can we say?!)

And Finally Thank you to Sean who passed on a link to the Nativity Service of 1996. So wonderful to see the children (now all grown up, some with children of their own) again https://youtu.be/ Vbrd93fZ6Ms

SUNDAY BIBLE READINGS PREVIEWED

Please use these introductions to prepare for worship. If you are a reader at home who is unable to come to church, you might like to use these pages, with your Bible, to join the congregation on a Sunday in the reading of the same passages

Sunday 3rd February - The Presentation of Christ in the Temple

Malachi 3:1 -5 In today’s gospel, Simeon will greet the infant Jesus in the Temple. Malachi speaks of the Lord coming suddenly; he knows, like Simeon, that to encounter the Lord is a mixed blessing because we have to face his testing and purifying.

Hebrews 2:14 -18 Christ became flesh and blood like us, says this writ- er, and we will hear how his parents did the same as for every first -born child in Israel. Jesus fully shared our human condition so that he could unite all to God.

Luke 2:22 -40 As the Law requires, Jesus the first -born is brought to the temple with a thank -offering. Two old and holy people, Simeon and Anna, perceive that this child is the fulfilment of ancient prophecies of redemp- tion, but the glory will not be without pain and suffering.

Sunday 10th February - Fourth Sunday before Lent

Isaiah 6:1 -8 [ 9 -13 ] This reading and the gospel illustrate different ways God calls people to his service. Isaiah was at prayer in the Temple, and overcome by the awesome holiness of God. With the vision came the promise of sin taken away and his faithful response, ‘ Here I am, send me.’

1 Corinthians 15:1 -11 We have been hearing over several weeks Paul’s efforts to clarify his teaching. He now turns to the very heart of the gospel: the fact that Jesus was raised from death and seen by many people. Paul’s apostleship stems from the appearance to him of the risen Christ.

Luke 5:1 -11 This year’s gospel readings are taken from St Luke. We take up his story very early in Jesus’ public ministry, around Capernaum and Lake Galilee. His call to Peter, James and John came when they were do- ing their everyday work.

Sunday 17th February - Third Sunday before Lent

Jeremiah 17:5 -10 The prophet reminds us not to put all our trust in people, but find the blessedness of which our gospel will speak by cast- ing all our care and trust on the Lord who knows us through and through. 1 Corinthians 15:12 -20 As we heard last Sunday from this letter, all Christian faith rests on the fact of Christ’s resurrection. Paul now ex- pands this truth. We would be the most foolish people to believe a lie, but it is certain that Christ was raised to life and we are therefore saved from the state of sin.

Luke 6:17 -26 Our readings continue week by week Luke’s account of the gospel events. Very many people demanded the healing touch of Je- sus. The troubled and the poor heard his promise of blessing in his king- dom.

Sunday 24th February - Second before Lent

Genesis 2:4b -9, 15 -25 Today’s readings illustrate our understanding of God as Creator. In the ancient saga of the world’s creation, human be- ings are the last and greatest thing God made, and he gave to men and women responsibility to care for all other living things and the earth it- self.

Revelation 4 God is the one who created and sustains all things, says this song of praise in John’s vision of the holy sovereign Lord enthroned and worshipped in heaven.

Luke 8:22 -25 The gospels tell us that Jesus had power to calm the winds and waves, and the disciples wondered whether he was himself the creator God who alone controls the way the universe works.

Advertisements: Advertising in this magazine costs £30 for a third page, £60 for a half

page, £120 for whole page for 10 editions .

email to [email protected]

Bro Famau Group of Churches

in the Mission Area of Mold

Local Contacts

WARDENS: - Tel 01352 GWERNAFFIELD , HOLY TRINITY

MR. PETER DAVIES, Ardwyn, Cae Rhug Lane, Gwernaffield - 741826 MRS KATHLEEN STANTON, 2, The Links, Gwernaffield - 740068 Subwarden MRS. MADGE NEWTON, 7 High Park, Gwernaffield - 740649

LLANFERRES , ST BERRES MISS ANNE WOODWARD, Cysgodfa, Tafarn -y-Gelyn - 810270 MR ROB ARMSTRONG, The White House, Rectory Lane, - 810259 Llanferres

CILCAIN, ST MARY THE VIRGIN MR. JOHN PRIOR -EGERTON , Ty Gwyn, Ffordd Trelan, Cilcain - 741042 MRS. AMANDA GRIFFITHS, Tegfan, Hendre. - 740872

RHYDYMWYN, ST JOHN THE EVANGALIST MRS. MARION WATTS, Swn yr Awel, St John’s Park , - 741350

MRS. ELIZABETH THOMAS, 5 St. John’s Park, Rhydymwyn - 741405

NANNERCH ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS MRS. CATH YEARDLEY, Hafan Deg. Ffordd -y-Graig, Lixwm - 781151 MRS. JANET WRIGHT, 2 The Walled Garden, Ffordd -y-Waen, - 741701