BERRIEW NEWSLETTER Photograph sent to us by Ferol Richards NUMBER 385 SEPTEMBER 2020 BERRIEW DEFIBRILLATOR PLEASE REMEMBER A DEFIBRILLATOR (AED) IS LOCATED IN THE VILLAGE AT: THE FRONT ENTRANCE TO THE COMMUNITY CENTRE. ACCESS CODE: 1111 NEWS FROM THE SHOP Well, we have a newly plastered and decorated shop now! Dave is adding the final touches to the painting but it’s all coming along nicely. Over the bank holiday the fireproof tiles will be installed on the ceiling in the back room, hopefully there will not be too much interruption. We also had the outside of the shop painted last week which looks wonderful, thank you all for your patience whilst this was going on. Kirsty, Laura, Jayne and Rita held the fort whilst I had a bit of a break, can I just say a big thank you to them, and I have heard from so many customers what an amazing job they did. We are continuing all the time to get new stock into the shop, if there is anything we do not stock that you think would be useful to you please let us know, we can get products in to order too. I have been asked on many occasions if we do an ‘Interflora’ service, we can arrange for flowers to be sent worldwide, its similar to Interflora but it is a network of florists that work independently so we cut out the middleman. At the end of this August I will start to get in more plants now the weather is starting to cool a little. I know a number of our customers are still feeling safer staying at home so please don’t forget we are still accepting grocery deliveries, orders can be made by either telephoning or by email to [email protected] Finally just a note about August Bank Holiday, the shop will be on normal hours, but the Post Office will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday. Berriew Stores Opening Hours Monday 8am – 6pm Tuesday 8am – 6pm Wednesday 8am – 6pm Thursday 8am-6pm Friday 8am – 6pm Saturday 8am – 5pm Sunday 8am – 5pm PLEASE NOTE POST OFFICE OPENS 10AM – 4PM, WEEKDAYS, SATURDAY 8AM – 1PM AND , SUNDAY – CLOSED. These hours may change due to staff sickness or holidays. Berriew Community Group Following on from the spring when we had unofficial support for the community through the early part of the pandemic in a number of different ways that seemed to come together and work, it seems sensible to continue support throughout the forthcoming autumn and winter months. I will liaise with the community council about whether they would take over the coordination of village support through the remainder of the pandemic which would put it on a more formal footing and allow access to additional resources if necessary. In the meantime we have an original list of volunteers that I will ensure is checked and updated. If anyone new is happy to volunteer please email the following to [email protected] 1. Contact details; 2. Geographical areas you are able to cover; 3. Limitations as to days, times or types of help you can offer; 4. Whether you have access to a 4x4 in case of severe weather. In the meantime if anyone needs any help with anything please ask through the Berriew Community Facebook Page or ask a neighbour or relative to post for you https://www.facebook.com/groups/BerriewCommunityGroup Darrell Shephard Helen Hamer 1963 – 2020 Many of you will know already that Helen died on Sunday 16th August after a brave battle with cancer. This is an unimaginably sad time for her parents Eric and Elizabeth, and for Bryan, Dominic, Jamie, Bridget and her siblings, Mary, Frances and Michael, and to all who know the family. Helen was a wonderful lady, radiant, witty, intelligent, kind and loving. She was a friend and neighbour to us, and to very many people in the community. You may wish to know the arrangements for Helen’s funeral so that you can pay your respects to her and the family. Her burial will take place at 14:00 on Saturday 29th August at the Green Lane Burial Field at Abermule. Only close family will be able to attend. The cortege will pass through Berriew on its way to the field at about 13:40, so those who wish to say their last goodbyes might need to arrive in Berriew a little before that, say 13:30. The family is happy to receive flowers at their home or alternatively, donations may be made to either Macmillan Nurses or The Lingen Davies Charitable Trust, both of whom Helen thought very highly of. I have been deeply touched by Helen’s death and have been asked by the family to make this announcement so that all her friends and neighbours know. Please pass the word on. Helen, thinking about you will always make me smile. The fun, happiness and joy you gave, and your three wonderful children, are the most valuable legacy anyone could leave. Phil Bettley PENTRE LLIFIOR METHODIST CHAPEL, BERRIEW. SY21 8QJ ALL DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE as the Covid-19 situation demands. Like our Facebook - Pentre Llifior Methodist Chapel - page to be kept up-to-date. Welcome to September, The Good News is………… We are now open for worship - yay! With further guidance and lifting of restrictions being issued by the Government and Methodist Church, we are pleased to announced that we will be open each Sunday at 2.30pm for worship. We have completed all the necessary risk assessments etc and protocols are now in place to allow us to meet. This means that social distancing (2m), hand sanitising and providing track & trance details are a MUST for ALL attendees. Face coverings and disposable gloves are also available for those wishing to use them and of course, family "bubbles" may sit together. For the time being, worship will take the form of All Age Cell Group (informal style), meeting in the Chapel - the Preacher's Stable remains closed, apart from the toilet facilities. We are NOT allowed to sing collectively, however, this does not stop music being played so we will have to be content with listening to hymns and wait to test if our vocal chords can still reach those high notes! For those still a little uncertain about venturing out, we continue to issue our weekly worship at home sheets via our Circuit website - you are always welcome to use these for free. All services are prepared by ministers and lay preachers and can be found at:- www.wbhmethodists.org.uk Access is also available via our Facebook page along with the technical notes to be able to enjoy the service to its full potential. Here's a reminder of what to do. To join in the hymns or follow the readings in a new tab, Press Shift and Ctrl together (bottom left of keyboard) and (left) click on the link. You can then click back on the worship sheet once it starts to follow the hymn or reading. NOTE: Don't forget, though, to close the new tab after the audio has finished. Apologies for the ads at the start of the hymns, our tech guys just can't seem to remove these. September always marks a time of change within Methodism. It's the time that many Ministers move circuit and this year we welcome our new Superintendent, Rev. Jacquie Evans. We hope that she and her husband John will be happy sharing time with us over the next 5 years. Change sometimes unsettles us, we are comfortable with what we know and the routine of things. Becoming a Christian can sometimes mean BIG changes - you only need to look at the story of Saul's conversion to Paul in Acts ch.9. It's almost unbelievable that someone could change that much - from one extreme to the other! Can they? Especially in today's world? Well, several years ago I met a guy called Kim Goh. He had been a member of the Triads, in fact a very high ranking "member" in the hierarchy within the UK. He evaded police capture for quite some time but was eventually caught and convicted. Whilst serving his sentence he was converted. So from one extreme to the other - just like Saul. Kim's book "Conquering the Dragon" (Authentic Media, 2008: ISBN 978-1-86024-616-6) tells of some of his exploits prior to God calling him, his visit to the "Godfather" in Wales, as well as details of how his conversion happened (Ch. 11). It's a short book, 150 pages only, but very readable and an interesting insight into a man who was once feared for his violence by many but who has become a testament to God's love for all. If you're not into reading, do a Google search on the Reverend Kim Goh and you'll find various links telling his story. No-one is immune or beyond God's love and care, as Rev. Kim's testimony clearly shows! Mandy Thought for the month: "Don't give God's instructions. just report for duty". Contacts: Andrew Mathieson tel: 01938 555376 or Mandy email: [email protected] Refail Presbyterian Chapel Minister Rev. Dr. D. Stirling Services every Sunday at 10 a.m. unless otherwise stated 2020 Following the closure of the Chapels due to the Covid -19, the Refail Chapel has assessed and put in place safety measures in the Chapel including marking out for social distancing. Hand gel and antiseptic wipes will be available With the Ministers permission we are planning to open the Chapel for a service on Sunday 6th September.