Photos from the Harvest Fayre

click on any image for a larger version

Harvest flowers

Click on any image for a larger version. If somebody can let me know who's responsible for each arrangement, I'll credit accordingly. Kath M-D

                 

 


 

Harvest 2013

October 2013 - from the vicar

These past weeks, through our worship, we have been focussing our thoughts on the issues of discipleship and the role we each need to play in the church’s ministry.

We are fortunate to be members of a liturgical church which provides a framework of themes week by week and in step with other churches across the world which helps us keep things in perspective.  Week by week we are mindful that God offers us his love and his life, without conditions, and that each of us is quite special in his eyes. We need always to make space in order to let him find us and for us to remember to find him.

Harvest speaks of how everything we have is a gift from God, given and worked on by our hands, yes, a gift perhaps even further developed by our own talents, yet, still something given by a gracious God. For it is God who gives us the hands we need and the talents we have.

Harvest is always a time in our year to think about how well God treats us, even when we are not treating him well or thinking all that much about him. It is a time which makes us think about how, sometimes, we do not really appreciate what we have, or behave as if we know where it has come from.

             

Our Harvest Prayer is that we may be given an even greater ability to appreciate all that we have, and to be prepared to share that which we have been given, with others.

Michael

Farm Africa

Once again we will be supporting Farm Africa at this time, as we thank God for all his many blessings in our lives here in the lovely Vale of Clwyd.

Eighty per cent of Africans rely on the land for survival, and two out of every three live in extreme poverty, and so we are supporting Farm Africa because they work directly with farmers to find better, practical solutions to poverty.

Our support this Harvest Festival can turn lives around so that African families can rejoice in good harvests - now and for many years to come.

Farm Africa - making a lasting difference to Africa’s families

For more information, go to www.farmafrica.org

At our Harvest Eucharist, on 20^th October, there will be a an opportunity to contribute via a special collection for Farm Africa.

“Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.”

September 2013 - from the Vicar

Sometimes we try to cram far too much into too little time and forget that all living things, from plants to people, need some space and quiet times, in order to grow.

We continually need to be reminded that from time to time Jesus would leave the crowded places to find quietness and space to be alone with his Father. We too need to learn that often in our hectic lives we also must be alone with the Father.

If solitude, quiet time and stillness were so important at times for Jesus, then we too must create spaces to let God find us, and so reflect upon the love that God has for each and every one of us.

So two suggestions –

Firstly, whilst we all enjoy our paperback escapist reading, the Autumn can be a good time to read something a little more spiritually challenging - talk to me if you need some suggestions.

Secondly, make some time for a day off shopping etc. and find some time for a day of quiet reflection, and so let God find you once more – talk to me if you need any help.

When the conductor of the orchestra begins, there is always silence before the downbeat – to appreciate the music of life we must also value the quieter periods.

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Perhaps on a lighter note, I am reminded, in thinking about prayer, of the chap who asked his Parish Priest,

“Vicar, will you pray for Annabelle next Sunday?” “Certainly,” said the Vicar, and did so.

The following week, he said to the man, “How is Annabelle? Would you like me to pray for her again?”

“No thanks, Vicar, she won at 6 – to – 4 on,” the man replied!

Michael

Celtic Trinity Pilgrimage

From the Vicar 

We are hoping to join walkers from the Deanery of Dyffryn Clwyd, as a shared Pilgrimage, on Sunday 14^th of July, to walk all, or part, of the Celtic Trinity Pilgrimage.

The total distance is approximately 7 miles but there are options to shorten the journey!  

For those that want to take part in the Church services on route the first service will begin at St Saeran’s Llanynys at 10.00am with a Communion Service. - for those that just want to take part in the walk itself we will begin walking from around 11.00am.

St Saeran’s Church was the Mother Church of the Vale of Clwyd in the early Middle Ages and has the best preserved medieval wall painting of St Christopher and the Christ Child in Wales (possibly Great Britain).

After Llanynys we will set out to St Hychan’s Church Llanychan for our packed lunch or lunch which can be purchased here.

St Hychan’s Church was founded around 450 AD on the site of St Hychan’s Anchorite Cell. He was martyred with his sister Tybie by the pagan Irish on a field called Rhandir Hychan in Carmarthen. His symbol is a palm leaf which is illustrated on our pilgrimage passport stamp.

Pilgrims from Llanrhaeadr may wish to join us here for the next phase of our journey, as we hope to set off to Llangynhafal between 1.00pm and 1.30pm.

St Cynhafal’s Church Llangynhafal is the only church dedicated to this 7^th century Missionary Monk. Here we will hold our Celtic Style Evening Prayer at approximately 4.00pm. The present Church building dates from the 15^th century and is surprisingly spacious and light. St Cynhafal’s Well can also be visited on the 14^th it is featured in the book ‘Britains Holiest Places’ by Nick Mayhew Smith. The Well is known as St Cynhafal’s Pin Well with healing properties. The logo on our Pilgrimage stamp here is an image of crossed pins.  

This route is stunning for both for the depth of its Spiritual history and the beauty of the Vale of Clwyd. On the 14^th of July at each of the Churches there will be temporary facilities and there are plans to create permanent facilities within each Church for future Pilgrims.   

Michael 

Whom shall I send, and who will go for me? – Here I am, send me!

The Bishops of the Church in Wales have recently reminded us that in every generation the Church has tried to work out what being a disciple of Jesus, living as he lived, might mean.

The Church in Wales inherits not just the witness of the first disciples and apostles, but at least fifteen hundred years of witness by the saints and disciples of Wales.

We have been handed a rich tradition of love, service and of reaching out to others in the name of Jesus Christ, and it is for us in our time to work out, and put into practice what this might mean for our own lives and especially for the lives of those around us who have little or no experience of God working in their lives.

If we think of our own faith journeys – where did we all begin, who introduced us to Jesus? I’m quite sure that with careful thought we can all think of a particular person who helped us begin this journey – no one comes alone to Jesus – we meet him through other people, if only the generations of Christians who have gone before us and so handed on the faith to us.

The time is now for us to play our part in helping others, either begin their faith journey, or perhaps re-discover it – it is the only way in which the faith can grow!

As a Church, and as individuals, we won’t find a manual or master plan, but rather we will need to develop relationships with others around us, creating situations where the Good News can be shared and inviting others to have the same experience as ourselves.

Shortly before leaving his Parish, a small boy said to the Vicar, “Vicar, you’re leaving, aren’t you?” “That’s right”, the Vicar replied.

“Are you leaving tomorrow?” the boy asked.

“No, there are a few weeks yet” said the Vicar.

The small boy thought for a moment and asked, “And then, will they pull the church down?”

Ministry and Calling are for all – lay and ordained!                            

Michael