Parish Magazine for Llantilio Pertholey with Bettws Chapel and Llanddewi Skirrid SEPTEMBER 2008 50p Dear Friends, I have been re-reading ?A History of the Church in Wales in the Twentieth Century by the Revd. D. T. W. Price, (if you can get hold of a second hand copy, its an interesting read and quite short ) and one of the questions he poses is, what difference has it made for the Church in Wales to cease to be the established ?Church of England in Wales? on the 31st March 1920, and become the dis-established ?Church in Wales?? That may sound a rather academic and irrelevant question for you as congregation members and me as a Priest in that Church today, but it still has practical day to day consequences, for instance anyone living within the bounds of the parish has the legal right under state law to be married in the Parish Church, not a great problem at the moment with the lack of popularity in getting married at all and getting married in Church in particular. But were the state to ever legalise ?gay? marriage where would we stand then? That, however, is not the subject of this article, which is about the ?establishment? attitudes that persist in the general population. On average (leaving out the annual School Confirmation) we have less than twelve infant Baptisms a year at St. Teilo?s, as you as congregation members will know, because we have a properly discussed parish policy that we only do Baptisms in the main morning service, ?welcoming the new member into the fellowship of Christ?s flock?. However they don?t organise themselves nicely at one a month, the next four being on August 24th and 31st, September 14th and October 5th and only one of those can be said to have what I would call a Church connection - that is I know the people involved and have seen or might expect to see them in church other than for the Baptism. For the rest, St. Teilo?s, is somehow ?Their? church although they have never come and have no intention of coming again other then for family occasions like Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals and most when they phone up already have a date firmly in mind, the reception and other family arrangements are already more or less in place and the news that the Baptism can?t be that Sunday because we already have one booked or there is already one the previous or following week is met with incomprehension or even anger, they are being denied their rights. There are also those who want a private Sunday afternoon ceremony and can find a host of reasons, valid or otherwise, why a 10.30 a.m. time is not at all suitable, let alone attending an act of Christian Worship, all they wanted was a christening, or as it used to be put in the valleys ?to get the baby done?. I have recently agreed, very reluctantly to do a Saturday afternoon Baptism in September, partly, because I did not think I could ask the regular congregation to put up with another disrupted morning service, but more to the point to save trouble, because the people involved were obviously going to push and push me until they got what they wanted when they wanted it, and in that situation the church always comes out worst. At, I think, a Diocesan Conference the problem was put like this, ?assume your local golf club has a regular Sunday tournament for the members, what would the members or club captain?s attitude be if someone who was not a member and had not played there in living memory suddenly phoned up and wanted to play a round with a few friends on a particular Sunday next month in the middle of the time the tournament was supposed to be taking place? ? . I offer no solutions, merely state the problem which does go back to our pre 1920 role as the ?Established Church? to which everyone belongs whether they come or not just by virtue of living within the parish boundaries, 88 years on do we still want to or are able to fulfil that role? Marc Winchester ( Priest in Charge ) BAPTISMS in the Parish Sunday 24th August: St. Teilo?s JOSHUA JACK SALWAY STEVENS & VICTORIA LOUISE BATKIN Sunday 31st August: St. Teilo?s CARYS GEORGIA LOUISE PRICE Sunday 14th September: St. Teilo?s CHARLOTTE ROSE HOWELLS FUNERALS in the Parish Monday 4th August: St. Teilo?s ELEANOR KERSEY (81) Tuesday 5th August: St. Teilo?s MARY EILEEN MAY TURNER (97) May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. FORTHCOMING EVENTS September 3rd: PCC Meeting 7.30pm Tredilion Room September 6th and 7th St Teilo?s OPEN WEEKEND and SONGS OF PRAISE September 13th Visit to St Teilo?s Church St Fagan?s Cardiff September 25th St David?s Coffee Morning 10.30 - 12 noon Quilt Raffle Fundraiser for Ty Hafan September/October: Harvest with a Difference St Teilo?s October 4th: Gospel Songs with Elvis Tickets £10 available from August October 7th: Diocesan Finance Meeting 7.30 pm St Mary?s Priory Centre October 11th Big Gig in Abergavenny with Stonewall October 12th St David?s Harvest Festival 3pm October 18th Churchyard Lichens 11.00 - 3.00 St Teilo?s November 2nd: All Souls Remembrance Service FROM THE HOST GROUP The Host group together with church members continue to work through their action plan and have been delighted to have been involved in two recent community events:- The Dan-y-Deri Residents Fete The fete organisers Albert and May McNabb, Chris Smith and Maggie McNally are to be congratulated on a delightful and successful Event. This will be remembered for the fabulous weather ? probably the best day of this year. It would be great to see this becoming an annual event with weather arrangements the same please! Llantilio Pertholey Church In Wales School Fete The weather for this event has less sunshine on offer although the atmosphere and welcome was very warm indeed. Again, a delightful afternoon and a success in terms of the much needed funds raised for the work of the Parents Teacher Association. At both events the church representatives ran stalls and, most importantly, used the opportunity to keep everyone informed of the work ongoing at St. Teilo?s to keep the church alive. Both our regular services as well as the 2008 programme of events were well promoted. Mardy Park Special Chair Appeal It came to our attention at the Dan-y-Deri Fete that Mardy Park are busy raising funds for an all singing\dancing chair for the benefit of their residents. The chair can be viewed at the home where donations are welcome. HOST PROGRAMME 2009 The Host group continue to meet monthly and will soon be drawing up the 2009 programme for events in line with the objectives stated in the Hope for Monmouth Mapping exercise. Please contact the host groups if you have:- Ø New ideas for events Ø Dates already planned for community events Ø Dates booked for events within the church to avoid clashes i.e. Friendship Circle; Mothers Union; J Club; etc. Please remember anyone is welcome to attend any of the Host meetings. Dates of the meetings are published in the Pew Leaflet and church notice board together with the names of all existing members and all planned events. Questions and Answers There must be times when you read Link magazine that you have thought you would like to:- Comment on one of the articles; Express your opinion on a current issue in the church; Share your news or thoughts; and\or Ask a question relating to religion\the church. If so, why not send these into Q&A? Father Marc has volunteered his help in providing answers. CHURCH LIBRARY Books In the ?Coffee Corner?, near the entrance to the bell steps, there is the beginning of our church library. Anyone is welcome to borrow anything on display there and donations of books, video tapes, CD?s, magazines are gratefully received. Church Times You may have noticed on the coffee table are copies of the Church Times made available thanks to Fr. Marc. Please do take a look for the latest church news. In addition to the usual features of book reviews, religious features to be televised, the week prayer, etc. here is a taster of the types of articles that appeared recently. Bee Keeping ? why the clergy have been involved in this throughout the centuries Chaplains ? Why the stereotype school chaplain has become outdated. Green Issues ? from environmentally friendly churchyards to global warming. Women Bishops ? Looking at both sides of the debate dominating the July Synod. Interesting thought - ?How do Atheists Make Moral Decisions?? Around the Dioceses ? Margaret Duggan provides a regular feature on what is happening in our churches. Apart from the interest provided, there are also many new and innovative ideas to be found and used in our own church. On Restoration After two years shrouded in scaffolding and hoardings a revitalised St. Martin In the Fields has emerged transformed by a £36 million renewal scheme. It is the costliest ever church refurbishment. (Take heart all members of St. Teilo?s our task is small be comparison!!) Volunteer Librarian Perhaps there is someone in church who would like to help expand our little library? There is plenty of scope as it is still in its infancy ? existing books to be listed; suggesting new materials to be added, applying for budget for these etc One idea would be to provide a regular book review slot for our Link magazine. Please let Fr. Mark know if you can help. VT SAINT TEILO?S CHURCH AT ST. FAGAN?S St. Teilo?s medieval church from Llandeilo, Tal-y-Bont has been refurbished and re-erected at St.Fagan?s Natural History Museum, Cardiff, as it would have appeared about 1516 -1530.This is the first time such a church has been moved to an open air museum in Britain. Although some churches have been re-erected in museums on the continent, the vast majority of these are timber built, whereas this building is of solid masonry construction. The church is believed to have been built during the 13th Century on the site of an earlier pre Norman church. Over time the building was altered and extended. The oldest parts of the present structure, the nave and chancel, are thought to have been built during the 13th or 14th centuries. The roof timers are of a typical early 15th Century design, though may be, in fact, of a later date. The west wall of the nave was altered in the early 18th Century (datestone 1736) and most of the stone-mullioned windows were replaced by timer mullioned windows at this time. Several churches in South Wales and Brittany are dedicated to St. Teilo. He is the patron saint of horses and fruit trees and St. Teilo?s Day is celebrated on 9th February. He is, of course, depicted riding on a stag in the most recent of the stained glass windows at our St. Teilo?s church in Llantilio ? this is also featured on latest cookery book for St. Teilo?s 2008. Please see the notice board about the trip to St Fagans on September 13th VT ££ MATTERS FINANCIAL ££ Having just received from the Diocesan Office notification of our Parish Share assessment for next year I thought I would share the good / bad news with you. Parish Share is the amount we as a parish have to pay each year to the Diocese to meet clergy salaries, pensions, housing and other central Church in Wales costs, each year I have to send in a figure for numbers attending Church averaged out over the year and this is the basis of the amount we are assessed to pay. This year our assessment was £29,189 next year it will drop to £27,328, despite the fact that ?Parish Share? generally over all the parishes of the Diocese is set to rise next year by 4%, our contribution is dropping because the number attending our church is dropping ( 2005 66, 2006 60 & 2007 58 ) Last year I declared a ?Regular Worshipper Factor? ( how many on average attend each week ) of 58 assuming this remains the same next year that means that next year, on average, each person attending will be expected to contribute £471.17 or £9.06 a week just to pay the ?Parish Share? before any other bills, heating, lighting, maintenance and other expenses are met. As John Powell our treasurer will tell you we somehow manage to pay our way, not least due to his skill in managing out money, but if you could consider being even a little more generous in your weekly contribution he, and the parish, would be very grateful. Marc Winchester Lent Donations to Charities. During Lent £1195 in donations were received and distributed as follows: National Church Trust £100. Generation Hope £100 Christian Aid £700 The Archbishop of Wales Fund for Children £110 Mission to Seafarers £ 65 Bishop of Monmouth Lent Appeal £100 USPG £ 20. John Powell Treasurer ££ IN THE DIOCESE The Diocesan Office has arranged a meeting for parish finance officers, treasurers, covenant secretaries and all interested parties on Tuesday October 7th at 7.30pm in the Music Room of St Mary's Priory Centre. A presentation will be given and there will be an opportunity for discussion and questions. On a Deanery matter, we agreed at the AGM that this year's levy on each group of parishes would remain at £10. St. TEILO?S JUNE / JULY COLLECTIONS & COMMUNICANTS JUNE 2008 1st £594.10 ( 67 ) 8th £468.06 ( 56 ) 15th £508.00 ( 62 ) 22nd £631.47 ( 74 ) 29th £547.10 ( 17 ) Matins JULY 2008 6th £612.82 ( 61 ) 13th £589.10 ( 72 ) 20th £546.01 ( 59 ) 27th £500.96 ( 58 ) Average this year £540.88 ( 62.2 ) Average running costs per week £669.00 CHURCHYARD LICHENS ?Sanctuary, Resurrection & Hope? St Teilo?s, Llantilio Pertholey Saturday 18th October, 11.00am-3.00pm Led by Lichen expert; Ivan Pedley, The British Lichen Society Discover what lichens are, what they?re used for, how to identify them, as well why our churchyards provide an important home. The day will include an introductory informal talk & the chance to practice ID and look at St Teilo?s lichens. Please wear appropriate outdoors shoes & clothing and bring lunch, a notebook and pen, any lichen ID books and lens x10 if you have one. PLACES ARE FREE BUT BOOKING IS REQUIRED Please contact Ann Davies to book a place. THE POST OFFICE AND THE CHURCH The importance of maintaining community links is often in the public eye. Many fear the decline of places seen as central to the community life such as the local pub., the parish church and the sub post office. Here are two recent press articles involving the post office and the church. Keep Rural Post Offices Open The Bishops of Newcastle and Chelmsford have called for more to be done to keep post offices open in rural areas. During a debate in the House of Lords, The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt. Revd Martin Wharton, criticised the consultation process over the closures as ?far too tight?, and endorsed the opening of post offices in rural churches. The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt. Revd John Gladwin, praised Essex County Council, which is considering taking over about 15 threatened post offices. The Bishop urged other local authorities to follow the council?s lead. Parish Buys The Village Post Office A parish in Suffolk is believed to be the first ever to buy its post office, thanks to a substantial bequest from a former resident. The PCC of St. Mary the Virgin in Haughley, near Stowmarket, bought the post office after it received about £50,000 from the will of the late Maxwell Charnley, a solicitor who maintained ties with the village where he grew up, despite moving away. The post office, which is one of the oldest in Britain, having opened in 1848, closed temporarily last year after it?s long-serving postmistress, who owned the building, retired. But Post Office Ltd is now advertising for a new postmaster, and villages hope that it will re-open by September, after renovations have been carried out on the building, which dates from before the 1830?s The Revd Katherine Valentine, Assistant Curate of St. Mary?s said villagers were delighted. ?The Post Office was looking for a new site, and the PCC started to think about how we could help. It seemed obvious to buy the building, and it?s great to use the money in this way that will benefit the whole community. We are very pleased.? The refurbishment of the post office will include a new meeting room for community use. VT The Holy Mountain - Skirrid Fawr - Ysgyrid Fawr. Or what we did in 1972 The Skirrid Mountain, in Welsh Ysgyrid Fawr, known also as St Michael's Mount and The Holy Mountain, a prominent object for many miles around, rises precipitously above the village. The highest spot is 486 metres (1595) feet above sea level here can be traced the walls of an ancient chapel, called St Michael's Chapel. The length from east to west is 25 feet and the breadth 20 feet. The Catholics of the neighbourhood at one time used this mountain chapel. Mr Arnold in his examination (Examinations as to Popery, etc. 1680) said: 'He hath seen a hundred papists meet on the top of an high Hill, called St Michael's Mount, here is frequent meetings eight or ten times in the year, as he is informed. Mass is said, and sometimes Sermons are preached there. Mr John Scudamore of Kentchurch also deposed that: - He saw very great numbers of people at their Devotion on the top of a high hill in Monmouthshire called St Michael's Mount, where there is a ruinous Chappel and a stone with crosses on it, which he took to be an Alter and that he hath seen people with Beads in their Hands kneeling towards the said stone, both within and without the Chappel and he has been informed that Mass is often said there.' One of the routes to the summit is an ancient ascent route that provided a direct way up to St Michael's Chapel and most likely used by the pilgrims who struggled up the Skirrid centuries ago. On Good Fridays and on St Michael's Day (29 September) they came in large numbers. This path is not as steep as the direct northerly route and brings you up onto the ridge about 200 odd metres south of the summit. On Good Friday in 1972, with the permission of the National Trust, the young people of St Teilo's Church at Llantilio Pertholey together with the youth of all denominations in Abergavenny held a procession and service. They left St Teilo's Church carrying a large cross weighing 60 lbs. Between 80 and 90 teenagers took turns to carry the cross along the old pilgrim route to the summit were it was erected and an inter-denominational service was held. NEWS FROM ST DAVIDS At St David's, this summer has been a season of contrasting emotions. On 26th July, we welcomed family and friends of Teresa and William Whitfield as they brought their baby daughter Bethan Carys to be dedicated. Teresa and William were married at St David's so it seemed the right place to thank God for her life and pray for His blessing on her. Bethan has brought them such happiness, and transformed their lives from being a couple into a family. We pray for God's blessing on all young families. It was a really wonderful day and we enjoyed what was probably the sunniest weekend all summer. From the great joy of welcoming a new little one, we were deeply saddened by the death of Selby Milner. Selby had borne with enormous courage and determination the cruel illness of leukaemia. He underwent a stem cell transplant which we all hoped would restore him to health, however, it did not take as it should and he quickly deteriorated. Selby remained positive right up to the end. For many years Selby and Elizabeth Milner organised fund raising events in their garden to support St David?s Church. When the organ had been restored in 2001/2002 Selby thought that we should make full use of this magnificent instrument and so suggested that the focus of these events move to the Church. The first concert organised by Selby and Elizabeth in April 2003 was entitled Renaissance of an Organ and this was followed each year with a series of Summer concerts held in August. Selby was not well enough to take the leading role in the organisation of this year?s concert but followed progress closely, giving advice where needed, while Elizabeth still ran the box office and, despite his illness, Selby still printed the tickets. We are truly grateful to both Selby and Elizabeth for their work. We will miss Selby but we hope to continue with Summer concerts in future years as a tribute to the enormous contribution that he made in so many ways. We pray for Elizabeth, Isabel and Eleanor as they mourn the loss of a much loved husband and father. The Organ Recital on 29th August was a truly uplifting experience. Father Richard Williams enthralled a full Church with the most wonderful music. The passion he put into his varied programme (which included some of his own extemporisations of well-known themes) displayed Richard's talent and love of organ playing. We felt privileged to hear it and we hope that we may be able to persuade Richard to come again. If you enjoy organ music and you missed this concert be sure to book early next time. Father Richard was accompanied by his handsome poodle called Jimmy who barked his appreciation of his master's playing as the audience applauded. We continue to remember in our prayers those who are ill. We think of Joy and Norman Amann, and Ron Davies who are very unwell, please let me know of anyone you would like to be included on our prayer list. We are holding our Harvest Festival on 12 October at 3pm, please try and join us for this joyful service, gifts of flowers or fruit and veg to decorate the church will be much appreciated. The next village hall coffee morning will be held on 25th September at the usual time of 10.30 am to 12 noon. This month we are making it a special fund raising event. Over the past few months the ladies of the Monday sewing group have produced 2 quilts which will be joined together with many other quilts to form the Welsh flag. The completed flag will be large enough to cover the ground of the Millenium stadium. Each quilt is sponsored, to raise funds for Ty Hafan the hospice dedicated to the care of children. To coincide with this project we are having a "Butterfly" coffee morning. Please support this special event. There will be a bring and buy stall, cake stall, and raffle. It would be wonderful if we are able to make a good contribution to this marvelous organisation. At the next hall committee meeting we hope to begin planning for an Autumn Fair; details in future "Links". As always, best wishes, Frances (01873 859485). NEWS FROM CHRISTIAN AID AFRICA FOOD CRISIS APPEAL Millions of people across Africa are facing extreme hunger and malnutrition. In Kenya half a million people are still refugees from the violence following last December?s elections, and their land has not been cultivated. Fuel and fertiliser costs have trebled in the last year across Africa. Six million people in Ethiopia are in danger of malnutrition and 4.6 million need Food Aid immediately. Christian Aid is working with partner organisations, including Muslim organisations, across the region. Please help by giving to the Africa Food Crisis Appeal at www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies CLIMATE CHANGE ?Curbing climate change would cost no more than one percent of global income per year?and the world can afford it? Jeffrey Sachs development economist G8 Summit ?Goodbye from the world?s greatest polluter? George Bush farewell ?joke? to the G8 Summit Thousands of Christian Aid supporters will be asked to sign up to a ?Countdown to Copenhagen pledge? - a commitment to campaign for a new international deal on climate change that works for the world?s poorest people. The pledge will be launched this autumn ?and the grand total of pledges will be delivered to the Prime minister next year to emphasise the popular demand for a fairer deal for the world?s poor in Copenhagen in December 2009. For more information go to: www.christianaid.org.uk/getinvolved Join the People Map? Go to London on Wednesday 15th October for a Christian Aid photo-stunt to create a people map ?an event designed to maintain pressure on the government to take robust action on climate change. Represent your county on the people map and join the delegation of campaigners who will go on to lobby MP?s in Westminster. www.christianaid.org.uk TIME TO REFLECT Taken from ?Sunday Worship? from Glenstall Abbey on Radio 4. First Broadcast in 2002 (Transcripts are available on www.bbc.co.uk/radio4) ?You have never seen your own face. You cannot see your thoughts, which shape your mind and world, and you have never seen the inner world hidden behind the faces of those closest to you. You cannot see the future that is already claiming you and you cannot see the divine; so the invisible world holds our deepest treasures and it is only through the gift of the imagination that we can sense these adjacent worlds and cross over their thresholds. The imagination is the great friend of possibility.? ?Around us all the time is the invisible presence of the unknown saints, people who bring goodness alive. We will never know their names, for they live far from the world of image and headlines, yet through the dignity of their kindness, they keep the humane tissue of a culture alive and vital. Each day we awaken, unknown kindness supports and shelters us. These are the gifts we never see directly, yet their presence makes life bearable. Their endurance prevents the house of the mind from becoming a haunted ruin.? Jesus said to His disciples: ?Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or about your body, what you will wear, for life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens. They neither sew nor reap. They have neither storehouse nor barn and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds, and can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you even Solomon, in all his glory, was not clothed like one of these, but if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying, for it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for His kingdom and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father?s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in Heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.? RAINBOWS, BROWNIES, GUIDES and RANGERS are going ?GOLD? During the week of September 21st -27th all Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger Units will be ?going GOLD? in their meeting places. They will be inviting parents and members of the local communities to come and have a fun evening by joining in some of their ?gold? activities. They will be telling everyone about Guiding in the hope that more people will be encouraged to become leaders or help in some other way. They will also be recruiting girls to join their unit, although in some places this might not be immediately possible because of the need for leaders. The whole of Gwent Guiding goes GOLD on Saturday, September 27th with activities in town centres and village squares, - so if you see us please come and talk to us. Look out for our posters during the week and contact us if you would like to know more. If you are interested please telephone 0800 1 69 59 01 or email guiding@live.co.uk There is just as much fun and friendship in Guiding for the adults as there is for the girls. A Sideways View? Silence is Golden Sister Josephine joined a convent, which was part of a silent order. She was welcomed to the order by the Mother Superior and Sister Mary, and informed that she was allowed to speak briefly to Mother Superior once a year. The first year Mother Superior asked Sister Josephine how she was settling in and she replied ?Mattress too hard?. After the second year the Mother Superior asked the same question and Sister Josephine replied ?Pillow too hard?. After the third year Sister Josephine said ?I quit? and left the convent. Sister Mary told the Mother Superior she was upset that Sister Josephine had left. Mother Superior replied ?Maybe it is for the best, Sister Mary. Perhaps Sister Josephine was not best suited for this type of life, after all she did nothing but complain from the moment she arrived?. Heard something recently that made you smile? Why not send it for publication in the link and share that smile with the readers. VT WORTH REMEMBERING Irena Sendler ?The Female Schindler? In May 2008 this lady, code named ?Jolanta? during World War II, died in Warsaw aged 98 years. This Polish born and bred, Roman Catholic, lady was working as a senior administrator in Warsaw?s Social Welfare Department in September, 1939 when the Germans invaded Poland. In 1940 she saw the creation of Warsaw Ghetto; some 44,000 Jews were herded into a 16 block neighbourhood surrounded by a wall. In this open prison disease and starvation flourished and 5000 died every month. 250,00 Jews were transferred from there to Treblinka. Irena, horrified by events, joined Zegotta, an underground organisation created by the Polish government in exile to help the nation?s Jews. In conditions of extreme danger she and others helped save as many ghetto children from near certain death as possible. She smuggled out children in suitcases, ambulances, coffins, sewer pipes, rucksacks and tool boxes. Irena managed to save 2,500 babies and toddlers before she was arrested by the Germans in October, 1943. She refused to expose the Zegotta underground and as a result both her legs and arms were broken at Pawiak prison in Warsaw. She was miraculously saved from death by a firing squad in the forest by the underground group. Most remarkable of all was the list she recorded on tissue paper and kept it two glass jars buried under an apple tree in her neighbour?s garden opposite a German army barracks. Irene later married and had two children. In 1983 she was decorated in Israel as ?Righteous Among the Nations? and last year she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. VT BOOK REVIEW The Medieval Chantry Chapel: An Archaeology. Simon Roffey. The Boydell Press £40. Church bookshops £36. An extract from the Church Times, 30th May, 2008 by Nicholas Orme ?In my Father?s house are many mansions? The same could be said of medieval churches, which were buildings of several rooms, not single spaces as they tend to be used today. Chancels and naves were divided by archways or rood screens. All but the smallest churches acquired porches, aisles, transepts, and chapels; and these too, were often defined in some way. Chapels in churches are commonly known as chantry chapels. This is a misnomer. A chantry was an endowment to maintain a priest to say mass every day for the souls of living people or dead. Only a small minority of chapels in churches had priests of this kind, for the good reason that there were far fewer chantry priests even than churches, let alone than the chapels within them. Rather, such chapels had a range of functions. Some were private areas for gentry; others belonged to religious guilds, or housed the images and cults of saints. Although they has altars, many of these can rarely have been used for mass; and then it would have been chiefly by the clergyman of the church, not a special chantry priest. The author describes his study of these chapels as archaeology, and in this respect it is a good one. He has examined a great many of them in the parish churches of southern England and writes informatively about their locations, structures, decorations and furniture. The book is provided with useful plans and photographs. Unfortunately, these strengths are not matched by those of a historian. Few written primary sources have been used. He has not considered the essential point of chantry priests? numbers, which are ascertainable from clergy-taxation records. He gives little attention to guilds ? a far commoner presence in parish churches than chantries. Not convincing either, is his grand theory: that altars in churches are placed so as to be seen from one another. It lacks liturgical context and sometimes involves re-siting them away from east walls. Sadly the book threatens to perpetuate the view that all church chapels were chantry chapels, rather than leading us to a more judicious understanding of the variety of activities in medieval parish churches.? Canon Nicholas Orme is Emeritus Professor of History of Exeter University. ** NOTICEBOARD ** Friendship Circle. The programme for 2008 ? 2009 will be posted on the notice board in church. We start on September 16th with an evening called ?Talk, tea, subs and stories?. We always welcome new members and only ask for £3 which we use to give donations to a charity or to the person visiting to help with their individual costs. We meet in the Tredilion Room and start at 7.30 pm and the programme is interesting and varied. Please come along to an evening if you are just interested in the person speaking. Contact Liz on 01873855549 or lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk Llantilio Pertholey WI. Llantilio Pertholey WI meets on the first Thursday of each month in the Mardy Community Hall at 7.15pm. Our successful AGM on May 1st was held at St Teilo?s. We held a very successful garden party at the home of our president in August called ?My Fair Ladies? all members looked very smart and the weather did not spoil our fun. On September 4th Peter & Rosemary Nuttall will be talking about ?The Magdalene Foundation? a charity they set up in Calcutta. On October 2nd we celebrate Harvest with a beetle drive/quiz followed by a tasty supper. We have a wide variety of talks and activities in our WI and always welcome new members or visitors. Contact Liz on 01873855549 or lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk. Abergavenny Walking for Health There are four years to the London Olympics, our Team GB have shown us what can be done when you get up, get out and keep fit. This group leaves the Family Church in Castle Street every Wednesday at 10.30 and walk for under an hour. This is your chance to get fit, enjoy the fresh air and scenery, be sociable, enjoy a coffee and lift your spirits. Come and join us. Contact Liz Barnes for more details. St Teilo?s CHURCH CHOIR Can you sing? Are you interested in joining our friendly church choir ? please contact Ieuan Davies on 01873 859934. We practice on Friday evenings at 6.00pm. HEALING MASS A Healing Mass is held on the first Friday of the month at 19.00 at St. Teilo's ST TEILO?S GREEN CHURCHYARD There is now a green compost bin in the churchyard by the yew tree. This is for dead flowers and foliage only ? other rubbish to go in the metal dustbins. Please do not put plastic bags or cellophane wrappings in the compost bin. St Teilo?s Churchyard Grass Cutting Please refrain from placing cans, jars, and bottles in the ground, it is dangerous for those who give their time to try and keep our churchyard presentable, and lawnmowers and strimmers do not like them either. J CLUB A Sunday club for primary age children meets at St Teilo?s at 10.30 on Sundays, except in August. Please contact Marc Winchester if you would like to your children to join J club activities . THE BELLS Want to ring a bell or have bells rung for a special celebration? Contact David Salter David Salter 853611 PARISH BIBLE STUDY GROUP The bible study group meets at the vicarage, 10 The Pines, Mardy on Wednesdays 7.30 -9 pm. PARISH PRAYER LIST. At the back of St Teilo?s church there is a book for entering the names of anyone you know of who is ill and needs our prayers and would, perhaps, like someone to visit them. If possible, please ask for permission from the person concerned before entering their name to ensure we do not invade anyone?s privacy. Contact the church wardens or the vicar if you aren?t able to get to church. VILLAGE PRODUCE ASSOCIATION We meet on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Mardy Hall at 7pm. Contacts: Marion Tucker 852176 & Malcolm Brinkworth 850115. St TEILO?S ROTAS FOR SEPTEMBER Reading Rota St Teilo?s 10.30am Pat Beaumont/ Dorothy Masters 7th September 2008 Stan Baldwin/Peter Griffin 14th September 2008 Karl Sage/Pam Burnell 21st September 2008 Verley Toyer/Philippa Herbert 28th September 2008 Chris Rudge/Ann Davies 5th October 2008 Cleaning Group Group 1 7.9.08 5.10.08 Group 2 14.9.08 Group 4 21.9.08 Group 5 28.9.08 LAUNDERING ROTA Mrs R. Rogers 07.09.08 Mrs A. Whittington 14.09.08 Mrs M. Baldwin 21.09.08 Mrs A. Davies 28.09.08 Mrs B. Gollop 05.10.08 Sideman?s Rota Mrs Whittington/ Mrs Scherptong 7/09/08 Mrs Gollop/ Mrs Davies 14/09/08 Mr Griffin/ Mrs Flynn 21/09/08 Mr Glencross/ Karl Sage 28/09/08 Mr & Mrs Baldwin 5/10/08 Coffee Rota Mrs Gollop & Mrs Warrender 7th September 2008 Mr & Mrs Baldwin 14th September 2008 Mr & Mrs Toyer 21st September 2008 Shirley Jones & Mrs Hitchins 28th September 2008 Mrs Masters & Mrs Whitcombe 5th October 2008 SERVICES IN SEPTEMBER Sunday 7th September PENTECOST 17 ( Trinity 16 ) 8.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo?s ( Readings BCP Page 192 ) 9.15 a.m. Holy Communion : Bettws Chapel ( Readings BCP Page 192 ) 9.15 Matins : St. David?s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo?s ( Readings WoL Page 375 ) ( Ezekiel 33. 7 ? 11, Romans 13. 8 ? 14 & Matthew 18. 15 ? 20 ) 6.00 p.m. Evensong : St. Teilo?s ( Readings WoL Page 376 ) ( Ezekiel 12. 21 ? 13. 16, Acts 19. 1 ? 20, Psalm 108 ) Sunday 14th September PENTECOST 18 ( Trinity 17 ) 8.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo?s ( Readings BCP Page 194 ) 9.15 a.m. Mass : St. David?s 10.30 a.m. Mass & Baptism : St. Teilo?s ( Reading WoL Page 382 ) ( ONE READING : Romans 14. 1 ? 12 ) 6.00 p.m. Evensong : St. Teilo?s ( Readings WoL Page 383 ) ( Ezekiel 20. 1 ? 8 & 33 ? 44, Acts 20. 17 ? 38. 8, Psalm 119. 41 ? 48 ) Sunday 21st September PENTECOST 19 ( Trinity 18 ) 8.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo?s ( Readings BCP Page 196 ) 9.15 a. m. Holy Communion : Bettws Chapel ( Readings BCP Page 196 ) 9.15 a.m. Matins : St. David?s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo?s ( Readings WoL Page 390 ) ( Jonah 3. 10 ? 4. 11, Philippians 1. 21 ? 30 & Matthew 20. 1 ? 16 ) 6.00 p.m. Evensong : St. Teilo?s ( Readings WoL Page 392 ) ( Ezekiel 33. 23, 30 ? 34. 10, Acts 26. 1, 9 ? 25, Psalm 119. 121 ? 128 ) Sunday 28th September PENTECOST 20 ( Trinity 19 ) 8.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo?s ( Readings BCP Page 199 ) 9.15 a.m. Mass : St. David?s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo?s ( Readings WoL Page 397 ) ( Ezekiel 18. 1 ? 4, 25 ? 32, Philippians 2. 1 ? 13 & Matthew 21. 23 ? 32 ) 6.00 p.m. Evensong : St. Teilo?s ( Readings WoL Page 399 ) ( Ezekiel 37. 15 ? 28, 1st John 2. 22 ? 29, Psalm 120 ) PARISH DIRECTORY Bettws Chapel: Mark Powell 850647 jmhp@hotmail.co.uk Bellringers : David Salter 853611 St Teilo?s Church Warden:Tony Savager 890516 Chris Rudge 854214 Community Council contact: David Spencer Cllr.dspencer@btopenworld.com Covenant Secretary Chris Rudge 854214 Diocesan Website www.churchinwales.org.uk Flower Rota Rita Rudge 854214 Friendship Circle & Liz Barnes 855549 Llantilio Pertholey WI lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk J-Club Marc Winchester 8544323 marcw1953@aol.com Llantilio Pertholey School David Evans 853746 Llandewi Skirrid Frances Whitfield 859485 franceswhitf@aol.com Llandewi Skirrid website www.llanddewiskirrid.co.uk Mardy Hall Cllr. Phil Jones 858467 Magazine Sue Saunders 853950 ashaylett@hotmail.com Mothers? Union Betty Gollop 855216 Organist & Choirmaster Ieuan Davies PCC Rural Dean Jeremy Winston 851261 Treasurer John Powell 854642 Vicar (Not Mondays) Marc Winchester 854323 marcw1953@aol.com Village Produce Association Marion Tucker 852176 Malcolm Brinkworth 850115 Women?s Institute Liz Barnes 855549 lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk 23 Services in the Parish St. Teilo?s Llantilio Pertholey Sundays 8.00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Said) 10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist (5th Sunday Matins) 6.00 p.m. Evensong Wednesday 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Said) Friday 7.00 p.m. Holy Eucharist (Said) St. David?s Llanddewi Skirrid 9.15 a.m. 2nd & 4th Sundays Holy Eucharist 9.15 a.m. 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays Matins Bettws Chapel 9.15 a.m. 1st & 3rd Sundays Holy Communion Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals by arrangement CONTRIBUTIONS for the OCTOBER issue by SEPTEMBER 27th please to Sue Saunders ashaylett@hotmail.com. Help with collating warmly welcomed! . PARISH DIRECTORY Bettws Chapel Mark Powell 850647 jmhp@hotmail.co.uk Bellringers David Salter 853611 St Teilo?s Church Warden Tony Savager 890516 Chris Rudge 854214 Community Council contact: David Spencer Cllr.dspencer@btopenworld.com Covenant Secretary Chris Rudge 854214 Diocesan Website www.churchinwales.org.uk Flower Rota Rita Rudge 854214 Friendship Circle & Liz Barnes 855549 Llantilio Pertholey WI lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk J-Club Marc Winchester 854323 marcw1953@aol.com Llantilio Pertholey School David Evans 853746 Llandewi Skirrid Frances Whitfield 859485 franceswhitf@aol.com Llandewi Skirrid website www.llanddewiskirrid.co.uk Mardy Hall Cllr. Phil Jones 858467 Magazine Sue Saunders 853950 ashaylett@hotmail.com Mothers? Union Betty Gollop 855216 Organist & Choirmaster Ieuan Davies PCC Rural Dean Jeremy Winston 851261 Treasurer John Powell 854642 Vicar (Not Mondays) Marc Winchester 854323 marcw1953@aol.com Village Producce Association Marion Tucker 852176 Malcolm Brinkworth 850115 Women?s Institute Liz Barnes 855549 lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk Services in the Parish St. Teilo?s Llantilio Pertholey Sundays 8.00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Said) 10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist (5th Sunday Matins) 6.00 p.m. Evensong Wednesday 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Said) Friday 7.00 p.m. Holy Eucharist (Said) St. David?s Llanddewi Skirrid 9.15 a.m. 2nd & 4th Sundays Holy Eucharist 9.15 a.m. 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays Matins Bettws Chapel 9.15 a.m. 1st & 3rd Sundays Holy Communion Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals by arrangement CONTRIBUTIONS for the OCTOBER issue by SEPTEMBER 27th please to Sue Saunders ashaylett@hotmail.com. Help with collating warmly welcomed! Parish Magazine for Llantilio Pertholey with Bettws Chapel and Llanddewi Skirrid FEBRUARY 2009 50p SERVICES IN FEBRUARY Sunday 1st February EPIPHANY 4 8.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings BCP Page 58 ) 9.15 a.m. Mass : Bettws Chapel ( Readings BCP Page 58 ) 9.15 a.m. Matins : St. David’s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 69 ) ( Deuteronomy 18. 15 – 20, Revelation 12. 1 – 5a & Mark 1. 21 - 28 ) 6.00 p.m. Evensong : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 70 ) ( 1st Samuel 3. 1 – 20, Corinthians 14. 12 – 20, Psalm 34. 1 - 10 ) Sunday 8th February 3rd SUNDAY before LENT 8.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings BCP Page 66 ) 9.15 a.m. Mass : St. David’s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Reading WoL Page 79 ) ( Isaiah 40. 21 – 31, Corinthians 9. 16 – 23 & Mark 1. 29 - 39 ) NO EVENING SERVICE : St. Teilo’s, Llantilio Pertholey 6.00 p.m. JOINT PATRONAL FESTIVAL : St. Teilo’s, Newport Preacher : The Archdeacon of Newport, Refreshments to follow Sunday 15th February 2nd SUNDAY before LENT 8.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings BCP Page 69 ) 9.15 a. m. Mass : Bettws Chapel ( Readings BCP Page 69 ) 9.15 a.m. Matins : St. David’s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 98 ) ( Proverbs 8. 1 – 22, Colossians 1.15 – 20 & John 1. 1 - 14 ) 6.00 p.m. Evensong : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 99 ) ( Genesis 2. 4b – 25, Luke 8. 22 – 35, Psalm 65 ) Sunday 22nd February Last SUNDAY before LENT 08.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings BCP Page 72 ) 09.15 a.m. Mass : St. David’s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 103 ) ( 2nd Kings 2. 1 – 12, Corinthians 4. 3 – 6 & Mark 9. 2 - 9 ) 6.00 p.m. Evensong : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 104 ) ( 1st Kings 19. 1 – 16, 2nd Peter 1. 16 - 21, Psalm 99 ) Dear Friends, I begin my article this week with a Bible passage: The tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering round to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. ( Luke 15. 1 – 7 NIV ) Since Christmas we in the Bible Study Group have been working our way through Luke Chapters 15 and 16 beginning with the passage I have printed above, and I think “working through” is a very good way of describing it, because as the group have got to know each other better and gained in confidence to think and speak about the passages we are looking at, it has become clearer and clearer that the different members of the group see different things and different meanings in those passages, and particularly how we are to relate the message of those passages to our lives as Christians today, individually and as a parish. As I write this we are beginning chapter 16 and the very difficult parable of the dishonest steward with its odd teaching following to “Make friends of the mammon of unrighteousness” who are wiser in their generation than the children of light ( Verse 9 ), as we have talked round these difficult passages we have had to think about the context in which Jesus may originally have told the story, the years of oral transmission before Luke found it and included it in his gospel and how he has placed it in the framework of that gospel. It has been interesting and at times quite challenging with sometimes our having to decide that we really are not sure what the story means or how we are meant to apply it to our situation now. Finally I do not think this is a problem because we do not worship a book but a person, the stories and teaching are there to help us to come to know the Lord Jesus and his purpose for us as his followers and there will be parts that do not speak to us and others that do not and he promises the help of his Holy Spirit to “Guide us into all truth” as St. John says. One theme that has been coming through the passages we have been looking at is, where are we to place the emphasis of our efforts as a parish and church to continue and grow our faith, to go back to the story of the lost sheep, how absurd it seems in human terms to leave the 99 and go after the 1 that got itself lost, what will happen to them in the meantime! Or to put it into the terms of us in this parish, how do we balance the need to reach out in mission to the community around us with the need to look after and keep together the flock we have? If we do not reach out the gathered flock will gradually dwindle and die but if we do not spend enough time and effort looking after and tending that flock some of them may well lose interest, feel undervalued and drift away. Looking at the wider picture in this Deanery and the Church in Wales in general, many smaller and more elderly congregations seem at the point where any chance of growth is gone, do we continue spreading our already stretched resources ( especially clergy ) ever more thinly to try and help them to continue to exist for as long as possible? Or do we concentrate what resources we have where growth is already happening or where there at least seems to be potential for growth? This is not just theory or idle chat at a Bible study, but with the departure in the summer of the Rev Michael Sadler from the Llanddewi Rhydderch group, and the failure to find a “House for Duty” priest for the Grosmont group, a very live issue in our Deanery. By the time you read this magazine the Deanery Clergy will have had a meeting with the Bishop ( 30th January ) to discuss this and other matters concerning the future of our Deanery, please keep him and those who have to make these decisions in your prayers. Marc Winchester ( Priest in Charge ) There are four things you can do about this between now and Easter: • The Lent Course with Bishop Dominic • What Me? Days with Rev Canon Ambrose Mason • The Diocesan Week of Guided Prayer • The Parish Quiet Day Mondays (2,9,16,23, 30 March) at 7.30pm Llanfair Kilgeddin Hall, Pant-y-Goitre, Llanfair Kilgeddin Tuesdays (3,10,17,24,31 March) at 7.30pm St Peter’s Church, Blaina Wednesdays (4,11,18,25 March & 1 April) at 8pm Newport Cathedral (Evensong 7.00pm) Thursdays (5,12,19,26 March & 2 April) at 7.30pm Pontprennau Community Church Centre, Heol Pontprennau, CF23 8LL Fridays (6,13,20,27 March & 3 April) at 7.30pm St Mary’s, Magor (New Church Centre) All last one hour Week 1: St John and the Eagle — an introduction Week 2: The spiritual battle Week 3: Signs not miracles Week 4: The ‘I am’ sayings Week 5: St John and the Passion of Jesus Bring a Bible with you Please join Bishop Dominic for one evening a week What me? What have I to offer? I should like to invite YOU to come to one of these four days to explore your Christian gifting and call. Each day will take the same format and will run from 10am-4pm Refreshments and lunch included 7th February Rogerstone St Johns Church Hall NP10 9FG 7th March Llanfair Kilgeddin (on the B4598 Usk Road) 14th March Blaenavon World Heritage Centre 4th April Newport St Teilo’s, Aberthaw Ave, Always Places limited to 12 a day RSVP to Rev Canon Ambrose Mason The Rectory, Gwernesney USK NP15 1HF Tel 01291 672152 ambrose@rectorygwernesney.com DIOCESAN WEEK OF GUIDED PRAYER ‘Lord teach us how to pray’ If you are interested in finding out about how to live a more prayerful life, or to have a short retreat for a week during Lent which fits in with your working life or your daily life, there will be an opportunity to do a week of guided prayer from the 8th to the 15th of March. The week begins and ends with a meeting of the participants and prayer guides for about an hour. Between those meetings you are asked to pray in silence for half an hour every day, using a passage from the bible chosen for you, and to meet your prayer guide for half an hour every day. (This is called the Ignation method.) Can you spare an hour a day for a week? It can be life changing! Contact Sr Anita Woodwell 01633 482343 for more information QUIET DAY On Saturday, 14th March, we will be going to Marshfield (between Newport and Cardiff) for a day’s retreat taken by Fr Matthews starting about 10.30 to 3.30pm – taking our own lunch. As numbers are limited, please indicate on the list at the back of church if you are interested in joining us or contact Fr Marc . FORTHCOMING EVENTS Wednesday 4th February : Tredillion Room 7.30 p.m. P.C.C. Meeting Sunday 8th February : St. Teilo’s, Newport 6.00 p.m. Joint Patronal Festival. Preacher : The Archdeacon of Newport (Refreshments to follow) Monday February 9th from 10.30-12.30 launch of ‘THE MONDAY MEMORY CAFÉ’ in Trinity Church Hall, Baker Street Tuesday 10th February : Tredilion Room 7.30pm H.O.S.T. Group Thursday 19th February Coffee morning Llandewi Skirrid 10.30am Wednesday 25th February : St. Teilo’s 7.30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Mass Friday 27th February Evening Meal, Mary’s Farmhouse. Sunday 1st March : St. David’s 3.00 p.m. St. David’s Day Service Sunday 1st March : St. Teilo’s 6.00 p.m. Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni Friday 6th March WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Baptist Church 2.00pm Abergavenny Alzheimer’s Carers On Monday February 9th 2009 from 10.30-12.30 sees the launch of ‘THE MONDAY MEMORY CAFÉ’ in Trinity Church Hall, Baker Street. Drop in for tea/coffee, information and a chat. The café will be open every 2nd Monday of the month. Come along and support this new venture. (LB) WI Memorabilia In March our WI will be celebrating its 90th birthday and we are looking for items for a display. Were any of your family members of Llantilio Pertholey WI in the last 90 years, if so have you any photographs or memorabilia that we could borrow, please Liz Barnes on 01873855549 or lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk. Evening Meal, Mary’s Farmhouse. Friday 27th February. This will be our third visit to this lovely warm and welcoming venue. It is quite a journey through little known backwaters to many but well worth it for the feast that awaits. Be adventurous and sign up now on the list in church to avoid disappointment. Leaving Abergavenny about 7 pm to eat at 8 pm Meal costs £16.50 for 2 courses, cheese biscuits and coffee. Minibus at extra cost. Places limited so hurry. (VT) St. David’s Day Festival Evensong Sunday 1st March 6 p.m. at St. Teilo’s Church, featuring the pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni. We do hope as many people as possible will be able to join us for what looks like being a very special service with a traditional Welsh flavour. Bring your best singing voices to show the children what the congregation can do too! (VT) NEWS FROM BETTWS In marked contrast to the rest of the world, Bettws Church has no reason to be depressed after a successful Christmas celebration. The presence of Bishop Dominic at our multilingual carol Concert was enormously appreciated but he trumped that with his solo debut in the Crown at Pantygelli as Melchior in "We Three Kings". Now that he is used to our quaint ways he didn't seem phased by the barbecue outside the Pub at 8.30 on the 18th December. We are enormously fortunate to have access to Bettws own gastro-pub and extremely grateful to Steve, Cherrie, Carys, Garry and the team for yet another triumph; whether erecting a sign over the front door announcing that the Crown operates by Episcopal Appointment is appropriate is another matter. Such is our embarrassment of riches that there is hot competition between our two organists to play at our services and we are able to provide readings in the language of heaven as well as English. If my son Thomas had not been behind the bar, we could have done New Zealand as well. Finally, our congratulations to the Smith children and particularly soloist Will for their performance of Silent Night. No wonder Bishop Dominic left counting the days till the next "performance" Mark Powell NEWS FROM ST DAVIDS It was a joy to welcome back to St David's the Revd. Derek Lee who led our Christingle service, also to welcome a really lovely congregation of children and parents. Derek chose as his theme "God's creation, and chocolate" we worked our way around the universe while enjoying large amounts of lovely chocs. The service was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Our thanks to Derek, and to Marc, who so willingly helped with the service sheets and happily handed the service over to Derek. Christmas Eve was, as always, a truly wonderful service of readings and carols. The crisp night air gave way to the twinkling candlelight as we entered church and it wasn't long before the church was pretty well full. It was especially good to welcome visitors who were staying with their families in the area, some from as far away as South Africa As we said goodbye, wishing one another a happy Christmas, it felt that God's love surrounded us and Christmas had really begun. It was with great sadness we heard of the very sudden death of Ron Millerchip. Ron had been unwell for some time, though each time I called he was always jolly and made light of his problems. Ron and Marjorie were regulars at village hall coffee mornings and, whenever we had a service at St David's that didn't coincide with their worship at Pandy, they joined us. We send our heartfelt sympathy to Marjorie as she adjusts to a life without her dear Ron. I have been told how caring and generous Marjorie and Ron have always been throughout their time in the village, Marjorie always the first to call with a bunch of flowers if she knew of anyone who was ill - just one of the examples of their Christian outreach. It was a demonstration of their care that St David's was included among the recipients of donations made at Ron's funeral service. Marjorie is fortunate to have some wonderful friends and neighbours who, I'm sure, will support her. It is a real joy to welcome Mrs Mary Woolley who has agreed to play the organ for us every Sunday. Since John Straker died we have had music only on special occasions and, although we are few in number, we are thrilled to be able to exercise our lungs and voices on a regular basis. We are very grateful to Mary for this committment, it makes a world of difference to our worship. Future services include, on 1st March, a celebration of St David's Day when we will have a service at 3pm led by Mr David Meredith of Llanarth. This will be followed by tea at the village hall. On 22nd March our Mothering Sunday service will again be at 3pm when Marc will lead our worship. It would be good to have a full church for both these services and as always a very warm welcome awaits you at St David's. We continue to hold in our prayers those of our community, or we know of who are sick, sad, or afflicted in any way at this time. Please let me know if you would like names to be added to our prayer list. Mr Aiden Reynolds is organising the ecumenical Lent study house groups and has asked that anyone interested in joining a group should contact him by 2nd February . His telephone number is 01873 832220. The Fabulous Old Spot theatre company played to a packed audience at the village hall, and as always gave us a fun filled evening with " The King of Spain's Daughter ", this was their fourth visit to the hall and we look forward to next year's treat. The next coffee morning will be on 19th February at the usual time of 10.30am, do call in if you are free. Frances (01873 859485). NEWS FROM LLANTILIO PERTHOLEY SCHOOL December 2008 As usual the run up to Christmas was very busy. • The PTA Christmas Fair proved very successful, everyone worked very hard and a grand total of over £900 was raised which is going to be spent restocking the school library. They would like to pass on their thanks to a group of the church's congregation who came along to give some extra help. It was much appreciated. • The KS1 and KS2 productions were very successful and well attended. The children thoroughly enjoyed performing the plays and I think the audiences certainly enjoyed themselves too! • The Christingle service in the church rounded off our celebrations on the last Thursday of the term. It was well attended and everybody joined in the singing enthusiastically and the children certainly enjoyed seeing the Christingles they had made being lit! Thank you for donating the collection at the service to our Ethiopia Appeal. • We are twinned with a school in Ethiopia and this year decided to donate the money collected at our Christmas productions and that donated by staff in lieu of sending Christmas cards, to the school. We made a total of £200 and will add the amount collected in church too. This will be taken out to the school later on this year and will be used to buy or make resources locally. January 2009 • On Friday, January 23rd we held an Open Day 'Around The World in 7 classrooms' and invited new and existing parents to visit. The children in mixed age groups rotated around the 7 classrooms to get a taste of the chosen countries which were China, India, Italy, Sweden, France, Australia and Ethiopia. They found out facts about each country and took part in practical activities ranging from making hats, trying on saris, identifying food, listening to music, learning simple phrases to grinding coffee beans! They even had passports which were stamped in each country. It was a fantastic day which children and staff all thoroughly enjoyed. APPEALS…CAN YOU HELP THE SCHOOL ? • Can we just remind everyone to carry on using our fundraising website www.easyfundraising.org.uk when you order anything over the internet. • We are collecting 'THE TIMES' Books for Schools vouchers so if anyone is a Times reader would they kindly cut out the vouchers which usually appear in The Times 2 and collect them. I will sort out a collection box and I'm sure Ann Davies or Lesley Flynn will bring them into Mrs Thomas at school when there are enough. • We are also collecting old mobile phones to recycle so if you have any collecting dust around the house we will take them off your hands! • After half term the Eco Committee in school are starting an appeal with a company called 'Bag2School' who will collect all unwanted clothing, bedding, curtains, soft toys, shoes, belts and handbags and pay us per kilo collected so if you're thinking of having a 'spring clean' please bring any unwanted stuff to us. • Finally we are looking for knitters ! Mrs Thomas is looking for volunteers to knit items to help with literacy lessons such as Little Red Riding Hood. She has plenty of pattern books ,so just needs your expertise! If you are interested and could help out please contact her. KNITTING CLUB Mrs Pugh is starting a knitting Club on Fridays between 12.15 and 1.15 and wondered if anyone would like to come along and help her teach the children to knit. Any unwanted knitting needles and wool would be useful too. Please contact her or Lesley Flynn for more details. Sir John Oldcastle – an early Protestant martyr It is often assumed that the Protestant Reformation began on the day in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg. In fact there had been many Christian dissenters prior to that date, both within and outside the mediaeval Church. Prominent among the latter were the Hussites of Bohemia and the English Lollards (a derogatory term derived from the Dutch ‘to mutter’). A leading figure of this movement was John Wycliffe (c.1325-84), an important cleric and diplomat, who was to be branded a heretic, and whose bones were eventually exhumed in 1428 and publicly burned before being cast in the nearby river. Like other religious reformers, the Lollards attacked Church wealth and corruption, and the contemporary practices of simony, pluralism and the sale of indulgences. They also demanded the use of a vernacular version of the Bible (Wycliffe initiated the first English translation, which appeared between 1382 and 1395), and disputed both the Pope’s unique authority as Vicar of Christ and his right to intervene in temporal affairs. Such anti-clerical sentiments were common in the Middle Ages, as any reading of The Canterbury Tales illustrates, and won the Lollards influential protectors at Court (most notably John of Gaunt, Wycliffe’s patron), who were keen to see a reduction in the power of the Church. This favourable situation changed, however, when Wycliffe moved from ecclesiastical to theological criticism, with his rejection of the necessity or efficacy of church ritual, pilgrimages, relics and the observance of holy days, together with his denial of the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Eucharist bread and wine, and the special status of the priesthood. These opinions proved too much for many of Wycliffe’s supporters, especially when it appeared that the leaders of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 had been in part inspired by his writings. Now Lollards, who had been tolerated as pious devotees were denounced and hounded, being forced to admit their errors or suffer death at the stake. Among those who found themselves so persecuted was Sir John Oldcastle (d. 1417): a close companion of the youthful Prince Hal, later to be King Henry V, and the model for Shakespeare’s Falstaff. Like many Lollards of the knightly class, his family originated in the Marches of present-day Monmouthshire and Herefordshire. It was there, on family estates near Longtown in the Olchon Valley, according to tradition, where he was eventually captured after refusing to submit to court orders, seeking instead to instigate a rebellion against his former friend. (Such was the view of J, Howells, a Baptist minister in the parish of Olchon, who published a pamphlet on the subject in 1886.) At his subsequent trial for heresy and treason Oldcastle refused to recant his beliefs, and though several other Lollards died a martyr’s death, he alone of his class suffered that fate. During his examination he resolutely declared his conviction that the Bible was sufficient basis for Christian living and dismissed as impious subsequent Church ordinances which strove to add to those basic teachings: “Finally, this is my Faith also that God will ask no more of a Christian believer in this life but only obey the Precepts of that most blessed law [of God]. If any prelates of the Church require more, or else any other kind of Obedience than this to be used, he condemneth Christ, exalting himself above God, and, so becometh an open Anti-Christ. All these premises I believe particularly, and generally all that God hath left in his Holy Scriptures that I should believe”. He was also clear about a cleric’s duty: “…[priests], excluded from all worldliness, should conform their lives utterly to the example of Christ and his apostles. Evermore should they be occupied in preaching and teaching the Scriptures purely, and in giving wholesome counsel of good living to the other degrees of man”. Such principles were central to later Protestantism, and it is no coincidence that the subsequent Reformation in England found its strongest supporters in those areas of England where Lollardy had gone underground, especially in East Anglia and Kent, or that the cause of the Puritan Parliament was there defended most stoutly in its struggle with the seventeenth-century monarchy, which finally resulted in the death of King Charles I, the inauguration of the Republic and the disestablishment of the Church of England. FINANCIAL REVIEW St. TEILO’S COLLECTIONS & COMMUNICANTS NOVEMBER 2nd £640.92 ( 68 ) 9th £517.73 ( 74 ) 16th £597.25 ( 70 ) 23rd £548.00 ( 57 ) 30th £421.05 ( 14 ) Matins DECEMBER 7th £741.00 ( 66 ) 14th £315.52 ( 54 ) 21st £656.70 ( 63 ) 24/5th £686.20 ( 77 ) 28th £522.67 ( 53 ) Average this year £562.39 ( 61.6 ) Average running costs per week £669.00 Having now been here for three years I can give you for comparison purposes the average weekly figures for 2007 and 2006: Average 2006 £576.07 ( 64.2 ) Average 2007 £539.20 ( 63.6 ) Average 2008 £562.39 ( 61.6 ) Average giving, after a dip last year has started to rise again, a trend I hope will be continued as we start on installing a new heating system, undertake internal repairs and re-decoration ( when permission has been granted ). Average attendance continues to fall, even if slowly, and with the age profile of the congregation that is what I would expect, but it makes even more urgent and important the efforts of the H.O.S.T. group to draw more people into our church family (MW) Advanced Notice WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER This year the host group is the Salvation Army and the Day of Prayer on 6th March will be at the Baptist Church starting at 2.00pm followed by refreshments. FUNERALS in the PARISH Monday 1st December : St. Teilo’s STEPHEN JOHN EMBURY ( 53 ) Monday 12th January : Chapel of Rest VAUGHAN DUGMORE ( 62 ) Report from Host Group The Host Group got off to a good start and welcomed a new face at it’s first meeting of 2009, and would like to remind everyone that the meetings are open to all. It was also a very productive meeting which resulted in a chart of events for the whole of 2009 - which can be viewed on the main notice board in the church and will be printed in full in the next magazine. The events will be made known to local groups in order to prevent any events clashing. If any reader would like to see other events included in the programme please let either Father Marc or any member of the Host Group know. The events are in line with the aims and objectives of Host and include items to deepen spiritual development; strengthen existing groups within the church and community, and to promote awareness of St. Teilo’s where ever and when ever possible and particularly the church and church school connections and mutual support. This can be seen by the type of events but will also include social and fund raising items. Host is also working on a number of larger ongoing projects. It has steadily been updating existing information\leaflets relating to the church and adding new leaflets on such topics as Baptism and Confirmation and continues to look for ways to attract new church members. Host is working closely with the PCC to better the existing facilities in church such as the heating, seating. redecoration and signposting. Christmas Angel Just before Christmas you may have noticed an angel in place of the lectern. For those who are curious to know a little more I can tell you the sculpture was commissioned by a member of St. Teilo’s for part of our Christmas decorations. It was made by an eager and talented A level Art student at King Henry School. It has been suggested that we give it a permanent home in the church. If you have an opinion on this please let us know your wishes to put to the vote. Church Unity Once again this year church members celebrated our Epiphany lunch at the Hill, Abergavenny. Although we were some fifty strong it was no problem for the staff at the Hill who provided excellent service and good food. Snatches of lively, humorous and interesting conversations could be heard humming around the room in an atmosphere of shared enjoyment. Thanks to Father Marc for the most unusual grace, to all those to contributed to the many raffle prizes and to our regular organisers, Rita and Ruth. Many are looking forward to the repeating the treat next year. NOTICEBOARD Friendship Circle. A Happy New Year! In December we were treated to a delicious meal cooked by Margaret Turner, a big thank you to her for the meal and venue. Jeff Fisher talked to us in January about the Oxfam projects he visited in the Sudan. These visits are not for the faint-hearted as living conditions are basic, it made us all realise how lucky we are to have homes, food, and most of all water. In February we meet at the Vicarage when Mark will be taking the meeting. We welcome new members and just ask for £3.00 which we use as donations to a charity or to the person visiting to help with their individual costs. We meet in the Tredilion Room and start at 7.30 pm the programme is interesting and varied. Please come along to an evening if you are just interested in the person speaking. Contact Liz on 01873855549 or lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk Llantilio Pertholey WI meets on the first Thursday of each month in the Mardy Community Hall at 7.15pm. In December there was excellent entertainment from members and a buffet supplied by members. In January there was the annual coffee morning when we welcomed 5 new members and other potential new members. On February 5th Alan Bowring from the Brecon Beacons National park will be talking about the ‘geopark’. In March our WI will be celebrating its 90th birthday and we are looking for items for a display. Were any of your family members of Llantilio Pertholey WI in the last 90 years, if so have you any photographs or memorabilia that we could borrow, please contact Liz if you can help? We have a wide variety of talks and activities in our WI and always welcome new members or visitors. Contact Liz on 01873855549 or lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk. Abergavenny Walking for Health This group leaves the Family Church in Castle Street every Wednesday at 10.30 and walk for under an hour. This is your chance to get fit, enjoy the fresh air and scenery, be sociable, enjoy a coffee and lift your spirits. Come and join us. Contact Liz Barnes for more details. HEALING MASS A Healing Mass is held on the first Friday of the month at 19.00 at St. Teilo's St Teilo’s CHURCH CHOIR Are you interested in joining our friendly church choir – please contact Ieuan Davies on 01873 859934. We practice on Friday evenings at 6.00 pm ST TEILO’S GREEN CHURCHYARD There is a book at the back of church so that you can make a record of any wildlife sightings, past or present in the churchyard. We intend to create a meadow area, so your observations are important. There is now a green compost bin in the churchyard by the yew tree. This is for dead flowers and foliage only – other rubbish to go in the metal dustbins. Please do not put plastic bags or cellophane wrappings in the compost bin. Please refrain from placing cans, jars, and bottles in the ground, it is dangerous for those who give their time to try and keep our churchyard mown and strimmed. We have at least 75 different species of lichen in our churchyard, including two very rare ones and some are hundreds of years old so please do not remove any lichen from the gravestones - you could be removing years of growth. THE BELLS Want to have bells rung for a special celebration? Want to develop a new hobby, make friends, and travel? Contact David Salter David Salter 853611 PARISH BIBLE STUDY GROUP The bible study group meets at the vicarage, 10 The Pines, Mardy on Wednesdays 7.30 -9 pm. PARISH PRAYER LIST. At the back of St Teilo’s church there is a book for entering the names of anyone you know of who is ill and needs our prayers and would, perhaps, like someone to visit them. If possible, please ask for permission from the person concerned before entering their name to ensure we do not invade anyone’s privacy. Contact the church wardens or the vicar if you aren’t able to get to church. VILLAGE PRODUCE ASSOCIATION We meet on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Mardy Hall at 7pm. Beat the Credit Crunch and grow your own! Pick the brains of local experts! Contacts: Marion Tucker 852176 & Malcolm Brinkworth 850115. **** ST TEILO’S ROTA’S **** If you can offer some time to join one of the rota’s, please speak to one of the church wardens or sidesmen. Reading Rota Sunday 10.30am Peter Griffin/ Karl Sage 1st February 2009 Pam Burnell/ Verley Toyer 8th February 2009 Philippa Herbert/ Chris Rudge 15th February 2009 Ann Davies/ Leslie Flynn 22nd February 2009 Jessica Graham/ Betty Gollop 1st March 2009 Cleaning Group Group 1 15.02.09 Group 4 1.03.09 Group 5 1.02.09 Laundering Rota Mrs A. Whittington 01/02/09 Mrs M. Baldwin 08/02/09 Mrs B. Gilbert 15/02/09 Mrs A. Davies 22/02/09 Mrs L. Flynn 01/03/09 Sideman’s Rota Mrs Whittington/ Mrs Scherptong 1/02/09 Mrs Gollop/ Mrs Davies 8/02/09 Mrs Flynn/Mr Griffin 15/08/09 Karl Sage/ Mr Glencross 22/02/09 Mr & Mrs Baldwin 01/03/09 Mr & Mrs Powell 18/01/09 Coffee Rota Mrs Gollop & Mrs Warrender 1st February 2008 Mr & Mrs Baldwin 8th February 2008 Mr & Mrs Toyer 15th February 2008 Shirley Jones & Mrs Hitchins 22nd February 2008 Mrs Masters & Mrs Whitcomb 1st March 2008 DAILY READINGS FEBRUARY 1st Sunday Epiphany 4 : Mark 1. 21 – 28 2nd Monday : Presentation of Christ in the Temple Luke 2. 22 – 40 3rd Tuesday : Mark 5. 21 – 43 4th Wednesday : Mark 6. 1 – 6 5th Thursday : Mark 6. 7 – 13 6th Friday : Mark 6. 14 – 29 7th Saturday : Mark 6. 30 – 34 8th Sunday 3rd Sunday before Lent : Mark 1. 29 - 39 9th Monday : St. Teilo John 21. 15 – 17 10th Tuesday : Mark 7. 1 – 13 11th Wednesday : Mark 7. 14 – 23 12th Thursday : Mark 7. 24 – 30 13th Friday : Mark 7. 31 – 37 14th Saturday : Mark 8. 1 - 10 15th Sunday 2nd Sunday before Lent : John 1. 1 - 14 16th Monday : Mark 8. 11 – 13 17th Tuesday : Mark 8. 14 – 21 18th Wednesday : Mark 8. 22 – 26 19th Thursday : Mark 8. 27 – 33 20th Friday : Mark 8. 34 – 9. 1 21st Saturday : Mark 9. 2 – 13 22nd Sunday Last Sunday before Lent : Mark 9. 2 – 9 23rd Monday : Matthew 10. 24 – 32 24th Tuesday : John 15. 18 – 16. 4a 25th Wednesday : Ash Wednesday John 8. 1 – 11 26th Thursday : Luke 9. 18 – 25 27th Friday : Matthew 9. 14 – 17 28th Saturday : Luke 5. 27 – 32 1st Sunday St. David’s Day : Matthew 16. 24 – 27 For use with the Parish Daily Prayer book. Copies are available at the back of the churches. PARISH DIRECTORY Bettws Chapel Mark Powell 850647 jmhp@hotmail.co.uk Web Site Tony Flynn ajf1957@aol.com Bellringers David Salter 853611 St Teilo’s Church Warden,Tony Savager 890516 Chris Rudge 854214 Community Council contact: David Spencer Cllr.dspencer@btopenworld.com Covenant Secretary Chris Rudge 854214 Diocesan Website www.churchinwales.org.uk Flower Rota Rita Rudge 854214 Friendship Circle & Liz Barnes 855549 Llantilio Pertholey WI lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk J-Club Marc Winchester 854323 marcw1953@aol.com Llantilio Pertholey School David Evans 853746 Llandewi Skirrid Frances Whitfield 859485 franceswhitf@aol.com Llandewi Skirrid website www.llanddewiskirrid.co.uk Mardy Hall Cllr. Phil Jones 858467 Magazine Sue Saunders 853950 ashaylett@hotmail.com Mothers’ Union Betty Gollop 855216 Organist & Choirmaster Ieuan Davies PCC John Saunders 853950 Rural Dean Jeremy Winston 851261 Treasurer John Powell 854642 Vicar (Not Mondays) Marc Winchester 854323 marcw1953@aol.com Village Produce Association Marion Tucker 852176 Malcolm Brinkworth 850115 Women’s Institute Liz Barnes 855549 lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk Parish Magazine for Llantilio Pertholey with Bettws Chapel and Llanddewi Skirrid FEBRUARY 2009 50p SERVICES IN FEBRUARY Sunday 1st February EPIPHANY 4 8.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings BCP Page 58 ) 9.15 a.m. Mass : Bettws Chapel ( Readings BCP Page 58 ) 9.15 a.m. Matins : St. David’s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 69 ) ( Deuteronomy 18. 15 – 20, Revelation 12. 1 – 5a & Mark 1. 21 - 28 ) 6.00 p.m. Evensong : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 70 ) ( 1st Samuel 3. 1 – 20, Corinthians 14. 12 – 20, Psalm 34. 1 - 10 ) Sunday 8th February 3rd SUNDAY before LENT 8.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings BCP Page 66 ) 9.15 a.m. Mass : St. David’s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Reading WoL Page 79 ) ( Isaiah 40. 21 – 31, Corinthians 9. 16 – 23 & Mark 1. 29 - 39 ) NO EVENING SERVICE : St. Teilo’s, Llantilio Pertholey 6.00 p.m. JOINT PATRONAL FESTIVAL : St. Teilo’s, Newport Preacher : The Archdeacon of Newport, Refreshments to follow Sunday 15th February 2nd SUNDAY before LENT 8.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings BCP Page 69 ) 9.15 a. m. Mass : Bettws Chapel ( Readings BCP Page 69 ) 9.15 a.m. Matins : St. David’s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 98 ) ( Proverbs 8. 1 – 22, Colossians 1.15 – 20 & John 1. 1 - 14 ) 6.00 p.m. Evensong : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 99 ) ( Genesis 2. 4b – 25, Luke 8. 22 – 35, Psalm 65 ) Sunday 22nd February Last SUNDAY before LENT 08.00 a.m. Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings BCP Page 72 ) 09.15 a.m. Mass : St. David’s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 103 ) ( 2nd Kings 2. 1 – 12, Corinthians 4. 3 – 6 & Mark 9. 2 - 9 ) 6.00 p.m. Evensong : St. Teilo’s ( Readings WoL Page 104 ) ( 1st Kings 19. 1 – 16, 2nd Peter 1. 16 - 21, Psalm 99 ) Dear Friends, I begin my article this week with a Bible passage: The tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering round to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. ( Luke 15. 1 – 7 NIV ) Since Christmas we in the Bible Study Group have been working our way through Luke Chapters 15 and 16 beginning with the passage I have printed above, and I think “working through” is a very good way of describing it, because as the group have got to know each other better and gained in confidence to think and speak about the passages we are looking at, it has become clearer and clearer that the different members of the group see different things and different meanings in those passages, and particularly how we are to relate the message of those passages to our lives as Christians today, individually and as a parish. As I write this we are beginning chapter 16 and the very difficult parable of the dishonest steward with its odd teaching following to “Make friends of the mammon of unrighteousness” who are wiser in their generation than the children of light ( Verse 9 ), as we have talked round these difficult passages we have had to think about the context in which Jesus may originally have told the story, the years of oral transmission before Luke found it and included it in his gospel and how he has placed it in the framework of that gospel. It has been interesting and at times quite challenging with sometimes our having to decide that we really are not sure what the story means or how we are meant to apply it to our situation now. Finally I do not think this is a problem because we do not worship a book but a person, the stories and teaching are there to help us to come to know the Lord Jesus and his purpose for us as his followers and there will be parts that do not speak to us and others that do not and he promises the help of his Holy Spirit to “Guide us into all truth” as St. John says. One theme that has been coming through the passages we have been looking at is, where are we to place the emphasis of our efforts as a parish and church to continue and grow our faith, to go back to the story of the lost sheep, how absurd it seems in human terms to leave the 99 and go after the 1 that got itself lost, what will happen to them in the meantime! Or to put it into the terms of us in this parish, how do we balance the need to reach out in mission to the community around us with the need to look after and keep together the flock we have? If we do not reach out the gathered flock will gradually dwindle and die but if we do not spend enough time and effort looking after and tending that flock some of them may well lose interest, feel undervalued and drift away. Looking at the wider picture in this Deanery and the Church in Wales in general, many smaller and more elderly congregations seem at the point where any chance of growth is gone, do we continue spreading our already stretched resources ( especially clergy ) ever more thinly to try and help them to continue to exist for as long as possible? Or do we concentrate what resources we have where growth is already happening or where there at least seems to be potential for growth? This is not just theory or idle chat at a Bible study, but with the departure in the summer of the Rev Michael Sadler from the Llanddewi Rhydderch group, and the failure to find a “House for Duty” priest for the Grosmont group, a very live issue in our Deanery. By the time you read this magazine the Deanery Clergy will have had a meeting with the Bishop ( 30th January ) to discuss this and other matters concerning the future of our Deanery, please keep him and those who have to make these decisions in your prayers. Marc Winchester ( Priest in Charge ) There are four things you can do about this between now and Easter: • The Lent Course with Bishop Dominic • What Me? Days with Rev Canon Ambrose Mason • The Diocesan Week of Guided Prayer • The Parish Quiet Day Mondays (2,9,16,23, 30 March) at 7.30pm Llanfair Kilgeddin Hall, Pant-y-Goitre, Llanfair Kilgeddin Tuesdays (3,10,17,24,31 March) at 7.30pm St Peter’s Church, Blaina Wednesdays (4,11,18,25 March & 1 April) at 8pm Newport Cathedral (Evensong 7.00pm) Thursdays (5,12,19,26 March & 2 April) at 7.30pm Pontprennau Community Church Centre, Heol Pontprennau, CF23 8LL Fridays (6,13,20,27 March & 3 April) at 7.30pm St Mary’s, Magor (New Church Centre) All last one hour Week 1: St John and the Eagle — an introduction Week 2: The spiritual battle Week 3: Signs not miracles Week 4: The ‘I am’ sayings Week 5: St John and the Passion of Jesus Bring a Bible with you Please join Bishop Dominic for one evening a week What me? What have I to offer? I should like to invite YOU to come to one of these four days to explore your Christian gifting and call. Each day will take the same format and will run from 10am-4pm Refreshments and lunch included 7th February Rogerstone St Johns Church Hall NP10 9FG 7th March Llanfair Kilgeddin (on the B4598 Usk Road) 14th March Blaenavon World Heritage Centre 4th April Newport St Teilo’s, Aberthaw Ave, Always Places limited to 12 a day RSVP to Rev Canon Ambrose Mason The Rectory, Gwernesney USK NP15 1HF Tel 01291 672152 ambrose@rectorygwernesney.com DIOCESAN WEEK OF GUIDED PRAYER ‘Lord teach us how to pray’ If you are interested in finding out about how to live a more prayerful life, or to have a short retreat for a week during Lent which fits in with your working life or your daily life, there will be an opportunity to do a week of guided prayer from the 8th to the 15th of March. The week begins and ends with a meeting of the participants and prayer guides for about an hour. Between those meetings you are asked to pray in silence for half an hour every day, using a passage from the bible chosen for you, and to meet your prayer guide for half an hour every day. (This is called the Ignation method.) Can you spare an hour a day for a week? It can be life changing! Contact Sr Anita Woodwell 01633 482343 for more information QUIET DAY On Saturday, 14th March, we will be going to Marshfield (between Newport and Cardiff) for a day’s retreat taken by Fr Matthews starting about 10.30 to 3.30pm – taking our own lunch. As numbers are limited, please indicate on the list at the back of church if you are interested in joining us or contact Fr Marc . FORTHCOMING EVENTS Wednesday 4th February : Tredillion Room 7.30 p.m. P.C.C. Meeting Sunday 8th February : St. Teilo’s, Newport 6.00 p.m. Joint Patronal Festival. Preacher : The Archdeacon of Newport (Refreshments to follow) Monday February 9th from 10.30-12.30 launch of ‘THE MONDAY MEMORY CAFÉ’ in Trinity Church Hall, Baker Street Tuesday 10th February : Tredilion Room 7.30pm H.O.S.T. Group Thursday 19th February Coffee morning Llandewi Skirrid 10.30am Wednesday 25th February : St. Teilo’s 7.30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Mass Friday 27th February Evening Meal, Mary’s Farmhouse. Sunday 1st March : St. David’s 3.00 p.m. St. David’s Day Service Sunday 1st March : St. Teilo’s 6.00 p.m. Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni Friday 6th March WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Baptist Church 2.00pm Abergavenny Alzheimer’s Carers On Monday February 9th 2009 from 10.30-12.30 sees the launch of ‘THE MONDAY MEMORY CAFÉ’ in Trinity Church Hall, Baker Street. Drop in for tea/coffee, information and a chat. The café will be open every 2nd Monday of the month. Come along and support this new venture. (LB) WI Memorabilia In March our WI will be celebrating its 90th birthday and we are looking for items for a display. Were any of your family members of Llantilio Pertholey WI in the last 90 years, if so have you any photographs or memorabilia that we could borrow, please Liz Barnes on 01873855549 or lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk. Evening Meal, Mary’s Farmhouse. Friday 27th February. This will be our third visit to this lovely warm and welcoming venue. It is quite a journey through little known backwaters to many but well worth it for the feast that awaits. Be adventurous and sign up now on the list in church to avoid disappointment. Leaving Abergavenny about 7 pm to eat at 8 pm Meal costs £16.50 for 2 courses, cheese biscuits and coffee. Minibus at extra cost. Places limited so hurry. (VT) St. David’s Day Festival Evensong Sunday 1st March 6 p.m. at St. Teilo’s Church, featuring the pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni. We do hope as many people as possible will be able to join us for what looks like being a very special service with a traditional Welsh flavour. Bring your best singing voices to show the children what the congregation can do too! (VT) NEWS FROM BETTWS In marked contrast to the rest of the world, Bettws Church has no reason to be depressed after a successful Christmas celebration. The presence of Bishop Dominic at our multilingual carol Concert was enormously appreciated but he trumped that with his solo debut in the Crown at Pantygelli as Melchior in "We Three Kings". Now that he is used to our quaint ways he didn't seem phased by the barbecue outside the Pub at 8.30 on the 18th December. We are enormously fortunate to have access to Bettws own gastro-pub and extremely grateful to Steve, Cherrie, Carys, Garry and the team for yet another triumph; whether erecting a sign over the front door announcing that the Crown operates by Episcopal Appointment is appropriate is another matter. Such is our embarrassment of riches that there is hot competition between our two organists to play at our services and we are able to provide readings in the language of heaven as well as English. If my son Thomas had not been behind the bar, we could have done New Zealand as well. Finally, our congratulations to the Smith children and particularly soloist Will for their performance of Silent Night. No wonder Bishop Dominic left counting the days till the next "performance" Mark Powell NEWS FROM ST DAVIDS It was a joy to welcome back to St David's the Revd. Derek Lee who led our Christingle service, also to welcome a really lovely congregation of children and parents. Derek chose as his theme "God's creation, and chocolate" we worked our way around the universe while enjoying large amounts of lovely chocs. The service was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Our thanks to Derek, and to Marc, who so willingly helped with the service sheets and happily handed the service over to Derek. Christmas Eve was, as always, a truly wonderful service of readings and carols. The crisp night air gave way to the twinkling candlelight as we entered church and it wasn't long before the church was pretty well full. It was especially good to welcome visitors who were staying with their families in the area, some from as far away as South Africa As we said goodbye, wishing one another a happy Christmas, it felt that God's love surrounded us and Christmas had really begun. It was with great sadness we heard of the very sudden death of Ron Millerchip. Ron had been unwell for some time, though each time I called he was always jolly and made light of his problems. Ron and Marjorie were regulars at village hall coffee mornings and, whenever we had a service at St David's that didn't coincide with their worship at Pandy, they joined us. We send our heartfelt sympathy to Marjorie as she adjusts to a life without her dear Ron. I have been told how caring and generous Marjorie and Ron have always been throughout their time in the village, Marjorie always the first to call with a bunch of flowers if she knew of anyone who was ill - just one of the examples of their Christian outreach. It was a demonstration of their care that St David's was included among the recipients of donations made at Ron's funeral service. Marjorie is fortunate to have some wonderful friends and neighbours who, I'm sure, will support her. It is a real joy to welcome Mrs Mary Woolley who has agreed to play the organ for us every Sunday. Since John Straker died we have had music only on special occasions and, although we are few in number, we are thrilled to be able to exercise our lungs and voices on a regular basis. We are very grateful to Mary for this committment, it makes a world of difference to our worship. Future services include, on 1st March, a celebration of St David's Day when we will have a service at 3pm led by Mr David Meredith of Llanarth. This will be followed by tea at the village hall. On 22nd March our Mothering Sunday service will again be at 3pm when Marc will lead our worship. It would be good to have a full church for both these services and as always a very warm welcome awaits you at St David's. We continue to hold in our prayers those of our community, or we know of who are sick, sad, or afflicted in any way at this time. Please let me know if you would like names to be added to our prayer list. Mr Aiden Reynolds is organising the ecumenical Lent study house groups and has asked that anyone interested in joining a group should contact him by 2nd February . His telephone number is 01873 832220. The Fabulous Old Spot theatre company played to a packed audience at the village hall, and as always gave us a fun filled evening with " The King of Spain's Daughter ", this was their fourth visit to the hall and we look forward to next year's treat. The next coffee morning will be on 19th February at the usual time of 10.30am, do call in if you are free. Frances (01873 859485). NEWS FROM LLANTILIO PERTHOLEY SCHOOL December 2008 As usual the run up to Christmas was very busy. • The PTA Christmas Fair proved very successful, everyone worked very hard and a grand total of over £900 was raised which is going to be spent restocking the school library. They would like to pass on their thanks to a group of the church's congregation who came along to give some extra help. It was much appreciated. • The KS1 and KS2 productions were very successful and well attended. The children thoroughly enjoyed performing the plays and I think the audiences certainly enjoyed themselves too! • The Christingle service in the church rounded off our celebrations on the last Thursday of the term. It was well attended and everybody joined in the singing enthusiastically and the children certainly enjoyed seeing the Christingles they had made being lit! Thank you for donating the collection at the service to our Ethiopia Appeal. • We are twinned with a school in Ethiopia and this year decided to donate the money collected at our Christmas productions and that donated by staff in lieu of sending Christmas cards, to the school. We made a total of £200 and will add the amount collected in church too. This will be taken out to the school later on this year and will be used to buy or make resources locally. January 2009 • On Friday, January 23rd we held an Open Day 'Around The World in 7 classrooms' and invited new and existing parents to visit. The children in mixed age groups rotated around the 7 classrooms to get a taste of the chosen countries which were China, India, Italy, Sweden, France, Australia and Ethiopia. They found out facts about each country and took part in practical activities ranging from making hats, trying on saris, identifying food, listening to music, learning simple phrases to grinding coffee beans! They even had passports which were stamped in each country. It was a fantastic day which children and staff all thoroughly enjoyed. APPEALS…CAN YOU HELP THE SCHOOL ? • Can we just remind everyone to carry on using our fundraising website www.easyfundraising.org.uk when you order anything over the internet. • We are collecting 'THE TIMES' Books for Schools vouchers so if anyone is a Times reader would they kindly cut out the vouchers which usually appear in The Times 2 and collect them. I will sort out a collection box and I'm sure Ann Davies or Lesley Flynn will bring them into Mrs Thomas at school when there are enough. • We are also collecting old mobile phones to recycle so if you have any collecting dust around the house we will take them off your hands! • After half term the Eco Committee in school are starting an appeal with a company called 'Bag2School' who will collect all unwanted clothing, bedding, curtains, soft toys, shoes, belts and handbags and pay us per kilo collected so if you're thinking of having a 'spring clean' please bring any unwanted stuff to us. • Finally we are looking for knitters ! Mrs Thomas is looking for volunteers to knit items to help with literacy lessons such as Little Red Riding Hood. She has plenty of pattern books ,so just needs your expertise! If you are interested and could help out please contact her. KNITTING CLUB Mrs Pugh is starting a knitting Club on Fridays between 12.15 and 1.15 and wondered if anyone would like to come along and help her teach the children to knit. Any unwanted knitting needles and wool would be useful too. Please contact her or Lesley Flynn for more details. Sir John Oldcastle – an early Protestant martyr It is often assumed that the Protestant Reformation began on the day in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg. In fact there had been many Christian dissenters prior to that date, both within and outside the mediaeval Church. Prominent among the latter were the Hussites of Bohemia and the English Lollards (a derogatory term derived from the Dutch ‘to mutter’). A leading figure of this movement was John Wycliffe (c.1325-84), an important cleric and diplomat, who was to be branded a heretic, and whose bones were eventually exhumed in 1428 and publicly burned before being cast in the nearby river. Like other religious reformers, the Lollards attacked Church wealth and corruption, and the contemporary practices of simony, pluralism and the sale of indulgences. They also demanded the use of a vernacular version of the Bible (Wycliffe initiated the first English translation, which appeared between 1382 and 1395), and disputed both the Pope’s unique authority as Vicar of Christ and his right to intervene in temporal affairs. Such anti-clerical sentiments were common in the Middle Ages, as any reading of The Canterbury Tales illustrates, and won the Lollards influential protectors at Court (most notably John of Gaunt, Wycliffe’s patron), who were keen to see a reduction in the power of the Church. This favourable situation changed, however, when Wycliffe moved from ecclesiastical to theological criticism, with his rejection of the necessity or efficacy of church ritual, pilgrimages, relics and the observance of holy days, together with his denial of the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Eucharist bread and wine, and the special status of the priesthood. These opinions proved too much for many of Wycliffe’s supporters, especially when it appeared that the leaders of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 had been in part inspired by his writings. Now Lollards, who had been tolerated as pious devotees were denounced and hounded, being forced to admit their errors or suffer death at the stake. Among those who found themselves so persecuted was Sir John Oldcastle (d. 1417): a close companion of the youthful Prince Hal, later to be King Henry V, and the model for Shakespeare’s Falstaff. Like many Lollards of the knightly class, his family originated in the Marches of present-day Monmouthshire and Herefordshire. It was there, on family estates near Longtown in the Olchon Valley, according to tradition, where he was eventually captured after refusing to submit to court orders, seeking instead to instigate a rebellion against his former friend. (Such was the view of J, Howells, a Baptist minister in the parish of Olchon, who published a pamphlet on the subject in 1886.) At his subsequent trial for heresy and treason Oldcastle refused to recant his beliefs, and though several other Lollards died a martyr’s death, he alone of his class suffered that fate. During his examination he resolutely declared his conviction that the Bible was sufficient basis for Christian living and dismissed as impious subsequent Church ordinances which strove to add to those basic teachings: “Finally, this is my Faith also that God will ask no more of a Christian believer in this life but only obey the Precepts of that most blessed law [of God]. If any prelates of the Church require more, or else any other kind of Obedience than this to be used, he condemneth Christ, exalting himself above God, and, so becometh an open Anti-Christ. All these premises I believe particularly, and generally all that God hath left in his Holy Scriptures that I should believe”. He was also clear about a cleric’s duty: “…[priests], excluded from all worldliness, should conform their lives utterly to the example of Christ and his apostles. Evermore should they be occupied in preaching and teaching the Scriptures purely, and in giving wholesome counsel of good living to the other degrees of man”. Such principles were central to later Protestantism, and it is no coincidence that the subsequent Reformation in England found its strongest supporters in those areas of England where Lollardy had gone underground, especially in East Anglia and Kent, or that the cause of the Puritan Parliament was there defended most stoutly in its struggle with the seventeenth-century monarchy, which finally resulted in the death of King Charles I, the inauguration of the Republic and the disestablishment of the Church of England. FINANCIAL REVIEW St. TEILO’S COLLECTIONS & COMMUNICANTS NOVEMBER 2nd £640.92 ( 68 ) 9th £517.73 ( 74 ) 16th £597.25 ( 70 ) 23rd £548.00 ( 57 ) 30th £421.05 ( 14 ) Matins DECEMBER 7th £741.00 ( 66 ) 14th £315.52 ( 54 ) 21st £656.70 ( 63 ) 24/5th £686.20 ( 77 ) 28th £522.67 ( 53 ) Average this year £562.39 ( 61.6 ) Average running costs per week £669.00 Having now been here for three years I can give you for comparison purposes the average weekly figures for 2007 and 2006: Average 2006 £576.07 ( 64.2 ) Average 2007 £539.20 ( 63.6 ) Average 2008 £562.39 ( 61.6 ) Average giving, after a dip last year has started to rise again, a trend I hope will be continued as we start on installing a new heating system, undertake internal repairs and re-decoration ( when permission has been granted ). Average attendance continues to fall, even if slowly, and with the age profile of the congregation that is what I would expect, but it makes even more urgent and important the efforts of the H.O.S.T. group to draw more people into our church family (MW) Advanced Notice WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER This year the host group is the Salvation Army and the Day of Prayer on 6th March will be at the Baptist Church starting at 2.00pm followed by refreshments. FUNERALS in the PARISH Monday 1st December : St. Teilo’s STEPHEN JOHN EMBURY ( 53 ) Monday 12th January : Chapel of Rest VAUGHAN DUGMORE ( 62 ) Report from Host Group The Host Group got off to a good start and welcomed a new face at it’s first meeting of 2009, and would like to remind everyone that the meetings are open to all. It was also a very productive meeting which resulted in a chart of events for the whole of 2009 - which can be viewed on the main notice board in the church and will be printed in full in the next magazine. The events will be made known to local groups in order to prevent any events clashing. If any reader would like to see other events included in the programme please let either Father Marc or any member of the Host Group know. The events are in line with the aims and objectives of Host and include items to deepen spiritual development; strengthen existing groups within the church and community, and to promote awareness of St. Teilo’s where ever and when ever possible and particularly the church and church school connections and mutual support. This can be seen by the type of events but will also include social and fund raising items. Host is also working on a number of larger ongoing projects. It has steadily been updating existing information\leaflets relating to the church and adding new leaflets on such topics as Baptism and Confirmation and continues to look for ways to attract new church members. Host is working closely with the PCC to better the existing facilities in church such as the heating, seating. redecoration and signposting. Christmas Angel Just before Christmas you may have noticed an angel in place of the lectern. For those who are curious to know a little more I can tell you the sculpture was commissioned by a member of St. Teilo’s for part of our Christmas decorations. It was made by an eager and talented A level Art student at King Henry School. It has been suggested that we give it a permanent home in the church. If you have an opinion on this please let us know your wishes to put to the vote. Church Unity Once again this year church members celebrated our Epiphany lunch at the Hill, Abergavenny. Although we were some fifty strong it was no problem for the staff at the Hill who provided excellent service and good food. Snatches of lively, humorous and interesting conversations could be heard humming around the room in an atmosphere of shared enjoyment. Thanks to Father Marc for the most unusual grace, to all those to contributed to the many raffle prizes and to our regular organisers, Rita and Ruth. Many are looking forward to the repeating the treat next year. NOTICEBOARD Friendship Circle. A Happy New Year! In December we were treated to a delicious meal cooked by Margaret Turner, a big thank you to her for the meal and venue. Jeff Fisher talked to us in January about the Oxfam projects he visited in the Sudan. These visits are not for the faint-hearted as living conditions are basic, it made us all realise how lucky we are to have homes, food, and most of all water. In February we meet at the Vicarage when Mark will be taking the meeting. We welcome new members and just ask for £3.00 which we use as donations to a charity or to the person visiting to help with their individual costs. We meet in the Tredilion Room and start at 7.30 pm the programme is interesting and varied. Please come along to an evening if you are just interested in the person speaking. Contact Liz on 01873855549 or lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk Llantilio Pertholey WI meets on the first Thursday of each month in the Mardy Community Hall at 7.15pm. In December there was excellent entertainment from members and a buffet supplied by members. In January there was the annual coffee morning when we welcomed 5 new members and other potential new members. On February 5th Alan Bowring from the Brecon Beacons National park will be talking about the ‘geopark’. In March our WI will be celebrating its 90th birthday and we are looking for items for a display. Were any of your family members of Llantilio Pertholey WI in the last 90 years, if so have you any photographs or memorabilia that we could borrow, please contact Liz if you can help? We have a wide variety of talks and activities in our WI and always welcome new members or visitors. Contact Liz on 01873855549 or lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk. Abergavenny Walking for Health This group leaves the Family Church in Castle Street every Wednesday at 10.30 and walk for under an hour. This is your chance to get fit, enjoy the fresh air and scenery, be sociable, enjoy a coffee and lift your spirits. Come and join us. Contact Liz Barnes for more details. HEALING MASS A Healing Mass is held on the first Friday of the month at 19.00 at St. Teilo's St Teilo’s CHURCH CHOIR Are you interested in joining our friendly church choir – please contact Ieuan Davies on 01873 859934. We practice on Friday evenings at 6.00 pm ST TEILO’S GREEN CHURCHYARD There is a book at the back of church so that you can make a record of any wildlife sightings, past or present in the churchyard. We intend to create a meadow area, so your observations are important. There is now a green compost bin in the churchyard by the yew tree. This is for dead flowers and foliage only – other rubbish to go in the metal dustbins. Please do not put plastic bags or cellophane wrappings in the compost bin. Please refrain from placing cans, jars, and bottles in the ground, it is dangerous for those who give their time to try and keep our churchyard mown and strimmed. We have at least 75 different species of lichen in our churchyard, including two very rare ones and some are hundreds of years old so please do not remove any lichen from the gravestones - you could be removing years of growth. THE BELLS Want to have bells rung for a special celebration? Want to develop a new hobby, make friends, and travel? Contact David Salter David Salter 853611 PARISH BIBLE STUDY GROUP The bible study group meets at the vicarage, 10 The Pines, Mardy on Wednesdays 7.30 -9 pm. PARISH PRAYER LIST. At the back of St Teilo’s church there is a book for entering the names of anyone you know of who is ill and needs our prayers and would, perhaps, like someone to visit them. If possible, please ask for permission from the person concerned before entering their name to ensure we do not invade anyone’s privacy. Contact the church wardens or the vicar if you aren’t able to get to church. VILLAGE PRODUCE ASSOCIATION We meet on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Mardy Hall at 7pm. Beat the Credit Crunch and grow your own! Pick the brains of local experts! Contacts: Marion Tucker 852176 & Malcolm Brinkworth 850115. **** ST TEILO’S ROTA’S **** If you can offer some time to join one of the rota’s, please speak to one of the church wardens or sidesmen. Reading Rota Sunday 10.30am Peter Griffin/ Karl Sage 1st February 2009 Pam Burnell/ Verley Toyer 8th February 2009 Philippa Herbert/ Chris Rudge 15th February 2009 Ann Davies/ Leslie Flynn 22nd February 2009 Jessica Graham/ Betty Gollop 1st March 2009 Cleaning Group Group 1 15.02.09 Group 4 1.03.09 Group 5 1.02.09 Laundering Rota Mrs A. Whittington 01/02/09 Mrs M. Baldwin 08/02/09 Mrs B. Gilbert 15/02/09 Mrs A. Davies 22/02/09 Mrs L. Flynn 01/03/09 Sideman’s Rota Mrs Whittington/ Mrs Scherptong 1/02/09 Mrs Gollop/ Mrs Davies 8/02/09 Mrs Flynn/Mr Griffin 15/08/09 Karl Sage/ Mr Glencross 22/02/09 Mr & Mrs Baldwin 01/03/09 Mr & Mrs Powell 18/01/09 Coffee Rota Mrs Gollop & Mrs Warrender 1st February 2008 Mr & Mrs Baldwin 8th February 2008 Mr & Mrs Toyer 15th February 2008 Shirley Jones & Mrs Hitchins 22nd February 2008 Mrs Masters & Mrs Whitcomb 1st March 2008 DAILY READINGS FEBRUARY 1st Sunday Epiphany 4 : Mark 1. 21 – 28 2nd Monday : Presentation of Christ in the Temple Luke 2. 22 – 40 3rd Tuesday : Mark 5. 21 – 43 4th Wednesday : Mark 6. 1 – 6 5th Thursday : Mark 6. 7 – 13 6th Friday : Mark 6. 14 – 29 7th Saturday : Mark 6. 30 – 34 8th Sunday 3rd Sunday before Lent : Mark 1. 29 - 39 9th Monday : St. Teilo John 21. 15 – 17 10th Tuesday : Mark 7. 1 – 13 11th Wednesday : Mark 7. 14 – 23 12th Thursday : Mark 7. 24 – 30 13th Friday : Mark 7. 31 – 37 14th Saturday : Mark 8. 1 - 10 15th Sunday 2nd Sunday before Lent : John 1. 1 - 14 16th Monday : Mark 8. 11 – 13 17th Tuesday : Mark 8. 14 – 21 18th Wednesday : Mark 8. 22 – 26 19th Thursday : Mark 8. 27 – 33 20th Friday : Mark 8. 34 – 9. 1 21st Saturday : Mark 9. 2 – 13 22nd Sunday Last Sunday before Lent : Mark 9. 2 – 9 23rd Monday : Matthew 10. 24 – 32 24th Tuesday : John 15. 18 – 16. 4a 25th Wednesday : Ash Wednesday John 8. 1 – 11 26th Thursday : Luke 9. 18 – 25 27th Friday : Matthew 9. 14 – 17 28th Saturday : Luke 5. 27 – 32 1st Sunday St. David’s Day : Matthew 16. 24 – 27 For use with the Parish Daily Prayer book. Copies are available at the back of the churches. PARISH DIRECTORY Bettws Chapel Mark Powell 850647 jmhp@hotmail.co.uk Web Site Tony Flynn ajf1957@aol.com Bellringers David Salter 853611 St Teilo’s Church Warden,Tony Savager 890516 Chris Rudge 854214 Community Council contact: David Spencer Cllr.dspencer@btopenworld.com Covenant Secretary Chris Rudge 854214 Diocesan Website www.churchinwales.org.uk Flower Rota Rita Rudge 854214 Friendship Circle & Liz Barnes 855549 Llantilio Pertholey WI lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk J-Club Marc Winchester 854323 marcw1953@aol.com Llantilio Pertholey School David Evans 853746 Llandewi Skirrid Frances Whitfield 859485 franceswhitf@aol.com Llandewi Skirrid website www.llanddewiskirrid.co.uk Mardy Hall Cllr. Phil Jones 858467 Magazine Sue Saunders 853950 ashaylett@hotmail.com Mothers’ Union Betty Gollop 855216 Organist & Choirmaster Ieuan Davies PCC John Saunders 853950 Rural Dean Jeremy Winston 851261 Treasurer John Powell 854642 Vicar (Not Mondays) Marc Winchester 854323 marcw1953@aol.com Village Produce Association Marion Tucker 852176 Malcolm Brinkworth 850115 Women’s Institute Liz Barnes 855549 lizbarnes55@yahoo.co.uk MAY 2009 The magazine which links the parishes of Llantilio Pertholey (Mardy) with Bettws Chapel and Llanddewi Skirrid Priest in charge: Fr Marc Winchester: Tel: 854323 email: marcw1953@aol.com Wardens: St Teilo?s Chris Rudge Tel: 854214 Tony Savager Tel: 890516 St David?s Francis Whitfield Tel: 859485 Bettws Chapel Mark Powell Tel: 850647 email: jmhp@hotmail.co.uk Organisations in the Parish ? with contacts Bellringers David Salter Tel: 853611 Community Council David Spencer Cllr.dspencer@btopenworld.com Covenant Secretary Chris Rudge Tel: 854214 Flower Rota Margaret Turner Tel: 854241 Friendship Circle J- Club Fr Marc Winchester: Tel: 854323 email: marcw1953@aol.com Llantilio Pertholey School David Evans Tel: 853746 Mardy Hall Phil Jones Tel: 858467 Magazine Jessica Graham Tel: 855401 email: jaimegrak3k@aol.com Mother?s Union Betty Gollop Tel: 855216 Organist & Choirmaster Ieaun Davies via vicar PCC ? Secretary John Saunders Tel: 853950 Rural Dean Fr Jeremy Winston Tel: 851261 Treasurer John Powell Tel: 854642 Village Produce Association Malcolm Brinkworth Tel: 850115 Women?s Institute Federation Office Tel: 01633 864456 Diocesan Website www.churchinwales.org.uk Llandewi Skirrid Website www.llanddewiskirrid.co.uk Dear Friends, First of all a word of thanks to Sue Saunders for all the work she has put in getting the magazine master copy done each month since, mainly due to her enthusiasm, we re-started the magazine in November 2006. Family and other commitments have often made this very difficult for her so that sometimes with her usual generosity and efficiency she has had the copies printed as well. However other commitments have finally made continued magazine production by Sue impossible so a team led by Jess Graham has taken over from this issue on, new management always brings changes so with you I look forward to seeing how the magazine changes over the coming months. I delayed writing this article till after the Deanery Conference at St. Mary?s last night (Thursday 23rd April) as one of the items to be discussed was an update on changes in the Deanery in the light of reduced clergy numbers. I was happy to hear that the Revd David Osborn the ?House for Duty? priest in the Llantilio Crossenny group is going to be taking a coordinating role with the Revd. Jean Prosser in the Grosmont group and the Revd. John Derosaire at Llanddewi Rhydderch along with the Church Wardens and P.C.C.s of those groups, to begin getting these 12 churches to work together to share resources and skills and to develop locally ordained ministries. In the midst of so much negative news about the future of our Deanery, Diocese and Church in Wales it was nice to see people coming together with hope and plans for the future, we wish them well in what will inevitably be at times a bumpy road. At that meeting I also raised the matter of our own future as a parish, were the ideas in the ?Deanery Plan? for the Llanfihangel Crucorney group to be joined with us once the Revd. Derek Young retires still in line with Diocesan thinking? Something I have also raised with the Archdeacon Richard Pain and the Bishop in private conversations, without really getting any definite answer. The result was the same at that meeting last night, but the Area Dean the Revd. Jeremy Winston did suggest that it might be useful for our and the Llanfihangel P.C.C.s to get together for a joint meeting, this idea will be put to their P.C.C. when they meet next week and I will put it to ours at our meeting on Wednesday 3rd June. The Revd Derek Young and I agreed that we would like to get the Archdeacon to chair the proposed joint meeting where we can share ideas about how we feel about the possible grouping, how grouping might work and what the problems might be. It?s not that anything is going to happen soon, it is probably about two years before the Revd. Derek Young retires but we think it is better to have thought about it before hand than be faced with sudden hard choices when the day arrives. Meanwhile we in this parish have a number of things coming up, ?Church Outing?, ?Back to Church Sunday?, ?Open Day?, ?Quiet Day? and our continuing involvement with our Church School, along with the new chairs ordered and new heating planned, which we hope show to all who come a lively church spiritually and socially, looking to the future with hope and confidence in the Lord. Marc Winchester (Priest in Charge) Election Results from the Annual Vestry Meeting At the Annual Vestry Meeting held on Sunday the 26th April the following were elected to the Parochial Church Council; Churchwardens Tony Savagar Chris Rudge PCC Members Cherrie Chadwick Verena Russell-Clarke Ann Davies Jessica Graham Peter Griffin Mark Powell Ruth Rogers Rita Rudge Karl Sage Mike Sage David Salter Leslie Toyer Verley Toyer SERVICES IN MAY Sunday 3rd May EASTER 4 8.00 a.m. Mass: St. Teilo?s (Readings BCP Page 134) 9.15 a.m. Mass: Bettws Chapel (Readings BCP Page 134) 9.15 a.m. Matins: St. David?s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass: St. Teilo?s (Readings WoL Page 221 6.00 p.m. Evensong: St. Teilo?s (Readings WoL Page 222) (Exodus 16. 4 ? 15, Revelation 2. 12 - 17, Psalm 81. 8 - 16) Sunday 10th May EASTER 5 8.00 a.m. Mass: St. Teilo?s (Readings BCP Page 137) 9.15 a.m. Mass: St. David?s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass: St. Teilo?s (Reading WoL Page 226) 6.00 p.m. Evensong: St. Teilo?s (Readings WoL Page 228) (Isaiah 60. 1 ? 14, Revelation 3. 1 - 13, Psalm 96) Sunday 17th May EASTER 6 (Rogation Sunday) 8.00 a.m. Mass: St. Teilo?s (Readings BCP Page 140) 9.15 a.m. Mass: Bettws Chapel (Readings BCP Page 140) 9.15 a.m. Matins: St. David?s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass: St. Teilo?s (Readings WoL Page 233) 6.00 p.m. Evensong: St. Teilo?s (Readings WoL Page 234) (Song of Songs 4.16 ? 5. 2 & 8. 6 - 7, Luke 22. 24 - 30, Psalm 45) Sunday 24th May EASTER 7 (Sunday after Ascension) 8.00 a.m. Mass: St. Teilo?s (Readings BCP Page 145) 9.15 a.m. Mass: St. David?s 10.30 a.m. Parish Mass: St. Teilo?s (Readings WoL Page 245) 6.00 p.m. Evensong: St. Teilo?s (Readings WoL Page 247) (Isaiah 61, Luke 4. 14 - 21, Psalm 147. 1 - 11) Sunday 31st May PENTECOST SUNDAY 8.00 a.m. Mass: St. Teilo?s (Readings BCP Page 147) 9.15 a.m. Matins: St. David?s 10.30 a.m. Matins: St. Teilo?s (Readings Page 252) 6.00 p.m. Evensong: St. Teilo?s (Readings WoL Page 254) (Acts 2. 22- 38, John 20. 19 ? 23, Psalm 139. 1 ? 12) DATES FOR YOUR DIARY May 2009 Tuesday 5th May H.O.S.T Meeting ? Tredillion Room (7.30pm) Saturday 9th May Back to Church Sunday Presentation, Malpas Sunday 10th May Christian Aid Service ? Methodist Church (3pm) June 2009 Saturday 13th June Mardy Fete, Mardy Hall and Playing Fields Saturday 13th June Garden Party, Llanbedr July 2009 Saturday 25th July Environmental Day, Mardy Hall and Playing Fields TBC School Leavers Service at St Teilo?s August 2009 Saturday 15th August Church Outing to Tiverton, Devon Sunday 30th August Barbecue at Margaret Turner?s September 2009 Saturday 19th September Parish Retreat to Ty Mawr Convent Saturday 26th September Church Open Day Sunday 27th September Back to Church Sunday October 2009 Saturday 3rd October Harvest Community Song?s of Praise, Mardy Hall November 2009 Sunday 1st November All Soul?s Service at St Teilo?s Saturday 21st November Bath Shopping Trip December 2009 Saturday 12th December Coffee and Carols ? Mardy Communtiy Hall January 2010 TBC Epiphany Lunch Further information about the above events will be displayed on the church notice boards, in The Link magazine and pew leaflets closer to the date. If you have any dates that you would like added to the diary please let us know. SAINT TEILO?S NOTICES If you can offer some time to join one of the rotas, please speak to one of the church wardens. If your name appears on a rota and you are unable to make your nominated Sunday please make arrangements to swap with someone else. READERS Sunday 3rd May Ann Davies, Lesley Flynn - Acts 4. 5 ? 12, 1st John 3. 16 ? 24 Sunday 10thMay Jessica Graham, Betty Gollop - Acts 8. 26 ? 40, 1st John 4. 7 -21 Sunday 17th May ? Rogation Sunday Pat Smart, Val Jones - Acts 10. 44 ? 48, 1st John 5. 1 ? 6 Sunday 24th May Audrey Whittington, Geoff Slater - Acts 1. 15 ? 17 & 21 ? 26, 1st John 5. 9 ? 11 Sunday 31st May - Pentecost Ruth Rogers, Mrs Powell - Acts 2. 1 ? 21, John 15. 26 ? 27 & 16. 4b ? 15 SIDESPERSONS COFFEE Mr & Mrs Gilbert 3rd May Mrs Burnell, Mrs Flynn Mrs Whittington, Mrs Scherptong 10thMay Mrs Gollop, Mrs Warrender Mrs Gollop, Mrs Davies 17th May Mr & Mrs Baldwin Mr Griffin, Mrs Flynn 24th May Mr & Mrs Toyer Mr Glencross, Karl Sage 31st May Shirley Jones, Mrs Hitchins LINEN INTERCESSIONS Mrs R. Rogers 3rd May Chris Rudge Mrs A. Whittington 10thMay Karl Sage Mrs M. Baldwin 17th May Ann Davies Mrs B. Gilbert 24th May Pam Burnell Mrs A. Davies 31st May Tony Savagar As church members have come forward offering to join the cleaning rota, a new list has been placed in church for the new groups to enter their names, any problems please contact the church wardens. CLEANING 3rd May ? Group 3 31st May ? Group 1 17th May ? Group 4 COLLECTIONS COMMUNICANTS £427.84 5th April (Palm Sunday) 100 £431.00 12th April (Easter Day) 96 £309.31 19th April 67 £291.66 26th April 61 Average =£364.95 Average running costs per week = £724 PARISH PRAYERS Our prayer for the month is; Father of light, from whom every good gift comes, pour out your Holy Spirit upon our parish with the power of a mighty wind, and by the flame of your wisdom, open the horizons of our minds, that we may seek only your will. Help us to bear witness to your love in all that we do and think and say, that, through us, others may come to know you and your beloved Son, Jesus. This we ask in his name. Amen. In your prayers this month please remember; Marriage Saturday 9th May : St. David?s Robert Leonard Davies & Jacqueline Catherine Gwillim Saturday 30th May : St. Teilo?s Darran Gumery & Shirley Gutierrez Tismo Funeral Thursday 16th April : St. Teilo?s ELIZABETH IRENE PITMAN ( 80 ) BERYL PATRICIA CLARKE ( 96 ) Christian Aid week 10th ? 16th May This year?s Christian Aid week focuses on the Democratic Republic of Congo, please remember them in your prayers. At the back of St Teilo?s church there is a book for entering the names of anyone you know of who is ill and needs our prayers and would, perhaps, like someone to visit them. If possible, please ask permission from the person concerned before entering their name to ensure we do not invade anyone?s privacy. Contact the church wardens or Fr Marc if you are unable to get to church. Healing Mass A Healing Mass is held at St Teilo?s on the first Friday of every month at 7pm. TREASURER?S REPORT 2008 has been a successful year and after covering our day-to-day overheads, paying our Quota and spending £3,194 on repairs, we were able to increase our cash assets by £10,160. This is an outstanding performance, and it is all down to you, the members and friends of St Teilo?s. The PCC will continue to act responsibly with regard to its spending plans during 2009, as it is incumbent to act wisely and with restrain especially in these difficult economic times. Our spending plans for 2009 include new chairs, a new heating system and redecoration which will be in the region of £40,000. We hope to be able to recoup so of this money by applying for various grants, if anybody feels able and is willing to complete these grant application forms on our behalf please contact Fr Marc. May I just mention our 2009 Parish Quota which amounts to £27,328 and as a crude measure, if this sum is divided by 58 which is the approximate number of communicants, it works out at £472 each per annum or £9 per week. During 2008 we received £5,817 in interest from our cash assets, but this year we will see a substantial fall to around £1,600, a loss on income to the church of say £4,200 or £350 per month. If anybody has any questions about St Teilo?s accounts please do not hesitate to contact me. I would like to conclude by thanking you the members and friends of St Teilo?s for being so generous in your support during 2008. John Powell Mother?s Union The Deanery Mother?s Union held a service on Lady Day (25th March) at St Mary?s Abergavenny, followed by coffee and a display of Mother?s Union projects, a bring and buy, raffle and lunch in aid of Mother?s Union Overseas Fund. Many of our members supported this event and just over £200 was raised. We still hold Mother?s Union meetings on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Next month will be the Deanery Festival at Holy Trinity. Betty Gollop News from St David?s My newsletter this month is shorter than usual for two reasons. Firstly, we are away on holiday in the week leading up to 'copy-date' so I have less time to prepare it and, secondly, after a series of months with 'bad news' there is, thankfully, no bad news to report! We look forward to the marriage of Jacquie Gwillim and Robbie Davies at St David's on Saturday 9th May. It has been very good to have them with us, supported by their family and friends, during the reading of the banns and we wish them every happiness in their future together. Isn't it strange how things come in twos? We don't often have the pleasure of a wedding at St. David's but this year we rejoice with Jacquie and Robbie, then on 6th June Gemma Harris and Dean Burton have chosen St. David's as the venue for their wedding. Debbie and Stephen Harris, Gemma's parents moved into Spring Cottage, Llanddewi Skirrid several years ago so we were thrilled when we were asked if the wedding could be held in our church. Gemma and Dean both serve in the armed forces and have had several tours of duty in Iraq and Alfghanistan. We continue to remember in our prayers those of our community who are unwell or who need our prayers for other reasons. Joy Amann has recently had a stay in Nevill Hall but it is good to report she is much better and returned home this week. Please let me know if you would like anyone to be added to our prayer list. The church is still open for an hour 7-8pm on a Thursday evening for a time of quiet and silent prayer, please feel free to just drop in for as long or short a time as you would like. Our April Coffee Morning at the Village Hall was very well attended. The next coffee morning will be on Thursday 21st May at 10.30 am; as always a warm welcome awaits you in the village hall. Frances (01873 859485). Easter Flowers I?m sure that you would all agree that once again St Teilo?s was decorated beautifully for Easter. Consequently, we would like to thank all those who provided flowers, donated towards the cost of flowers, and to the ladies who transformed the flowers into wonderfully displays (and there helpers making tea etc...) Fruits of the spirit At Pentecost, we always remember the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. People thought they were drunk but, as Peter pointed out, it was just 9am ? a bit early for them to have over-indulged! It?s clear that one of God?s greatest gifts to us is powerful. That Pentecost morning, 3,000 came to know Christ as their Lord and Saviour, all thanks to that amazing gift of God?s grace which enabled the disciples to speak in many languages. In some ways when we become a Christian, the coming of the Holy Spirit into our lives is a bit like a planting: if we allow ourselves to be nurtured, if we feed ourselves in God?s Word and if we allow ourselves to grow as Christians, then we can expect the fruits of the Spirit to grow in us. We learn in Galatians 5:22-23 that ?the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?. Clearly these gifts are intended to help us as we walk with God and share his amazing grace with our friends and neighbours. Sometimes we like to think that Christians receive just one of these fruits ? but if you read the verse you will see that it doesn?t say this. The indication here is that every Christian should aim to develop the full set of fruits, which is something to thank God for! We are all human, and we will always be so. It means we will continue to be sinful and will continue to have to ask God for forgiveness of our sins. It also means that some days we won?t be radiant with joy, bursting with patience, wanting to share goodness and full of self-control. How should we deal with that? It?s easy to think that God doesn?t love us if we let him down, but, God is crackers about us. He cares about each and every one of us: he created us after all! So we can turn again and again to the cross, to remember how Jesus bled, died and rose again to give us salvation and the Holy Spirit. We need to keep on asking God not just for forgiveness but for more of the Holy Spirit in our lives: so that we can be transformed again and again and produce an abundant crop of the fruits of the Spirit. So if today you?re feeling low, or far from God, then why not spend some time right now with God, asking him to bless you again with the fruits of the Holy Spirit? After all, if he can help the early disciples at 9am in the morning, he can help you wherever you are right now. Gideon Mitchell Article taken from sheepdip.co.uk NEWS FROM LLANTILIO PERTHOLEY SCHOOL The Bishop of Monmouth, the very Rev. Dominic Walker was a welcome visitor to St Teilo's Church, Llantilio Pertholey on Palm Sunday for the annual confirmation service where there were two adult candidates and nine children from the local Church in Wales primary school. The service was organised by the vicar, the Rev. Marc Winchester, who gave lessons during the last few weeks to all those to be confirmed. The lesson was read by the school's head teacher Mr David Evans and the sermon was preached by the Bishop who helped the children relax with his sense of humour. LLANTILIO PERTHOLEY COMMUNITY COUNCIL Who Stole The Bench? Llantilio Pertholey Community Councillors were dismayed to learn that a bench which had been installed in the Hall grounds for the benefit and convenience of the public had been stolen within hours of its being placed there. ?This is really terribly disappointing? said Council Chairman David Spencer ?because we spend local people?s money on trying to provide amenities of this sort, and it is deeply frustrating to us when this sort of selfish and unacceptable behaviour occurs. It is a case of stealing from your own people?. He added that every conceivable effort had been made to ensure that the bench was installed with maximum security because Council has had previous experience of community facilities ?going walk-about?. Measures are proceeding to identify the current culprits. Councillors were also told of a forthcoming PACT meeting (6.00pm at the Welsh School on St. David?s Road, 7th May) where staff representatives of MCC, together with County Councillors John Prosser and Roger Harris who represent, respectively, Mardy and Croesonen Wards, will discuss issues of concern with local Police officers. All residents are invited to attend this open meeting which should provide an excellent opportunity for discussion and the exchange of news and information. ST TEILO?S CHURCHYARD WILDLIFE SCHEME WILD FLOWERS, FUNGI, LICHEN BIRDS, INSECTS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE ABOVE. IF SO, YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN OUR ACTION PLAN FOR THE CHURCHYARD. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT LES TOYER ON 01873 858235 QUIET DAY Here Is faith That can be silent It is not afraid of silence It knows happiness Is a deep pool Of quiet This third verse of a poem called ?Quiet Song In Time of Chaos? written by Eugene O?Neill (1888 ? 1953) for me epitomizes our Quiet Day held at Marshfield, Newport on Saturday 14th March. After a very warm welcome over a cup of coffee by Father David and his wife Wendy, we were enthusiastically introduced to the Desert Fathers and led to contemplate on; · Letting go ????? what am I still carrying, which I need to let go. · Into your hands ???listening to God. · New every morning ?. Making a fresh beginning. Apart from listening to Father David?s voice and appropriate background music on occasions, the silence was serene. The day can be described as being inspirational. It was also very effective as it certainly kept 13 of us QUIET FOR A DAY!!!! Valmai Powell Why not join us on our next Parish Quiet Day which is taking place at Ty Mawr Convent on Saturday 19th September. Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni It will come to no surprise to those of the congregation who attended our St David?s Day Festal Evensong back in March, to learn that the pupils of Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni have been successful in winning preliminary competitons at County level and will now perform in the National Urdd Eisteddfod at the Millenium Centre, Cardiff Bay during half-term week (25th ? 30th May). They will perform in three separate competitons (Action Song, Choir and Contemporary Dance). This is a great achievement and we offer our congratulations to pupils, staff, parents and tutors on this wonderful achievement. Valmai Powell NOTICEBOARD Friendship Circle - On Tuesday April 7th participated in a short service with readings at each ?Station of the Cross? for Easter Week followed by Hot Cross buns and tea/coffee. In May we will be welcoming Lesley Flynn to our meeting. New members are always welcome and the £3.00 membership donation is used for donations to a charity or to the person visiting to help with their individual costs. We meet in the Tredilion Room and start at 7.30. Liz Barnes will no longer be running the Friendship Circle when the present programme finishes. Llantilio Pertholey WI - Llantilio Pertholey WI meets on the first Thursday of each month in the Mardy Community Hall at 7.15pm. The AGM is on Thursday May 7th when we will have a change of President. We have a wide variety of talks and activities in WI and always welcome new members or visitors. Contact Federation Office for details on (01633) 864456. Abergavenny Walking for Health - This group leaves the Family Church in Castle Street every Wednesday at 10.30 and walk for under an hour. This is your chance to get fit, enjoy the fresh air, scenery, be sociable, enjoy a coffee and lift your spirits. Come and join us. St Teilo?s Churchyard ? Anyone interested in joining the Churchyard Wildlife group please contact Les Toyer (858235). There is now a green compost bin in the churchyard. This is for dead flowers and foliage only, please could you place all other rubbish in the dustbins provided. St Teilo?s Bells ? Want to develop a new hobby, make friends and travel? Want to have the bells rung to commemorate a special occasion? Contact David Salter 853611 Village Produce Association ? Meets at Mardy Community Hall on the 3rd Monday of the month at 7pm, new members welcome. For further information contact Marion Tucker (852176) or Malcolm Brinkworth (850115). Parish Bible Study Group ? This group meets at the vicarage (10 The Pines) every Wednesday from 7.30pm. Saints Philip and James (1st May) Philip was one of the first chosen Disciples of Christ. On the way from Judea to Galilee Our Lord found Philip, and said, ?Follow Me.? Philip straightway obeyed; and then in his zeal and charity sought to win Nathaniel also, saying, ?We have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth.? And when Nathaniel in wonder asked, ?Can any good come out of Nazareth?? Philip simply answered, ?Come and see,? and brought him to Jesus. Another saying of this Apostle is preserved for us by Saint John. Christ in His last discourse had spoken of His Father; and Philip exclaimed, in the fervour of his thirst for God, ?Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough!? The tradition of the ancients has established that he died a martyr at Hierapolis in Phyrgia. There the remains of a church known to be dedicated to him have been identified, north of the entrance to the great necropolis. His relics were later transported to Rome, to the church of the Holy Apostles. Saint James the Less (the Younger), author of the canonical Epistle, was the son of Alpheus, the brother of Saint Jude and a cousin of Our Lord, whom he is said to have resembled. Saint Paul tells us that he was favoured by a special apparition of Christ after the Resurrection. (I Corinthians 15:7) On the dispersion of the Apostles among the nations, Saint James remained as Bishop of Jerusalem, where the Jews held him in such high veneration his purity, mortification, and prayer, that they named him the Just. He governed that church for 30 years before his martyrdom. Hegesippus, the earliest of the Church?s historians, has handed down many traditions of Saint James?s sanctity. Saint James was a celibate Nazarite consecrated to God; he drank no wine and wore no sandals. He prostrated himself so long and so often in prayer that the skin of his knees was hardened like a camel?s hoof. It is said that the Jews, out of respect, used to touch the hem of his garment. He was indeed a living proof of his own words, ?The wisdom that is from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, modest, ready to listen, full of mercy and good fruits.? (James 3:17) He sat beside Saint Peter and Saint Paul at the Council of Jerusalem. When Saint Paul at a later time escaped the fury of the Jews by appealing to Caesar, the people took vengeance on James, and crying out, ?The just one has erred!? stoned him to death. During his martyrdom he prayed for his persecutors in the same words pronounced by Jesus: ?Heavenly Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.? Sources: Lives of the Saints of May ? www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/may.html - Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler?s Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894); Dictionnaire de la Bible, F. Vigouroux (Letouzey et Ané: Paris, 1912), Vol. 5, ?Philippe, Apôtre?; ?Jacques le Mineur, Apôtre?. Vol. 1: (1895), ?Bartholomew, Apôtre.? DAILY READINGS: MAY 1st Friday Philip & James Apostles: John 14. 1 - 14 2nd Saturday: John 6. 60 ? 69 3rd Sunday Easter 4: John 10. 11 ? 18 4th Monday: John 10. 1 - 10 5th Tuesday: John 10. 22 - 30 6th Wednesday: John 12. 44 - 50 7th Thursday: John 13. 16 - 20 8th Friday: John 14. 1 ? 7 9th Saturday: John 14. 7 ? 14 10th Sunday Easter 5 : John 15. 1 - 8 11th Monday: John 14. 21 - 26 12th Tuesday: John 14. 27 ? 31a 13th Wednesday: John 15. 1 - 8 14th Thursday Matthias Apostle: Matthew 7. 15 - 27 15th Friday: Matthew 25. 14 - 30 16th Saturday: John 15. 18 ? 21 17th Sunday Easter 6: John 15. 9 - 17 18th Monday: John 15. 26 ? 16. 4a 19th Tuesday: Mark 11. 22 - 24 20th Wednesday: Luke 11. 5 - 13 21st Thursday Ascension Day: Luke 24. 44 - 53 22nd Friday: John 16. 20 - 24 23rd Saturday : John 16. 23b ? 28 24th Sunday: Easter 7: John 17. 6 - 19 25th Monday: John 16. 29 - 33 26th Tuesday: John 17. 1 ? 11a 27th Wednesday: John 17. 11b ? 19 28th Thursday: John 17. 20 ? 26 29th Friday: John 21. 15 ? 19 30th Saturday: John 21. 20 ? 25 31st Pentecost Sunday: John 15. 26 ? 27 & 16. 4b - 15 SERVICES IN THE PARISH St Teilo?s ? Llantilio Pertholey Sundays 8.00am Holy Eucharist (Said) 10.30am Parish Eucharist (5th Sunday of the month Matins) 6.00pm Evensong Wednesday 9.30am Holy Eucharist (Said) Friday 7.00pm Holy Eucharist (1st Friday of the month Healing Mass) St David?s ? Llanddewi Skirrid 9.15am 2nd & 4th Sundays ? Holy Eucharist 9.15am 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays ? Matins Bettws Chapel 9.15am 1st & 3rd Sundays ? Holy Communion Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals by arrangement. Magazine Contributions If you have any articles that you would link to contribute to the June issue of The Link please forward them to Jessica Graham (jaimegrak3k@aol.com) by 29th May.