October 2022 News Update
October 2022 News Update
October continued to be a busy month, following on from September that saw things pick up after the summer holidays .The Harvest Festival at St. Bleddians was very well supported with the largest numbers in the congregation for some time. The sun shone and the refreshments were able to be taken outside, thanks to the hard work by Pam and Ann not forgetting Terry in the background. Vicar Lyndon was able to meet and chat with new faces as he settles in with the congregations for which he is responsible.
St Mary’s in October, we had in addition to the Sunday Eucharist services, the church was able to host, Baptisms, a Wedding and a Funeral, a good indication that after the trauma of Covid we are gradually getting back to some kind of normal. Not all things are back in place yet, such as a collection taken with the plate being handed around, sides persons are not able to bring up the Offertory as was once the practice. Vicar Lyndon has enhanced the reading of the Gospel for the day with a Gospel procession and the dismissal at the end of the service takes place at the Font in the body of the people before the choir retire to the Tower vestry for final prayers. Little touches like these help to make worship at St. Mary’s more meaningful and thoughtful of what we are about when we gather to hear the Word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist.
All Saints and All Souls are very important festivals in the church’s calendar, and on November the 3rd at 6.00pm a Service of Calm and Reflection will take place to remember all who have died during the COVID crisis and were not able to have the funerals they wanted, together with a remembrance of loved ones who have passed into greater glory in recent years. Names of those who wish to be read out and prayed for are requested, please use the letter boxes in the church porch or the Church Hall, with names clearly printed or hand to one of the two Wardens, Carol or Sandra. All are welcome to attend, and an invitation to non-church members who have lost a loved one are invited to be part of the service..
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY November 13th
This year after a break of three years a Community Remembrance Service will begin at 10.00am in church with representatives from organisations from the village taking part in the readings and prayers, to be followed with the Act of Remembrance at the Village War Memorial. The Vale of Glamorgan brass band will be in attendance and a procession led by the Cross bearer and choir and the congregation will be in place in good time for 11.00am. Refreshments of tea/coffee/soft drinks and biscuits will be available in the Church Hall following the proceeding, all are welcome.
A date for your diaries THE CHATTERY will be meeting on November 10th at 10.30am in the Church Hall for coffee/tea/posh biscuits and a chat of course, to catch up on what has been happening around us at home or in the world at large. It’s very friendly and informal and it’s good to come out and meet up with people you may not have seen for some time. For
some it is a warm place in these days when the weather is getting colder, a great welcome to all for the little cost of £2.00, and plenty of coffee refills plus free raffle.
A session of MESSY CHURCH is planned for November 26th with an ADVENT theme in the Church Hall. This is open all families to share some quality play time with each other and to meet up make new friends, so let’s get busy and let’s enjoy each others company.
ADVENT WINDOWS has had a good response and will take place as advertised during the dark nights of December. This is a St. Mary’s initiative for the village, Free to enter, just light up your windows when your evening is allocated, the theme can be Christmas or any alternative that will give pleasure to the onlookers, the final “window” will be at St. Mary’s on Christmas Eve..
COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE will take place at St. Mary’s on Wednesday December 14th at 7.00pm. Representatives from village organisations are being invited to take part and will follow the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and carols made popular over the years, broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge.
The JOINT CHURCH COUNCIL met on the 26th October in the Church Hall under the chairmanship of Vicar Lyndon for the first time. Apart from a “catch up” on what has taken place since the previous meeting in June, the budget for the church was discussed and approved. In accordance with Church In Wales practice each of our nine churches in the Ministry Area of De Morgannwg has to produce a budget for next year. Estimating the amount of income is a difficult one to assess, Expenditure is subject to the cost of inflation raising prices of goods and services and similarly to our own budgeting at home, the end result can be very uncomfortable in making ends meet. However, any budget is but a guide to the future and good housekeeping practises will keep St, Mary’s in good shape in the year ahead.
Thank you for reading what has been happening and what is being planned at St. Mary’s.
God bless and peace
Parry Edwards