St Asaph Round-up: Dydd Iau, 23ain Chwefror 2017

Newyddion o Esgobaeth Llanelwy:Thursday 23 February 2017

MAE Cymru Spring 2017 Conference “Welsh Women’s Voices” - Saturday 18 March, 10.30am-3pm at Plas Dolerw, Newtown, SY16 2EH. With Revd Dr Manon Ceridwen James and Dr Marion Löffler. Closing worship Eucharist celebrated by the Rt Revd Joanna Penberthy, Bishop of St David’s. See attached posters and booking form.

Earth Hour 2017- 25th March at 8.30pm– Earth Hour is the world’s largest demonstration of support for action on climate change.

Make your Earth Hour matter:

  • Sign upand send a clear message that you want action on climate change right now
  • Switch off your lights in a symbolic show of global support to protect our amazing planet
  • Bring your friends, family or community together and organise a special Earth Hour event.
  • Fundraisefor our vital work to tackle pressing threats like climate change and help us to protect our amazing planet.

If you need help or support with planning your perfect Earth Hour event, check out ouruseful resourcesfor ideas and inspiration. Share your plans on our Earth Hour map or email the team .

This week

“Open Table” 23rd February, 7pm in St Peter’s, Holywell. Providing a safe, sacred space for our LGBTQIA friends to share their stories, explore their faith and enjoy time together with no fear of judgement.

Please publicise this in your churches/Mission Areas and as widely as you can and encourage people you might know to come along and join in worship and refreshments. If anyone would like any further information regarding the Chaplaincy or Open Table please contact, Rev'd Sarah Hildreth-Osborn 01492 640032 / . Posters attached previously.

Eglwys Sant Pedr Llanbedr DC Gosper yn Gymraeg - Dydd Sul 26 Chwefror; 4yp yn Sant Pedr; Croeso i bawb.

St. Peter’s Church Llanbedr DC Welsh Evensong - Sunday 26th February at 4pm in St. Peter’s. All are welcome.

'Shrove Tuesday', 'Dydd Mawrth Crempog' - Tuesday 28 February, 10am-2pm at St Michael's Church, Brynford, Holywell, Flintshire, CH8 8AD. Pancakes, Croissants, Cheese and Biscuits, Cakes, Teas and Coffee, Raffle. Croeso cynnes i bawb/ A warm welcome to all.

Ruthin Pancake Races - St. Peter's Square, 28 February. First race at 12pm. Races for all ages, groups and organisations. Bring your own pancake and frying pan.

Proceeds in support of Ty Gobaith, Hope House. For further information and sponsorship forms contact Guy Alford 01824 703645 or e-mail

Services of commissioning, licensing and installation

Licensing of David Lewisas Vicar of Llandrillo yn Rhos, 28thFebruary at 7pm inSt George’s, Rhos on Sea.

Pool Mission Area Commissioning Service – 12th March at 11am in St Aelhaiarn’s Guilsfield.

Licensing of Bryn Parry Jones – Sunday 12th March at 6pm in Church of the Holy Spirit, Ewloe.

Installation of Revd Dr Manon Ceridwen James as Honorary Canon – 27th March at 6pm during Choral Evensong in the Cathedral.

Coming up

The Christian Vision for Men (CVM) Roadshow – 1st March, 7.30-9.30pm in Kinmel Bay Church. Entertainment, banter, refreshments and CVM’s vision for Wales. Tickets limited online £4 on the door £6. Details on the poster circulated previously.

Free Sound Training Day for Churches - This training event is hosted by Rock-Tech, the technical services company, whose sound team have been bringing a 'professional edge' to church sound for many years.
Highly experienced, qualified sound engineers will cover everything you need to know to get the best out of your church sound system, including: setting up microphones; how to remove hum, buzz & feedback, using mixing consoles, managing loud volumes and many other useful topics.

To book and for more information please follow this link:

The Bishop of St Asaph will be attending St Mary and St Peter's Church, Bagillt, on Thursday 2 March at 7 p.m. to re-dedicate the Church after its recent re-ordering. All Welcome.

Holy Trinity Church RhostyllenFrugal Lunches starting on Friday 3rd March and every following​ Friday at 12pm throughout ​Lent,​ in church side rooms. £3 per adult, Children eat free.

Mission Area Governance informationsessions will be held to help the members of Mission Area Conferences (MACs) understand the legal framework of the MAC and the roles and responsibilities within the MAC. Anyone is welcome to attend one of these sessions if you would find it useful.

  • Last chance to book - 5th March, 2-5pm in Dewi Sant Church, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay, LL28 7TE.
  • Last chance to book - 6th March, 6-9pm in All Saints Church, Southsea, Wrexham, LL11 5NS.
  • 27th March, 6-9pm Ysgol Llanddoged, Ffordd Tyrpeg Uchaf, Llanddoged, Llanrwst, LL26 0BJ
  • 2nd April, 2-5pm in All Saints Church, Southsea, Wrexham, LL11 5NS.
  • 3rd April, 6-9pm in All Saint’s Church, Commercial Street, Newtown, SY16 2DE
  • 7th May, 2.30-5.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Rose Hill Street, Holywell, CH8 7TL
  • 15th May, 2-5pm in Church Hall, Church Street, Connah’s Quay, CH5 4AD
  • 16th May, 6-9pm in Dewi Sant Church, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay, LL28 7TE.
  • 6th June, 2-5pm in All Saints Church, Southsea, Wrexham, LL11 5NS.
  • 27th June, 6-9pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, High Street, Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, SY21 0QS.
  • 12th September, 6-9pm in Christ Church, Ffrydan Road, Bala, LL23 7RU
  • 26th September, 6-9pm Venue to be confirmed

If you would like to attend one of the sessions, please book your place by contacting.

Cathedral Choir Annual Sponsored Hymnathon - Saturday 11 March, 10am-4pm. All are welcome to come and hear the choir throughout the day. This year monies raised will go towards choir funds and a chosen local charity. To sponsor a hymn please sign the list at the back of the Cathedral, contact Alan at the Cathedral Song School – (01745 584053) or via

Have you ever wanted to have a go at playing the organ? Well now is your chance! Saturday 25 March, 2017, 1pm-4pm at All Saints, Gresford. Join Parish Organist Mark Thompson and Cathedral Organist and Director of Music Alan McGuinness. They will give individual advice on your playing, or you can just come along to try the instrument - all abilities are welcome. To register or for further details contact Irene Lewis on: 07975 818106. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Poster attached.

Calling all Churchwardens (whether Mission Area Wardens, 'Sub' Wardens, or 'old style' Parish Wardens!)

Pool Mission Area are hosting a day of encouragement for Churchwardens, where we will engage with what we call ‘sunrise questions’ which have a heart for the future. At St John the Evangelist, Pool Quay (on the west side of the A483 main road), on Saturday, 25th March,10am(coffee) -2.30pm, with a light lunch provided. There is no charge for the day.

The day is called 'The temple of his body' and will engage with such questions as: ‘How do we let the Lord tell us that he loves us?’ ‘In the light of that, what happens next here?’ ‘Could we be part of it?’ ‘How can we help it to happen?’ ‘What might we have right in front of our eyes that we could put to new or refreshed use?’ ‘What practical things have others tried?’etc.

Simply express an interest by e-mail to call 01686 640223and your name(s) will be added to a reserve list. You will receive confirmation of your place by Thursday 11th March at the latest, if places are available.

Training

Last chance to book- Archdeaconry Quiet Day - Preparing for Lent, Holy week and Easter: Entering death and resurrection. All are welcome, but these days are particularly relevant for those in commissioned or licensed ordained and lay ministries.

(Ash Wednesday) 1st March in Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden. 10am-3pm. Leader: Tim Feak. This will be a drop-in session. When booking for this date please let us know if you’d like to be booked in for morning coffee, lunch or afternoon refreshments.

Booking is essential. Please contact

“A Taste of Appreciative Inquiry (AI)” – An introduction to the organisational development philosophy. Using Appreciative Inquiry in Church Related Settings. 7-8 March 2017 in St Michael’s Centre, Llandaff. Please see poster (circulated previously) for details

Training Together “Funeral Training” with Revd Colin Mansley – 11th March, 10am-4pm in Church House, Gresford.This is open to all but is particularly aimed at all those new to funeral ministry and forms of compulsory part of the training for Readers who are seeking a faculty for presiding at funerals. All first year curates are expected to attend. Refreshments and light lunch provided. Places will not be booked automatically and booking is essential so please ensure you book your place with

Only a few places remaining on “Developing Dementia Friendly Churches” - March 14th 9.30am – 3.30pm in Llangollen Pavilion - This day of learning will explore issues facing people with dementia and their carers. Please see the flyer (circulated previously) for more information. This event is free but booking is essential. Please contact:

Training Together - “RSCM Music Resources Day Strengthen for Service LITE” with Revd Canon Helen Bent - 21st March, 10am-4pm in St Margarets Church, Wrexham. In this day we will be looking at key questions to do with music in worship such as “Quality” versus authenticity, spontaneity and inclusion, entertainment/performance versus worship, insider provision versus newcomer nurture and the specific versus the numinous. This training day is specifically aimed at clergy, readers, other lay worship leaders and their musicians. Refreshments and light lunch provided.Booking is essential, please contact

For more training events coming up this year please follow this link to the 2017 Training Prospectus or email to request a hard copy.

Information and Marketplace:

High Priority Items needed by Care4Calais. If you are able to make a donation of the items on the list please take your donation to the Diocesan Office (High Street, St Asaph LL17 0RD) or to St. Peter's Holywell by arrangement with Aidan Coleman on 01352 710010 or at by the 10th March. We can only accept items on this list and cannot accept money to purchase items.

Please follow the link to read an update from Revd Aidan Coleman three month on from the demolition of the camp.

Please also follow this link for an update on the crisis from Care4Calais.

Looking for a Lent course, having not yet found the one that hits the mark for you, or addresses this year’s issues for the Church? With many people pondering the meaning of MISSION in Mission Areas, you might want to have a look at this: 5 MARKS OF LOVE explores the Anglican Communion’s Five Marks of Mission. For groups and individual use, it is subtitled ‘Living life Marked as Christ’s Own’. The Course is created by the Anglican Brothers of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, in collaboration with the Centre for the Ministry of Teaching at Virginia Seminary, USA. Group and individual study materials including a 16 page workbook and videos are available free online, and daily emails can be subscribed to for regular reflection. Access to all the materials is at Poster attached.

The Holywell Community (a New Monastic Community in Abergavenny)is recruiting for young people to join the Community from Mid-August 2017.“If you are wondering what to do after you leave University or College this Summer, are passionate about Jesus and looking to give a year to God ortest your vocation to the Ordained or Religious life. We may be what you are looking for.”

In addition, they are seeking a young musician/composer to join the Holywell Community as Lay Concentor.

If you would like further information or are interested in joining the Community why not give, Canon Mark Soady a call on 07968 753978 to chat about it or email:

St. Bartholomew’s Church Sealand 150th Anniversary – as part of a series of events taking place throughout the year they are holding a special weekend exhibition and service for Mothering Sunday on the weekend of 25/26 March. They would like to invite back all couples that have been married in the church over the last 50 years. If you would like you come to this event, and especially if you have photographs and memories of your ‘special day’, please contact either Jennifer Watson on or Stephen Smith on

Free to good home - Cassocks, surplices, stoles, cape, biretta etc. All well used (mostly over 50 years old!!) but all good quality (Wippell's & Vanpoulles). Would most likely suit someone around 5'10" - 6'0". If interested please contact Revd Phil Atack on 01678 521047.

Reminders:

Godly Play Training:Saturday 18 March,10am-3.30pm at All Saints Church, Newtown SY16 2DX. There are still some places available please contactAnn or 07964370403 if interested.

Colwyn and St. Asaph Choral Societies will perform together at St. Paul’s Church, Colwyn Bay on Saturday 1 April at 7.30 p.m. The programme will comprise Schubert Mass in E flat, Mendelssohn Psalm 95 and Hear my Prayer. Soloists: Katie Trethewey, Esther Brazil, Matthew Minter, Andrew Mayer conducted by Graham Eccles accompanied by the Philharmonia of North Wales Orchestra. Tickets £12(children and students £6) from choir members or Tel: 01492 512602

Have you thought of applying to HLF for a grant?Do you want to find out more about heritage organisations in your area, and who can help you to record and preserve your Further details and booking information available here

Invitation to engage in the Well-being assessment survey/Gwahoddiad i gymryd rhan yn yr arolwg ar yr Asesiad Llesiant

Do you live in Powys? If so, the local authority is inviting you to complete a survey and give your views at: / Mission Areas in Powys may wish to circulate this request from Powys Council within their own churches and communities. The deadline for this survey is Sunday 19 February.

St James’ Players, Holywell – is being brought back to produce a play at St Peter’s church, Holywell, to celebrate the long and rich religious heritage of Holywell: "The Cloth of Man" a full length play on the life of Christ has been written and will be produced and directed by Andrea Dakin from the town. She is seeking help in all aspects of production to make this possible: on stage and back stage people, speaking, non-speaking, secretary,treasurer, publicity, tea makers - in fact anything that goes to "making a play".If you would like a new interest this year, would like to make new friendsand produce something we can be proud of please contact Andrea on or phone 01352 711240.

Aberconwy Mission Area has a new website. Please follow this link to view and see what is going on in the Mission Area:

What’s on

“The D3 Event” – A new seeker event is coming to town! (ages 14+) for anyone who loves music/comedy/art. 8th March, 7.30pm in All Saints Church, Newtown. Featuring live music from ‘Cascadia Fault line’ and Gary Maginnis. Fairtrade refreshments available. Poster circulated previously.

The Evangelising Wales Conference - Saturday 11th March, 10am-4.30pm at St Michael’s Church, Aberystwyth.

The vision of Evangelising Wales is to consult with others involved in evangelism in Wales, inspire renewed involvement in the enterprise of mission and initiate new and creative endeavours in Wales. The main speakers of the day will be John Hibberd (Mission Development Officer in the Diocese of Sheffield), Neville Willerton (Church Army: National Operations Manager), Rt Rev Andy John (Bishop of Bangor) and Rev Dr David Ceri Jones (Author and Historian).

There will be stalls from a number of organisations including Messy Church, The Church Army and UCCF.

This conference is supported by the Aberystwyth Academy of Christian Discipleship and endorsed by Evangelical Alliance Wales. Posters circulated previously.

“Sparks of light” – Encounter, Learn and Experience what the Iona Community is about. Saturday 18th March 2017, 10am-4pm in Baston Hill Methodist Church, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, SY3 0HY. All Welcome – Bring your Friends. The day is free and lunch is provided, but there will be an opportunity to contribute financially towards the work of the Iona Community. See poster (circulated previously) for details.

Active Citizenship training with TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru/ Together Creating Communities) Friday March 24th 6pm- Saturday March 25th 6pm in Noddfa, Penmaenmawr, to find out from an award winning charity why and how community organising works.

The course covers:

Developing the skills and confidence to take community action.

Planning and running strategic campaigns.

Building relationships with others from diverse groups and communities.

On this residential course, interactive workshops will challenge participants to develop their leadership skills and become more active in public life.

All welcome and free to anyone from a TCC member group.

For more information or to book a place please contact: 01978 262588;

Trip to Malta – 1st - 8th April 2017 following Footsteps of St. Paul. One hotel (bed, breakfast & evening meal) - coach throughout - excursions each day with English speaking Guide - friendly group - singles welcome - contact Susan Varah 01244 540728 or email for a brochure. Please respond quickly.

StAR - If you want something including in the St Asaph Round up, please send it to next StAR will be on Thursday 2nd March.

Check back on previous editions of StAR at linked from the home page)

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