St Asaph Round-up: Dydd Iau, 12fed November 2015

Newyddion o Esgobaeth Llanelwy:Thursday 12 November 2015

Following the emergency motion on refugees at the Church in Wales Governing Body in September, the Church in Wales is joining with Cytun in designating Thursday 10 December, Human Rights Day, as a Day of Prayer for Refugees.

Churches, Churches Together, local groups, or individuals – including members of other faiths (or those of none) – are invited to use the day as they find best. Ideas include:

·24-hour prayer vigil (if feasible)

·Open church (for a specified period during the day) – for lighting candles and prayers

·Specific times of prayer (eg if the church is usually open all day) when prayers can be led on the refugee theme

·Special time of prayer with more formal liturgy – inside the church, outside, or in some central location

·Link with a local refugee project or other relevant agency to hold a ‘mini-vigil’ in some appropriate place

·Invite elected members (Councillors, AMs, MPs, MEPs) to join in

·Don’t forget to pray for decision-makers and elected representatives too!

Resources:

·Many prayers and reflections already available online, especially from the main agencies such as Christian Aid, US, etc (links will be circulated shortly but please raid them in the meantime!).

·Prayer requests/intentions – at home: a list will be available shortly of refugee projects in Wales for which you can especially pray.

·Prayer requests/intentions – overseas: Embrace the Middle East is producing a list of prayer requests and prayers from their partners in the region, especially for this event (available shortly).

·At least one ‘central’ event is being organised (in Cardiff).

·Please share your activities on Twitter! #refugeeprayersDec10, and #refugeeswelcome.

Please see the following notice from Revd Eric Owen –“Supplies Needed for Refugees" - A request for clothing and supplies for refugees in a camp in Calais has been put out by Andrew Atkinson. Andrew is a worshipping member of the community church Rhosddu who has also prayed with us duringour “mark on the park” gatherings in Caia Parc.

Andrewwill travel to Calais in December and wants to take useful supplies for the refugees to help them in the cold weather, at Christmas time. Mr Atkinson will be travelling with friends including Hannah from Hereford who has made earlier trips to Calais during which she helped in the construction of aChristian Church in the camp (believed to be the one shown in a slideby Bishop Gregory at the recent diocesan conference).

Mr Atkinsonsays , “This global refugee crisis is extremely serious and complicated, it is one without any easy answers. I want to meet these refugees for myself and learn first- hand about their experiences. Whatever anyone’s views on how to handle this crisis these are human beings in a camp in cold weather as we approach Christmas. I want to take supplies and do practical work to help them whilst I’m there, my friends have been going and helping including building a churchand I want to help too.”

The trip is scheduled for the weekend of 11 December and Mr Atkinson will be keeping a video diary and interviewing members of the camp about their experiences.

If anyone would like to donate supplies, the most needed items are-

Hats, scarves, gloves and warm clothes.

Socks,sanitary products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, blankets, sleeping bags etc.

Small gifts.

Footballs that can be inflated upon arrival and other games and toys for the children.

The supplies can be dropped off at- Yorke Street Carpets in Wrexham. Also Rev Eric Owen St Marks Church, Caia Parccan arrange collections at the church- please email him at “

Services of Induction, Licensing and Installation:

Diocesan Nicholastide confirmation in St Asaph Cathedral 9 December at 6.30 pm.

This week:

Christmas tree festival at St. David’s Church, Mold Road, Connah’s Quay - 11 – 15November. 10.30 am – 5 pmWednesday, Friday and Saturday. 10.30 am -8 pm Thursday. 12 – 6pm Sunday. Admission £3,children free. There will be a closing service in St. David’s on Sunday 15th at 6 pm – all welcome. Refreshments will be served in the institute.

The Cathedral Choir Association is hosting a Hot Pot Supper on Thursday 12 November at 7 pm in the Cathedral. The evening will include instrumental and vocal performances from the Cathedral Choir. Tickets are available from the Music Department Staff (01745 584053) at £7.50 each - (Choir Association Members £6: Chorister siblings £3). All are welcome.

Invitation to TCC’s 20th Anniversary Celebration – 13 November, 7.30 pm at The Stiwt, Rhos, Wrexham (poster circulated previously). This year TCC turns 20, and you are invited to celebrate their achievements working together with faith groups, community organisations, and schools. The evening will premiere a new short film about their work, and look at some the issues TCC members are currently working on such as the Living Wage, welcoming Syrian refugees, and our youth-led projects.

There will be a drinks reception from 7 pm, and entertainment from Côr Lleisiau Clywedog. You’ll need a ticket to attend, but these are free – please call 01978 262588 or email . Minibuses will be organised from various points, so transport can also be provided free of charge.

It’s a great opportunity to find out more about TCC’s work and celebrate with them, so please invite as many people from your churches (and other places) who might be interested

Italian Night - Saturday 14 November, 7 pm in Church House, Llanrwst. Homemade Lasagne. Bring your own wine. Tickets £5 available from 01492 641728 or 07551327509.

St Michael’s Llanfynydd with All Saints Cymau are holding a Barn Dance in Ffrith Community Centre (near Wrexham) on Saturday 14 November at 7.30 pm.Live music by The Angels Share, Bar. Supper included in ticket price. Adults £8, Accompanied children £5 or Family ticket £20.Tickets from Hazel ( 01978 755816 ) or Llanfynydd Post Office.

Why not try an evening service with a difference? Everyone is welcome to join us for our next monthly Sunday @ 6 an informal worship service of hymns, songs, dramatic dialogues etc. followed by tea/coffee and cakes at The Church of the Holy Spirit, Victoria Road, Prestatyn. This month's theme is The Teaching of Jesus.

Open Doors – A service of prayer and reflection for the persecuted church. Thursday 19 November, 7.30 pm in Church of the Holy Spirit, Old Aston Hill, Ewloe, CH5 3BF. (Poster attached).

Marchnad Nadolig - Eglwys Crist y Bala/ Christmas Market - Christ church, Bala- Nos Wener – Friday, 20eg Tachwedd – 20 November, 4– 9pm

16+ o stondinau crefft a chynnyrch o led led Gogledd Cymru.

16+ crafters and producers from all over North Wales will be having stalls.

Bydd ein Caffi yn gweini Cawl Poeth, Cŵn Poeth, Sudd Afal poeth gyda pherlysiau, Diodydd Meddal, Te a Choffi Marchnad Deg, Cacennau a Bisgedi.

Our Café will be serving Hot Soup, Hot Dogs, Mulled Apple, Soft Drinks, Fairtrade Tea and

Coffee, Cakes and Biscuits.

Cyfle i’r plant fwynhau gwaith crefft a gemau, ysgrifennu llythyr at Siôn Corn a’i bostio ym Mocs Postio arbennig Siôn Corn.

Children can enjoy games and crafts, write letters to Santa and post them in our special

Santa’s Posting Box.

Fe dynnir y Raffl Fawr ar y noson

The Grand Raffle will be drawn during the evening

An Exhibition by local artists, photographers and crafters - in St.Deiniol's Church, Hawarden, CH5 3LT. Friday 20 November 6-9 pm and Saturday 21 November 10.30 am – 4 pm. Light refreshments will be available in the Tithe Barn. Proceeds in aid of the Church and Christian Aid Refugee Fund.

St Cynfran's Church, Llysfaen Christmas Fair 10 am-12 pm at Llysfaen Village Hall Saturday 21 November. All welcome. Stalls, Refreshments & entertainment from Colwyn Bay Ukelele Band and Ysgol Cynfran choir.

St Mary's RhuddlanChristmas Fair - Saturday 21 November, 2-4pm at the Rhuddlan Community Centre (just follow the signs on the day). Games and Tombola - lots fun for children - and adults! Stalls (including one with fabulous home made cakes). Refreshments. Santa calling by - come & meet him. We have a huge raffle - tickets available now from our members orat the event. This will be drawn at the end of the afternoon.All profits to support Church funds of course.

“Murder in the Cathedral” – 21 November at 7.30 pm in St Asaph Cathedral. In aid of St Kentigern and Ty Gobaith Hospices. Tickets £10. Details of how to book on the poster circulated previously.

Training:

Keeping People Safe – Health & Safety Training.The Church in Wales and Ecclesiastical Insurance are running a series of practical workshops for those with a responsibility for ensuring that health and safety procedures are in place in their Church. The sessions will address the practical issues of ‘What do I need to do?’ and ‘How do I do it?’ rather than focusing on the legislation. Please refer to the letter from the Provincial Training Team for further information circulated previously.Saturday 14 November, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm in Dewi Sant Colwyn Bay, LL28 7TE. To book a place, please complete the booking form circulated previously or contact: Ffion Williams at St Michael’s College, Cardiff on 029 2083 8007 or e-mail .

Coming soon:

St Mary's Church Johnstown are once again hosting the' Lovelight Christmas Concert' (Tenovus) - Thursday 26 November at 6.30pm. Sing with us Wrexham Choir , Brymbo Malevoice choir, Cerys Brooke Jones - Soloist from Bryn Alyn School , Ysgol yr Hafod School Choir. Tickets £5 from Ysgol yr Hafod Johnstown or on the door.

Please find attached an invitation from Revd Martin Batchelor as Chaplain of Coleg Cambria to all those interested in Chaplaincy in any form, to attend a discussion on 3 March 2016. This event will consider: How do schools and colleges support the students in their care? How might we support schools and colleges in this endeavour? What is chaplaincy and how might it be of help? How might chaplaincy be developed throughout the Diocese in the future? Please attend if you are interested in chaplaincy models.Please contact the Chaplaincy Coordinator at Coleg Cambria, Ruth Holden onto book your place by 27th November 2015.

Advent Procession-Advent Sunday 29 November. A warm welcome is extended to all to join us at the Cathedral for the Advent Procession beginning at 3.30pm.

The Advent Procession is an atmospheric and breath-taking service of music, readings and prayers for Advent, in celebration and anticipation of the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Everyone is welcome at the Advent Procession and doors will openapproximately 1 hour beforehand. The service lasts for just over one hour.Poster attached.

Christmas Fayre at All Saints Poyser Street, Wrexham. Saturday 5 December at 10 30am.Thursday 17 December at 7 30pm Salvation Army carol service. Admission £5.

North Wales International Music Festival – Vale of Clwyd Singers – “Handel’s Messiah.North Wales Sinfonia, Conductor Robert Sells. St Asaph Cathedral, Saturday 5 December at 7.30 pm. Drinks available in the interval. Tickets £15/£10 from or phone 01745 582929 or from Cathedral Frames shop, High Street, St Asaph (closed Monday).

Information and Marketplace

Christmas starts with Christ. November is here and Christmas Starts with Christ is back for 2015. According to a recent survey 67% of people across the UK do not believe that the birth of Jesus Christ is the main reason for celebrating Christmas, and 52% do not feel the religious aspect of Christmas is important to them
There must be something we can do as Christians to reverse this and to remind people of the true and joyous meaning of Christmas. The ‘Christmas Starts with Christ’ campaign aims to spread the key message “Christmas Starts with Christ” through resources such as posters across neighbourhoods and parishes, as well as across social media. Follow this link for resources and a DVD that you might want to share.

Reminders:

The Augmented Church Choir and Children from Hawarden Village Church School invite you to A Winter Celebration in Words and Music - 22 November at 2 pm in St. Deiniol's Church, Hawarden, CH5 3LT (Donation of £2 for adult admission to the concert would be appreciated).

‘Christmas Tree Festival’ at Bistre Parish, Emmanuel Church, Mold Road, Buckley. 22-29 November,Mon-Thurs: 4-7 pm and Fri-Sat: 10 am-4 pm.

The theme is ‘The Christmas Story through Carols’. The Trees have been decorated by local schools, churches and organisations. Adults £2 (a donation for children).

Simple refreshments will be available. On Sunday 29 November in Emmanuel Church at 6.30 pm there will be an Advent Carol Service held, during this service the Christmas Tree Festival will be officially closed. All are very welcome. Poster attached.

Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary's Rhuddlan - Saturday 28 Nov, 10am-3pm and Sunday 29 November, 10.30am -3.30 pm. Come and vote for your favourite. Free entry but 50p for a voting slip. Excellent refreshments at excellent prices! Also on the 28 November Artisan Fair - your last chance to browse for those special gifts. Pop in to see us at this happy event.Poster circulated previously.

St Grwst's Church, Llanrwst launches a series of Come and Sing sessions on Monday 30 November, 7pm following the weekday Eucharist.

Nightingale House Hospice Light up a Life- Christmas can be particularly difficult following a bereavement. It can trigger many different emotions including celebration and remembrance.

Light up a Life gives us the opportunity to celebrate a life in a positive way.

Our Light up a Life services for this year are:

Wednesday 2 December 7 pm, St Mary's Church, Mold

Thursday 3 December 6.30 pm, St Chad's Church, Hanmer

Friday 4 December 6.30 pm, St Collen's Church, Llangollen

Sunday 6 December 3 pm, Ss Mael & Sullien Church, Corwen

Sunday 6 December 6 pm, St Andrew's Methodist Church, Connah's Quay

Sunday 6 December 7 pm, Christ Church, Bala

Friday 11 December 7 pm, Nightingale House Hospice, Wrexham

Anybody can attend our services and you may like to have a loved one entered into a special Book of Memories. By giving a small donation to Nightingale House, we will enter your loved one into our Book of Memories, which will be available to view throughout 2016 in the Hospice Reception. We will also light a light on the Hospice Christmas tree for your loved one at the main Hospice service on 11th December. These lights will shine brightly each night, up until twelfth night, representing our loved ones. A special Light up a Life card will also be sent to you as a lasting reminder of them over the season. Even if your loved one was not a patient at our Hospice, you are still most welcome to dedicate a light for them.

If you would like to have an entry in the special Book of Memories, then please contact the hospice on 01978 314292, visit our website at come into the Hospice reception and complete a Light up a Life form.

Light up a Life Services for St Kentigern Hospice(poster attached):

  • Friday 4 December, 6 pm at St Asaph Cathedral.
  • Sunday 6 December, 6 pm (Welsh service)at Waen Chapel, Waen.
  • Sunday 6 December, 11.15 amat St Dyfnog Church, Llanrhaeadr.
  • Friday 11 December, 6 pmat Prestatyn Parish Church.
  • Friday 11 December, 6 pmat St Peter’s Church, Ruthin.
  • Friday 11 December,6 pmat The Church of St Catherine &St John, Old Colwyn.
  • Tuesday 15December, 4 pmat Butterfly’s Tearooms, Kinmel Bay.
  • Sunday 10 January, St Thomas’ Church Rhyl

A concertof Music for Christmas by Colwyn Choral Society conducted by Graham Eccles, accompanied by Organist Martin Brown and members of the Philharmonia of North Wales Orchestra. Soprano Soloist Llio Evans. Saturday 5 December at St. Paul’s Church, Colwyn Bay. Tickets £12 include a glass of mulled wine. Children & Students £6. 7.30 pm. Tickets on door or Tel 01492 583588

Handel’s Messiah – Cymdeithas Gorawl Yr Wyddgrug a’r Cylch / Mold & District Choral Society a Côr Cymysg Dyffryn Conwy. Capel Bethesda, Yr Wyddgrug/Mold , CH7 1NZ. Arweinydd/Conductor: Trystan Lewis. Nos Wener 11eg Rhagfyr/ Friday 11 December. Tocynnau/Tickets £10 (dan 16 am ddim / Under 16yrs free) oddi wrth/from: 01352 757195, aelodau’r côr neu wrth y drws/choir members or at the door.

Youth and Children’s Worker Breakfast, Gregynog Hall, 12 December, 10 am - 12.30 pm. FREE.To book a place contact or

Please note that Revd Jane James’ email has been hacked. Any email sent to her from 5th November will not have been received. Please use this email address to contact Jane:

St Paul's Church Choir in Craig-y-Don, Llandudno, is looking to appoint one or two young people as choral scholars from January 2016 for the remainder of the academic year. The choral scholars will receive a bursary of £250 per term, plus a contribution towards travel expenses, in exchange for singing at three services per month, plus rehearsals. (A reduced commitment of two services per month could also be negotiated with a smaller bursary). The role is aimed at young people aged 15-25 whose musical education and performance skills would benefit from the opportunity - there's no obligation to be studying for a career in music. St Paul's Church Choir is a small group of adult singers who sing at the 9.45 am traditional sung communion service each Sunday morning. We rehearse on Thursday evenings at 6 pm for an hour. There's more about the choir at

For more information about the role, contact Chris Dearden -

Community Greenspace Grants to Launch Shortly Across Great Britain

Grants of up to £12,000 for capital improvements to local community greenspaces are now available. Projects that would typically receive funding include:

  • Parks, pocket parks and urban greenspaces.
  • Green corridors - river and canals, cycle ways.
  • Nature reserves, community woodlands and ponds.
  • Churchyards.
  • Community allotments, community garden.

It is anticipated that there will be two funding rounds per year over the next three years.The first funding round opened on 19 October 2015 with a deadline of 30 November 2015.

Cards for Good Causes - St Giles’ Parish Church is hosting its Charity Card Shop the 15th year, right in the middle of Wrexham. The shop is opennow until Saturday 12 December between 10 am – 4 pm six days a week. Cards for Good Causes is the largest multi-charity card organisation that open temporary shops seasonally throughout the United Kingdom, St Giles’s church is the only one in North Wales selling Christmas cards for over 25 charities and seasonal gift and ideas. It is staffed by volunteers who looking forward to welcoming customers again this year in one of the seven wonder of Wales.

What’s on?

Prestatyn Parish Church 10th Festival of Christmas Trees – approx. 30 trees decorated by local schools and organisations. Musical interludes, gifts and refreshments. 23-28 November. Weekdays 1 – 5 p.m. Late night Thursday until 7 p.m. Saturday 10.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m. Cost – Adults £2, Children £1, Under 5 free, Family ticket £5