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Sunday, November 29th, 2009FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER 2010
‘The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission’
It does this through
• Worship
• Learning and Caring
• Service
• Evangelism
Our Mission Statement:
Sketty Methodist Church
exists to share with all
* the glory of God through worship
* the love of God through service and
* the Spirit of God through friendship
Musings from the manse this month come from the middle of yet another traffic jam on the Dhaka-Aricha highway as I attempt to return home after another fruitless visit to the Indian Embassy in downtown Dhaka. This is my third trip so far with the prospects of another one on the horizon in the next couple of days; a trip that takes about 4 hours on a good day and what feels like a whole lifetime on a bad one. And today is a bad one.
The reason for my trip is to get a transit visa to allow me to return to Calcutta for 48 hours in order to catch my flight home at the end of my holiday. Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? So far, and I hate to look too far into the future, I have filled in six different forms, submitted four photocopies of various things from my passport, been seen by three different people, answered the same questions ad nauseam in both English and Bengali, twiddled my thumbs almost to the bone waiting for government officials to actually show up and start work - and bitten my tongue so many times I am surprised I have any tongue left.
And all because the Indian Embassy in the UK didn’t give me a double entry visa which would have eliminated all these problems and allowed me to actually spend time with the family I am visiting rather than sit in the back of an overcrowded bus which seems to be moving with the speed of a glacier.
Oh to be Paul, where the mere fact that he was a Roman citizen, not only allowed him to move quite freely and easily all over the Mediterranean during his three missionary journeys, but also acted on occasions as a “get out of jail free” card. The good old British passport it seems no longer has the same sway.
In this day and age of international terrorism crossing from one country to another, from one culture to another, from one area to another is not an easy procedure. Or maybe that should read…cutting through all the red tape, bureaucracy and paperwork is never easy.
Getting across the actual border itself between India and Bangladesh has never taken longer than 20 minutes with hardly a question asked or glance given towards my luggage to inspect what I might be concealing within it.
My experiences of the past few days have made me wonder how easy do we, as Christians, make it for those new to the faith or perhaps those simply searching for a faith, to cross over the invisible borders, customs checkpoints and immigration posts that we sometimes set up outside, around and within our churches? Do we freely admit and welcome all who come? Or do we check to see if they are on a list of undesirables or potential trouble makers? How many forms do we require they fill in, how many photographs need to be examined, how many interviews and conversations must they be subjected too, how many times must they come back to be examined, inspected, checked and verified to see if their theological viewpoint and understanding matched our own, before they are deemed suitable to join our exclusive little club open to selected members only?
Or are we like Jesus, who simply stood, arms held open in welcome, smile on his face and a single word on his lips….Come.
Love and light John
Audrey Griffin died on 22nd December, a much-loved member of our community. Audrey was born on 4th December 1921 in Bridgend and, when her parents moved to Aberkenfig, she attended Tondu Wesley Chapel. When she taught in Bristol she worshipped at Ken’s home church where she became Guide Captain. In 1946 she felt a call to overseas work and trained at Kingsmead College Birmingham where she was accredited a Local Preacher before going to teach in Nigeria. She was invalided home after 1½ years, and then taught at Kettering until she married Ken on 2nd August 1950, and he himself has said that they truly had a joint ministry. Audrey was an inspirational preacher and they both delighted in welcoming others into the home and this continued when they retired to Swansea in 1986. Audrey had her first stroke in 1996 followed by two more, until in 2006 she moved into the Old Vicarage Nursing Home where she was still a blessing to all who visited her. We hold Ken in our prayers, along with their children, Paul, Elizabeth and Rosemary, and her grandchildren, great-g’children, her brother and other relatives. We give thanks that we knew Audrey.
A message from Ken:
How can the family and I thank all who gave Audrey such a wonderful Valedictory? First, Audrey herself for choosing hymns which so richly expressed her experience. Of HP264 she said ‘In Nigeria I really did see devils flee as girls came to trust in our Lord’. HP184 was with her ‘ in her darkest and most painful moments in Hospital’ and in HP316 ‘Wesley expressed all the scriptural teaching to bring us joyfully to full salvation’ Thanks to all who by their regular worship had learnt to sing so powerfully those great hymns and truly make worship a corporate experience ably led by Alan Sykes. Then there are all those who, in person, by card or e-mail have sent us their sympathy and those who have expressed that sympathy in practical gifts for World Mission or NSPCC. Special thanks go to Howard and John for their pastoral care and ministry, to Rev.Linda Woolacott and Heather Coleman for reading, Wesley Club for the beautiful flowers in church, and the team of friends who served as Stewards, catering assistants and transporters. We trust that all who came found their experience of worship as rewarding as I did. The caterer, Tania Morgan, I would commend to anyone! Ken Griffin
Ken has been in hospital as this Newsletter is prepared, and we assure him of our prayers.
Arthur Griffiths, Richard & Merlyn Griffiths’ 41 year old son, died on Boxing Day, and our hearts have gone out to them, and to Arthur’s wife Sheryl, sons Thomas and Jack, and brother Michael. We hold them in our prayers.
A message from the Griffiths family:
Merlyn, Richard and Michael Griffiths (Arthur’s brother) wish to thank everyone for flowers, cards, phone-calls and prayers following the death on Boxing Day of Arthur, in Ty Olwen, after a 5-year struggle with cancer. Arthur is survived by his wife Sheryl and sons Thomas (15) and Jack (13).
David Kelly died just before Christmas and John conducted the funeral service on 29th December. We assure his wife Audrey of our thoughts and prayers at this time.
Eleanor & Mike Price have been blessed with a grandchild, Tabitha Nesta, born to Bethan & Alistair Jones on 13th January, and we give thanks with them all.
Rev Andrew Walker will be joining the Circuit in September 2010 as Minister with pastoral care for the churches in Gower. He will have completed his first five years in ministry serving in Newport & Lower Wye Circuit. He is married to Emily and they have three boys under 10years – Benjamin, Joseph and Joshua.
We send Birthday Greetings in February to
Ioan Webber (on the 6th) Lana Scott (7th)
Emily Stevenson (10th)
Griffynn Reekie-Evans (13th)
Bethan Evans (19th) Gareth Kirk (25th)
Our Communion Offertories in December of £230 were donated to Stepping Stones, and those in January of £180 were sent to Victory Outreach. We also sent £235 to the Cumbrian Flood appeal, and £665 for the Haiti Earthquake appeal.
Our Offertories in February will be for the Gateway Club at Friendship House - it is a club for adults with learning disabilities, providing social activities on three evenings a week.
Fund for World Mission
Envelopes have been in the pews during January for our usual collection for the work of World Mission. This is for the main fund which funds mission partners in various countries as well as work such as helping Bangladesh street children and improving women’s literacy in Benin. £20,000 had been granted in immediate aid to Haiti, so my apologies for the clash when we took another collection apparently for the same cause. If you prefer to give at later date, please pass your donation to me. Thanks. Susan Glen
Brew for You Coffee Morning
Wednesday 3rd February
10-11.30 (short act of devotion 10.40-11am)
3rd March – special Traidcraft Morning to be
held in the church.
From Rev Ken Griffin
Many of you will have seen how helpful our special car wheelchair has been to Audrey. I am selling the car and if you know anyone who would be interested, please put them in touch. Audrey said the car should be FAB1. If anyone would like a slide projector, stand and screen let me know. Ken Griffin 422608
A message from Jan Chaplin:
“God meets us where we are, not where we think we should be” was Ward Davies’ Christmas message to me. It struck quite a special note with me and I hope it will have meaning for you as we journey together along the road of faith. Jan
A message to our organists!
We are grateful to those who accompany us in our singing at services and we have especially appreciated Alan Sykes’ impromptu recitals following worship which help us to continue to ‘lift up our hearts’.
Mother and Toddler Group
We are hoping to start a Mums & Toddlers Group one morning each week in the church hall, beginning after Easter. If you, friends or family are able to donate any toys (good condition) for ages between 0-4 years, or if you feel called and able to volunteer to help in this Outreach project, on either a weekly basis, or even on a rota, please contact Sandra Cuthill 208907 so that we can arrange a meeting during February to progress this project.
Services At Parkway Home - Volunteers are needed to help with the service on Sunday 28th February at 4.30 pm. If you can help the service leader with the ‘readings’, singing or by talking to the residents please sign up on the notice in the vestibule. This is part of our C?tun Outreach.
Advance Notice re Church Weekend Away 2011
Venue: Lindors in the Wye Valley
Date: Friday 15 to Sunday 17 April (this is Palm Sunday)
The cost per adult per night will be £67 (Lodges are charged at the same rate with a one off charge of £50 per lodge for the weekend). There is also a scale of reduced rates for children including 16 and 17 year olds, or those in full time education. The cost per adult per night has not increased significantly, but there are changes to the amount of the deposit, the timing of the deposit payment, and also to the cancellation charges.
If you are interested in attending the next Church Weekend Away from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 April 2011, please inform Gwen Dumelow who will let you have detailed information about costs and terms and conditions to enable you to make an informed decision.
Deposits and a provisional bedroom allocation list will be required by the end of September 2010.
The Women’s World Day of Prayer Service in Sketty this year will be held at Parklands Evangelical Church on Friday 5th March at 10.30.
Rev Ken Griffin’s thoughts on Communion:
What does ‘Communion’ mean? When the New English Bible was first published, the translation of 1 John 1v3 came home with fresh force ‘So that you and we together may share in a common life, that life which we share with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ’. That is Communion.
When Jesus called his disciples he said ‘Come with me, and I will make you fishers of men’.(Matt. 4.19) He called them for a purpose, made perfectly clear in His words to them before His Ascension ‘Go forth therefore and make all nations my disciples’ (Matt.28.19) Before they could do that he had to weld them into a team. It meant making clear to them what God’s rule really meant (he preached or heralded ‘The Kingdom of God’) he taught what it should mean for their lives and demonstrated its transforming power in healing. Their meals together were a vital part of that training and he summed it all up in the Passover Meal which was and is vividly real to practising Jews as they remember their deliverance from Egypt. He gave it new meaning as he broke bread and said ‘This is my Body’; blessed wine and said ‘This is my Blood’ That became no empty ritual when they saw his body broken on the Cross and saw the blood dripping from His wounds. They were shattered and afraid but for six weeks he continued teaching them and at last at Pentecost a new power was given to them, the ‘Social Life’ gained the new meaning John described in 1 John 1.
As Jesus promised, the new life is not easy. He told us we would have to take up his Cross to follow him. In these last weeks as our Ministers have celebrated Communion with Audrey and me it has been a tremendous source of strength. The Covenant Service sealed that strength as it has strengthened us throughout our ministry. It was sad to see the young people, who will need its strength so much in the coming years, leave as if it were not for them. Ken Griffin
Ken’s thoughts brought to mind how some of us were challenged when we took part in the group which discussed Holy Communion with John in December. We looked, among other things, at Communion hymns, and I personally have found HP594 (An upper room did our Lord prepare) very helpful. It expresses much that I personally believe.
If others would like to comment, please do so. Jean Kirkwood
Here are two more contributions written by members
to help us know each other better.
From Sandra Cuthill:
I grew up in Bury Lancashire and, although my family did not go to church, my Grandma was a staunch Methodist. My mum was confirmed and married in C of E but lost her faith after my brother Brian was born. My first memory of any church was being taken by our next door neighbour to a Congregational Sunday School at about 4 years old. I think they took me so that my parents were able to devote more time to my brother, who had Downs Syndrome. In those days “mongols” were very much kept hidden away at home or sent to “training centres”. This wasn’t the case in my family and Brian lived a very happy and social life within the family and friends. I attended a C of E school and asked at about 9 years old to go to Sunday School with my friends. My Grandma occasionally took me to the Methodist church - I remember being very impressed by the singing – much louder and jollier than C of E! My social activities centred around my school with Brownies, Guides and, later, Youth Club and the Operatic and Dramatics Society! I don’t remember my parents either encouraging or discouraging me, as they were always pretty much occupied with my brother. I do remember at the age of 13 asking if I could be confirmed. It caused a bit of a row as my dad was an atheist, but my mum said I was old enough to make up my own mind. I remember the ceremony quite clearly as I had to have a posh white dress and veil (!) and kneel in front of the bishop. cont …
It was after this that I began to think more clearly about my faith. At times of stress my mum would ask why God had given her these problems (I had severe asthma and eczema which meant regular trips to hospital and time off school, and Brian was still a handful both in behaviour and health). I remember thinking then that God always has a purpose, even when we can’t see it or understand it. As time passed my brother became older and life was easier – we were able to go on holiday, although usually in a caravan or to relatives down here in Bridgend. I met Bob at Swansea University and, after marriage in 1969, taught in Surrey and Newcastle. Bob and I moved back to Swansea in 1979. At first we went to Mumbles Methodist, mainly because a friend living opposite was a Sunday School teacher there, but in 1984 we began attending Sketty Methodist regularly. It was during John Atkinson’s ministry here at Sketty that I finally transferred my membership from the Anglican to the Methodist Church and felt I had come home (my Grandma would be so pleased!)
My parents and Brian had moved to be near us in 1982 and when Brian died in 1997, I was finally able to understand how God’s love can grow from what would appear to be sadness. Our tolerance and understanding as a family had grown, we were truly privileged and blessed to have had Brian in our lives, and our children are totally understanding and accepting of any disability having had this first hand experience. There have been periods in my life when I have not attended church regularly but I always had faith that God is travelling with me and tried to follow His teachings. I have had a very fortunate and happy life, and when troubles or sadness have occurred God has always been there to give me strength and show me the way forward. At those times, and ever since, the week doesn’t seem right if I have not gone to church on Sunday.
My faith is a simple one and as a child could be summarised in the children’s prayer “Gentle Jesus meek and mild look upon a little child, pity my simplicity and suffer me to come to thee”. However, as an adult and especially during the last year I have looked more deeply into my personal faith. I now firmly believe that in order to make ourselves right with God we must endeavour every day to allow Him to challenge us and use us as he sees fit. I think my beliefs can now be summarised in the words of the hymn by John Keble “New every morning is the Love” – not much more complex than “Gentle Jesus” but I think a more encompassing and mature expression of my faith. Sandra
From Quentin Hawkins:
How did I come to faith? Well I never remember a time when I did not believe in God. As a family we had from my earliest memories regularly attended our local parish church, and then at the age of thirteen I went away to boarding school with chapel every morning and confirmation as a matter of course.
However it was not until I was posted to Germany during my two years National Service that I came to realise that regular church attendance was not enough for me personally nor enough to make me a Christian in God’s eyes. In an alien world of military service, away from a familiar environment and surrounded by people whose values were often very different from those with which I had grown up, my church-going habits led me to the camp chapel’s Sunday services. There I met a chaplain whose regular greeting was not “How are you?” but “How are you going on with the Lord?” and I realised that I was not really “going on” at all spiritually. Among the small group of believers in our barracks were folk who clearly had something that I lacked - a personal and real faith in Jesus Christ. And I came to realise that I needed to rely not on a second hand faith derived from the warmth of my fellowship with Christians but on my own personal commitment to our Saviour. It was the time of the Billy Graham Crusades, of his film “Souls in Conflict” and his call to respond to the invitation of the gospel, and so one day I knelt down and committed my life to Christ. And I have not looked back since. To borrow some words of Bishop Handley Moule, Jesus Christ became and has been from that time “a living and unutterably necessary reality to me”. Quentin
Nigel Cram will fly out to South Africa on 11th March to volunteer for two weeks at the Street Child World Cup in Durban. It is hoped that teams of street children from nine nations will come being organised by Amos Trust, the charity initiated and run by song-writer and campaigner Rev Garth Hewitt. The event is based at the centre for Street Children run by Garth’s son, Tom.
Nigel will pay his own fare, but is fund-raising to cover his share of costs as a volunteer at the event plus help towards the costs of the children. His target is £2,000. Fuller details are in our notices -
Fri 5th Feb 7.30 Capel y Nant Clydach – A Concert
Tues 9th Feb 7.30 Light South African meal at Wesley Eaton Rd
www.streetchildworldcup.org
Traidcraft News: - A big ‘Thank You’ to all Fair Trade supporters in 2009 (Traidcraft’s 30th Anniversary year). The Sunday Traidcraft stalls are still proving successful which is good for the Fairtrade Movement and also for the Redevelopment Fund, as 10% is given to the Fund.
Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 22nd February to 7th March and this year’s theme is ‘The Big Swap’ focussing on the tea industry. Only 10% of tea sold in the UK is Fairtrade and the call is for all tea to be Fairtrade. On Wednesday 3rd March between 10am & 12 noon and running alongside the monthly ‘Brew for You’ there will be a Coffee Morning held in the church to which all are invited. There will be no admission charge, just come along and have a look at the DVD telling Traidcraft’s Tea Story, enjoy a chat and tea & coffee (Fairtrade of course!)
The monthly Sunday Traidcraft stall will be after the morning service on 28th February. Pat Thomas
The Church Council met on 11th December. Particular concern was expressed about our need for two new Church Stewards from May. Ian Hartley retires at the end of April following his four years’ term, and Sandra Cuthill, Mike Whitehead, Win Hawkins (who is now On Note as an LP), and Les Want (who is also Adventurers’ Co-ordinator) will need another two members to join them.
PLEASE WOULD YOU CONSIDER THIS CALL TO SERVICE?
In addition, Robin Hancock, announced that he would be retiring as Treasurer at the end of the Methodist Church year (31.08.2010)
Les Want gave a very positive report on the Adventurers although there seemed no obvious reason for the fluctuating attendances in the children’s departments. We empathised with the teachers who sometimes prepared and then no children attended. We gave thanks for the regular attendance of the Young People’s Group.
Church Accounts and all that!
Our auditor, John Porter, has has signed off the church accounts for the last financial year. The abbreviated version is on our notice boards and the more detailed version is available from me – please ask if you would like a copy. And before I forget it, we thank John Porter for all his hard work as auditor. During last year we opened separate bank accounts for the Redevelopment scheme and this year the accounts will be fully separated so that the picture is clear for the grant-making bodies to which we are applying. I am grateful to Jon Dyer who has joined to help as Redevelopment Treasurer.
Dealing briefly with the accounts: first the Benevolence Fund – this receives and pays out the special collections for Methodist and other charitable causes. We raised £2,332 and paid out £2,436.
Then there is the General Fund which deals with the Circuit assessment (mainly the costs of paying and housing the ministers in the Circuit) and the cost of running our church. Our share of the assessment was £41,120 and the Sketty church cost £12,174 to run (heating, lighting, water, cleaning, repairs and renewals etc). So the total costs were £53,294. Thanks to a substantial contribution of over £10,000 from tax reclaimed under the Gift Aid scheme, our general income exceeded costs by £1,057. Thanks to all concerned for your contributions which are much appreciated.
During the year all sorts of fund-raising for the Redevelopment scheme increased that pot by £16,138. Incidentally Smarties raised £337 of this! Again thank you.
The editor has asked me to bring the account up-to-date. On the debit side I will just mention that, as for all of us, the continuing low rate of interest has seriously reduced the church’s sundry income from its bank deposits. If any tax-payers are not already members, joining the Gift Aid scheme is one way in which you can increase the church’s income at no extra cost to yourself. Please ask.
There is good news on the Redevelopment front. I hope that you will have read already about the total of £15,019 given in the November Gift Weekend. Together with other fund-raising this means that almost £20,400 was added to the Redevelopment Fund total during the first four months of the current financial year. This brings the total raised by us so far (excluding the £16,249 held in trust by Manchester) to about £94,500.
Thank you for reading this: a belated happy new year to you all.
Rob Hancock
REDEVELOPMENT FUND NEWS
Forthcoming events:
13th February: Pancake Party 6 pm in the Church hall.
Tickets £2.50 (for 1 savoury & 1 sweet pancake, extra Pancakes will be available at 75p each).
Tickets from Jacqueline Brown and Anne Whitehead.
Come and enjoy delicious pancakes and have fun with our quizzes!
If you’re able to join in with the ‘kitchen fun’, please contact Jacqueline or Anne
4th, 5th, 6th March: Pantomime: Details on back cover.
12th – 17th April – A Secondhand Book Sale at Mumbles Methodist Church is being very kindly offered and supported by our friends at Mumbles.
Help by us at Sketty for this will be needed:
* to transport books to Mumbles and set up the sale on
Sunday 11th April after morning service.
* to staff the stall during lunchtimes throughout the week
* to clear up on Saturday 17th after lunch.
Our friends at Mumbles have offered to sell the books on our behalf at other times during the week. A rota of helpers will be put in the front porch nearer the time.
Meanwhile please keep the date of this event in your diary
15th May Saturday - Evening Concert by the Gwalia Singers
In addition: we are collecting CDs and undamaged Secondhand Jewellery, as these are known to sell successfully at Fayres which we plan to hold at Victoria Hall, Mumbles in the near future. Please leave your contributions in the box under the table in the vestibule.
Spring into Action is our fundraising/community outreach event which will take place from 21st – 23rd May 2011.
It will take the form of a type of all-age ‘Eisteddfodd’, based on the lines of a village show. You, your friends, neighbours, relatives are invited to enter competitions which will be judged by members of our local/wider community who are expert in their fields of arts/crafts. Winners will be presented with certificates. We are encouraging our uniformed organisations and local schools to participate.
The following Arts/Crafts are included for entry and the topic is Spring ~ Spring into Action
Miniature Garden; Scarecrows; Collage; Art; Photography; Creative Writing; Woodwork; Creative Stitching; Cookery.
Following the judging of entries, an exhibition of the entries will be opened to the public
More information will be included in the September issue of our Newsletter. Anne Whitehead
Would you recognise Him?
If Jesus came back to earth, not in the clouds of glory of His anticipated Second Coming, but to live as an “ordinary” person, how would we recognise Him and indeed would we recognise Him?
This was one of the questions we discussed in our Reel to Real group in December. The film we had watched was that charming and moving (it brought a tear to my eyes) film Whistle Down the Wind which many of you will remember seeing years ago. It is the story of a group of children living on a farm who find an escaped convict hiding in their barn and, through a misunderstanding, believe he is Jesus. They seek to help him and hide him from the grown ups and authorities. Like the wise men of old the village children bring him presents which they present to him amid the straw of the barn. But he fails to heal a kitten which dies and so, for the little boy, doubt sets in.
A challenging quote from the film is “He’s not your private property, everyone can see him if they want to” which for us raises questions of whether as Christians and as a church we keep the Good News to ourselves and fail to share it and whether outsiders who come among us are able to see Jesus in our lives and in our fellowship.
A dozen or so of us are involved in the Reel to Real groups. We watch a secular film each month then meet together with nibbles and coffee to discuss it and look for the Christian themes that it highlights. Themes like “redemption”, “forgiveness”, “faith”, “reconciliation”, “belief” etc. What the group has shown me is that, if only we open our eyes to it, we can see reflections of the gospel truths in secular life around us if we look at life with the eyes of faith and through the lens of Jesus’ teaching.
If you would like to join in one of the Reel to Real groups, please ask John for details. Quentin Hawkins
Visit to India
My two weeks in Dharamsala were spent observing the work of the charity Tong Len and doing practical art and teaching. Tong Len runs a health programme and provides basic education in makeshift tents in a camp for displaced people from poorer parts of India, such as Rajasthan.
Tong Len also provide hostel accommodation and excellent care for orphans and children whose parents cannot look after them. At present they are housed in two old buildings in Dharamsala town. A new hostel building, which will be named after Michael Blakey, is being built in a very peaceful area in the nearby countryside. There will be space for more children and workshops etc…
It was interesting to visit the building site as I intend to make a stained glass window for the hostel. This will be inspired by drawings which the children in India made for me to bring back to Swansea.
I would very much like to share my experience, photographs and children’s art work as well as raising some money for the work of Tong- Len. Perhaps an Indian themed evening ??? Mary Hayman
(www.tong-len.org)
University Theology free public lecture, Thursday 18th February at 7pm in James Callaghan Lecture Theatre: Professor Judith Lieu (Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at Cambridge and Fellow of Robinson College)
15 Years Ago: February 1995 by Caroline Crimp Sister Margaret reflected on the lack of commitment to various causes on the part of society as a whole. She thanked all those committed to helping in the church, while asking members to ponder what they could do within the fellowship and the community – in particular the vacancy for a Church Steward.
Baptism: Graham Richard and Abigail Jane children of Jane and Ian Coombs
Congratulations: Ethel & Ernie Scriven on the birth of a first great- grandchild Daniel; a second grandson, Lewys, for Aerona Francis; and Kenneth Lam starting a new job in Ipswich.
Prayers for Jack Kaye and Gladys Thomas who have been poorly
News: thanks to the YPF carolling party which raised £78 (with an additional £90 Christmas Day communion collection) for Stepping Stones; also from Development Officer, Mo Rogers, for all the support given by church members; also the Banner Group for the “ truly beautiful Christmas wall hanging”; NCH house-to-house collection: £624 in Sketty and £463 in Dunvant/Killay; a prayer-request book placed by Sister Margaret on the vestibule table; the Scouts enjoyed their Camp Fire evening with Sister Margaret and the District Commissioner; the Cubs won the Gower District Swimming Gala again.
Special report: Clifford Austin described his return visit to China with Lyn on a Jumbo Jet 13hr flight (40 years before 3 months on a P&O cargo boat!) From Hong Kong their party journeyed to Shauguan Hospital, for its 80th anniversary, to a “most magnificent” welcome. Of several reunions the most poignant was with his former cook who had kept him alive while in prison by bringing him food daily – the hospital itself had expanded from 2 to 10 floors. The town population had increased ten-fold, and three wide bridges replaced the sampan river crossing – sadly the church they visited was the remaining one of the 5 churches he knew. Cliff concluded: “Thank you for your support ..… every minute was worthwhile”.
Future events: Covenant service on 1st Jan, and 14th Feb for SS staff and any others; Young Working Adults Group Thurs 9th.
15 years ago (1979/80) by Reg Crimp: Christmas carollers raised a record of £168.38 for NCH, and JMA a record £201.63; Rosemary Blyth welcomed to the Primary Dept, with thanks to Enid Ponsford whom she replaced
Coming Events
Services: 10.30am & 6.30pm Adventurers: 10.30am
At 6.30pm we are joined by our friends from Bethel URC
Please stay and have coffee with us after the morning service.
There is an induction loop for those with hearing aids.
There are large print versions of hymns at the door.
At evening service the collection plate is placed in the vestibule for your offerings as you enter church.
In term-time:
Monday 2pm Folk-dancing
Tuesday 2pm Banner/Craft Group
5.30-6.30 Beavers 6.45-8 Cubs
Wednesday 6.15-7.30 Brownies
7.30 Sketty Madcaps
Friday 7pm-8.30 Scouts
January
31 Sun 10.30 Bruce Sawyer (not as on Plan): Family Service
Traidcraft Stall
6.30 Sketty Worship Group
February
1 Mon 7pm Wesley Club: Bill Riseborough - Jazz
3 Wed 10-11.30 Brew for You Coffee Morning (see p.6)
4 Thu 7.30 Pastoral Meeting
7 Sun 10.30 Rev John Jones: Communion
6.30 Rev Kim Fabricius
8 Mon 7pm Wesley Club: Make a card evening
11 Thu 7.30 Church Council
13 Sat 6pm Pancake Party (see p.14)
14 Sun 10.30 Quentin Hawkins
6.30 Rev Alf Austin
15 Mon 7pm Wesley Club: Anne & Mike Whitehead – Meet the Penguins ~ Antarctica
17 ASH WEDNESDAY
18 Thu 7.30 Dunvant/Killay Hse.Gp. Ponsfords’
21 Sun 10.30 Rev John Wiseman
6.30 Clive Jones
22 Mon 7pm Wesley Club: Sue Brown – Towards a Just Peace
28 Sun 10.30 Rev Gillian Evans: Family Service Traidcraft Stall
4.30 Service at Parkway Home (see p.7)
6.30 Rev Kim Fabricius: Communion
March
3 Wed 10-11.30 Brew for You Coffee Morning to be held in the Church.
4-6 Thu-Sat Pantomime (see back cover)
5 Fri 10.30 Sketty’s Women’s World Day of Prayer Service at Parklands Evangelical
Found somewhere…. Small boy to Dad: “I know what the Bible means!” Dad: “You do? Tell me!” Boy: “It stands for Basic Information Before Leaving Earth”
(out of the mouths…. )
Our Madcaps group are now busy with rehearsals for their 2010 production
The Panto this year has a title you may recognize
COCKLES & MUSSELS, ALIVE, ALIVE O !
…..but
This production is written and produced by Jan and therefore you will be encouraged to attend to witness our talented cast perform in their usual manner.
We are also delighted to have our Brownies in the cast this year
THURS 4th March 7-30pm, FRI 5th 7-30pm,
SAT 6th matinee 2-30pm and 7-30pm
Tickets are £6 Adults, £5 Senior, £3 Child
available from John Dumelow 539328…j.dumelow@ntlworld.com
HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL
