Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru : The Church in Wales To all the communities of Wales from the Bishops of the Church in Wales 16th November 2020

As the autumn evenings draw in, and Christians approach the season we call Advent, which is a time of preparation for Christmas, the theme of light and darkness begins to feel very relevant.  The dark evenings can seem cold and forbidding, while even the light seems to become more silvery and pale.  At times like this, the verse in the Bible which speaks to us as bishops, as it probably does to all Christians, is:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”

(The Gospel according to John, Chapter 1 verse 5)

Christians believe that God’s light (the light of truth, the light of justice, the light of love) shines in the world and, no matter how dark things become, whether because of COVID or other troubles and difficulties, yet there is always hope in God’s goodness and love.  For us, that light shines most fully in Jesus, whom we believe is God at work, entering the world to share our pain and to bring healing.

This faith will not be shared by everyone in Wales, and we write this, not in a spirit of arrogance, but in a spirit of humility, because we would like to invite you, if you feel able, to join us in praying for God’s healing and blessing on our nation this Advent.  We six Anglican bishops will be saying the prayer below every evening at 6.00pm from the end of November until Christmas, and we would be pleased if you felt able to join with us.  If you are of a different faith or tradition, you will want to adapt these words to your own belief.  We acknowledge this by bracketing the words we will use as Christians, but you may choose to pray in different ways or words.  If you a humanist or agnostic, we respect your convictions, and recognise that this prayer will not be for you.  Nevertheless, we are sure that the healing, the strength, the compassion and the courage for which we will be praying are important to all people, whether of faith or not. Whatever our beliefs, we can all wish good cheer and well-being to everyone in Wales in this season.

Our prayer is this:

Heavenly Father, in the midst of a troubled world, you are light and life.

Send us your healing for those who are ill,

your strength for those who are suffering,

your compassion for those who grieve, and

your courage for those who work for the healing and service of others.

Bless our nation of Wales with the life-giving spirit of your love,

and grant us your mercy,

[revealed in the person of Christ your Son].  Amen.

 

John DE Davies, the Archbishop of Wales

Andrew John, the Bishop of Bangor

Gregory K Cameron, the Bishop of St Asaph

Joanna Penberthy, the Bishop of St Davids

June Osborne, the Bishop of Llandaff, and

Cherry Vann, the Bishop of Monmouth.

Virtual Evening Prayer

While normal church services are suspended, Denbigh Mission Area’s Travelling Evensong has become Virtual Evening Prayer: that is to say, there is a said service, hosted by John Harris, on Zoom every Friday at 5:00pm. It lasts about half an hour. Service leaders and readers change week by week.

Here is the Zoom link, which you will need to copy and paste into your browser: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9175346976?pwd=bHZVTWFRVTlVMHZqcTBvSXBBdWh1QT09

The link will be active about fifteen minutes before the service is due to start.

If you’re already familiar with Skype, Zoom will pose no problems. No software installation should be required; you need only to use the link above to join the service. Order of service and the Psalm for the Day will be shown on screen. If you do run into difficulties, please email me (kath-b@btconnect.com) after the service, and I will do my best to resolve them for you – a practice Zoom session, to explain how everything works, is perfectly possible.

All are welcome to join us – please forward this information to anybody else you think might like to do so.

from Val

Dear Friends

I hope you are well and have been able to enjoy the beautiful weather.  The lockdown has meant we have paused from the busyness of daily life and taken the time to notice in greater detail the beauty of the world around us, the birds, the trees and the flowers.  The blossoms are just beginning to fall but nature has put on her finest display. 

The horrors of the pandemic are evident in all we see and hear, but we hope and pray that we have passed the peak and our efforts to stay home and socially distance will bear fruit.

Many have been taking their daily exercise by walking the lanes around the village.  Whilst passing folks on the other side of the road, social distancing, it has been good to greet folks by giving a friendly wave.   There is no chance of a stranger coming alongside us in these lockdown days, but we have seen some folks that maybe we haven’t seen for a while and it has been a joy to do so.

The Gospel reading for Sunday focuses on the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus.  Following the events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday they are feeling disappointed and fearful and decide to set off for home.  Walking along the road they are joined by a stranger; they do not recognise that this is Jesus.  Even so they invite him to stay with them and it is in the breaking of the bread that their eyes are opened and they recognise Jesus.

Jesus still walks alongside us today; he has promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us.  May you find comfort in his presence and his peace.

With Every Blessing…Val

readings are available to download in the panel on the right.

from Val

Dear Friends

This week has once again brought more restrictions to help to combat the spread of Coronavirus.  Many of you will be aware that the Church is now CLOSED until further notice.  This is unprecedented in the history of the Church and not something we ever thought we would see, but we must do our best to keep ourselves and others safe.

The beautiful weather belies the seriousness of the situation, but natures springtime brings hope and promise.

On Sunday we enter Passiontide when we turn from the temptations of Jesus in the desert and turn to face the Cross and Christ's suffering.    We remain united in prayer and I attach Sunday's readings for your own quiet time.  Also a service of Compline, the final service of the day, which you may like to use in the evening.

Keep safe and well.

Every Blessing...Val

From Val

Sundays will feel strange without our usual service but the cycle of prayer continues through our own private prayers. You can download from the list of the right each Sunday’s readings and a Service of the Word you may like to use at home.  The Church remains open as a place of solace and prayer.  We may be prevented from meeting together but God hears our prayers and knows our hearts. 

The Hippopotamus Song

The Hippopotamus Song, as performed at the 2018 Christmas Party by John Harris, Adrian Evans and Roger Mullock, accompanied by Kath Mitchell-Dawson, and supported in the chorus by all present!

Organ Recital St Asaph Cathedral

Meririon Wynn Jones of Carmarthen will give the final recital in this year's series on the organ of St Asaph Cathedral on Wednesday September 6th at 7:30pm. Programme as follows:

• Toccata in A major Johann Kuhnau
  
• Partita on Penparc  Meirion Wynn Jones
• Meditation Meirion Wynn Jones
  
• Offertoire in F L.J.A. Lefébure-Wély
• Romance sans Paroles L.J.A. Lefébure-Wély
• Elevation in A minor L.J.A. Lefébure-Wély
• Offertoire in D minor L.J.A. Lefébure-Wély
  
• Benedictus, Op.59, No.9 Max Reger
• Toccata & Fugue in D minor, Op.129 Max Reger

Adnission £6.00 including programme and refreshments after the recital.

Mission Area Pilgrimage

On Sunday 2^nd July Denbigh Mission Area joined with Aled Mission Area for a pilgrimage from Llannefydd to Llansannan. The Pilgrimage started with a time of prayer in St Nefydd’s Church before beginning the five-mile walk along the Pilgrim’s Way to Llansannan. The walk began from the back of the Church and after the initial steep climb the route levelled out along the Pilgrim’s Way. The views of Coast and Country were stunning. The walk took a couple of hours and cup of tea and a piece of cake was most welcome when the walkers finally arrived at St Sannan’s Church.  Llannefydd’s Mission Area Candle was carried from Llannefydd to Llansannan and lit at the start of the closing service as a sign of fellowship and unity. The walkers were joined by members of both Mission Areas for the refreshments and a service of Sung Evensong. Everyone enjoyed the day, the stunning scenery along the way, the company of fellow travellers and time to worship together at the close of day. 

Our thanks to Roger Mullock for arranging the day. Val Rowlands

From the vicar - March 2017

February encompassed almost every type of winter weather imaginable, from warm spring like sunshine to raging storms we saw all manner of weather conditions, we even finished the month with a flurry of snow. The damage caused by Storm Doris was immense and it was a sober reminder of the power of nature.

Storms are frequently mentioned in the Bible and are often used to demonstrate Jesus’ command over the forces of nature. The Calming of the Storm is a story we know well and Jesus’ response reminds us that he is ultimately in control.

The weather on Lake Galilee can change very quickly, a boat can set off from the shore in fine calm weather but by the time it is half way across the lake the weather can change and the once peaceful waters become the raging waters of the storm. For those looking down on the lake from the mountains which surround Lake Galilee the dramatic picture of the storm unfolding is something they can only watch and hope that those caught up in it can make it safely to shore.

The disciples were seasoned fisherman and yet the storm still caused them to panic, you can almost hear Jesus sighing “Don’t panic” as he says to them “Why are you afraid? Don’t you trust me?” Jesus hears the fear in their shouts and rebukes the wind and the rain, “Peace, be still”, and the storm subsides.

When an earthquake happens survivors are desperate to find those who have been trapped in the rubble, pulling and tugging at the fallen masonry. But when the trained rescuers come along the first thing they do is to pause, to listen and try and locate where the people are trapped. And then again from time to time, asking for complete silence so they know where to search using their skills for the very best results. And we too need to be willing to pause, to stop the frantic search, to pause our random busyness, in order to listen and to act wisely. To seek the things God really wants to do in our lives, and not the million and one things we think he wants us to do.

Lent is a time for stillness and reflection, to pause and journey with Jesus into the wilderness. We may think Lent is just a good time to give up chocolate, but it primarily it is a time of prayer and repentance as we watch and wait with Jesus, in preparation for Holy Week and Easter.

This Lent we will once again be collecting our change for WaterAid. Last year St Dyfnog’s sent £343 to WaterAid and through your generosity lives have been changed as we have helped to bring clean, safe water to more and more villages in areas of the world where water is in short supply. Thank you.

This Lent may we know Christ’s peace and stillness as we reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for each and every one of us.

Val Rowlands

Carol singing around the village

During the evening of December 16th, about twenty of us spent a couple of hours carol-singing around Llanrhaeadr. This was an idea from Pam Evans - it wasn’t to raise money for anything, and we didn’t make a collection, it was just to spread a little seasonal cheer in the run up to Christmas. Choirmaster John Roberts organised our singing, and we made about a dozen stops at different points around the village, singing two or three carols each time. We’d checked out the route beforehand, so we knew where we could stop under street lights, in order to be able to see our carol sheets! Predictably enough, we ended up at the King’s Head …


After we’d sung ourselves hoarse, we returned to Church Walk, and a splendid supper at Pam and Adrian’s, provided by some of the singers who’d produced a number of variations on shepherd’s pie. Must have been good, ‘cos Alan had four helpings (no doubt to fortify himself for his role as Santa’s Little Helper - see pic!) Pam had also organised entertainment of various sorts, and a visit from Santa himself!

Very many thanks to Pam and Adrian for their hospitality, and for having had the idea in the first place. A good time was had by all. Repeat next year, please!

 

from the Vicar - September 2016

For several years Denbigh Deanery have hosted a Hospitality Tent at the Denbigh and Flint Show. It is a wonderful opportunity to show the Church’s hospitality through teas, cake and coffee and a chance for people to sit down and have a rest after all the walking round. Through Messy Church activities we welcome the children whilst their parents enjoy a cup of tea. My first involvement was last year and I was delighted to see how busy the tent was throughout the day. This year fine weather blessed the day and once again we were able to offer hospitality and a warm welcome to all who stopped by.

The gift of hospitality is a wonderful gift. Hospitality comes in many forms, it is not just about the physical giving of sustenance it is also about the welcome, time to listen, time to care, to enjoy each other’s company and provide a place of peace in our busy world.

In Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, he speaks of entertaining angels unaware it is a well-known expression: “Some have entertained angels without knowing it”. When I think of it I am always reminded of a line from a sketch: “Angels, I didn’t see any angels”. In the sketch the story is told of a man who tells God he wants angels to come and visit him. God promises he will send some, so the man goes home and waits for the angels to come. In the story, a lonely man, an elderly visitor, a young mother and a person in need all call at his door, but as each visitor comes to his house he turns them all away; he doesn’t want random callers, he is waiting for the angels. You can guess what comes next: as the sketch draws to a close, God asks him why when he has sent angels has the man sent them away. The man replies with the line that has stayed with me: “Angels, I didn’t see any angels”.  Gradually, of course, the light dawns and he realises the people who called were indeed angels sent by God, and instead of showing them hospitality he had sent them away.

As September begins we return to the routine of daily life after the holiday period. The new school year is just beginning and we wish all those moving to a new class, a new school or going off to university every blessing as they settle in their new environment.

With every blessing

Val Rowlands

From the vicar - May 2016

‘Thinking outside the box’, ‘blue sky thinking’, ‘straplines’, ‘vision statements’ are all expressions used in today’s business world. They conjures up an image of high fliers seeking to bring about new ways to energise a business.

Businesses have been doing similar things for decades, some of the expressions may be new but the need for renewed vision remains the same. Vision is essential and it is something that is steeped in scripture. God spoke to many people through visions, very often calling them to a complete change of direction and to seek the Lord’s will.

Where there is no vision the people perish Proverbs 29:18

The vision is yet for the appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and will not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come. Habakkuk 2:3

2020 Vision came about as a result of the Church in Wales review of 2012. It challenges the Church to become a Church for the twenty first century. In 2020 the Church in Wales will mark the hundredth anniversary of disestablishment from the Church of England. One of the initiatives of 2020 Vision is that all of the present Deaneries in the Diocese of St Asaph will cease to exist and become Mission Areas by the end of 2016. It is not simply a change of name, it encourages us all to prayerfully seek what it means to be the Church today.

On 16th April Denbigh Deanery held a Vision Meeting in St Mary’s Denbigh to consider how our Mission Area may look. The Area Dean, Colin Mansley, challenged us to do some ‘blue sky thinking’ for the future of the Church in this area. It was an informative and positive meeting. The new Mission Area will still consist of the same Parishes as the present Deanery but with a greater emphasis on mission and working together, sharing our gifts and talents, resourcing and supporting one another.

In many ways this has already begun taking place as we have begun to look wider than our own parish and with a greater emphasis on lay ministry. Our Grouped Parishes have all enjoyed getting to know one another and sharing in innovative styles of Worship such as Taizé.  The Mission Area will encourage us to look even wider and to seek to support and encourage one another across the whole Mission Area.

As part of the discussions we were asked to consider the Five Marks of Mission, which briefly break down to five words beginning with the letter T: Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform and Treasure.  Tell - to proclaim the Gospel, Teach - to teach the faith, Tend – to care for others, Transform - to seek justice, and Treasure - to care for our environment.

We were asked to think of things we did in each of our parishes that bore the five marks of mission. There were many things already taking place but also things that we could grow and develop. There is much still to do but we have made a good start and the Mission Area will evolve as we seek to live out the Five Marks of Mission. No date has been set for the official commissioning of the Denbigh Mission Area but a service will be held and it is hoped that as many people as possible will attend.

The Parishes in our Mission Area are:
● Llanrhaeadr, Nantglyn, Llandyrnog and Llangwyfan
● St Mary’s & St Marcella Denbigh, Henllan, Llannefydd and Bylchau
● Caerwys and Bodfari
● Trefnant, Tremeirchion, Cefn and Sinan

A Mission Statement for our Mission Area is still being formulated but there is none better than the commandment Jesus gave:

Jesus said:  “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:34-35

With every blessing
Val Rowlands

From the Vicar - April 2016

Every Holy Week members of the Churches in Denbigh Deanery meet to walk the Stations of the Cross at Pantasaph.  It is very a moving event and a prayerful way to walk the Way of the Cross. Each of the 14 stations are placed at the end of a zig-zag path that leads up the hill at the back of the Priory. People travel many miles to visit but we are blessed to have it more or less on our doorstep, you can visit at any time, not just during Holy Week. I can remember visiting several years ago and being struck by the stillness of the Padre Pio Garden whilst listening to the noise of the A55 in the distance. The noise of the traffic reminded me that whilst the world rushes on the peace of Christ is there for those who pause to seek it.

After the events of Holy Week it is wonderful to celebrate the joy of the Resurrection. In the same way as spring brings new life and the promise of warmth, so in the Church Calendar the weeks following Easter Sunday are filled with hope and light. Our Easter weekend weather was far from spring-like, but as we celebrate Easter we know that by the death and resurrection of Jesus, the light of Easter Sunday will always follow the darkness of Good Friday.

Sadly in our world we know too that darkness still exists, the recent events in Brussels have brought dark days in Belgium, for all who suffered and all who lost loved ones. We live in a world where tragic events like this happen but we know that resurrection still happens in the unexpected moment, in the unexpected place; in the place where all seems lost and the future looks grim. The light of the resurrection does not make the darkness disappear; it helps us to live in the darkness with hope.
Whenever a Baptism takes place in Church the person being Baptised, (or a Godparent if it is a child) is given a lighted candle, lit from the Easter Candle which symbolises the Light of Christ. As the candle is given we say:

You have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life.
Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.

All Baptised Christians are called to be the Light of Christ in our world, our homes and our communities.

Bishop Gregory in his Easter message said: My Easter message is simply that I hope whatever darkness threatens you, the light of Christ may be able to rise in your heart and give you new hope.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Val Rowlands

From the Vicar - February 2016

February sees the beginning of the season of Lent. The word Lent is an Old English word which means ‘lengthen’.  Lent comes at a time of year when the days are beginning to get longer, albeit slowly. It is traditional for people to give something up during lent as a reminder of the temptations Jesus faced in the desert. Lent is also the way of good works and putting the needs of others before our own.

With this in mind, the congregation of St Dyfnog’s will be supporting WaterAid through their Jars of Change for Jars of Water Lent Appeal. By collecting and donating the small change we find in our pockets and purses throughout Lent we will be able to help bring clean water to communities around the world who lack the facilities for safe, clean water.

We are very privileged in this country to be able to have water on tap every day of our lives. In many ways we take it for granted and only stop to think when for some reason our water goes astray. Our daily routine begins and ends with the use of water, so imagine how it would be if every time we needed water we had to go and collect it from a well 2 hours’ walk away, and when we got there the water was cloudy and dirty.

This is the reality for many people in our world, the dirty water causes disease and sickness, but they have no alternative. Very often it is the women and children who walk for miles and return carrying heavy water containers, the water is soon used and the daily routine starts again.

The sad fact is:
Around 315,000 children die each year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by dirty water and poor sanitation. That’s nearly 900 children each day.

But it doesn’t have to be this way, with help from WaterAid communities can have clean water available on a daily basis in their own villages. WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation.  They seek to achieve this by providing communities with the means to drill boreholes and install pumps, but this can only happen through the generosity of people like you and me.

A simple jam jar and your small change really can improve lives. I am delighted that people have been so enthusiastic about supporting this year’s Lent Offering, our Grouped Parishes of Nantglyn, Llandyrnog and Llangwyfan are also taking part, and I feel sure we can help make a difference in the lives of those who so desperately need our help. Thank you.

With every blessing,
Val Rowlands

From the Vicar - January 2016

Happy New Year. The start of a New Year holds promise and excitement and we look forward with hope to all 2016 will bring.

As the Christmas period comes to an end I hope you had the opportunity to see at least some of the poems and readings in the Advent Calendar on the St Dyfnog’s Church web page. Congratulations to everyone who took part, it was a great joy to see such varied contributions from members of the congregation. Special thanks to our webmaster Kath Mitchell-Dawson who compiled and edited it all. The Advent Calendar will be available to view until 6th January.

The 6th January also sees the Feast of the Epiphany, the arrival of the wise men. Traditionally the wise men form part of the Nativity scene, but they travelled far and it is likely that arrived well after the event. It was a journey that may well have taken several years. Their journey would have taken them to unknown lands, across deserts and plains; they followed a star without knowing exactly where it was taking them. They were learned men who studied the stars and they knew this very bright star heralded a very important event, the birth of a King. The Bible tells us they were wise men, but Matthew, the Gospel writer, does not tell us that they were kings, nor that there were only three of them. Three gifts, wealthy gifts, gifts that would have been well outside the purchasing power of most of the people. Subsequently down the ages we have given them title of the Three Kings.

The image of the wise men kneeling before the manger is one wonderfully portrayed in many paintings down the ages. They had journeyed far but when they finally reached their destination they knew that here lay the King of kings. After such a long journey you would have expected them to stay a while and have a rest yet we are told having presented their gifts they left for their home country by another road.

Today we ponder the expression ‘wise men still seek him’ as we journey to and with Christ. As a new year begins we do not know where our journey will take us, but as we journey with Jesus we know that it will be an adventure and we look forward with hope and confidence to 2016.

I wish all the blessings the New Year holds.

Val Rowlands

From the Vicar - October 2015

The sight of the glorious moon in our skies over the last few days has filled us with a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of God’s creation. Even if you didn’t manage to get up at 3am to see the eclipse, we have been privileged to see some stunning night skies. Driving back from Denbigh last night it felt almost as if I was going to drive into the moon it was so low and so large, yet stunningly beautiful.

Although we won’t see its like again until 2033, it is amazing to think that people down the generations have witnessed this same sight, and experienced the same sense of awe and wonder. The writers of both the Old Testament and the early Church use this very image. “The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon to blood” Acts 2:20. The people of bible times may not have understood the science of a blood moon but they knew it was an awesome event.

The Book of Acts, from which this verse is taken, immediately follows the four gospels. It speaks literally of the Acts (actions) of the Apostles, the life of the early church after Jesus had ascended back to heaven. Scholars believe the Book of Acts was written by the Gospel writer Luke because it exactly matches the style of writing found in Luke’s Gospel.

On the 18th October the Church celebrates the Feast of St Luke the Evangelist. Luke has been identified as "Luke, the beloved physician" described in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. He is the patron saint of Physicians and Surgeons. St Luke is associated with the ministry of healing and often a special healing service is held on his feast day. For all of us healing and wholeness come in many different forms. Healing of a physical ailment is a very visible form of healing but inner healing brings the peace of Christ which is beyond our understanding. Every Eucharist service is a service of healing, but at a Healing Service there is a particular focus on the healing power of Jesus.

For our group of Parishes a Healing Service will take place on the 18th October at 5pm in Llangwyfan Church. This will be a gentle Eucharist service, with prayers and hymns for healing, both for ourselves and for those known to us in need of God’s healing touch at this time.  A warm welcome to all.

From the Vicar - September 2015

The last few chilly days remind us that autumn is on the way and the nights are drawing in. The month of September means the growing season is drawing to a close and it will soon be time for Harvest Thanksgiving Services in our Churches.

A Harvest Festival is a joyous occasion, a time when we give thanks to God for all the good things he has provided for us. It is an occasion when we love to sing those familiar hymns and to see our Church beautifully decorated for the Harvest season. Many people have fond memories of the Harvest Festival Services of their younger days, and are able tell stories of bringing baskets of Fruit and Vegetables to church, or recount humorous tales of the choirmaster banning some small boy from the choir for juggling with the apples.

As a city girl, born and bred on the outskirts of Liverpool, my memories of harvest will be quite different to those who have always lived in a rural community. For me I’m afraid, eggs, milk, vegetables and bread came from the local shop or supermarket. I have no memories of drinking warm milk from the milking pail or of sitting aloft the hay wagon and I can’t tell you of days of sowing and reaping and bringing home the harvest of our own hands but I know many of you can recall such memories.

Although farming has changed over the decades with the introduction of modern machinery, combine harvesters bring in the crops, milking machines collect the milk, and tankers take it away to be processed, every harvest requires hard work. The land has to be tilled, the seed has to be sown, the soil has to be fed and watered, the weather has to be kind and only then do we start to see the results of that labour.

One thing has not changed, nor ever will, the harvest of the fields and all good gifts are given to us by God. The sun and the rain, are sent by God. The soil, the seed, the animals are all God’s gifts. We can enter the supermarket and feel overwhelmed by the choice and variety of fruit and vegetables available but throughout it all we need to remember that it is God who has provided each one for our daily needs.

So this Harvest time we give thanks for those who toil on land and sea to bring food to our shops and our tables. May we stand with our farmers as they struggle to negotiate a fair price for their produce and play our part by being willing to pay a realistic price that will enable farming to flourish here in Wales.

Summer Fair

Scroll down for pics!

Something of an experiment, this; but since we’d done so well with the Autumn Fair it seemed worth trying a summer event. Inevitably, we were in competition with a number of other events on the same day, but the weather was kind to us, and we had enthusiastic support from several outside stall-holders who are becoming regulars at St Dyfnog’s fund-raising days: Huw’s Pictures (drawings of scenes around Denbigh), Femme Fatale (bags, scarves and accessories), Jacquie Dutton (hand-made cards), Vintage Mary Dei (vintage clothing), Sheila Dooley (honey, jams, chutneys and beeswax candles) and Little Dragons Face Painters all helped the day to go with a swing, and said it was well worthwhile for them.

Critter Capers provided visitors with something a little different: Andrew Barkley and Alice Naylor take animals, reptiles and insects to schools, birthday parties and youth groups to give people of all ages the chance to meet a variety of exotic animals. St Dyfnog’s was temporarily host to a Royal Python, a Bearded Dragon, an Emperor Scorpion and a Giant African Millipede, amongst others! (Please note your newsletter editor actually handled the millipede!!)

There was also a drawing and painting competition for the local primary school children from Llanraheadr and Prion schools: they were invited to draw their favourite character from the Jesse Window, with prizes of chocolate medals awarded for the best version of each character. The twenty winners’ artistic creations are on display in church until the end of July.

Very many thanks to all who baked cakes, provided plants, helped to set up and take down, or looked after church stalls on the day. We raised over £500 for church funds.

at Little Dragons Face Painters

entries for the Jesse Window drawing and painting competition

entries for the Jesse Window drawing and painting competition

Andrew with the scorpion!

enjoying the sunshine

outside stalls

meeting Timothy the Rabbit

The winning entries

Adrian meeting a Bearded Dragon

presentation of medals

From the Vicar - Easter 2015

About this time last year I sat in St Asaph Cathedral listening to a concert by St Asaph Choral Society. As I sat in the main nave of the Cathedral I glanced to the South Transept, the small Chapel to my right and something made me pause. On the small altar in the South Transept there is a cross and as the sun was setting the light was reflected behind the cross causing a perfect reflection which surrounded the cross with light. The setting sun was shining through a cross shaped window at the far end of the Cathedral and the light had travelled the whole length of the building to make this perfect shape. It only lit the background of the cross, not the candles, or the altar, just the cross. It was more than a trick of the light, it spoke of the light in the darkness, and struck me very poignantly particularly as come into the Light of Christ after the dark events of Holy Week.

The Cross lies at the very heart of the Christian faith, for without the cross there would be no Easter Morning, no Resurrection. We can sometimes take the cross for granted, use it for decoration, make it presentable with candles and flowers, yet the cross is not an easy object to gaze upon, but an instrument of pain and torture has become for us a symbol of love and sacrifice. Many people wear a cross as a necklace or pin-badge, they may carry a cross in your pocket with the lovely poem, for following Easter Sunday the cross becomes a symbol of light and hope.

The wonderful hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross was written by Isaac Watts but it is said that Charles Wesley, the writer of hundreds of our favourite hymns, would gladly have given all the hymns he had written to have written those wonderful words.  The words of the hymn convey all the sentiments that we could ever wish to convey.  Yet they are not sentimental but challenging.  ‘Demands my soul my life my all’ can never just be sweet and sugary words.

‘Love so amazing, so divine’ Easter is a joyous time, a time of hope and promise. May the joy of Easter morning and the Light of Christ bring you peace and joy this Eastertide and always.

From the Vicar - March 2015

As we celebrate St David’s Day we are reminded of the early Christian Saints who brought the good news of Jesus to our shores. St Dyfnog Patron Saint of our Church was a follower of St David and he would have been one of the numerous Celtic Saints who established Christian Communities throughout Wales. We now call the early sixth century through to the seventh century the Age of the Saints.

Many of the Celtic Saints were itinerant preachers who walked the countryside setting up Holy Sites wherever they stopped and establishing a Christian Community there. No doubt Dyfnog stopped here because of the situation of the natural well, just above where the Church stands.

The Celtic Saints saw the whole of life as a complete circle, God, humanity and nature. They held a respect for nature that we have largely lost over the years. In recent decades this has changed for the better, as we are challenged to look at the effect of our lifestyle has on the environment.

As we continue in Lent may we ponder the impact our lifestyle has on the world. How we can play our part in protecting the environment, caring for the world God has given us. For David and Dyfnog and all the saints of the early Christian settlements, care of the environment was an integral part of their faith. Just as worshipping God and caring for those in need was central to their lives.

For us the challenge is to follow in their footsteps to care for those in need, to care for the earth and to bring the Good News of the love of Jesus to all people.

The Prayer for St Dyfnog
Almighty and ever-living God, who called your servant Dyfnog to proclaim the gospel to this nation: give us your servants, such faith and power of love, that as we rejoice in his triumph we may profit by his example.