Category: St Mary’s Parish Church News

Christian Aid Week

Sometimes the simplest things can make a world of difference: every year, people in Wales and all around the UK come up with all kinds of fundraising activities to support Christian Aid. The appeal gives us seven days to make a difference to people in the most vul-nerable countries around the world.

Our global neighbours are also amazing at transform-ing their lives. This is Aline’s story. Aline Nibogora is 35 and lives in Burundi. She was married young and when she was 14, she gave birth to the first of her six children. Her husband was violent and beat her regularly – one day it got so bad, she fled.

“He would often jeer that he would kill me and bury me without anyone knowing,” Aline said.

Forced to leave her children behind, Aline wandered the streets trying to stay close by, asking anyone for a place to sleep.

“Those who showed me kindness would let me stay for two or three days, but it was difficult,” she ex-plained. “People would insult me and treat me with contempt. They forgot I was a human being. It filled me with sorrow.”

In a patriarchal society where men dominate in al-most every aspect, life is particularly challenging for women. They’ve been conditioned to be dependent on and dominated by men. But Aline found the strength and determination to push back against the injustices she was facing. Every gift, every action helps transforms lives; sometimes the simplest things can make a world of difference. Aline went to a three-day community workshop where Christian Aid-funded trainers taught people about village savings and loans associations.

“I came out of it with amazing knowledge and skills. During the training, I stayed focussed and was deter-mined to not miss out on anything at all. I really liked the teachers’ methodology; they restored in me a sense of hope and energy to take on initiatives. From then on, I started working hard, so I would not be dependent on anyone.”

With a small start-up loan, Aline began trading avo-cados and peanuts locally; then used her profits to buy a bicycle to transport greater quantities of goods to markets further afield. She is now a grocery whole-saler; she’s been reunited with three of her sons and lives on her own plot of land in a village in Kayogo-ro, in Makamba Province. She is planning to expand the business and is building a home for her family – she hopes she’ll one day have all her children with her.

“I bought some solar panels,” Aline added. “We now have electricity and the children are able to see to do their homework in the evenings. It’s true there’s a shortage of food at the moment, so there’s no lack of problems, but I’m doing what I can to get by, before we are able to harvest. I enjoy spending time with my children, who are my favourite people in the world”.

Aline is also now the chairperson of her own village savings and loan association and has helped 25 other families. She finds it important to be able to give

back and train others for the further development of the community as well as her country. Aline says the support of Christian Aid has made the whole commu-nity feel comforted and empowered. They feel they are not alone in their initiatives. Without your support we could not go further,

“You empowered us by changing our living condi-tions. Before, we couldn’t see opportunities around us. Now we can see positive and significant changes in our lives”.

This Christian Aid Week in Wenvoe

This year in Wenvoe we are busy planning money raising activities to continue to support the work of Christian Aid. We invite you to take part and to en-joy the week with us.

Our activities include:

• Distributing ‘Delivery Only envelopes’ throughout the village giving details of how you can contribute to the appeal
• On Wednesday 15th Assembly at Gwenfo school
• On Wednesday 15th a ‘Clothes Swap’ (girls and women only) from 7pm at Alison’s home at 52 Wal-ston Road, where you can take pre loved items of clothing to donate or swap with others. No charge, but donations welcomed! Fizz and nibbles included!
• On Friday 17th Big Brekkie and non-uniform Day at Gwenfo school
• On Saturday 18th ‘Cake, Cake and More Cake’: in the Church Hall, Port Road from 10 – 12 30. No charge for refreshments, but donations welcomed, and, there will be a cake stall for take aways from one slice to whole cakes!

We look forward to seeing you during the week.

Jude Billingham:

Christian Aid Week in Wenvoe – 12-18 May 2024.

May Church News

Greetings from the congregation of St. Mary’s, eager to welcome new faces to join them in worship at 9.30am on Sunday morning. Gone are the days when we could number the faithful for three services on Sundays, with extra chairs placed out in the aisle for the Sung Eucharist service. The earlier service at 8.00am also had a strong attendance and to cap it all Evensong at 6.00pm with the adult church choir was a meaningful end to the day. Many things have contributed to a decline in attendance numbers over the years. Despite all that has gone before, St. Mary’s door is still open, the bells ring out the call to worship, a welcome is given to all, and the church looks better now, than it has for many a year.

In recent weeks we had the church building and grounds inspected for the “Quinquennial” inspection. This takes place roughly every five years by a qualified architect to examine and report on any defects found within the structure which needs remedial action. This work maintains the building fit for purpose and takes into account any health and safety issues discovered. This responsibility is for the church council and officers under the direction of the Parish Priest, to ensure that our insurers are content that all is well and maintained to the highest standards for an ancient building to function safely. In addition the heating system, the lighting system, the lightning conductor and the church clock have to be checked to make sure that the building in our care is handed on for future generations to worship in. The raising of money to fund the maintenance is reliant on fund raising, (weekly or monthly giving, the 200 Club donations and legacies) and it is a constant battle to cover the everyday expenses, and our church treasurer does a superb job in keeping us in the “black” . so we appreciate any help to keep us solvent.

This Eastertide at St. Mary’s, we had ceremonies for Palm Sunday with a procession into the church from the church hall complete with donkey (two. in fact. called Vest and Knickers), kindly brought by Emily and Mathew from Vishwell Farm. This was the beginning of Holy Week and led up to the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Day. These days are the most important and meaningful days of the Christian Year, and there would be no church without the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave. Alleluia Christ is Risen, Yea He is Risen indeed.

Easter Sunday – the day of Resurrection. A full church awaited the arrival of the new light, kindled at an earlier service at St Lythans for the lighting of the PASCAL candle at St. Mary’s. Sitting in the darkened church with the Spring sunshine streaming through the stained-glass windows, glowing like so many jewels, heightened the expectation of Resurrection of light coming into a dark world. With the candle placed on its stand in the chancel, the church lights blazed on and the organ played the great Easter hymn “Jesus Christ is risen today. Alleluia”. The service included a renewal of our

Baptism vows with a sprinkling of water from the font, much to the amusement of the younger members of the congregation. So, we go forward into the 50 days of Easter in the company of the risen Jesus, renewed and empowered to carrying his teaching to all who will listen, bringing the truth of His presence in the world…..Alleluia, alleluia Christ is risen.

Support for the Vale Food Bank continues with weekly collections from the items left in the church porch. In addition, the donations of chocolate Easter Eggs was most welcome, plus the cash given in place of food items is always well received by the Food Bank staff to purchase groceries to cover any shortfall. Thank you for the contributions, and to Jude and Nigel who work so hard to get the offerings to Barry.

We will be supporting the Christian Aid Appeal events (see page 5) including Cake, Cake and More Cake. We hope to see you all on Saturday 17th May at the Church Hall from 10.00am-12.00 midday.

St. Mary’s Church is joining in the Commemoration of VE80 Day. During the morning service on Sunday 4th May there will be suitable prayers and a period of silent meditation in thanksgiving for the longest period of peace in the country while acknowledging the great sacrifice made by so many in the armed forces and the civilian population during the conflict.

Every blessing to all who read the church news.

Parry Edwards

CHRISTIAN AID IS 80

Christian Aid is 80 this year. It all started after World War II when people were coming to terms with losing loved ones or supporting those who were injured. The country was financially in a difficult position and rationing was still widespread. Even so, a group of people recognised the need of others, especially the millions around the world who were homeless and rootless. It was here that Christian Aid was born. In that first-year people raised £26,000, equivalent to 1 million pounds in today’s money.

Since then, Christian Aid has responded to many emergencies, and their work has expanded. The organisation works with partner agencies in many countries who share their values and aims, and gives help to all people regardless of age, faith, gender, nationality or race. Staff and volunteers at home and abroad have Hope. “We believe in the unstoppable power of Hope and that with Hope Change is possible”. Hope is central to this year’s challenge, describing achievements, needs, and ‘Hopes’ of people in rural communities in Guatemala.

In Central American Guatemala has the largest population of 17.6 million. It has an indigenous population of 43%. 55% live in poverty. 1 in 2 are malnourished. Human rights defenders are often criminalised.

Within a small community in the Alta Verapaz area, in the Northern Central Area of Guatemala we find Aurelia living in a community suffering from drought and land exploitation. The water hole nearby has dried up and they have to walk 3 miles there and back twice a day. What crops they managed to grow failed in such dry conditions. Congcoop a partner with Christian Aid has undertaken work with residents in the locality. It is here Aurelia gained ‘Hope’. She undertook various training including, knowledge and skills in agriculture working against climate change, chocolate making, and pricing and marketing skills to enable her to sell her goods. She shared this knowledge within her community and together they also learnt of solar hydration and water collection.

To raise money for similar projects during Christian Aid week (11th – 18th May.), we will be:

• distributing donation envelopes
• undertaking sponsored silences challenging adults, and children in Gwenvo school (look out for adults undertaking their ‘silences’ in the library on Monday 12th May)
• leading the assembly in school explaining to the children what they are raising money for, and,
• holding the annual ‘Cake, Cake, and Cake’ event in the Church Hall on Saturday 17th May from 10.00am until 12.00 midday. Coffee/tea and cakes to eat or to purchase to take away.

We look forward to seeing you during the week.

Jude Billingham