The Combined Parishes of Mamhilad with Glascoed with Monkswood

3 in 1 Magazine

Lent 2014

February 2014

Priest in Charge Revd John Collier Tel: 01633 877584 Mobile: 07581 420422 e-mail: [email protected]

St Illtud Mamhilad Church Wardens Mrs Ruth Precious Tel: 01495 785225 Mrs Gaynor Pritchard Tel: 01495 752754

St Michael Glascoed Church Wardens Mrs Pat Parker Tel: 01633 450348

St Matthew Monkswood Church Wardens Mrs Jo Storey Tel: 01495 785560 Mrs Margaret Long Tel: 01495 785376

Planning a wedding? Baptism? Contact John who will be pleased to discuss arrangements with you. Poorly parishioners? John coordinates home communions and visiting, and will happily include parishioners if they are unable to get to church. Please let wardens or John have details if you know of anyone who would like a visit, or wish to be included in our prayers. Fair Trade Little Mill and District WI Each vestry meeting resolved that Invite you to join them we should use fair trade products 2nd Thursday of each Month 7-30

where possible when providing Little Mill Village Hall refreshments at church functions Contact Jo Storey 01495 785560

Newsletter News

Next Edition Easter 2014.If anyone has anything they would like put in please let me have this the weekend before . Any other suggestions or contributions? Contact the editor We are still hoping for more e-mail addresses. To [email protected]

Parish Website The combined parishes have a website on the Churchinwales.org.uk website. Click on Resources on the homepage, then Parishes website, then find a parish, Monmouth then the parishes are listed alphabetically – Mamhilad with Monkswood with Glascoed. Sunday Club 2nd Sunday of the Month 9-45 am – 11-30 ish St Michaels Glascoed Children of any age Play – activities - stories - prayers

RIP Gladys Winifred (Win) Gibbon of , daughter of Nellie and James Jeremiah of Monkswood. Her funeral was at St Matthews on 24th January.

RIP Raymond Beechey of Cwmcarn, who will be cremated on 17th February following a family service at St Illtuds on 16th .

RIP Jim Laramy – passed away 15th February 2014. A cornersone of St Illtuds Church who will be sadly missed. Dear friends

Things don’t seem to have got much quieter! We have now held PCCs, and things are beginning to move in all of our churches. The faculty process is well underway in Mamhilad, thanks to Gaynor and Stuart, and works will begin as soon as the weather improves. We have looked at the finances in all churches, and they are all calling on reserves to finance necessary expenses, a situation which is obviously unsustainable, so we will be looking at maximising the tax benefits of gift direct, and fundraising to try and address this problem. February 22nd sees my induction at St Illtuds as chaplain to the Monmouth, Brecon and canals trust. Below is a letter from Roger Francis, chairman of the trust. Please join us if you are able. John

“It is my extreme pleasure to write in your Parish Magazine, and to introduce myself to you. Last November, I took over as the new Chairman of the Mon and Brec Canals’ Trust. I have taken over right in the middle of an exciting period for the Trust, for we are expecting to be able to announce, in conjunction with Torfaen Council, a successful bid to extend the canal through Five Locks, down into the centre of Cwmbran, terminating in a new basin to be

known as the “Canal Quarter”.

My involvement with the Mon and Brec. goes back to 1990. Then Kathy and I were bringing up our two children, Britta and Anna, in Blagdon, here in North Somerset, where a near neighbour had been made redundant three years earlier, and had decided to return to his roots in and start developing Cambrian Cruisers. A chance flyer had been placed in the village butcher’s shop, inviting villagers to come for a cruise, and so we did!

We hired a boat called “Angharad”, and carried on hiring the same boat until 1997, when the boat was sold out of the fleet to the Francis family, and we are still cruising it from its permanent berth at Cambrian Marina. On that first occasion, whilst taking over the boat, I was talking to Peter Griffiths, the then owner of the business, and we realised that we had been in school together.He in a more senior form of my old school of Penarth Grammar School. I was born and raised in Penarth, and only really emigrated to England when I became married to Kathy, in Kingstown Cathedral , St Vincent, WI in 1972.

From a very early age, I had decided to go to sea. Thus it was that I went to Plymouth School of Navigation as a spotty faced little Shell Apprentice, and began the long climb up the ladder towards command. I took command of my first vessel, a Stephenson Clarke Coastal Bulk Carrier m.v. “Birling” in 1981. In 1988, I had decided to move to a life which afforded me more time with my family, and so I became a licensed Trinity House Deep Sea Pilot, mainly piloting ships through the Dover Straits This non compulsory service means that safety conscious ship owners can have their ships totally covered by pilotage, throughout their European call. My main boarding points were Brixham and Cherbourg, but being close to Bristol Airport, I found myself the favourite choice to fly to wherever needed. I would spend anything up to around three weeks on one ship, and so basic needs such as food sometimes became a challenge! I retired in 2010, having piloted 511 ships with a total deadweight tonnage of 34,347,333 tonnes. This ranged from Richard Branson, when he took the world record for crossing the Dover Straits in a car, via a few Carnival Cruise liners on their maiden voyages, to a 420,000 tonne tanker.

Having thoroughly enjoyed my maritime career of 46years, I am also enjoying my retirement, as not only am I Chairman of the Trust that happens to be restoring the most beautiful canal in the United Kingdom, but I am Marine Consultant to a company that is planning to put wing sails on ships for fuel saving.

I do hope you will all join the MBCT, and support our efforts to complete the link from Brecon to the Bristol Channel, and up to Cwmcarn.

Roger.”

The second photo is one of me and my narrow boat “Angharad” passing Country Craft hire boat base, and approaching Coombes Lock, Llangynidr. The first is a scene on the Crumlin Arm, at the Malpas Junction, just after the canal has passed under the M4, which passes above the walkers. Raglan & Usk Deanery Deanery Notices ‘Growing Together’ Groups

Sunday Informal Worship fellowship, support, prayer and Bible

study Following the success of the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month Deanery Informal Worship, which 2.00pm Peter & Kath Cragg meets on the second Tuesday of 01291 690126 each month, we have decided to Dean house, Chepstow Rd, Raglan introduce a Sunday session on the 2-00pm Liz Baker first Sunday of each month, for a 01291 671231 ‘fresh expression of church’, which St Mary’s church vestry, Usk allows our worship to evolve into 7.30pm Graham & Sue Russell new action and sharing Christ’s life 01291 690380 within the communities we serve. Forge Cottage Llandenny We do hope you will join us 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month 7.30pm : Alan &l Liz Entwistle

01873 881364

Berryhill, These groups are open to anyone from our Raglan & Usk Deanery deanery, and we hope you will feel free to join the group most convenient for you. ‘Quiet Times’ We trust you will meet people you know, An opportunity to share time with and others from different parishes, so God and others from across the that we may share with and support one deanery, to hear God’s guidance and another across our deanery. reflect spiritually on our life in this Meetings will last about an hour. area. Please bring a Bible. We will meet at 7.30pm on Informal Worship, Prayer the fourth Thursday of and Praise each month. Every 2nd Tuesday of each month 7.45pm Venues vary from to month to month, please contact Tim for details

Carol Singing Was again very successful, raising £130 which was donated to The Samaritans. This is important, but more important was the joy on the faces of the people we visited. If this goes any small way to bringing the joy of Christmas into peoples lives then very worthwhile doing – and the singers enjoyed themselves as well !!!!

Altar Flowers – if anyone would like to donate or arrange the altar flowers in memory of a loved one please contact the Wardens.

Sunday club @ Glascoed We continued our club making a nativity before Christmas, and telling the Christmas story.

In January we learned about Noah, and even our biscuits were animal shapes – and it rained!

Sometimes mums and dads have stayed, but not always.

Visiting John continues visiting, but is not able to visit as often as he would like, and often it is not only the Priest and communion which those living alone need, but sometimes simply contact with the outside world and companionship. Both PCCs discussed the development of lay visiting teams to supplement Johns visits. There will be some training, and anyone who feels they can help with this should discuss with John The OVER 2 U Pages ......

Baptisms Neirin and Elsie were baptised in December in Mamhilad, and Poppy at Monkswood. It was lovely to see families enjoying these occasions, and a privilege to welcome such lovely young people into our church family.

Monkswood - 4-00 pm Service will continue for the next th few months on 4 Sunday.

Thanks to Glyn who turned a beautiful Pascal candle holder which John blessed at his first service as a priest in December.

Food Banks Our harvests were a good start to our support of the food banks. Boxes will be in church to continue this help

Advent reflections and lunches at Glascoed were well received, and raised £100 which is being donated to the Christian Aid- Look out for details of lent reflections and lunches.

St Illtud Mamhilad St Michael Glascoed Church Warden Church Warden Sunday Club @ Glascoed Mrs Ann Smith Tel: 01495 785720 Mrs Pat Parker Tel: 01495 785223 nd on the 2 Sunday of the month 9-45 – 11-30 ish at St Michaels Church or children of any age

Mount Zion Baptist Chapel Coffee mornings First Friday of the Month in the fellowship Hall 10-30 am Lent and Easter Services and Events

Ash Wednesday 5th March 6-00 pm St Illtud Mamhilad

Lent reflections and Lunches at Glascoed Tuesdays see notice boards for details

Maundy Thursday 17th April 6-00 pm stripping of the Altar and Vigil St Illtud Mamhilad

Good Friday 18th April 2-00 pm Devotional Service St Illtud Mamhilad

Easter Saturday 19th April Open day and egg treasure Hunt at Monkswood St Matthew Monkswood – details on notice boards

Easter Day 6-00 am Deanery sunrise service the Blorenge

10-00 am St Michael Glascoed Readings and Intercessions Rota – Service Readers Intercessions 9th February In Porch Jackie Howells 10-00 am St Illtud 16th February Pat Parker Malcolm Morgan 11-00 am St Michael Margaret Smith

23rd February In Porch Will Evans 10-00 am St Illtud 23rd February Margaret Long Jo storey 4-00 pm St Matthew Sheila Hampshire 2nd March Margaret Long Jayne Collier 10-00 am St Matthew Malcolm Morgan 5th March, Wednesday 6-00 pm St Illtud 9th March In Porch Jackie Howells 10-00 am St Illtud 16th March Jo Storey Malcolm Morgan 11-00 am St Michael Pat Parker 23rd March In porch Gaynor / Stuart 10-00 am St Illtud 30th March Pat Parker 10-00 am St Michael 6th April Jayne Collier Jo Storey 4-00 pm St Matthew Margaret Long 13th April Sheila Hampshire Jayne Collier 10-00 am St Matthew Malcolm Morgan 17th April Thursday 6-00 pm St Illtud 18th April Good Friday Devotional Service 20th April In Porch Jackie Howells 10-00 am St Illtud 27th April Margaret Smith Malcolm Morgan 11-00 am St Michael Pat Parker

Diary

9th February 4th before 10-00 am St Illtud Mamhilad 2nd Sunday Lent 9th February St Michael Glascoed Sunday club 9-45 – 11-30 16th February 3rd before 11-00 am St Michael Glascoed 3rd Sunday Lent 22nd February Monmouth, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust Service Saturday 12-00 pm St Illtud Mamhilad. Bishop Richard will install John as their Chaplain 23rd February 2nd before 10-00 am St Illtud Mamhilad 4th Sunday Lent 4-00 pm St Matthew Monkswood 2nd March Sunday before 10-00am St Matthew Monkswood 1st Sunday Lent 5th March Ash 6-00 pm St Illtud Mamhilad Wednesday Ash Wednesday 9th March Lent 1 10-00 am St Illtud Mamhilad 2nd Sunday 9th March St Michael Glascoed Sunday club 9-45 – 11-30 16th March Lent 2 11-00 am St Michael Glascoed 3rd Sunday 23rd March Lent 3 10-00 am St Illtud Mamhilad 4th Sunday 4-00 pm St Matthew Monkswood

30th March Lent 4 11-00 am St Michael Glascoed 5th Sunday Combined All Age Service Mothering Sunday 6th April Lent 5 10-00 am St Matthew Monkswood 1st Sunday 13th April Lent 6 10-00 am St Illtud Mamhilad 2nd Sunday 13th April St Michael Glascoed Sunday club 9-45 – 11-30 17th April Maundy 6-00 pm St Illtud Mamhilad Thursday Stripping of the Altar Followed by vigil 18th April Good Friday 2-00 pm Devotional Service St Illtud Mamhilad 20th April Easter Day 11-00 am St Michael Glascoed 3rd Sunday 27th April Easter 2 10-00 am St Illtud Mamhilad 4th Sunday 4-00 pm St Matthew Monkswood

Sunday Services

2ND FEBRUARY 1ST SUNDAY 10-00 AM ST MATTHEW MONKSWOOD

9TH FEBRUARY 2ND SUNDAY 10-00 AM ST ILLTUD MAMHILAD 9-45 AM SUNDAY CLUB @ GLASCOED

16TH FEBRUARY 3RD SUNDAY 11-00 AM ST MICHAEL GLASCOED

23RD FEBRUARY 4TH SUNDAY 10-00 AM ST ILLTUD MAMHILAD

4-00 PM ST MATTHEW MONKSWOOD

2ND MARCH 1ST SUNDAY 10-00 AM ST MATTHEW MONKSWOOD

9TH MARCH 2ND SUNDAY 10-00 AM ST ILLTUD MAMHILAD 9-45 SUNDAY CLUB @ GLASCOED

16TH MARCH 3RD SUNDAY 11-00 AM ST MICHAEL GLASCOED

23RD MARCH 4TH SUNDAY 10-00 AM ST ILLTUD MAMHILAD 4-00 PM ST MATTHEW MONKSWOOD

30TH MARCH 5TH SUNDAY 11-00 AM ST MICHAEL GLASCOED COMBINED ALL AGE SERVICE MOTHERING SUNDAY

6TH APRIL 1ST SUNDAY 10-00 AM ST MATTHEW MONKSWOOD

13TH APRIL 2ND SUNDAY 10-00 AM ST ILLTUD MAMHILAD 9-45 AM SUNDAY CLUB @ GLASCOED

20TH APRIL 3RD SUNDAY 11-00 AM ST MICHAEL GLASCOED

27TH APRIL 4TH SUNDAY 10-00 AM ST ILLTUD MAMHILAD

4-00 PM ST MATTHEW MONKSWOOD