Author: Zena Llewellyn

Eglwys St Tybie’s Church with St Marks Cwmcoch and St Dyfan’s Llandyfan
Newsletter: March 2020

Our Mission:
“To share the ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ and to serve others by embedding the church at the centre of the community.”
“Farther forgive them, for they know not what they do.” I’m sure that we are all familiar with Jesus prayer immediately before his crucifixion, recorded in Luke 23. These words reveal the purpose of Jesus death on the cross - to provide atonement so that our sins could be forgiven.
During our Ash Wednesday service, the opening prayer is for Lent to be a time of preparation, a time of sacrifice and fasting, a time of reconciliation and service of our neighbour. Forgiveness is central to reconciliation and peacebuilding, but how hard is it for us to forgive others?
Next Wednesday 4th March, we will be starting to study our course for Lent - the “Difference” course. Difference is a five session course exploring what it means to follow Jesus in the face of conflict and see transformation through everyday encounters. Archbishop Justin Welby has a vision for the church to be a reconciling presence in the midst of conflict, and has created this course to help us do just that!
During the first session we will be exploring Gods Call and how God calls and equips us to see our relationships transformed in a conflicted world. Week 2 we consider how God invites us to see where fear and prejudice divides us from others and offers us opportunities to see them as he does. Week 3 examines us to disagree well - to face conflict knowing that it can be an opportunity for stronger relationships if handled well. In week 4 we consider how God is with us in the mess and complexity of trying to put forgiveness into practice in our relationships - two words sum up our identity as Christians - “forgiven forgivers.” God in Jesus has freely forgiven us and it is because we are forgiven that we are able to forgive others. Ultimately we are called to be courageous as a community - God calls and commissions us together, as his people, to play a part in transforming relationships in a conflicted world.
The Difference course will be held each Wednesday afternoon at 3pm in St Tybie's Church, Llandybie from 4th March to the 1st April 2020. If you are interested in attending please contact Rev. Lynn Rees by email at revlynnrees@btinternet.com.

Seek the common good, one day at a time: Bishop Joanna’s St David's Day Message
Who was St David?
Saint David was a Welsh bishop of Mynyw,, now St Davids, during the 6th century He is traditionally believed to be the son of Saint Non and the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, king of Ceredigion He became renowned as a teacher and preacher, founding monastic settlements and churches in Wales and Brittany. St David's Cathedral stands on the site of the monastery he founded in Pembrokeshire His best-known miracle is said to have taken place when he was preaching in the middle of a large crowd at the Synod of Brefi: the village of Llanddewi Brefi stands on the spot where the ground on which he stood is reputed to have risen up to form a small hill. A white dove, which became his emblem, was seen settling on his shoulder.
Though the exact date of his death is not certain, tradition holds that it was on 1 March, which is the date now marked as Saint David's Day The monastery is said to have been "filled with angels as Christ received his soul". David was buried at St David's Cathedral at St Davids, Pembrokeshire, where his shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout the Middle Ages. The restored Shrine of Saint David was unveiled and rededicated by the Right Reverend Wyn Evans, Bishop of St David's, at a Choral Eucharist on Saint David's Day, 2012.

“As we in Wales begin a new phase in our national life, outside the European Union, the words of Dewi Sant, our patron saint, continue to inspire and guide us. “In his last sermon on the Sunday before he died, Dewi Sant urged his community to do the “little things.” By little things, Dewi Sant did not mean particular goals and objectives. These change month by month, year by year, as circumstances change.
“What don’t change are the values and practices that create and foster trust, the ways of behaving towards one another that provide the recipe for creating and sustaining community together. “Across the centuries, Dewi Sant calls us, whatever our role in life, to be honourable, open, transparent, considerate and fair in all our dealings with one another. In a post-truth, social media age, let us promise one another to speak the truth, to act honestly and to seek the common good, one day at a time.
Every blessing, +Joanna Tyddewi

Mothers Union:
The Mothers Union welcomed a special guest to their meeting in February from Guide Dogs for the Blind—Mrs Heulwen Howells and her husband Alan, together with his guide dog Cracker. A fantastic £155 was collected by MU members and friends for the charity and presented to Mr and Mrs Howells (and Cracker) at the meeting.
Future Articles:
Would you like to share any news with other members of our congregations? Are you planning any events that you would like to advertise? Please send details to Rev. Lynn Rees for inclusion in future newsletters. You are also welcome write articles to be included—I would be especially grateful for any Welsh language articles.
Diolch yn fawr iawn!

Cawl Lunch
There was another fantastic attendance at the annual Cawl Lunch held in the Church Hall on Saturday 29th February, which has raised over £900.00 for Macmillan Nurses and the Church Hall fund. It was great to see so many people from the local community joining with church and chapel members to share fellowship and eat together. A big thank you to everyone who worked so hard in preparing the cawl and all who supported the event.
Last year in Carmarthenshire we provided 140 patient grants which amounted to £57,800. Our grants helped people affected by cancer cover the costs of increased fuel bills, blenders, washing machines and tumble driers to help assist with everyday tasks. We even helped with the cost of childcare and transport costs to attend treatment. Our Information and Support Services bus called Bronwen helped 2,770 people and spent 100 hours in the area. Once again thank you to everyone involved, Diolch yn fawr.
Blaenau School Baptism Visit:
Pictured below are pupils from Blaenau School, who visited St Marks Church, Cwmcoch to learn about the sacrament of baptism - I may have some competition for me job as Vicar!

Photographs of the St David's Day Cawl Lunch 2020

Electoral Roll
In 2020 and every five years afterwards, each parish (LMA) is required to undertake a complete re-write of their electoral roll. All members of the congregation must reapply to be included on the electoral roll or their names will be removed from the roll.
The list of names on the electoral roll IS NOT to be published or displayed in the church, however a list of names, NOT ADDRESSES, should be made available for inspection if requested.
Easter Vestry Meetings:
The Local Ministry Area Committee (LMAC) Easter Vestry Meeting will be held on Monday 27th April 2020 at 7pm in All Saints Church, Ammanford. It has been decided that two representatives from each church—the two Church Wardens - will sit on the LMAC. Nominations for the LMAC Lay Chair and LMA Treasurer are requested—if you are interested please let me know!
I will arrange dates for ‘Easter Vestry’ meetings at Llandybie, Llandyfan and Cwmcoch as soon as possible. Although the LMA constitutes the legal ‘Parish’ each church will continue to have its own Church Committee comprising the church wardens, a ‘lay’ chair, treasurer, clergy and licensed readers and 6 members of the congregation. I would ask that expressions of interest for any of the officer posts or membership of the PCC are submitted to Rev. Lynn Rees
Condolences
Our sympathies are extended to the families of the below named :
William Rowland Foster
Keith Jones
Valerie Jane Davies
Paul Edgell
Lighten our darkness O Lord we pray, and comfort our sorrowing hearts. Pour Your peace that passes all understanding into the hearts of all that are grieving and shower the assurance of Your love on all at this time of sadness.

Services: March 2020
Sunday 1st March: 09.30 Eucharist (Ldfn)
10.15 Morning Prayer (Cch)
11.00 Eucharist (Lbie)
Tuesday 3rd March: 08.30 Morning Prayer (Lbie)
Wednesday 4th March: 15.00 Lent Group (Lbie)
Thursday 5th March: 08.30 Morning Prayer (Lbie)
Friday 6th March: 10.30 Healing Service with Holy Communion (Lbie)
Sunday 8th March: 11.00 Cymun Bendigaid (Lbie)
14.00 Eucharist (Cch)
Tuesday 10th March: 08.30 Morning prayer (Lbie)
Wednesday 11th March:15.00 Lent Group (Lbie)
Thursday 12th March: 08.30 Morning Prayer (Lbie)
Friday 13th March: 10.30 Healing Service with Holy Communion (Lbie)
Sunday 15th March: 09.30 Eucharist (Ldfn)
10.15 Morning Prayer (Cch)
11.00 Morning Prayer (Lbie)
Tuesday 17th March: 08.30 Morning Prayer (Lbie)
Wednesday 18th March:15.00 Lent Group (Lbie)
Thursday 19th March: 08.30 Morning Prayer (Lbie)
Friday 20th March: 10.30 Healing Service with Holy communion (Lbie)
Sunday 22nd March: 11.00 Family Service (Lbie) Mothering Sunday
14.00 Eucharist (Cch)
Tuesday 24th March: 08.30 Morning Prayer (Lbie)
Wednesday 25th March:15.00 Lent Group (Lbie)
Thursday 26th March: 08.30 Morning Prayer (Lbie)
Friday 27th March: 10.30 Healing Service with Eucharist
Sunday 29th March: 11.00 Joint Service Fifth Sunday (Lbie)

Dates for Your Diary:
Sunday 15th March 11am: Compassion UK Service, St Tybies Church
Tuesday 17th March 2pm: Mothers Union Service, St Tybies Church
Sunday 22nd March 11am: Mothers Day Service, St Tybies Church
Monday 27th April: 7pm LMA Easter Vestry Meeting
Saturday 6th June “Korason” Music Tour, St Tybies Church
Compassion UK
On Sunday 15th March we will be holding a ’Compassion Sunday’ Service, where we will be joined by Mrs Ruth Morgan (ABC Church) For many years Ruth has supported the work of ’Compassion Uk,’ a national charity who work in partnership with Church's across the country to sponsor children in the greatest need around the world .
Compassion UK has 67 years experience of empowering children around the world to overcome poverty and to support them in every area of their lives, breaking the cycle of poverty and making real and lasting change. Compassion UK is a Christian charity and all of their work is church based, child focussed and Christ centred. I look forward to welcoming Ruth who will join us in worship next Month.
Contact Details:
Revlynnrees@btinternet.com
Telephone 01269 850373
Mobile: 07904736364

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