Pilgrim’s Service

This year our service coincides with my 25^th Anniversary as a priest and will take place at the Pilgrim’s church on Sunday, 1^st August at 11.00am.  If the weather is dry we shall meet at the Boating Club at St Clears at 9.45am to make our pilgrim’s journey to the service.  The guest preacher and celebrant will be Bishop David Yeoman, formerly assistant Bishop of Llandaff and a former Vicar of Mountain Ash, where we lived as a family for 3 years. Following the service there will be a lunch in Bancyfelin Hall and tickets for the lunch will be sold at our churches.  I hope a many as possible will come along and share this special day together as a parish.

Mothers’ Union

Heather has been appointed Unit Co-ordinator for the Diocesan Action and Outreach team, and so will no longer be the Deanery Leader and Trustee for the St Clears’ Deanery.  In her place Heulwen Reece has been appointed to serve as Deanery leader.  We congratulate Heather and Heulwen in their new positions and wish them all God’s blessing as they serve the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese.

From the Registers

Christian Burial – Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”

June 14^th        Mansel Lewis, Tidworth House, St Clears

July 2^nd           Wynford Jenkins, formerly 6, Maesybryn, St Clears

                        James Wilson, Las Fach, New Mill

We offer our sympathies to all those families in the parish who have lost loved ones in recent weeks.  We give thanks to God for Mansel Lewis’ Christian life and witness through his singing at St Mary Magdalene Church.  May he now enjoy his place in the heavenly choir that praises God forever.

St Mary Magdalene.

Church Hall. I am pleased to report that all the necessary paperwork is now completed by the Registrars’ office and I have placed the sale of the hall in the hands of a local estate agent.  Hopefully we shall be able to move forward with the sale in the very near future.

Church Finance. On our recent Stewardship Day I calculated that every single person who attends church or who gives to the church needs to contribute £375 as a minimum to maintain our church and services for the year.  I have to emphasise that this figure is per individual person and not per couple or household.  I know things are financially difficult but please do everything you can – don’t leave it to others.  We rely on everyone, but at the same time if everyone plays their part through regular giving and supporting the fund-raising events then it is all possible.  Please pray about it and see if you can help to maintain our beautiful church.

Mothers’ Union. On Wednesday 23^rd June we had an evening buffet at Llety Cynin and splendid it was too!  Many thanks to Gwawr, who is in charge of the catering, for beautifully preseting an excellent meal.  Diolch o galon Gwawr, ardderchog.  It was a most enjoyable evening with good fun and fellowship as well as food.

Llangynin

Mothers’ Union. On Saturday 3^rd July we had a very pleasant day out.  We met in the car park at St Clears and having not confused ourselves with the Gardening Club trip leaving at exactly the same time, we made our way to Aberaeron.  We lunched very well at the Harbour Master and then made our way to Llanerchaeron House.  We enjoyed our tour of the house and then into the magnificent walled garden, where the fruit was certainly in abundance.  We then had a somewhat nostalgic walk around the farmyard and outbuildings.  Close by the house is Llanerchaeron church, and that was our next port of call.  We were met by a churchwarden and their organist which I had arranged through the Vicar, the Revd Eileen Davies.  Eileen had been my churchwarden at 18 years of age in my first parish of Llanllwni.  We then made our way back to Aberaeron for tea and the inevitable shopping opportunity.

Pilgrim’s Service and 25^th Anniversary Service.  Please remember this special day on Sunday 1^st August.  There will be no service in St Cynin’s on that day, instead there will be a service at 10.00am on Sunday 8^th August.

Cheese and Wine Evening and Raffle.  This will be held on Saturday 14^th August starting at 7.00pm in St Cynins.. During the evening we shall be drawing the tickets for the summer raffle.  Please come along and support St Cynin’s church.

Llanddowror

Parish Supper. I am very grateful to everyone who made this evening such a great success, both socially and financially. A particular word of thanks to Helena and David Howells for allowing us to take over their home, including the TV lounge for the World Cup match!  Many people worked very hard to make it happen, well done each and everyone.  We were very pleased to have Willie Penlan, as our President for the evening and thank him for his generous donation.  Including the match funding from Barclay’s Bank, who we also thank we raised £2,600 – a tremendous effort.

Roof. As I’m sure you will have seen the scaffolding is now gone from the roof and the church again looks resplendent.  The slates are of a particular colour, they are Maenclochog slate and the black cast guttering and down pipes set them off well.  I am pleased to say that we have been able to pay the builder’s account in full, £47,775 and look forward to reclaiming the VAT on this figure.

Pilgrim’s Service and Rector’s 25^th Anniversary.  Because this service will take place on 1^st August, there will be no service in St Teilo’s that day.  Instead there will be a service at 9.00am on Sunday 15^th August, 3^rd Sunday of the month.

Llanfihangel Abercywyn

Church Porch. We have sent in for Faculty approval to repair the Church porch which is in very poor condition on the side nearest the A40.  The cost of this work is in the region of £10,000 in total.  We hope to be able to do the work by the autumn.

Family Service. This new service at St Michael’s is proving to be very popular amongst our congregation.  Please remind families, especially those with children, that this service is held on the 3^rd Sunday of the month and begins with coffee, squash and biscuits – very welcome for me as I rush from one church to another.  Please come along and see for yourself.

Mothers’ Union. On the 24^th June we had our Mothers’ Union afternoon trip to the “ Shell House” at Cilwendeg, Boncath.  Never heard of the Shell House? Well neither had I or the other members of the MU apart from one, and she got lost in the grounds trying to find it.  It is a beautiful little house amongst trees in the entrance to Cilwendeg and certainly well worth a visit.  It is open on Thursdays only and to see the shells, many from the West Indies is an eye opener.  We had a lovely tea at Café Becca on the way home.