July 2022 News Update
July 2022 News Update
July has been a busy month in the life of the church. Sunday services have been well attended. A wedding, a memorial service and two funerals have kept the churchwardens busy making the necessary arrangements for these events to go ahead smoothly. The Joint Church Council met during the month under the chairmanship of Howard Rees. We also had a school visit and Kevin explained the vestment colours used during the seasons of the church’s year.
During the month we acknowledged the twelve years that Alison has been the leader of the “Pebbles” group of children who have been meeting at 9.30 am on a Sunday morning in term time, and then joining the congregation at the Eucharist service. Alison has now stepped down from that role in order to pursue a different journey in her faith as she prepares to train to become a Reader. This is a calling I received some 47 years ago and I know from experience how that will enrich her life as it enriched mine. A presentation of flowers and lots of goodies was made to Alison following the Eucharist on Sunday 17th July to acknowledge with great thanks the work she has put into her role as leader. Da Iawn Alison.
For the moment the “Pebbles” will not be meeting until such time as a new leader comes forward, or even if a grouping of the young parents can be formed to take the work forward. We feel that this is the right thing to do until our new Vicar is in post, who we know is eager to be part of our worshipping community, and especially in making contact with the school and becoming their Vicar as our last priest was so well known and loved as “Vicar Jon”.
It was also with sadness that we said farewell to our Curate Rev. Kevin Barry who is leaving us to join the Ministry Area of East Glamorgan. His farewell service was a joint celebration at St. John the Baptist in Sully on Sunday 24th July. A presentation was made to him marking the time we had joined with him on his faith journey as Ordinand, Deacon and Priest. We also remembered Kim and Olivia who in their quiet way came among us, supporting Kevin in the life changes required when preparing for the Priesthood. We wish them well for the future role he will now take on, and trust that they will recall with pleasure the times spent in our three churches.
Work on the tower proceeds ever so slowly and the contractors have asked for an extension of the time originally agreed. We are very much in the hands of our architects and we want the work done to the correct standard, as that of the completed work on the church porch. As the Bishop told me when I raised the delay in announcing our new Vicar “Patience is a virtue and will bring its own reward”
The announcement we long waited for about the arrival of our new Vicar was revealed in the morning services on Sunday 17th July. He is the Rev. Lyndon Hutchison-Housell and his wife Chris. They arrived in the Rectory in late July and will be taking the month of August as a holiday as they buy a car and set up house. He is hopeful of taking services in September, but he will have to be licensed first by Bishop June. He is very much a people person and wants to get involved in the community, to get to know “church people” as well as “non church people”. So our patience has been rewarded and we look forward to welcoming them both into the community.
On the afternoon of Sunday 17th July, at St. Bleddian’s Church a service of dedication of the refurbishment of the churchyard path and gates took place in memory of the late John Bird. John’s generous bequest has funded the work and will fund further work within the church.
Sunday 10th July was Sea Sunday. A retiring collection for the Mission to Seamen amounted to £73.00. In our prayers that day the work of the Mission to all who work at sea, was commended to God’s grace and protection, for without those brave men and women, who so often work in the most dangerous conditions to bring us the goods we need, our lives would be greatly impoverished.
We continue to support the Barry food bank with items donated every Thursday morning. The need is greater than ever, with falling donations due to the high cost of living we are all experiencing, and the greater demand they are experiencing from impoverished families in Barry and the Vale. There is an up to date list in the church porch of items that are most urgently needed and can be safely left in the porch. All items gratefully accepted.
The CHATTERY coffee morning has been restarted and the next one will be at 10.30am on Thursday August 11th in the church hall. All are welcome for a chat and catchup on what has been going on whether at home or on holiday. It is good to meet up with those not seen for some time, so do come along, a great welcome, posh biscuits and a free raffle.
Sad news of the passing of Mrs Doreen Searchfield was received during the month. Doreen was a faithful member of the congregation when she and Raymond lived in Whitehall Close. When left a widow she moved to sheltered housing in Cheltenham and latterly to residential care. Her funeral has been arranged at 12.00 noon on Tuesday 2nd August followed by interment in the Community Cemetery. Our thoughts and prayers are for her family at this sad time.
We are making tentative plans for a Messy church session in the Autumn, a BYO picnic at the time of the Harvest Festival, Remembrance Sunday, All Saints and All Souls Day, Community Christmas Carol Service, Advent Windows whilst keeping in mind that COVID and its variations have not gone away. So watch this space.
St Mary’s Church in Wenvoe is your church, ready to serve you in times of joy and of sorrow. God Bless and thank you for reading this news.
Parry Edwards