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Magazine for the Irfon and Wye Valley Churches

Issue No 155 September 2013

by Fr Neil Hook

Last month as part of our creation themed Deanery

'Messy Church' event in the Jubilee Hall in

Llanelwedd - members of the Deanery ‘got sweaty’!

As a new approach was

integrated into the existing

messy church programme.

Inspired initially by Messy

Church, this 'fresh expression'

of Church uses participation through activities, games

and sport, as well as craft, as the means of families

learning together. Like messy church it creates a very

different service that put an emphasis on involvement

rather than just attendance. Its evocative name is

earthy, entertaining, intriguing and honest. It is not

hard to see why it is already drawing numbers and

starting to become popular across the UK. Sweaty

Church is particularly popular with a wide variety of

males (although the activities are designed for ALL).

Sweaty Church, was started by St Paul's Holgate in

York, adheres to the Messy Church value of 'learning

as a family' but uses sport instead of craft to explore

the value of creativity that helps us understand more

about what it is to be truly human.

In our sweaty church sessions we used nerf sniping,

hula hooping and ten pin bowling to explore our

theme of creation in Llanelwedd. The idea behind

sweaty church is that the physical activities link

together thematically; for example, games for harvest

might include finding a (knitting) needle in an actual

haystack and competing for the highest free-standing

vegetable tower.

Whilst sweaty church is specially good at connecting

with boys and dads, it also addresses a much bigger

issue than the gender question alone: how can church

develop for kinaesthetic learners, that is, people who

learn best by physical engagement, rather than

learning by seeing, hearing or reading?

In addition we are all aware of the enormous

pressures that young children (and by extension their

parents) have to participate in sport and other

recreational commitments on already hugely busy

Sunday mornings. Perhaps developing a sweaty

church model might appeal to some of those who

have yet to ‘put their toes in the water’ when it comes

to local church involvement.

But it’s not just about ‘sweaty church’ … How can our

churches develop a 'learn by doing' approach alongside

the more traditional 'learn by listening' approach? How

can we in the wider church catch up with the training

and education sector that knows the importance of

catering for a diversity of learning styles?

By combining the creative spirit of 'Messy Church'

with the active approach of 'Sweaty Church' our

Deanery event hopefully had something for

everyone! Now what can we do next?

2

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Advance

Notice:

Special

Deanery Day

‘Labourers into

the Harvest’

A day exploring the various ministries

the Church in Wales offers

Tuesday 19th

October

Venue TBC

LLANGASTY

RETREAT HOUSE www.llangasty.com

Drop-in Days

9th

September

10am to 4pm

An opportunity to pause

for prayer and personal

reflection - come for all or part

of the day.

No charge but donations are

welcome.

Diocesan 90th

Anniversary

Celebrations

Saturday 14th

Sept

Celebration Service

at Brecon Cathedral

followed by refreshments.

This is a free but ticketed event

so please talk to your

parish priest about tickets.

Everyone is invited to bring a picnic

and make a full, fun afternoon of the

anniversary in the Cathedral grounds

where there will be a marquee, tours

of the Cathedral tower and activities

for children both outside and in the

new St John’s Family Centre.

Advance

Notice:

Diocesan

Conference

Saturday 12th

October

Brecon Cathedral

Starting at 10.15

Refreshments from 9.30

Mid Wales Deaf Church

and Club

Sunday 15th September 3-4.30pm at St. Mary’s, Builth

Services every Third Sunday of each month

Simple Open Service fellowship afterwards with

refreshments and social time

all

welcome

Deanery Notices .

4

The Colwyn Group of ParishesDear FriendsDear FriendsDear FriendsDear Friends The Theology of Mashed Turnip…!?The Theology of Mashed Turnip…!?The Theology of Mashed Turnip…!?The Theology of Mashed Turnip…!?

I remember as a child, probably aged around 11,

making the fatal mistake of once moaning about my

school dinner, and in particular the mashed turnip. To

enlighten you, I was fortunate to go to a school with

only 53 pupils in the whole place! Dinners were

provided by the adjoining girl’s school. The

headmaster, who was a stickler for correctness,

chastised me in public, saying that, “there will be

many people in the world who are not as fortunate as

you and will be going hungry today – now eat it up!

God wants us to be grateful for all the food that he has

provided”. I remember making the comment that

perhaps God might like the mashed turnip back for

those in need! I cannot in this short thought for the

month describe the anguish that I went through

following that comment.

But the incident taught me to be truly thankful for all

that God provides. We shall, of course, be

remembering this at all our various Harvest Services

over the next few weeks or so and to give thanks, not

just for mashed turnip, but for all the other crops we

enjoy every day. Thank God for all he gives us day

by day.

So it just goes to show; a small thing such as mashed

turnip made a little boy, as the words of the mealtime

Grace remind us, to be “truly grateful for all our food

and remember those in need and less fortunate than

ourselves”. We should all say, “Amen” to that –

mashed turnip ‘n all!

Vicar RichardVicar RichardVicar RichardVicar Richard

St David’s Church, Cregrina

Coffee Coffee Coffee Coffee EveningEveningEveningEvening Friday 13Friday 13Friday 13Friday 13thththth September at 7.00pm September at 7.00pm September at 7.00pm September at 7.00pm

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September September September September Harvest ServicesHarvest ServicesHarvest ServicesHarvest Services 15th September Llanfaredd 11.00 25th September Llanelwedd & Supper 7.00 27th September Cregrina & Supper 7.00

Services for September 2013Services for September 2013Services for September 2013Services for September 2013 1

st September Trinity 14

Llansantffraed 10.00 RK Eucharist

Glascwm 6.00 ET Village Service

8th

September Trinity 15 Cregrina 9.30 RK Eucharist

Llanelwedd 11.15 RK Eucharist

15th

September Trinity 16 Llansantffraed 10.00 MO Morning Prayer

Llanfaredd 11.00 RK HARVEST SERVICE

Glascwm 11.15 MS Eucharist

Rhulen 11.15 JO Eucharist

22nd

September Trinity 17 Cregrina 9.30 ET Village Service

Bettws 9.30 RK Eucharist

Llanelwedd 10.45 RK/LK/ET Worship4All

29th

September Michael & All Angels

Family Service & Communion Hundred House Hall 10.00 TBA

Hopefully with the Licensing of Lay Worship Leaders

and Eucharistic Assistants by Bishop John Davies.

Sunday Club as usual and refreshments to follow.

Macmillan Nurses Coffee MorningMacmillan Nurses Coffee MorningMacmillan Nurses Coffee MorningMacmillan Nurses Coffee Morning 5

th September 2012 10.30am - 12noon

Hundred House Hall

Come along and support the work of this

wonderful organisation!!

Glascwm Lottery ResultsGlascwm Lottery ResultsGlascwm Lottery ResultsGlascwm Lottery Results Results of the August Draw:

1st Mary & John Kinsey £50

2nd Jerry & Anna Friar £30

3rd Liz Kirlew £20

Sunday ClubSunday ClubSunday ClubSunday Club Sunday Club will start again on 22

nd September at the

Worship4All Service in St Matthew’s, Llanelwedd at

10.45. From then on it will be on the 2nd

& 4th Sunday

every month. Please come along and let’s get to know

Jesus better!! Everyone very welcome.

WORSHIP4ALLWORSHIP4ALLWORSHIP4ALLWORSHIP4ALL This takes place on the 4

th Sunday of every month at

St. Matthew’s, Llanelwedd. It is worship designed for

all ages – it’s exactly what it says it is on the tin, with

involvement for all!!

Coffee/Tea/Squash/Cakes afterwards.

Come and try it – it’s Worship with fun!!

Llanelwedd with Llanfaredd, Llansantffraed-in-Elwell, Bettws, Cregrina, Glascwm and Rhulen

Revd Richard Kirlew, The Rectory, Llanelwedd LD2 3TY, Tel: 01982 551288, Email: Richard.kirlew@btinternet.com

5

The sixth in a series of articles outlining the Church in Wales’ official positions relating to some of the biggest

issues facing Christians today…

6. WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT...

OUR ENVIRONMENT Whatever the extent of our scientific knowledge, God’s creation

is still a mystery and is accessible to us only through admiration

of its creatures and worship of God. The earth is the Lord’s and

is sacred, and we are stewards of it. That task remains ours today

as our faith opens us to the encounter with the immensity and

diversity of the living and cosmic world around us.

What is new to most of us is that the greenhouse effect and

climate change have come as a dramatic surprise, showing that

the universal equilibria of which we had no precise idea have

been upset. More than ever science is reflecting on the limits of

its grasp; it seeks to understand better what it does not know and

cannot know. The mystery of Creation and the limits of our

knowledge call for caution, and the principle of taking

precautions is fundamental in our relations with the environment.

Being part of a global consciousness that aims to rebuild our relationships with one another and with the

environment that sustains us, is a major theme of life in Wales today and one in which the Church is fully engaged.

The meeting of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales in 2006 voted that, “because of its belief that

humankind has been given by God special responsibility for good stewardship over the Earth” it would:

support measures designed to produce efficient, equitable and sustainable use of the planet’s resources;

welcome the Wales Assembly Government’s publication of a new environmental strategy for Wales;

urge the Wales Assembly Government to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to implement the

Environmental Strategy Action Plan;

urge the Wales Assembly Government to continue to promote and integrate sustainable development in all the

strategies and initiatives;

urge the United Kingdom Government to take further measures to reduce the CO2 emissions of the United Kingdom.

This followed a motion at an earlier meeting that committed the Church in Wales to make a stand for sustainable

development by, for example, using recycled paper for publications

Jesus of Nazareth would have spent his boyhood surrounded by natural beauty and he included references to the

natural world in his teaching. On one occasion he urged his listeners to ‘consider the lilies of the field, how they

grow’. Such examples from nature no doubt came readily to mind. ‘A sower went out to sow’, the beginning of the

parable of the sower, was based on his observation of the practices of first century farmers.

Today, the Church in Wales is in close touch with the agricultural community of our country. Death and

resurrection, major themes in the Christian message, are replicated on the seasonal landscape through which we

pass on our earthly pilgrimage.

In developing and growing our economy and communities the need to live at peace with our neighbour is

paramount. Fairness in the sharing of resources is part of the Christian perspective, and this is why the Church in

Wales is one of the members of the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY coalition. Loving one’s neighbour as oneself, one

of the injunctions of Jesus, is never easy if it involves sacrifice and self-denial.

The Holy Spirit, the presence of God in our midst, is a restless presence that seeks to

bring change. To change swords into ploughshares, to change strangers into friends,

to bring understanding and acceptance where there is prejudice and bigotry is the

purpose of God and it is the task of the Church to keep watch and follow the way the

Spirit is moving.

St. Teilo`s Church, Llandeilo Graban

CONCERT

given by "Dolau Mixtures"

Saturday 28th September at 4pm

£5 to include light refreshments

for Church Funds

6

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7

The Builth Wells Group of Parishes

Prayers are said most weekdays at 9am (BCP Eucharist on Thursdays at 10am) in the Chapel of the Holy Name of Jesus in St Mary’s, Builth

Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday WorshipWorshipWorshipWorship 01 September (Pentecost XV) 09.30 Sung Eucharist at St. Mary’s, Builth

15.00 Baptismal Eucharist in St. David’s,

Llanddewi’r-Cwm

18.00 Healing & Wholeness Service at

St. Mary’s, Builth

08 September (Pentecost XVI) 09.30 Sung Eucharist at St. Mary’s, Builth

11.00 Said Matins at St. David’s, Maesmynis

18.00 CELEBR8 Service at St. Mary’s, Builth

15 September (Pentecost XVII) 09.30 Sung Eucharist at St. Mary’s, Builth

11.00 Holy Eucharist at St. Mauritius, Alltmawr

15.00 Mid-Wales Deaf Church in St. Mary’s, Builth

22 September (Pentecost XVIII)

09.30 Sung Eucharist at St. Mary’s, Builth

11.00 Holy Eucharist at St. David’s, Maesmynis

18.00 Sung Evensong in St. Mary’s, Builth

29 September (Michael & All Angels) 10.30 United Michaelmas Eucharist in St. Mary’s, Builth

Parish DiaryParish DiaryParish DiaryParish Diary Said Eucharist is celebrated most Thursdays at 10.00 in

the Chapel of the Holy Name of Jesus, St Mary’s, Builth

Handbell Group Tuesday at 19.00 in St. Mary’s Hall

Bellringing Thursdays at St Mary’s Tower at 19.45

SAINTS ALIVESAINTS ALIVESAINTS ALIVESAINTS ALIVE!!!! kids club at St Mary’s Minor Hall

16.00 on 11 & 25 September

Ωmega Youth Group (11-17) meets in St. Mary’s

Minor Hall 16.00 06 & 20 September

Special Events 02 September Reserved Communion in Glan

Irfon/Brynhyfryd 11.00

05 September Builth and Maesmynis MU 14.00

Racial Justice Sunday 08 Sept – retiring collection

in aid of The Churches' Racial Justice Network.

14 September Diocesan Birthday Event in Brecon

Cathedral 11.30

20 September Solemnity of Matthew, Evangelist

09.00 Eucharist in St Mary’s, Builth

20 September Builth Male Voice Choir Concert in St.

Mary’s at 19.30 (tickets £8)

30 September Builth & District Cytun Meeting in

Garth Hall at 19.00

Builth Male Voice ChoirBuilth Male Voice ChoirBuilth Male Voice ChoirBuilth Male Voice Choir & Friends in Concert& Friends in Concert& Friends in Concert& Friends in Concert

St. Mary’s, Builth. 20 September

Doors Open at 19.00 for a 19.30 programme.

Tickets £8/£5 (under 12’s) from church members

From the VicarageFrom the VicarageFrom the VicarageFrom the Vicarage It is no coincidence that we launch our new monthly

Service of Healing & Wholeness this month on 01

September to coincide with the opening of the first stage

of the new Health and Social Care facility, 'Glan Irfon'

on Monday 2 September. Although in-patient services

(which were temporarily moved to Llandrindod Wells

earlier in the year), will be moving to Glan Irfon later

this Autumn; age care, bladder & bowel, cardiology,

dermatology, eye screening, falls, leg ulcers,

lymphoedema, memory, mental health, physiotherapy,

podiatry and pulmonary rehabilitation will all be based

in Builth from this month.

Our existing service in the Brynhyfryd Unit (this month

on the 02 September) will now be open to those in Glan

Irfon as well and in our new monthly service will feature

not just a time of prayer and healing for those present but

also an opportunity to pray for all associated with Glan

Irfon (and particularly the Chaplaincy Team).

Blessings Father Neil

Harvest FestivalsHarvest FestivalsHarvest FestivalsHarvest Festivals (Advance Notices) (Advance Notices) (Advance Notices) (Advance Notices) At our 2013 harvest festivals we will be donating a

portion of each offering to WaterAid as Cytun’s Harvest

theme for 2013 is 'Water Justice', corresponding with the

United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation.

We will also collecting for the new “Brecknock

Foodbank” run by the Diocesan Board for Social

Responsibility. If you have Milk (UHT or powdered),

Sugar (500g), Fruit juice (carton), Soup, Pasta sauces,

Sponge pudding (tinned), Cereals, Rice pudding

(tinned), Tea bags/instant coffee, Instant mash potato,

Rice/pasta, Tinned meat/fish, Tinned vegetables, Tinned

fruit, Jam, Biscuits or snack bars … then please bring

them along to any of the Harvest Services or leave them

at The Vicarage.

04 Oct Builth Harvest at 19.00 in St. Mary the Virgin

06 Oct Llanddewi’r-Cwm Harvest at 15.00 in St. David’s

13 Oct Maesmynis Harvest at 15.00 in St. David’s

20 Oct Alltmawr Harvest at 15.00 in St. Mauritius

Flowers in St. Mary’s …Flowers in St. Mary’s …Flowers in St. Mary’s …Flowers in St. Mary’s … Would you like to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or

special occasion in a unique way? Perhaps you would

like to remember a dearly departed loved one at their

special time of year? For just £15 minimum donation

you can sponsor the flowers in St. Mary’s for a whole

fortnight! This can be done anonymously or you can

have a modest acknowledgement in the church. To learn

more or make a donation please speak to Fr. Neil

Builth Wells with Llanddewi’r-Cwm & Llangynog with Maesmynis & Llanynis with Alltmawr

Revd Father Neil Hook, The Vicarage, 1 North Road, Builth Wells LD2 3BT, Tel: 01982 552355, Email: frhooky@gmail.com

8

The Erwood & Painscastle Group of Parishes

My dear friends in Christ,

As I write this, I’ve just returned from our first Messy

Church which we’ve run and organised as a Deanery.

It was an afternoon of true fun and fellowship with

some interesting and well-chosen crafts on the theme

of creation concluded by worship and a delicious meal

of hotdogs and burgers. How gratifying it was to see

so much of the deanery represented and during the

middle of the school summer holidays as well!

How appropriate it is to be reminded of the majesty of

the created order all around us and God who is the

source and fount of it all. Never is it better to be

reminded of God’s provision for us and all creation

than it is during harvest time, when we see fields and

gardens laden with the bounty of creation.

However, God’s provision is not restricted to our

physical and material needs and his desire for us, as

for all of his creation, is for our flourishing. Over the

past few months, as I’ve had the great privilege and

joy of getting to know far more of you than I had

previously done, it’s been a real delight to see how so

many people have risen to the challenges of keeping

the parishes alive and vibrant during the vacancy and

the social and fund-raising events that have been

taking place have been a wonderful opportunity to see

that at its best.

You will have noticed that during this time we have

not been indicating the names of those coming to take

services for us, this is because I believe firmly that

worship is about those who come and God, and that

the identity of the person conducting the service

should not get in the way of that. However, I am

deeply grateful to everybody who has been working

so hard to ensure that our worship and praise of God,

the heartbeat of what we do together has been taking

place week by week, and I would like to take this

opportunity to thank them all most sincerely.

May God continue to bless you all richly as we enter

the season of harvest thanksgiving for his generous

and gracious provision for us all.

With my love and prayers, as always

Ben

Aylmer Alexander (RIP)

All of you will, I’m sure, have been as shocked as I

was by the sudden death of Aylmer Alexander. His

Herculean and unstinting efforts on behalf of so many

were truly an inspiration and, of course, Llanbedr and

Llandewi Fach Churches were greatly blessed by his

tireless support. It would be good to include a tribute

in next month’s edition, so if you have something that

we could include in that, please send it to me, before

the deadline for October’s issue.

Erwood Bridge The closure of the Erwood Bridge, which is now in

effect, will almost inevitably have an impact upon

church service times looking forward especially, if

someone is conducting a service at Crickadarn or

Gwenddwr before taking one on the other side of the

river. We are taking all reasonable steps to ensure that

everything will carry on as normal, but I do make a

plea now for forbearance while we assess what impact

this will have. If necessary, then regrettably service

times may need to be amended slightly over the next

year, but it's almost impossible to judge exactly what

the impact will be until it actually happens, so please do

bear with us as we find out and let me know how things

are working out.

Just for funJust for funJust for funJust for fun………… Caption this:

Send your caption for this photo of our Acting Area

Dean to the email or address on the back page of

Signposts – we’ll publish the best contenders in

October’s magazine!

Aberedw w Llandeilo Graban w Llanbadarn-y-Garreg w Crickadarn w Gwenddwr & Bryngwyn

w Newchurch w Llanbedr Painscastle w Llanddewi Fach

For information during the interregnum please contact the Acting Area Dean: Revd Ben Griffith, 2 Highbury Fields, Llanyre, LD1 6NF, Tel: 01597 823321, Email: benedictgriffith@sky.com

9

The Erwood & Painscastle Group of ParishesChurch Services Sunday 1

st September Trinity XIV

9.00am Newchurch Holy Eucharist (1662)

9.30am Llanbadarn y Garreg Holy Eucharist

10.30am Newchurch Matins

11.00am Gwenddwr Holy Eucharist

11.00am Llandeilo Graban Morning Prayer

Sunday 8th

September Trinity XV 9.30am Crickadarn Holy Eucharist

11.00am Llanbedr Holy Eucharist

11.00am Aberedw Morning Prayer

Sunday 15th

September Trinity XVI 9.30am Llandeilo Graban Holy Eucharist

9.30am Bryngwyn Holy Eucharist

11.00am Gwenddwr Morning Prayer

Sunday 22nd

September Trinity XVII

9.30am Aberedw Holy Eucharist

11.00am Crickadarn Morning Prayer

3.00pm Llanddewi Fach Harvest Festival

Thursday 26th

September

7.00pm Llandeilo Graban Harvest Festival

Friday 27th

September

7.00pm Bryngwyn Harvest Festival

Sunday 29th

September St. Michael/Trinity XVIII 11.00am Group Eucharist Bryngwyn

7.00pm Crickadarn Harvest Festival

Friday 4th

October 7.00pm Aberedw Harvest Festival

7.00pm Newchurch Harvest Festival

Sunday 6th October Trinity XIX 9.00am Newchurch Holy Eucharist (1662)

9.30am Llanbadarn y Garreg Harvest Festival

10.30am Newchurch Matins

11.00am Gwenddwr Holy Eucharist

11.00am Llandeilo Graban Morning Prayer

Friday 11th

October 7.00pm Llanbedr Harvest Festival

Sunday 13th

October Trinity XX 9.30am Crickadarn Holy Eucharist

11.00am Llanbedr Holy Eucharist

11.00am Aberedw Morning Prayer

Sunday 20th

October Trinity XXI

9.30am Llandeilo Graban

Group Eucharist (with Archdeacon)

Sunday 27th

October Trinity XXII 9.30am Aberedw Holy Eucharist

11.00am Bryngwyn Holy Eucharist

11.00am Crickadarn Morning Prayer

3.00pm Llanddewi Fach Holy Eucharist

To AutumnTo AutumnTo AutumnTo Autumn by John Keats

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?

Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find

Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,

Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;

Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,

Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook

Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:

And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep

Steady thy laden head across a brook;

Or by a cider-press, with patient look,

Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,-

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,

And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn

Among the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;

Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

For the promise of harvest contained within a seed we thank you. For the oak tree within an acorn, the bread within a grain, the apple within a pip, the mystery of nature gift-wrapped for us to sow, We thank you Father. Amen

Aberedw w Llandeilo Graban w Llanbadarn-y-Garreg w Crickadarn w Gwenddwr & Bryngwyn

w Newchurch w Llanbedr Painscastle w Llanddewi Fach

For information during the interregnum please contact the Acting Area Dean: Revd Ben Griffith, 2 Highbury Fields, Llanyre, LD1 6NF, Tel: 01597 823321, Email: benedictgriffith@sky.com

10

The Upper Wye Group of Parishes

Dear Friends,

A few days ago while reading the

collected poems of T. Harri Jones

in our readiness for our event this

month and to be able to answer the

question that I’m repeatedly asked

at the moment: “Who is T. Harri

Jones?” I came upon the following

lines in a poem entitled simply, “Cwmchwefri:”

“You must believe in some improbably glorious

promise to mow meadows and milk cows in such

unlikely places.”

The poet looking back to his youth questions the

certainties which had seemed so solid and unchanging

and realises with the wisdom of years that the life of an

upland farmer, the life he himself had known as a boy is

hard and unremitting toil. But despite all of that it seems

to me that the poem has a subtext which is the poet’s

delight in the beauty and the majesty of the landscape

and his admiration for those who work it in all

conditions. It’s tempting, on occasion, when you live

surrounded by such magnificent scenery as we are to

take it for granted, to allow the negative aspects of rural

living to gain the ascendant. I’ve been struck repeatedly

over these past few months, quite how beautiful is the

area which I feel very blessed to call home. It seems to

me that it is that very “impossibly glorious promise” the

poet speaks of which is the vocation of the church and

all Christians. We are people of promise, we are people

who believe that out of very ordinary and sometimes

rather unpromising situations and even people, God can

and indeed does produce something incredibly almost

unbelievably wonderful and precious.

As we approach the time of year when we celebrate

harvest thanksgiving let’s truly make this a time of

grateful thanksgiving for the labour of those who go

out day by day to turn, T. Harri Jones’ impossibly

glorious promise into reality and also to praise the

God who is the fount and source of it all.

Happy harvest! With love and prayers as always, Ben

CHURCH SERVICES FOR SEPTEMBER Sunday 1

st September Trinity XIV

9.30am Llanyre Holy Eucharist

11.00am Newbridge Morning Praise

11.00am NO Service at Llanfihangel Brynpabuan today

3.00pm Llanfihangel Helygen Holy Eucharist

Sunday 8th

September Trinity XV 9.30am Cwmbach Holy Eucharist

9.30am Llanyre Morning Praise

11.00am Newbridge Holy Eucharist

Walking from Llanfihangel Brynpabuan to Llanafan

Fawr in the Footsteps of T. Harri Jones

Wednesday 11th

September 2.30pm Caerwnon Park Social Club

Songs of Praise “Hymns of Childhood” All welcome

Sunday 15th

September Trinity XVI

9.30am Llanyre Holy Eucharist

11.00am Newbridge Holy Eucharist

NO service at Llanafan Fawr today: Llanafan Show!

Sunday 22nd

September Trinity XVII

9.30am Newbridge Harvest Festival Eucharist

9.30am Cwmbach Morning Prayer

11.00am Llanyre Holy Eucharist

7.00pm Newbridge Harvest Festival

Monday, 23rd September 2.15pm: Newbridge-on-Wye School Harvest Festival

Sunday 29th

September St. Michael (Trinity XVIII) 10.00am Llanfihangel Helygen Benefice Eucharist

7.00pm Llanfihangel Brynpabuan Harvest Festival

Harvest Season Wednesday, 2

nd October: 7.00pm

Harvest Festival: Cwmbach Llechrhyd

Sunday, 6th

October: 7.00pm

Harvest Festival: Llanafan Fawr

Sunday, 13th

October: 7.00pm

Harvest Festival: Llanfihangel Helygen

Sunday, 20th

October: Harvest Festival Llanyre

11.00am: Harvest Eucharist followed by Lunch

7.00pm: Harvest Festival followed by refreshments “

“Walking in the Footsteps of T. Harri Jones” In aid of Llanafan and Llanfihangel Brynpabuan Churches

Sunday 8th September at 2pm

Starting at Pisgah Chapel & walking from Cwm Crogau to Llanafan School

Poems & BBQ at Llanafan Church

Dogs on leads welcome Sponsor forms available from:

Connie Jones 01591 620221 or Eira Mason 01597 860353

Llanyre, Newbridge-on-Wye, Cwmbach Llechrhyd, Llanfihangel Helygen, Llanafan Fawr & Llanfihangel Brynpabuan

Revd Ben Griffith, 2 Highbury Fields, Llanyre, LD1 6NF, Tel: 01597 823321, Email: benedictgriffith@sky.com

11

The Upper Wye Group of Parishes LOOKING BACKWARDS Alongside some fine weather, we’ve also been

enjoying some lovely summertime activities this year:

On Sunday, July 7th as well as the Wimbledon Men’s

Singles Final it was also our tea and pet blessing

service in the beautiful setting of Llanfihangel

Helygen Church.

The following weekend saw our 130th Anniversary

Celebrations at Newbridge with an exhibition in the

church from Thursday to Saturday, a wonderful

concert in church on Saturday evening and a Sunday

which ranged from a traditional Prayer Book

Victorian Service in the morning which was

photographed for an art project on the A470 through

an afternoon barbecue with wet sponges being thrown

at the Vicar to a Songs of Praise in the evening. A

huge thank you to everybody who worked so hard to

organise the weekend and to those who came along to

participate in it.

A very special thank you to Newbridge-on-Wye

School KS2 Children who opened the concert, Siârion

who performed throughout and our very talented

soloists who also performed.

On Sunday, 28th July we had the annual delight that is the

Llanafan Fawr Duck Races. Again a wonderful afternoon

in the beautiful surroundings of the Old Vicarage site in

Llanafan and much fun and hilarity along the way. Many

thanks to Siam and her wonderful team and to everybody

who came along to join in the fun.

On Wednesday, 7th August, the sun shone upon us,

but not anybody else apparently for another of those

events without which the summer would just not seem

right, Rose and John Hamer’s Garden Party. A

tremendous evening attended by more people than

ever this year which shows you quite how good it

truly is. Thank you to Rose and Johnny and their

incredible team of helpers for such a lovely evening!

As you can see, it’s been quite a summer so far.

Thank you to everybody who’s worked so hard

organising and running quite some programme; and

there’s even more to look forward to next year!!

From the Registers Congratulations and all good wishes go to Caitlin Elster

and Michael McDonald who were married at All Saints,

Newbridge on Saturday August 3rd. Our love and

prayers surround them for a long and happy married life.

We welcomed Ruby Sophia Moore into the Lord’s

Family at Llanyre on Sunday, August 4th. We send our

love and prayers to Ruby, Sharon and her brother Jamie

who helped the Vicar with the service brilliantly.

LOOKING FORWARDS Saturday 31

st August

10.30am-12.00pm at The Cedars, Llanyre

Coffee Morning for Llangasty Retreat House

Bryan and Heather Price welcome us all to their

lovely house and garden in Penrhiw Lane, Llanyre for

a morning of coffee, cakes and a chat all in aid of

Llangasty Retreat House, not to be missed!!

Sunday 8th

September

Walking in the Footsteps of T. Harri Jones

To get over all of the cakes and calories from last

week, why not join us for beautiful walk in the hills

between Llanfihangel Brynpabuan and Llanafan

Fawr? We’ll be following in the footsteps of our

talented local poet and his journey to school, calling at

Pisgah Chapel. But we don’t end with a long school

day and boiled beef and carrots: we’re having a

barbecue in the churchyard at Llanafan or inside the

church, if there’s some celestial garden watering

taking place!!

Saturday 5th

October 10.30am-12.00pm at Llanyre Vicarage

Charity Coffee Morning with presentation by The

Crossroads Association, our charity this year.

Come and join us for fun, fellowship and a brief

presentation about the work of this valuable charity

working in our communities.

LLANYRE CHURCH

Saturday 31st August 10.30am until 12noon

at The Cedars, Penrhiw Lane, Llanyre

Coffee Morning

Various stalls, prize raffle etc Admission £1

In aid of The Friends of Llangasty Retreat House

All Welcome

Llanyre, Newbridge-on-Wye, Cwmbach Llechrhyd, Llanfihangel Helygen, Llanafan Fawr & Llanfihangel Brynpabuan

Revd Ben Griffith, 2 Highbury Fields, Llanyre, LD1 6NF, Tel: 01597 823321, Email: benedictgriffith@sky.com

12

St Cadmarch’s, Llangammarch Wells; The Parish Church, Llanlleonfel, Garth; St Afan’s, Llanfechan; St Cannen’s,

Llanganten, Cilmery; St. James’, Llanwrtyd Wells; St. David’s, Llanwrtyd; St David’s Tirabad; Eglwys Oen Duw, Beulah;

Revd Lucyann Ashdown, The Rectory, Llangammarch Wells, Tel: 01591 620 244, Email: lucyann.ashdown@googlemail.com

The Parishes of the Irfon Valley & Blaenau Irfon

Lucyann writes… Over the summer, we have had the privilege of

celebrating with a number of couples, their families

and friends, as they have declared their love, made

solemn vows and exchanged rings: those little circlets,

symbolising the desire and hope for a life time of

unbroken love.

Most of them will already have a very good idea of

what they are signing up for, having been together

for sometime before feeling ready to make this

significant step, which transfigures their status in

society. During their relationship they will have

discovered something of what makes their partner

feel loved and what doesn’t, in short they will have

begun to become fluent enough in the love language

of their partner for the relationship to be mutually

fulfilling. Gary Chapman suggests that there are 5

basic love languages and these are: words of

affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of

service and physical touch. He suggests that we often

seek help or feel unhappy in our relationships when

we begin to become less fluent in the love language

of our partner, leaving them feeling unloved and the

relationship strained.

I was reminded of Gary Chapman’s concept of love

languages as we celebrated the poetry and hymnody

of the Welsh writer and mystic, Ann Griffiths. Never

intended for public consumption, her words as

recorded by a friend’s fiancé are words of deep love

and adoration for her God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Her desire and ability to tussle with complex

spiritual and theological concepts is inspiring.

Celebrating her work by hearing her thoughts and

singing her poetry, we began to feel something of

that deep love. We were connected to the love

language of the Welsh Evangelical Revival and we

were aware that so much of it seems to have been

lost. Our religious sensibility has become less

comfortable with the language of the heart, which

speaks of kissing and being kissed by the beloved.

This is biblical love language, yet, a little scary;

perhaps we find it too close to our earthly physicality

and sexual expression of love.

Yet, it seems to me that we need to reclaim or become

fluent once more in the love language of our faith. Not

in a saccharine way which leaves us retching with the

lack of authenticity, but in ways that allow us to enjoy

our desire: our desire for oneness with God, with one

another and with the world. A desire that is not feared

or judged but which unites us in our common struggle

and yearning to love and be loved. Here in Wales this

may require what many long for: the return of the

native language, as we ask ‘How can you sing the

Lord’s song in a strange tongue?’ But most of all we

need to rediscover a faith-love which opens our shy

and tender hearts, so that we might once more

communicate the deeply merciful, graciously wide

and physically passionate love of God in our beautiful

and fragile world.

Services Services Services Services and Eventsand Eventsand Eventsand Events

Llanwrtyd & BeulahLlanwrtyd & BeulahLlanwrtyd & BeulahLlanwrtyd & Beulah

Mothers’ UnionMothers’ UnionMothers’ UnionMothers’ Union

A lively and entertaining talk on the work of the

charity Save the Children by Jessica Evans (Regional

Fundraising Manager - Wales)

Monday 7th OctoberMonday 7th OctoberMonday 7th OctoberMonday 7th October at 10.30am at 10.30am at 10.30am at 10.30am

Saint James’Saint James’Saint James’Saint James’ Church, Llanwrtyd Wells Church, Llanwrtyd Wells Church, Llanwrtyd Wells Church, Llanwrtyd Wells

Open to all

Coffee and tea on arrival and a

bring and share lunch afterwards

Admission £2 to be donated to

Save Save Save Save the the the the ChildrenChildrenChildrenChildren

Raffle

SeptSeptSeptSeptemberemberemberember 1 1 1 1stststst Pentecost 15 Pentecost 15 Pentecost 15 Pentecost 15 9.30am Eglwys Oen Duw. Beulah (HC)

11.00am St. James, Llanwrtyd (MP)

11.15 am Llanganten, Cilmery (MP)

11.15 am Llanlleonfel (HC)

13

The Parishes of the Irfon Valley & Blaenau Irfon Services & EventsServices & EventsServices & EventsServices & Events

Annual Church BazaarAnnual Church BazaarAnnual Church BazaarAnnual Church Bazaar

SatSatSatSaturdayurdayurdayurday 7 7 7 7thththth September 10am September 10am September 10am September 10am

VictoriVictoriVictoriVictoria Halla Halla Halla Hall

All WelcomeAll WelcomeAll WelcomeAll Welcome

SeptSeptSeptSeptemberemberemberember 8 8 8 8thththth Pentecost 16Pentecost 16Pentecost 16Pentecost 16

Racial Justice SundayRacial Justice SundayRacial Justice SundayRacial Justice Sunday 9.30am Eglwys Oen Duw (Congregational)

9.30am St. Cadmarch (HC)

11.00am St. James (HC)

Swansea and Brecon Diocese

90909090thththth AnniversaryAnniversaryAnniversaryAnniversary Celebrations Celebrations Celebrations Celebrations

Saturday 14th September

Brecon Cathedral

(See page 3 for more details)

SeptSeptSeptSeptemberemberemberember 15 15 15 15thththth Pentecost 17Pentecost 17Pentecost 17Pentecost 17 9.30am Eglwys Oen Duw (HC)

11.00am St. James, Llanwrtyd (HC)

11.15am Llanganten, Cilmery (HC)

MeMeMeMessy Cssy Cssy Cssy Churchhurchhurchhurch

Garth Hall

Sunday 15th

September

3.30-5.30pm

Craft, fun and food

Please wear clothes you can play and get dirty in!

Sept 22Sept 22Sept 22Sept 22ndndndnd Pentecost 18Pentecost 18Pentecost 18Pentecost 18 9.30am Eglwys Oen Duw (MP)

9.30am St. Cadmarch (HC)

11.00am St. James (HC)

Harvest

Thanksgiving Service

Thursday 26th

September at 7pm

Eglwys Oen Duw, Beulah

followed by supper

Sept 29Sept 29Sept 29Sept 29thththth Back to church Sunday Back to church Sunday Back to church Sunday Back to church Sunday

St.St.St.St. Michael and All AngelsMichael and All AngelsMichael and All AngelsMichael and All Angels 11.00am St. David’s, Tirabad

Joint Benefice Harvest Communion Service

6.00pm Llanganten, Cilmery. Harvest Thanksgiving

Service, followed by supper

October 6th Pentecost 20October 6th Pentecost 20October 6th Pentecost 20October 6th Pentecost 20 9.30am Eglwys Oen Duw. Beulah (HC)

11.00am St. James, Llanwrtyd (MP)

11.15am Llanganten, Cilmery (MP)

11.15am Llanlleonfel (HC)

Mothers Union with talk from Jessica Evans of Save

the Children

7777thththth October 10.30 at St. October 10.30 at St. October 10.30 at St. October 10.30 at St. James’, James’, James’, James’, LlanwrtydLlanwrtydLlanwrtydLlanwrtyd

Sharing Sharing Sharing Sharing Our Joys and SorrowsOur Joys and SorrowsOur Joys and SorrowsOur Joys and Sorrows We mourn the loss of Ernest Hounsell and Ethel

Lewis, whilst giving thanks for all they have brought

to our lives.

We celebrate the marriages of Catriona Brawn to

Gavin Dando and Gemma Morgan to Ross Turnbull

and the Baptisms of Finlay, Reuben, Alena and Olivia

Lloyd and Oscar Thomas.

St Cadmarch’s, Llangammarch Wells; The Parish Church, Llanlleonfel, Garth; St Afan’s, Llanfechan; St Cannen’s,

Llanganten, Cilmery; St. James’, Llanwrtyd Wells; St. David’s, Llanwrtyd; St David’s Tirabad; Eglwys Oen Duw, Beulah;

Revd Lucyann Ashdown, The Rectory, Llangammarch Wells, Tel: 01591 620 244, Email: lucyann.ashdown@googlemail.com

14

D. K. Dixon

Plumbing & Heating

oil & gas servicing

new installations

bathrooms, lead work

Pencae, Hay Road, Builth Wells

Tel: 01982 551023

Mob: 07813 405039

Parry & Pugh

Jane Pugh

(Daughter of the late Walter Parry)

TEL: 01982 552644 MOB: 07974 315328

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

A family business established in 1858

PASADENA, 31 BRECON ROAD, BUILTH WELLS, POWYS LD2 3EB

Eat within the Old World Charm of the

COSY CORNERCOSY CORNERCOSY CORNERCOSY CORNER

TEA ROOMSTEA ROOMSTEA ROOMSTEA ROOMS Specialising in Home-cooked food

55 High Street, Builth Wells

Tel: 01982 553585

Dale Williams Painting & decorating,

Highest quality

Of papers hung,

Tiling, coving, artexing,

General building

maintenance

Tel: 01874 712206

Mob: 07800 541955

Over 15 years experience,

Fully insured

H. VAUGHAN VAUGHAN & Co

SOLICITORS

COMMISSIONERS FOR OATHS

Established since the 19th century

We offer a full & friendly legal service

_________________________________

SOLE PRINCIPAL: DAVID T. LLOYD

CONSULTANT: CONAL M. DUNN

MANCHESTER HOUSE

HIGH STREET, BUILTH WELLS

TEL: 01982 552331 & 553571

FAX: 01982 552860

Ben Lloyd & Son

______________________________________________________

Memorial Craftsmen

est. 1886 Churchyard memorials

commemorative plaques additional

inscriptions

and renovations Bridge Street, Rhayader Tel. 01597 810320 & 811183

Mob. 07767 220163

THOROUGHLY DRY

SEASONED HARDWOOD

LOGS ASH, OAK, BIRCH & ALDER

From Cefnllysgwynne Estate, Builth Wells

DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR

Cut and split into easily handled sizes.

Packed in bags weighing an average of 8 kilos net

Price: £3.00 per bag (negotiable for

Bulk/regular orders) ORDERS/ENQUIRIES:

Tel: 01982 551624

ELECTRICIAN David Stone Electrics

Free, no obligation quotes for all your household & domestic needs.

07771 767246 davidpstone@btinternet.com

01982 570403

NICEIC Registered Insured & all work fully guaranteed

BUILTH WELLS

GARAGES main dealer in Mid Wales for

MOT Test Centre

Car Jet Wash

Llanelwedd 01982 553861 or 552236

www.mccartneys.co.uk

AUCTIONEERS – VALUERS LAND AND ESTATE AGENTS CHARTERED SURVEYORS FINE ART AUCTIONEERS

46 High Street, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3AB

Tel: 01982 552259 e-mail: builth@mccartneys.co.uk

R.W. Evans & Son Ltd

Monumental Mason

Memorials & Commemorative

plaques, additional inscriptions

and renovations

highest quality at low prices, family

firm established 100 yrs

Unit 8B,

Brecon Enterprise Park, Brecon

Tel: 01874 625308 (day)

01874 624913 (eve)

15

‘Nearer to God in a Garden’ – September

Michaelmas Daisy Michaelmas Daisies flower at the end of September and were given their common

name because they flower at the time of the Feast of St Michael the Archangel on

29th September. The group has the Latin name Aster novi-belgii meaning Aster-star,

which the flower is supposed to resemble and novi-belgii, of New York.

Michaelmas falls near the equinox and the beginning of autumn. In medieval times

it marked the ending and beginning of the husbandman’s year. It was also one of

the quarter days when accounts had to be settled.

The Archangel Michael is the greatest of all Archangels and is honoured for

defeating Lucifer. He is seen as a protector against the dark of night and the

administrator of cosmic intelligence. He is mentioned in Jude v.9.

Old Michaelmas was on October 10th and it was said that you should not eat Blackberries after this date as Lucifer

spat on them on his fall from Heaven. Although today we call it powdery mildew.

Linda Lewis

A-Z Of Churchyard Conservation

"E" is for Evergreen

Ivy and Yew trees

Ivy is a fantastic food and habitat for birds, bees and other

insects. There are many places in churchyards that it can be

left to grow without harm. But what about on ancient yew

trees? The majority of the world’s ancient yews are in the

British Isles and 80-85% of these are in churchyards so we

have a special responsibility to look after them.

A few strands of ivy on a yew tree are not a problem. However, if it is allowed to grow up into the tree and bush

out it can cause problems due to the weight of the foliage and the shading out of the yews own leaves. To control

the ivy, remove the basal ivy stems (in 20cm lengths to stop them re-grafting). This will kill off the ivy above, in

the canopy, which can later be removed from its branches.

For more management advice, fascinating articles and a gazetter of ancient and significant yews, visit the Ancient

Yew Group website www.ancient-yew.org or contact The Tree Register 01234 768884. Recommended reading:

Yew - A History by Fred Hageneder.

Caring for God's Acre, dedicated to the conservation of burial ground

01588 673041

info@cfga.org.uk

www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk

KCS AUTUMN CONCERT – “MESSIAH” Saturday 19th October 2013 at St Marys, Kington

This year KCS presents a complete performance of Handel’s much-loved

masterpiece “Messiah” by the 60-strong choir with guest soloists and

accompanying musicians under the baton of Music Director Roger Langford.

The concert starts at 7.30pm and features soloists - Liz Priday, soprano; Clare Barnett-Jones, alto; Stephen Mills,

tenor; Matthew Durkan, bass; with musicians Robert Green, organ; David Hatcher, cello; Hilary Norris,

harpsichord; Ruth Watson, oboe and (tba) trumpet.

Early booking is advised. Earlybird tickets are only £10 (£12 on the door) with free entry for children and students.

For tickets, text 07766 097 600 or email wells-terry@btconnect.com. See website www.kingtonchoral.org.uk for

more details and information on other KCS concerts and events.

16

NEW INN

Newbridge-On-Wye

01597860211

NOT JUST A PUB BED & BREAKFAST/BUNK HOUSE

LARGE SEPARATE FUNCTION ROOM

Wedding Receptions Christenings Funeral Teas Private Parties

RESTURANT Sizzling Steak Menu Gluten Free Menu Available Real Ales

BUTCHER SHOP

Selling Our Own Free Range Pork Local Beef Local Lamb

Hand Made Sausages, Pies & Dry Cured Bacon

COSY TOES

MOBILE FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER JILL LLOYD DipCFHP, MPSPract

NAIL TRIMMING CORNS REMOVED

CALLUS REDUCTION INGROWING TOENAILS VERRUCA TREATMENT DIABETICS TREATED

FOR A FRIENDLY PERSONAL SERVICE CALL JILL ON

MOB: 07718150571 EVENINGSS 01591 620355

The Flower Shop

Siop Flodau

Weddings,

Anniversaries,

Funeral Flowers

31 High Street

Builth Wells

Tel 01982 52 686

Grave

Attendant

I will look after the

graves of your loved ones.

Stone cleaning,

grass and leaves clearing,

flowers laid for Birthdays

and Anniversaries.

Planting out,

pots emptied and cleaned.

Prices from £9

Contact Alison on:

07931 778 839

or email:

IDOODOO2@aol.com

Doug Prosser

Incorporated with Crickhowell

Funeral Services

Maelgwyn

Funeral Home,

Kensington, Brecon

Memorial Masons Tel 01874 622755

www.dougprosser-brecon.com

Piano Tuning David Day

B.A., L.R.A.M., M.P.T.A.

Qualified Piano Tuner covering Mid Wales

Tel: 01982 553623 Mob: 07966594663

tuning@piano-tuning-wales.co.uk www.piano-tuning-wales.co.uk

For all your farm needs

‘He causeth the grass to grow for

the cattle, and the herbs for the service

of man: that he may bring forth food

out of the earth.” Psalms CIV

W Cook The Medical Hall Llanwrtyd Wells

Drug Store, Stationery & Toys, Gifts, Cosmetics,

Greetings Cards, Batteries & Torches,

Tel: 01591 610 207

GILES

MARSHALL

OPTOMETRIST

High Street,

Builth Wells

Tel. 01982 552801

Middleton Street,

Llandrindod Wells

Tel. 01597 823400

Garth Road, Builth Wells Tel: 01982

552210

All contributions (news items and ideas for future issues) are very welcome and should be sent to: Abigail Hook, The Vicarage, 1 North Road, Builth Wells LD2 3BT

Tel: 01982 552 355 E-mail: abihook@gmail.com For Advertising Queries please Richard Hussey Tel: 01591 620 648 E-mail: hhussey@btinternet.com

‘Signposts’ is printed by Powerprint, Llandrindod

Deadline for next issue (October): Monday 9th September 2013