'a parish with a desire for church growth, mission and evangelism' Anneliese, Andrew & Alexander. See pages 9 & 16 Betty Williams Holy Cross Church Clyne Chapel Fairwood Road Mayals Road West Cross, SA3 5JP Blackpill, SA3 5DH www.parishofllwynderw.org October 2019 50 pence THE PARISH OF LLWYNDERW Holy Cross Church & Clyne Chapel, Swansea, in the diocese of Swansea and Brecon VICAR The Venerable Jonathan B Davies B.Th (Archdeacon of Gower) Llwynderw Vicarage, Fairwood Road, West Cross, Swansea, SA3 5JP Telephone & Fax: 01792 512747 Email: [email protected] ASSISTANT PRIEST Reverend Hywel D Griffiths 23 Mayals Avenue, Blackpill, Swansea, SA3 5DE Telephone: 01792 403957 Email: [email protected] SERVICES IN THE PARISH Sunday 8.00am Holy Eucharist Clyne Chapel 9.30am Sung Eucharist Holy Cross 11.00am Sung Eucharist Clyne Chapel 4.00pm Evening Worship Holy Cross [as announced] Wednesday 10.30am Holy Eucharist Clyne Chapel Thursday 10.00am Holy Eucharist Holy Cross Please notify our pastoral care co-ordinator, Reverend Hywel Griffiths, of the names of those who are sick. The Chapel of St Faith is open throughout the day for personal and private prayer. Holy Baptism and Marriage arrangements may be made with the curate. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved for Communion of the sick or infirm at any time. The Holy Oils are available for the Sacrament of anointing. WEEKLY PARISH HALL BOOKINGS Mondays 5.30pm - 7.30pm Weightwatchers Fridays 9.30am - 12noon Community Art Class Sundays 2.00pm - 4.30pm Ariosa Singers & Mumbles Voices Rehearse with Les & Penny Ryan 2 READERS Dr Felicity Padley 32 Fernhill Close, Blackpill Tel: 402437 E: [email protected] Mrs Biddy Wigley 5 Whitegates, Mayals, Swansea Tel: 405404 E: [email protected] LAY WORSHIP TEAM Felicity Barrow, Mair Kiley, Felicity Padley, Esther Searle, Biddy Wigley PAROCHIAL OFFICERS Parish Wardens Vicar’s Warden Mrs Lesley Morris Tel: 514769 65 Gwerneinon Road, Sketty People’s Warden Miss Geraldine Twinney Tel: 420243 23 Muirfield Drive, Mayals PCC Secretary Dr Felicity Padley Tel: 402437 32 Fernhill Close, Blackpill PCC Treasurer Mr Bob Wigley Tel: 405404 5 Whitegates, Mayals Parish Organist Mr Leslie Ryan, BA (hons mus), Tel: 406062 LCCMD, AWCCM, CertEd (Wales) 43 Mayals Avenue, Blackpill THE LLWYNDERW PARISH HALL can be hired for meetings, birthday parties and other special occasions Contact: Revd Hywel Griffiths Telephone: 403957 PARISH ACTIVITIES Messy Church, as advised, Holy Cross Church at 3.15pm Parish Prayer Group, every Tuesday Details on weekly sheet. Contact Lyn Jones: 402080 Cinema Club. Contact Dave & Joyce Owen: 401512 Mothers’ Union, Branch Leaders: Hazel Somers: 401705 & Elaine Griffiths: 208269 3 IN THIS ISSUE . 5. Canon Arthur writes… 7. Messy Baptism 12. Family News 13. Does This Make You Feel Uncomfortable? 14. New Bishop of Monmouth Elected 16. Thank You Letters 19. I Love That Hymn/Parish Registers 20. Mothers’ Union 22. Solution to Puzzle 23. Music Notes 24. What’s On? 30. Hymn List for October 31. Real Advent Calendar 32. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Contributions for the NOVEMBER issue to be received BEFORE Thursday 24th October 2019 for publication on Sunday 3rd November 2019 Biddy Wigley 5 Whitegates, Mayals, Swansea, SA3 5HW Email: [email protected] 4 CANON ARTHUR WRITES………… ometimes the Church is is to raise £100,000 to be distributed accused of being inward equally between Christian Aid and looking and concerned Housing Justice Cymru. only with what is Shappening within its own The Christian Aid project aims to structures. It is then so good to support the work of the Justice, learn that, at the September Peace and Reconciliation Committee of meeting of the Governing Body of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan the Church in Wales, plans to – a country riven by violence and celebrate the centenary of the one of the poorest in the world, where conflict is exacerbating poverty and the humanitarian crisis. What is raised will go towards helping communities to respond to real challenges of building peace with courage and hope. Pictures from the Church in Church in Wales next year will be Wales website. marked by a major appeal to all our people to raise money NOT for ourselves but for those in special need both at home and overseas. The Archbishop announced that our pledge 5 The second project for Housing Parable of the Good Samaritan). This Justice Cymru will fund church-led is an appeal which will make a night shelters for homeless people difference and will change lives across Wales. It will deliver and we look forward to having training to clergy and church more details about it so that we as members creating ‘Housing a parish can make our contribution Champions’ in each diocese who to this Centenary Appeal. can offer practical support as an informed response to People who are homeless – and homelessness. volunteers who help them – will be focused in church services on Over the last 100 years the Sunday, 13th October – Homeless Church in Wales has been richly Sunday. Sadly homelessness is on blessed and there can be no better an upward trend. In the autumn of way to show our gratitude than by 2018 it was found that 158 people responding to this challenge to were sleeping rough in Wales. help those who are deprived of the Readers of this magazine may not basic necessities of life, and to be aware that some of our resist the temptation ‘to pass by on members are already involved in the other side’. (St Luke 10: 31,32 – helping homeless people. PRAYER FOR THE HOMELESS Eternal God, whose love is boundless and everlasting, you shelter us under the shadow of your wings: help us, we pray, to work for a world where no one is homeless, no neighbour left alone. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen. 6 MESSY BAPTISM! Felicity Barrow he Best Messy Church Best Messy Ever, according to Noah Church ever! aged 11. T Messy Church September 2019 was absolutely amazing. Anneliese and Andrew Davis, who regularly bring sons Sebastian and Alexander to Messy Church, asked if Alexander might be baptised during our September session. What a wonderful afternoon we had: a great expression of how we are all called to be part of Jesus’ family and a great way to show that we belong to the worldwide family of God. Rev’d Hywel was in charge of the liturgy and the rest of the service was a compilation of suggestions by Anneliese and Andrew and input from the Messy Church Team. We welcomed 35 children and their parents, guardians, aunts and uncles to church at 3:15. Immediately we set about some 7 activities to start the chain of thought to focus on Jesus’ promises that He will be with us always. The hall was a hive of activity, with Glenys making candles to emphasise the importance of the giving of light at Baptism. Biddy made edible candles to reinforce this topic and to demonstrate the passage from darkness to light. Of course the light (biscuits with butter cream) were swiftly extinguished, but the point was made. Brenda supervised the making of cards to give to Alexander as a keepsake of this memorable day. We made friendship bracelets and crosses to take home, to remind us that Jesus is the best friend we will have, that He will never leave us and that He is near us wherever we are. Uncle Peter gave us another superb demonstration of water - something we need to sustain life, to nourish and refresh us and of course a very important feature of baptism. But did you know that water has a skin? Well we in Messy Church know that it does, and that 8 surface tension in water is fantastic our crafts; heart badges, doves and at performing tricks … locusts to remind us of Jesus’ Baptism too. Moving to the main event, the Baptism followed the liturgy but involved everyone. It was really special to see all the children gathered around the font, which Hywel had brought to the front of the church, swirling their hands though the water before it was blessed, and used to welcome Alexander into the family of the church. Alexander was perfectly cooperative as his parents and Godparents confirmed their promises for his future. We sang an interactive version of “This Little Light of Mine“ with backing from Dirk on the guitar before shooting off into the hall to finish 9 The party tea and bottomless cake were a real hit. We gathered eventually to sing “Be kind to One Another“ and to say the Messy Grace. Noah, proclaimed that this was the best Messy Church ever. As the coordinator I am inclined to agree. The church was full of families who support Messy Church regularly and many newcomers (lured in by Trevor in fancy dress …) at the start of term. We were also blessed to have with us some of the founder members of our church who have been engaged with children’s ministry over decades and we cannot think them enough for their legacy, practical and prayerful. The atmosphere was light, exciting and expectant. I spend a lot of time reflecting on the progress of our sessions and reviewing where we are or want to be. Looking back on this occasion I felt joy and gratitude (and a little cautious optimism). 10 Moving forwards, with our varied congregation, I hope that the baptism of Alexander may be the first of many and certainly the catalyst to routine consideration of the need for formal acceptance into the church.