NEXT SUNDAY 29TH AUGUST: MORNING WORSHIP AT 10.30AM
We will be joined by the congregations of St John's, St Paul's and St Luke's for a United Communion Service. Following Gethin's presiding at communion in St Paul's earlier in the year, Revd Chris Coles will preach and preside at communion during this service – a powerful sign of our growing together as Christians in the Lower Rhondda. Today's United Service is a communion service in the tradition of the United Reformed Church. Revd Gethin Rhys and Revd Beverly Reaney will be leading parts of the service which will follow the URC pattern of communion. Tea and coffee will be served following the service – and you will still be home in time for Sunday lunch!
RHONDDA FOODBANK: ACTS – Tylorstown Community Church – has asked whether we can help with the Rhondda Food Bank. You may not have thought it but many people in Rhondda are living on the edge of poverty. When you have no financial safety net, a sudden crisis, such as bereavement, benefit delay, redundancy or illness, can leave you unable to feed yourself or your family. Rhondda Foodbank is part of a national network of foodbanks, under the auspices of the Trussell Trust (a registered charity) giving out nutritionally balanced emergency food to people in crisis. Front-line professionals (health visitors, social workers, etc.) identify people in crisis and give them a voucher to take to the bank, where they receive a warm welcome, a hot drink and a foodbox to meet their needs, as well as additional support to help break the cycle of poverty.
The Rhondda Foodbank currently operates in Tylorstown and in Maerdy, but it is hoped to set up a centre in Porth also. In the mean time, there is an urgent appeal for food, especially:
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tinned meats and vegetables – tinned tomato is especially important
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500g/750g (small) packets of breakfast cereal
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bars of chocolate and small packets of biscuits
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packets of dried pasta (thanks to a large donation from elsewhere the Foodbank has plenty of rice for now)
If you missed the opportunity to donate items to Rhondda Foodbank at Morrison's, you are welcome to bring items to the church before the end of August and Gethin will arrange to deliver them to the storeroom in Ynyshir at the end of the month. As you may have seen in the Rhondda Leader, stock is currently being used at the rate of 300kg a month.
PORTH OAPs COLLECTION FOR MILL STREET HOSTEL, PONTYPRIDD: Many thanks to Mrs Joan Rees for again co-ordinating a collection of food for the homeless at the Mill Street Hostel, Pontypridd. The items required are similar to those required by the Foodbank, so if you bring goods to church please make sure you label the bag clearly so your gift goes to the right place!
LINK MAGAZINE: The September edition of the quarterly Link magazine will be published shortly, and Graham Healy will welcome any items for inclusion by 29th August, please.
PRAYER MEETING: Monday afternoon Prayers at Porth URC resume on Monday, 6th September, at 3pm. Everyone is welcome – whether or not you are able to come every week. This informal time of prayer lasts for an hour and includes opportunities (if you wish) to share items you have come across, to pray for local concerns and for the wider world.
IMPORTANT – ANOTHER CHANGE TO THE DATE OF PORTH CARNIVAL: We have heard during the week that it will no longer be possible to hold the Porth Carnival as planned on Saturday 18th September, although we will of course continue with our Harvest weekend as usual. Saturday 2nd October has now been pencilled in for the Carnival, but is yet to be confirmed. Sincere apologies to those who had been preparing for the weekend, but the Carnival is organised by a local committee and a partnership of organisations, and these re-arrangements are out of our hands as a church.
GIRL GUIDING CENTENARY: Girlguiding Rhondda are going to be holding an exhibition at the Heritage Park Oct 23rd to 7th November to mark the end of the Centenary Celebrations of Girl Guiding worldwide. We are helping in this endeavour by making available the upstairs room at Church on Saturday morning 4th September from 9am to 11am for people to drop things off and for Ruth Purnell and her team to sort them. The items will then be left in boxes upstairs to take down to the Heritage Park.
CHURCH TREASURER: A short church meeting was held on Sunday 15th August and agreed the following recommendations:
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that Mrs Janice Healy be appointed as Church Treasurer to succeed the late Mr Griff Evans and therefore be added as a signatory to the church bank accounts.
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that the elders continue to be responsible collectively for counting the Sunday offertory, recording it, and banking the money, the records then being passed on to Janice.
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that the church purchase the necessary computer software (approx. £135) to computerise the church books, thus greatly simplifying the preparation of end of year accounts and allowing better monitoring of our financial position throughout the year.
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that Yolanda Garratt should transfer the 2010 accounts (so far) to computer, ready for Janice to begin keeping the books electronically from 1st January 2011. Backups will be kept of all the data on the church computer.
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that Gwenllian Thomas should continue to administer the Gift Aid (tax refund) scheme.
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Leanne Richardson kindly offered to be of assistance to the Treasurer when necessary.
We are very grateful to Janice, Yolanda, Gwenllian and Leanne, who will be our financial "Gang of Four", along with Pat Carpenter, who remains Treasurer of the 100 Committee and Sunday School accounts.
Sunday School (any ideas for a more modern name?). Leanne and Tracey have volunteered to be leaders of a re-formed Sunday School and have applied for Criminal Records Bureau clearance to work with our children. We would welcome others to volunteer, either to add to the rota of leaders or to help out occasionally. If you always work with one of the CRB checked leaders, you do not necessarily need CRB clearance. Please have a word with Gethin, Leanne or Tracey if you would be interested. The aim is to start sessions with the children who already attend church in the autumn, and then "go public" when we have established a pattern that works.
Meanwhile, we are very grateful to those who are sewing more Busy Bags for use by children during worship and by visiting children.
FUTURE OF THE PASTORATE: Following the June Church Meeting, a letter was sent to the URC National Synod of Wales indicating that Porth URC has accepted the offer of extending the existing joint pastorate with Castle Square URC, Trefforest, until July 2013, subject to negotiations with the denomination over grant aid to assist with the costs of this for 2012 and 2013. These negotiations will involve further discussion about the costs of maintaining our current building and its suitability for the future. Castle Square last Sunday also agreed to extension of the pastorate. We expect an initial meeting with the URC Synod to be held in September or October.
PORTH & TREFFOREST REVIEW
Review Panel
Mrs Christine Roberts
Revd Paul Floe
Introduction
Prior to reviewing the above pastorate, reviewers received from the Minister, Revd. Gethin Rhys, a detailed outline of the current situation in Porth United Reformed Church and Castle Square United Reformed Church, together with the Minister's vision for the future. It was an extremely helpful submission which included a background to the ecumenical scene in the Rhondda, together with the pastorate profile. The document spelt out what was, in the Minister's view, a stark choice facing the pastorate: stay as it is by accepting the decline which had happened in the Rhondda churches in general, or take a leap of faith into an uncertain future by radically changing its pattern of church life. Anyone interested in this review would be well advised to read the fore-mentioned document in full.
Observation
Having attended Elders' and Church Meetings at Porth URC and Elders' Meetings at Castle Square, and also having experienced Sunday worship in both churches, reviewers observed that the pastorate was receiving excellent ministry from the current Minister, who was greatly appreciated by both his congregations, as well as by the wider community.
Castle Square URC
The Elders' readiness to be challenged by the need for change was impressive. They accepted that the traditional way of being church was not always appropriate for this day and age. They were clearly excited by their increasing involvement in the community, for example via Chewsdays. Alterations and a new toilet extension are planned and the members were in agreement that the building be opened for public use as much as possible. The Church is already used by a local undertaker as his Chapel of Rest and is greatly appreciated by all who need it.
The members are very competent as leaders of worship (except in preaching, they say), they needed an assurance that they would receive some kind of ministerial oversight in the event of being without a minister. With this concern in mind, reviewers held what they considered a fruitful meeting with the Minister and Elders of St. David's Uniting Church, Pontypridd – not with the purpose of reviewing the church, this was not in the reviewers' remit - but to establish whether Castle Square might have reason to hope for help from this direction.
Because of the possibility that Porth and Castle Square do not feel able to financially support a full time ministers, the Reviewers made opportunity to meet with The Pontypridd Elders, who expressed a willingness to allow their Minister to allocate time to help Castle Square, with the proviso that he should not overburden himself. (They know their minister well!) The latter genuinely wanted to help, and was open to suggestions as to how much oversight Castle Square might expect. (The idea of a quarterly Sunday Morning preaching engagement, mentioned in later correspondence, came as a bit of a surprise as well as a disappointment to the reviewers, who had anticipated a broader offer.)
Porth
Meeting with the Porth Elders, reviewers heard of their realisation that any future for the Porth church in its current premises would be limited, due to the age and inefficiency of the buildings. In a nutshell, the dilemma they were facing was: "If we stay we'll die, but will we survive elsewhere?" It is fair to say that the Elders accepted the need for change, and most were willing to take a leap of faith into the unknown and support their Minister's exciting (but not without risk) vision to move across to the Plaza, a flexible, modern building far more suitable for introducing new ways of being church in the twenty-first century.
As at Castle Square, Gethin's ministry was greatly affirmed by the Eldership. However, the two Church Meetings attended by the reviewers revealed a difference of opinion between the Elders, the majority of whom shared their Minister's vision, and the Church Members who appeared to reject, in increasing numbers, the idea which had been spelt out to them very clearly. A first vote, taken before Christmas, had been inconclusive; The second vote (8 for, 24 against) taken on Sunday 17th March, 2010, gave the impression that some church members placed greater value on the Porth Church building than on ministry. The reluctance of the older generations to move from the premises where they grew up was understandable, their time, lives and memories lie there, but their desire for the present church "to see them out" obstructed them from considering the long-term future of Porth United Reformed Church, the only Free Church with ministry left in the Rhondda.
Bucking the trend, there have been some encouraging signs of renewal in the church of late! At least three new members will be made this year, and after a long absence a Junior Church is beginning. It will be interesting to see how such growth develops in the near future.
If the congregation is to stay where it is, reviewers feel they will still need a vision to inspire them: they might consider making their building fitter for worship in the twenty-first century and adapting it for wider use by the community.
Elders/leaders might wish to start preparing now for the time when they will be required to take personal responsibility for worship. Gethin's departure will leave a great hole. He is too gifted a minister to be employed as "a propper-up" of a crumbling building.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1 The Reviewers acknowledge the talented, forward thinking and exciting ministry of Revd Gethin Rhys and affirm his compassion and concern for both Church and community.
2 The Reviewers acknowledge and applaud the ministry of Castle Square URC to the town and community in which it is set; especially in their intention to modernise their buildings in order to meet the demands of their situation, and in seeking to build a relationship with the University of Glamorgan.
3 The Reviewers acknowledge the ministry that Porth URC has had with the town and its struggling to find a new direction and vision, when many of the churches in the Rhondda Valleys have closed.
4 Revd Gethin Rhys was appointed as minister on the understanding with the churches of the pastorate that they could support a minister for that five year period, after which their situation would be more uncertain. The current practice in the United Reformed Church for Special category ministry is a five year term renewable. The trend for other termed ministries vary between 5 year and 7 year 'appointments'.
Already the Synod has extended this to six years, if the call was to be extended to seven then perhaps the signs of new growth in Porth may continue to develop and its vision widen.
5 If the Church meeting at Porth is intent of improving their buildings then they will need to look to substantial funding for the improvement of the building.
News through CWM from the Presbyterian Church of India
Sending missionaries is not enough
Rev Laldwangliana who steered the wheels of the administration of the Presbyterian Church of India (PCI) for eight years has urged his church to go beyond routine church concerns to address issues of justice and peace.
"We are a missionary church and we are sending our members to different countries to serve as missionaries. That is not enough. We have to also respond effectively to the problems next door," urged Rev Laldwangliana, PCI administrative secretary from 2002 to 2010, in his valedictory address to the PCI's 39th general assembly. "If we want to go far, we have to go together. It is our responsibility to go together far and wide to glorify God with the message of peace and justice," he said. He cited HIV and AIDS, drug addiction among the youth, militancy and ethnic violence in the region that should get greater attention from the church.
Militant groups, ethnic clashes and extortions remain blot on the seven enchanting north-east hill states of India that remain sandwiched between Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Myanmar and connected to the Indian mainland by a narrow strip of land.
LEAVE A TEA STAIN ON YOUR TABLE, NOT YOUR CONSCIENCE: Traidcraft and the Women's Institute (WI) have teamed up for a campaign to encourage tea manufacturers to use fairly traded tea in their products – as Cadbury's and KitKat have started doing with Fairtrade chocolate. Booklets with the title above are available for you to sign a pre-printed letter to your favourite brand of tea asking for them to go Fairtrade. These booklets are available in the vestry for anyone who is interested – please help yourself and follow the instructions in them to return them to Traidcraft, who will then pass them on to the tea companies. This is a simple action which could improve the lives of thousands of tea-growers, so please consider doing this.
CHURCH MEETING
The church meeting on Sunday 7th March voted by 24 - 8 against the proposal to move the church to Porth Plaza. The minister has written about the implications of this decision in his report to the Annual General Meeting which you can find on The Link page of the website.
A message from Gethin
Fiona, Sioned and I, and especially Elinor, are very grateful to everyone for your messages of concern and sympathy at Elinor's sudden and unexpected illness. She has developed wet macular change in her right eye, an illness usually associated with much older people. Following tests as an outpatient at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, she begins treatment (by injection to the eye) on Friday 19th March. In the meantime, she is managing very well with only limited vision in her right eye, and attending school and other events when she is not required in hospital.
I am sorry that in order to spend time with Elinor and make arrangements with the hospital, I am missing so many church events and look forward to being back in circulation soon. In the mean time, I will keep in touch with John Attwood as church secretary, who will be kept informed of any developments.
While we do so much appreciate your prayers and thoughts, it would be a kindness to me and the family if you would get news from John rather than ringing me at home – the sheer number of phone calls can be quite difficult if each individual rings, and we do want to give priority on the phone line to members of our family. With best wishes Gethin
Church Library: A number of church members have been informally exchanging books to read with one another, and now invite the whole church to benefit from. Shelves have been cleared in a cupboard in the vestry for the purpose, which is now labelled "Church Library". Anyone who would like to contribute books is welcome to do so. If you wish to borrow a book, please give a small donation (we suggest 20p) to Mrs Lena Morgan or leave it in the bowl in the cupboard.
Valleys & City
Newsletter of URC churches of South Wales Region served by Des Kitto as Synod Elder
Issue 9: April 2010
Does the URC excite you?
When was the last time you felt excited about something the URC (locally or nationally) did? That is a question Francis Brienen, Secretary for Mission for the URC, put to members at the second URC Matters evening. She told the 70-strong audience that the URC was building a bank of good news stories to help build a positive image of the URC as a church people would want to come to. Examples included being the first church in the UK to ordain women, playing a key role in shaping the Council for World Mission (CWM) and being central to the Jubilee 2000 campaign, which sought debt cancellation to mark the beginning of a new millennium It is hoped these stories and more – all central to the identity of the URC – will encourage people back to church and back to the URC, in particular. Some 32 million people in Britain, she said, had no contact with church but research had shown that 3 million would come if they were asked. 'They don't come because they haven't been asked; they have had a bad experience or don't know much about church. How can we reach these people if they don't even know we exist?'
The morning after...
The morning after URC Matters Francis Brienen got a taste of church life and witness in Wales when we visited Elfed Avenue United Church in Penarth and the Lightship in Cardiff Bay. In Penarth we joined a session of Toys, Toast and Toddlers, a new group started by the church last September in response to local need run by Church Elders Sue Jenkins and Sally Merrett. It has been a success with an average of about 15 children attending. At the Lightship Francis met Rev Janet Conway (URC) and Rev Darren Middleton (Methodist) two members of the new ecumenical volunteer Cardiff Bay Chaplaincy Team, who are providing pastoral and spiritual care to those who work or visit the Bay, while the Lightship is without a chaplain. Work on the application for what would be a third Special Category Ministry has started. Rev Middleton, Chaplain to the Millennium Centre has booked the Glanfa stage for Holy Saturday where the Cathays Methodist Community Choir will perform the Easter story in song. It starts at 1.15pm.
Good news at Easter
Easter Sunday at St Andrew's, Roath will see 17 people come into membership. St Andrew's has run membership classes looking at what it means to be a member of the URC. Welcome aboard! The midweek mother and toddlers group has also proved to be a success with forty plus families attending. Following Sunday morning worship in the Church the church hall is used for Coffee and Plat where local families with small babies are invited to pop in and have a coffee whilst the children are able to play with numerous toys and games. Some of the early attendees of the scheme are now also attending church services.
Invite me to your church!
Commitment for Life advocate for Wales Mary Jeremiah has recently travelled to Zimbabwe with the World Church programme. Four days were devoted to looking at the Christian Aid projects that the URC is supporting through Commitment for Life in Wales. This included Silveira House and several new agricultural and HIV educational programmes. Mary would love to share her experiences with your church. She hopes her visit will generate a surge of support in our Churches in the Wales Synod. She can make arrangements to show the photos/discuss/support the setting up of Commitment for Life in your Church. She would be pleased to come to Church services, elders meetings or small groups. Please email her at: maryjeremiah@btintenet.com
His words go on
Two hymns written by Rev David Fox, who went missing on a walking holiday in Slovenia, have been included in new worship resources published by the Iona Community. One book is called Hay and Stardust: Resources for Christmas to Candlemas and the other Bare Feet and Buttercups: Resources for Ordinary Time. David's contribution is for St Julian's Day (8th May) and echoes the words of Julian of Norwich. The last verse reads: 'All shall be well! These words of God, Have greater power than we can tell, God holds the world. The world responds, In love. 'God loves! All shall be well.'
Training post filled
The URC in Wales now has its full complement of Training and Development Officers (TDOs) following the induction of South African Rev Dr Kevin Snyman to the role of TDO South. He together with Rev David Salisbury, TDO North, will oversee training provision in the Wales Synod. Like David, Kevin will combine the training role with a half time pastorate - Tabernacl, Llanfaches. A welcome service will be held at Tabernacl on Thursday 13 May at 7pm. All welcome!
Llanfair Uniting Church, Penrhys celebrated its 18th birthday in February at a service in which the majority of the participants were younger than the church! Rev Gethin Rhys represented us and Phil Rickards, Pastor at Edwardsville URC, gave the celebration a worldwide dimension by talking about his recent visit to Mbale in Uganda. Sadly, the usual worldwide dimension of Penrhys life has been missing recently as this year's CWM volunteers from Madagascar and India have been unable to obtain visas. There is still some hope that they might arrive after Easter. Meanwhile, Sharon Rees and a team of local volunteers are maintaining the vibrant church life at Llanfair.
Van Road URC, Caerphilly will celebrate the completion of the latest phase of refurbishment (reported in the last Valleys & City) with a special service on Sunday 23 rd May at 3pm, and at its annual Flower Festival over the weekend 9 th-11 th July, with a celebration on Friday 9 th July at 3pm. Further details from Mair & John Wade – mairjohn@jmwade.fsnet.co.uk
Bethany URC, Ystrad Mynach celebrates its centenary this year, with an open day on Saturday 19th June and other events. I will circulate details once they are finalised.
Hope & Market Square United Church, Merthyr Tydfil has been awarded £45,000 by the URC Wales Synod's Mission Development Fund for work on upgrading its building to improve the toilet and kitchen facilities and disabled access, to help all those who use the building, and to enable even more community use of these well-used premises. The Mission Development Fund has enabled several churches to develop projects they never thought would be possible. Not just work on buildings, but also resourcing the children's Sunday Club at Van Road, Caerphilly, and many other exciting projects. Application forms are available from Andy Buxton at the Cardiff office ( admin@urcwales.org.uk) – Tel. 029 2019 5728. Your Synod Elder will happily help you with your application, and can suggest other funding sources too.
Castle Square URC, Trefforest is also in the process of applying for funding to carry out similar work – upgrading toilet facilities and disabled access – following the success of its weekly Chewsdays café and increased community use of the building, located conveniently by the shops in Trefforest and right by Trefforest railway station. Lunches are served each Tuesday in term from 12noon until 1.30pm, and you would be very welcome. We also have a café style service on the first Sunday of each month at 5pm. Further details from Gethin Rhys.
Visit to Northern India
I am due to fly to Dharamsala in the Himalayan area of Northern India immediately after Easter. During my 10 day visit I will be working and training in the Tibetan Children's Village and other venues such as the local leper colonies where we will be delivering first aid, health & safety and other healthcare training. Any problems please contact Gethin or Eleri.
Valleys & City is produced by Rev Des Kitto, Synod Elder for Parkminster URC; Grand Avenue, Ely; Christchurch URC/Methodist, Fairwater; St David's Uniting Church, Pontypridd, Castle Square, Treforest; Porth URC; Christchurch, Llandaff North; Canton Uniting Church; and University of Glamorgan Chaplaincy Please contact me by Tel: 02920 623262 or 07811 259476 or email: des.kitto@sky.com Thanks to my colleagues Eleri Evans and Rev Gethin Rhys for sharing the text of this Newsletter.
A request from the Elders: DO YOU HAVE KEYS TO THE CHURCH BUILDING?
For insurance purposes, we are required to keep a record of who has keys to the building.
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Do you have a full or partial set? If so, could you please sign the list in the vestibule.
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Do you have keys you no longer need? If so, please could you return them to one of the elders as soon as possible.
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SWINE FLU!
Churches have been issued with guidance regarding swine flu.
One area where church members may wish to help their neighbours is in becoming a “flu friend” to those near you. Your “flu friend” is someone who will, if necessary, make sure that you have medication and essential supplies should you be confined to the house (quarantined) because you have caught swine flu. Everyone should nominate a flu friend – especially if you live on your own – but you may also want to offer to be someone else’s flu friend. Please think especially of those in your street who might not have family living nearby, or those who have recently moved to the area and may not yet know many of their neighbours. Obviously, if you have a car to go and collect prescriptions and shopping for a neighbour in need that will be particularly helpful.
We do not currently think that we need to change any of our customs in Porth URC regarding communion or shaking hands at the door, but we will keep the situation under review.
Should a flu pandemic occur, then guidance is in place for churches to change their usual arrangements or even cease meeting altogether for a while. This might also apply to other public gatherings, and especially to funerals. We very much hope that this will not be necessary, and we will keep you informed should the need arise. Meanwhile, we are continuing to arrange and advertise church events as normal.
Car parking charges
Despite representations by the Elders and many local people, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has introduced car parking charges for the Porth Plaza car park. They apply Monday to Saturday 8am-6pm – but not on Sundays - and are as follows:
up to 1 hour – 60p; 1-2 hours - £1.20; 2-3 hours - £2.00; 3-4 hours - £2.70; over 4 hours £10.00
These charges are not currently being levied in West Taff Street (behind the chapel). However, this, like the other small free car parks, is often full. If you are coming to the chapel by car during the week please make sure that you have change with you to pay if necessary.
Easter 2008 - New Life, New Hope
Over the Easter weekend, following the theme New Life,
New Hope, the congregation at Porth United Reformed Church again celebrated the depth of God’s love as shown on the cross and the height of God’s power as shown on Easter morning. As usual, the services were beautifully illustrated by the changing decoration of the Easter garden in the church – the crown of thorns and the suffering of Christ forming the backdrop on Good Friday, the empty tomb and spring flowers showed the new life that is found in the risen Christ.
Harvest Thanksgiving - Be Part of a Miracle
In our Harvest services on 16th and 17th September, we heard from Christians in Malawi about how we can be part of a miracle, in praying and working for a world in which the harvest is shared between all people. A pastor from Malawi told us on film how Africa is a fruitful continent, but they cannot get a fair price for their foods. This is why Porth United Reformed Church is a Fairtrade church, a small step in ensuring a fairer deal for Third World producers of our harvest.
Our pictures show the harvest display of products from around the world available in our shops and some of the beautiful floral displays on the windows prepared by George and Marion Sparrow.
Standing Up Against Poverty
Members and friends of Porth United Reformed Church and the 1st Porth (URC) Guides and Brownies took part in breaking a Guinness World Record on Sunday 15th October 2006 – and showed their determination to help eradicate world poverty. In a special service at Porth United Reformed Church, all 75 people present – aged from a few weeks to 95 years! – stood up to show their solidarity with the 800 million people around the world who do not have adequate food, and the many who lack proper education or health care facilities. The call was to our own government and others to remember the promises made at the Millennium to halve global poverty by the year 2015.
23 and a half million other people in more than 100 countries around the world also took part. Cricket fans in India; school children in Gaza and the West Bank; crowds at a concert in a slum in Zimbabwe and in Times Square in New York all joined for the world record attempt on 15-16 October co-ordinated by the Global Call to Action against Poverty and the UN Millennium Campaign. People stood together at the foot of tallest hotel in the world in Dubai; in football stadiums across Spain and Mexico; in churches throughout Africa and schools all over the world including China.
Christians and others around the world have stood up to demand action against poverty, for equality and to meet and exceed the Millennium Development Goals, which our government and world leaders have set for themseles and the world. The people’s voices are growing louder; governments can and must do more. We will not rest until poverty has ended.
New elders
Porth United Reformed Church elected three new elders in March 2006, and they were ordained and inducted by the Revd Gethin Rhys at the communion service in May 2006. See the Contact us page for details of the Elders' responsibilities.
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Pictured (left to right): Mrs Gwenllian Thomas, Mrs Janice Healy, Mrs Kay Evans.
Long service
In March 2006, we were delighted to be able to give certificates to 15 members who have been part of the church for 50 years or more – some for as long as 65 years!
Our picture shows: (standing): Mrs Mary Robbins, Mrs Brenda & Mr John Attwood, Mrs Nancy Greenfield, Mrs Edith Thomas, Mr Ken Hopkins, Revd Gethin Rhys (minister – who was not born when the others in the picture first became members!), Mrs Pat Carpenter; (seated): Mr Haydn Jones, Mrs Gwyneth Williams, Mrs Margaret Hopkins.
Mrs Eira Griffiths and Mr Eric & Mrs Moira Bowden were also presented with certificates, but missed the picture. Mrs Nancy Jones and Mrs Nan Kelland received certificates in their own homes. We regret to report the death of Mrs Nancy Jones in November 2006.
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