St Asaph Round-up: Dydd Iau, 11fedChwefror 2016
Newyddion o Esgobaeth Llanelwy:Thursday 11February 2016
Service of Welcome for Mark Yaconelli – 28 February, 3.30pm in St Asaph Cathedral. The service will be an opportunity to meet Mark and his family and welcome them to North Wales for his six month residency. The service is open to all andis followed by afternoon tea. For catering purposes please confirm your attendance to , 01745 582245 by Thursday 18 February. For more information visit
This week:
Frugal Lunches every Friday during Lent at Holy Trinity Church Rhostyllen, the first lunch will be Friday 12 February at 12pm. Cost of Lunch is £2. This includes Soup & Roll, Bara Brith, Tea or Coffee.
RSCM “Come and Try the Organ.”Have you ever wanted to have a go at playing the organ? Well now is your chance! Saturday 13 February, 2-4pm in St Asaph Cathedral or Saturday 20 February, 2-4pm in All Saints Church, Gresford. Details and how to register on the poster circulated previously.
Bible Society Wales has organised a touring event across Wales visiting Swansea, Llanelli, Pontypridd, Aberystwyth, Rhyl and Old Colwyn. The event is entitled “Wales to the World” and is being performed by Dai Woolridge and colleagues from Bible Society, Wales, in Rhyl Sussex Street Baptist Church on Saturday 13 February commencing at 7.30pm. The evening includes “song, story-telling and spoken word” and celebrates the contribution that Wales and Welsh people have made to Christian spiritual heritage over the centuries, including William Morgan, Mary Jones, Thomas Charles, Daniel Rowland and Evan Roberts. Tickets are £5 each and they can be obtained from Trevor Casey on 01745-342268 (or via ). Full details are shown in the posters (circulated previously). Tickets are limited so please obtain yours as soon as possible.
St Cystennin’s Church proudly presents a very special Valentine’s Day Service celebrating all loving relationships. 14 February at 9.30am. Everyone welcome.
'All Loved Up' 6pm on 14 February in St Peter's Parish Church, Holywell is an open and lively worship service for ALL young people to celebrate St Valentine's Day. Whereas all ages are definitely welcome the worship will be more familiar to young people leading up to and including secondary school age. There will be plenty of time to get to know each other over pizza and cake for afters. Contact Lynn Fearnhead 01352 780740 or e-mail for more information.
Services of Induction, Licensing and Installation:
Licensing of Sam Erlandson as Priest in Charge in Wrexham Mission Area. 24 February in St Giles’ Church, Wrexham at 7pm.
Induction of Huw Butler at Christ Church, Rossett – 5 March at 3pm
Licensing of Lorraine Badger-Watts as Priest in Charge of Gorsedd Group. 17 April in Ss Mary and Beuno, Whitford at 3 pm.
Training
Low cost training for volunteers - From Isolation to Inclusion – Tackling Social Isolation in Your Community.The training takes place at Trafford Hall National Communities Resource Centre near Chester on 11 – 12 February 2016. For more information please click on the link below.
Free Hustings Training, Wrexham & Bangor - TCC andCytûnare offering free training for anyone interested in organising or chairing a hustings event ahead of theelections for the National Assembly for Wales.
This will include an introduction to the Assembly's responsibilities and the electoral system, as well as the practicalities of running an effective meeting.
- Thursday 11Feb – Penuel Baptist Church, Lôn Cariadon (Love Lane), Bangor LL57 2TE, 7pm.
- Friday 12 Feb – The Peace & Justice Centre, 37 Kingsmills Road, Wrexham LL13 8NH, 7pm.
Advanced booking isn't essential, but it would be helpful if you could email to let us know if you're planning on attending.
A “Guide to Planning an Election Husting Meeting” is available to download in English and Welsh.
TCC is running a training course designed for community leaders: 6pm 25th February - 6pm 27th February 2016
This training is an introduction to community organising, designed to give participants the skills and confidence to become leaders or develop their leadership roles in their communities. The course will teach you how to create strong relationships, in order to build power in the community and take action on the issues you care about. The sessions will be interactive, and participants should expect to be challenged. However, the course is also great fun, and allows time for participants to get to know people from other groups and organisations.
TCC's residential community organising training is offered free of charge to anyone from a TCC member group. Others are welcome to attend at a charge: £200 per place for individuals/organisations, £150 for charities/not-for-profit organisations (including churches).
More details at
Please note the amended date and venue for “Exploring the Power of Prayer through Prayer, Study (learning) and Action”Saturday 5 March, 10am-3pm at St Deiniols Library, Hawarden.
Very much in line with and enhancing the 2020 Vision, this is the first of 3 taster days, experiencing first hand the benefits of a method which can expand your faith and understanding of God. This method can be used within every environment which you are part of, “any time, any place, anywhere”. It is a way of supporting your Christian Ministry and to gain the support of others.
In this method, PRAYER: is about being “prayerful” and bringing each situation to God. This may be thought of as “communion”, being at one together with God and the church.
STUDY/LEARNING: may include formal study but is more about understanding the context in which we are working as Christian disciples working to bring about the mission of the church. This may be thought of as “companionship”, breaking bread together. After all, if we want to understand someone what better way is there than to sit down with them for a meal? The weekend is structured around 15 talks (given by lay people and clergy), 5 meditations and a daily Communion. There are opportunities for discussion, silence and free time as well as laughter (and sometimes tears). It can be quite intense and is often a life changing experience.
ACTION: Again this is action in its widest sense. The method encourages people be Christian leaders in the broadest sense, where they are in parish, at work or in other aspects of their lives.
For: These sessions would be of benefit to both Lay and Clergy.
Cost: Free. Refreshments and lunch provided.
Contact:
Booking is essential please contact: or 01745 582245
Leading School Worship, Tuesday 12 April, 7-9pm in St Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School, Wrexham Trainer: Mary Stallard. Mary is a priest in the diocese working as Director of the St Giles' RE/Faith Development Centre and Anglican Chaplain at St Joseph's Catholic and Anglican High School Wrexham. For: All who lead collective worship in schools as lay or ordained ministers. The aim of the evening would be to examine the factors that enable the provision of good worship in school communities. In this session we will be looking at some examples of good practice and highlighting useful resources, considering the stages of planning, resourcing, delivering and monitoring worship and enabling participants to share experience and grow in confidence in leading prayer in schools.
Cost: free Refreshments (tea and coffee) included.To book a place please contact: or Tel.01745 582245.
Listening - This is a half-day session that will focus on the importance of listening: To others, to ourselves and to God. The session will include activities, tools and discussion to improve our understanding about the need to listen and how we can do this.We sometimes hear what is being said, but do we listen? 14 April, 10am – 1pm inSt Margaret’s Church, Wrexham.Booking is essential please contact: or Tel. 01745 582245. Cost:Free. Refreshments provided.
ACAT Foundation Course for Treasurers. The Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers is running a Foundation Course in Chester on Saturday 11 June. The course gives an overview of the responsibilities of a Church Treasurer and is not denomination specific. All Church Treasurers are member of ACAT and are therefore eligible to attend. Further details from
FREE Volunteer Training - for volunteers who would like to help out with the holiday hunger project running in Caia Park and Plas Madoc please see the information circulated previously. This training is for anyone wanting to help out in the project taking place in Gwenfro School or preparing food in St Marks. Please contact Sarah Wheat on for more information or to book your place.
Coming Soon
Hymn Books – Fresh or Fusty? With so many new hymn books out there, how do you choose the right one to suit the tradition of your church, savouring the best of the old and introducing inspiring new material? This evening, organised by the Royal School of Church Music in the Chester area will also make links with Sunday by Sunday and tackle issues such as changes of pitch, harmonies, words and many other challenges. Thursday 25 February 2016 7.30-9.30 pm at St Paul, Springfield Road, Sale, M33 7YA. Cost: £3
Director: Helen Bent (Head of Ministerial Training, RSCM)Contact: Simon Russell, 07909886997.
Chrism Eucharist – 24 March at 11am in St Asaph Cathedral. Lunch afterwards.
Easter Vigil and Diocesan Confirmation – 26 March at 7pm in St Asaph Cathedral.
St Asaph Choral Society with the North Wales Philhamonia (leader Edward Davies) will hold their spring concert at 7.30 pm on Saturday 16 April 2016 in St Asaph Cathedral. The programme will include Mass in C by Beethoven, Te Deum and Songs of the Fleet by Stanford. The soloists will be Pippa Goss (soprano), Margaret McDonald (alto), Christopher Steele (tenor) and Allan Fairs (bass) and the Conductor, Graham Eccles. Tickets £12 are available from members of the choir and from the Cathedral Framers, High St, St Asaph; Tel between 10am - 4.30pm during the week and from 10am-2.30pm on Saturday 01745 582929. Tickets may also be bought at the door. For further information call 01745 590355.
Flames Rekindled...celebrate and radiant, 27/28 May a weekend conference organised by Anglican Renewal Ministries, Wales. Please see the attached posters.
Information and Marketplace
Church groups are being invited to take part in a Wales-wide film project to help build tolerance and understanding of LGBT communities.
The project is an extension of the Iris Prize, the world’s largest LGBT short film prize, and is called Iris Prize Outreach. Supported by the Big Lottery Fund, it will run for three years, working with 36 different communities to make short films and run film festivals.
The Bishops have given their support to this project, which aims to promote equality, diversity and community cohesion, and are encouraging all church groups who might be interested to take part. It’s also a great opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about short film production. Full details are attached and you can apply directly to Mark Williams, the project facilitator at
St Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School seek new recruits to join their outstanding team of Examination InvigilatorsSt Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School are recruiting additional Examination Invigilators, to assist with the supervision of Public and School Examinations. Experience of working in an educational setting is desirable, but not essential, as full training will be given. Employment is of an occasional nature, between 8.30am-3.30pm and will be subject to satisfactory clearance from the Disclosure & Barring Service, at an Enhanced level.Interested applicants should send a letter of application to Mr C. Wilkinson, Deputy Headteacher, by Monday 22 February 2016. Please also supply the names and addresses of two referees, known to you in a professional capacity. St Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School, Sontley Road, Wrexham, LL13 7EN.
Please see the attached newsletter with important information regarding the #Enough Campaign and proposals to amend Sunday trading regulations.
Please see the following from message Revd Toni Bennett “I have just finished leading a 5 session study on Assisted Suicide and Euhanasia with a small group. The material produced by Care and Keswick Resources consisting of a DVD leaders guide and participants guide led to some good discussions about dying, death and eternal life. The Resource cost my parishes £41.99. I am offering it for £20to anyone who can make us of it. It comes with 5 participants guides. Contact Rev.Toni on ”
“Chairs galore!” - United Reformed Church, Rhos-on-Sea have a set of about 100 light wooden chairs available. They have tweed blue seats and are in excellent condition. There is a book rack on the back and small linking brackets to the sides which could easily be removed. Twenty or so of the chairs have arms, the others are without.They may be just what you need for your business, home, church, community centre or club and are available in quantities of any size from a single chair.
There is no fixed price. They are open to your offer. All money raised will go towards community projects based at our church in Rhos-on-Sea. Contact: Keith Harrison 07587
Reminders:
Mark Yaconelli’s Residency: The Hearth Project – One of the key strands of Mark’s work during his six month residency is training people to engage better with their local community, through the running of Hearth Projects. These are community events, planned around a specific theme and designed to get people from different walks of life to communicate by sharing their story. This is pioneering and innovative work which has been shown to boost community spirit and put the church back into the centre of community life. We’re excited to be offering 60 people from across the diocese the opportunity to participate in these training events, which will lead on to future Hearth Projects. There are three training sessions planned (one for each archdeaconry) and then a final diocesan event.If you are interested in taking part, please contact your area dean as soon as possible. You can find out more information at
St Asaph Youth Church – 2016 Dates.
Friday 11 March – St Mary’s Church, Llanfair Caereinion, High Street, Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, SY21 0HL. 7-9pm. Fun, chat and a bit of worship.
Saturday 18 June – All day in Betws y Coed. Forest church in the morning and a tree top zip wire safari in the afternoon.
October 21-23 – Youth Church Big Weekend Away. approx. £50 per young person.
December 19– Youth Church Christmas Special! St Asaph Cathedral. 7-9pm.
Please note that this is for 11-18 year olds only. We have a fab team of Diocesan Youth Workers who help out. However, if you are travelling a long way I provide free teas, coffees and soft drinks in a local hostelry!
Also if you intend to bring your child or youth group I need a consent form filling out by a parent or guardian. Please contact for more details on these events including venues and timings.
Cathedral Tour with Aled Jones – Friday 13 May in St Asaph Cathedral. For tickets visit ticketmaster.co.uk or call 0844 844 0444.
Preparing for the National Living Wage – important information for churches which employ people
As part of preparing for the new National Living Wage, set to come into force on 1 April 2016, HMRC has published a four-step guide for businesses on the living wage website. From that date, workers in the UK aged over 25 earning the minimum hourly rate of £6.70 will see a 50p increase to £7.20 per hour.
The Government is asking firms to:
Check you know who is eligible in your organisation.
Take the appropriate payroll action.
Let your staff know about their new pay rate.
Check that your staff under 25 are earning at least the right rate of National Minimum Wage.
HMRC will have responsibility for enforcing the new National Living Wage in addition to the National Minimum Wage from April 2016 and – if previous experience is any guide – will take firm action where an employer fails to pay the correct wage.
Resources for Lent - the Revd John Harvey, Director of Spirituality, has provided some Lent course material for individuals and groups featuring online video, a downloadable workbook, and books to help with reflecting on Scripture. Details on the “Spirituality Matters” booklet circulated previously.
Bishop John Dudley Davies, Honorary Assistant Bishop in this Diocese, has written the Archbishop of Wales’ Lent Book: "Three Mountains to Freedom". It owes much to his encounters in Wales, including at least three references to Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant. All profits from the book will go to The Church in Wales Mobile Dental Clinic in Gaza. You can find other Lent resources suggested by the Revd Dr Richard Hainsworth at
The 2016 Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF) Lent Bookis “Dust and Glory”which contains Bible readings from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day and is by David Runcorn. £7.99.Please follow the link for more information and other books available this Lent and Easter.
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) has produced a website dedicated to pilgrimage through Lent. Visit it at:
Welcoming Refugees in Wales - TCC (Together Creating Communities) is encouraging people to lobby their local councillor to call on their local authority to join the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme. So far only four Welsh local authorities have joined the scheme and accepted 50 refugees from Syria. TCC has provided information to help you compose a suitable letter to your local councillor (circulated previously).