CHURCH MEETING – MORNING WORSHIP SUNDAY 7TH MARCH AT 10.30
A special church meeting has been called for NEXT SUNDAY, following morning worship at 10.30am. Mrs Christine Roberts will be present on behalf of the URC. Ballot papers with a covering letter have been sent to all Active Members. All ballot papers need to be returned by 11.30am on the day of the meeting. Non-members are welcome to attend and express their views at the meeting, but because of the definitive nature of the decision, the votes of members on the Active Members list will determine the outcome, by a simple majority.
All members are asked to pray carefully through this decision and its implications for the church and for our work in the community, and to make every effort to attend the meeting.
A full report on the meeting held in Porth Plaza, including answers to questions raised by members, has been received by the elders and is available in the vestibule – please take a copy.
PRAYER MEETINGS FOR LENT: Our Monday Prayers at 3pm during Lent will focus each week on a different character from the Easter story, helping us to journey with Jesus as he travels to Jerusalem and faces the cross. On Monday 8th March we will focus on Judas.
LIVING FAITH: As in previous years, we are invited to join with the Porth Newydd parish in their Lent Course for 2010. The course is entitled Living Faith – growing faith, deepening discipleship, building ministry. This course was originally created in partnership between Trinity College, Bristol, and the Diocese of Bath and Wells, who have allowed the Llandaf Diocese of the Church in Wales to use and adapt it. The full Living Faith course involves six "modules", each covering a different aspect of Christian faith. The Lent course gives a "taster" of each module. It will be held twice each week – on Sunday evenings at 6pm alternating between St John's and St Luke's and on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm (following the 7pm communion service) in St Paul's. In recent years the URC has joined the Tuesday evening course, some of us also attending the service at 7pm. The schedule for 2010 is as follows:
Tue 23rd Feb Spirituality and Prayer
Tue 2nd March Exploring the Bible – New Testament
Tue 9th March Questions of Faith
Tue 16th March Reshaping the Church
Tue 23rd March Exploring the Bible – Old Testament
Tue 6th April Challenging Choices (Ethics)
The Lent course is a chance to learn about, experience and share our faith in a quiet and prayerful way – it does not commit you to follow the full modular course.
The sessions will be led by Fr Chris Coles and Mrs Dawn Surrey, no doubt with others contributing in various ways. Everyone is welcome – those who have attended in previous years have found this a rewarding, prayerful and uplifting experience.
MEMBERSHIP GROUP: A number of our regular worshippers have asked about becoming church members, and will meet with Gethin to explore what this involves on Wednesday evenings at 6pm at 21 Pontypridd Road from Wednesday 10th March. If you would like to join the group – with no obligation to become a member - you would be welcome, but please give Gethin a ring first.
WELSH NIGHT – Thursday 11th March, 7pm. At the time of going to press we have no guest artiste, but there will be plenty of food, so do come along.
LENT LUNCHES: The Porth Newydd parish organises bread and soup lunches each Friday during Lent, raising money for charity. Lunch on Friday 5th March is in St John's Church, Glynfach at 12noon and on Friday 12th March in St Luke's Church, Llwyncelyn, and our support would be appreciated.
WOMEN'S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: This annual service will be held here in Porth URC on Friday 5th March at 2.30pm (please note the time) – men as well as women are welcome to attend. The service will be led by Revd Beverly Reaney, assisted by women from the churches in Porth.
URC WALES SYNOD: The Synod meets on Saturday 13th March, 11am-3.30pm in Rhayader Leisure Centre. This meeting is open to all, and there is provision for children and young people with their own activities. The "adult" Synod provides opportunity to hear news from other churches in Wales, and also to contribute to debate about future plans for the United Reformed Church. Gethin can offer a lift to anyone who would like to attend.
URC MATTERS: Mission Maker: How to grow the URC Francis Brienen, the United Reformed Church General Assembly's Secretary for Mission, will lead this evening focussing on the URC's two current mission programmes, Vision 2020 and God is Still Speaking. Vision 2020 is a 10-year plan for the URC that – like God is Still Speaking – asks us to think about our identity, our role in the community and our relationships with other churches. St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Penylan Road, Roath, Cardiff on Monday 15th March 2010, 7.30pm Coffee and cakes will be served. If you would like a lift to attend, please ask Gethin.
THE LINK QUARTERLY MAGAZINE: The quarterly Link will be published on Sunday 21st March – a little later than usual to allow inclusion of news from today's Church Meeting. If you have anything you wish to include in the magazine, please give it to Graham Healy by Sunday 14th March.
SACRED SPACE – The next café service, entitled Blood, Sweat and Tears, will be held on Sunday 21st March at 7pm in Porth Plaza. If you wish to help plan the service, there will be a meeting to do so on Friday 12th March at 2pm in Porth URC.
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 8: February 2010
A house of prayer for all
The URC has adopted the American-designed initiative God is Still Speaking to help its churches tell people – inside and outside – its doors what it means to be a member of the URC. A denomination-wide effort to raise awareness of the United Church of Christ in America, God is Still Speaking, focused on the identity and theology of UCC to reach out to people.
The initiative, which included training for churches in hospitality and evangelism, aimed to make clear that no matter who or where people were on their life's journey they were welcome at UCC. Originator of the campaign Ron Buford, who has been employed by the URC on a consultative basis to help adapt the campaign for the UK, visited Wales Synod in January to explain why he was so committed to the idea.
He said: 'At the time we came up with the campaign, surveys showed that some 80% of American 20-year-olds had never been to church. People just didn't want anything to do with church. God is Still Speaking was designed to help us as Christians find a way to tell people about ourselves.'
Central to the campaign is the need to focus on identity – the history and theology of the URC – to make a house of prayer for all, said Ron. One example of how they had done this in the UCC involved designing posters and t-shirts that drew attention to the fact they were the first Christian church in America to ordain women, black people and the openly gay.
The logo for the campaign is a red comma, taken from the campaign catchline: Never put a fullstop where God has place a comma, which is based on a postcard written by the 20th century American comedian Gracie Allen. Ron saw the postcard and after a while came up with the name of the campaign God is Still Speaking.
He felt that together they showed what he instinctively believes is at the bottom of the initiative, the famous words from the Pilgrim Fathers and a line he used several times in his presentation. 'There is more truth and light yet to break forth from God's holy world' – John Robinson, the 17th century pastor to the Pilgrims.
The hugely successful campaign has enabled UCC to embrace a common brand and theme that is instantly recognisable. The work of helping the URC develop a recognisable brand now falls to Denese Chikwendu, who has been employed by the URC full-time, enabled by a significant grant from the Council for World Mission, to take over the advocacy role from Ron as campaign co-ordinator for the URC.
Wales Synod is now looking at the possibilities of implementing the God is Still Speaking programme across the URC churches in Wales. Watch this space!
URC Matters in 2010 – new dates!
After the success of the first URC Matters, South Wales Region Synod Elders have organised two URC Matters evenings for 2010 – one with Francis Brienen, URC Secretary for Mission, and one with Roberta Rominger, General Secretary of the URC. URC Matters is an occasional series of discussions about issues that matter to URC people.
Mission Maker: How to grow the URC
Francis Brienen, Secretary for Mission for the URC, will lead March URC Matters with an evening about Vision 2020 and God is Still Speaking. Vision 2020 is a 10-year plan for the URC that – like God is Still Speaking – asks us to think about our identity, our role in the community and our relationships with other churches. The evening will be held on Monday 15 March at St Andrews URC, Roath at 7 for 7.30.
Something to Shout About: URC identity in the 21st century
Roberta Rominger, General Secretary of the URC, will lead the November URC Matters.She believes that being Reformed means believing in a living God, watching for where God is at work around us, being ready at every point to respond to God's call. Yet every time she talks about identity she says she is challenged – isn't it anti-ecumenical for the URC to have an identity of its own? But she says: 'How did we get to the point that we thought this way? What can the URC bring to the ecumenical table if we don't know who we are?' Come and join the debate on the evening of Monday 15 November. Venue to be confirmed.
News from your CYDO (Children's & Youth Development Officer)
Just a reminder there will be a Children's Synod event as well as a Fury Synod event running alongside Synod on Saturday 13 March in Rhayader. If you plan to bring some children can you just let CYDO Judy Harris know so shecan ensure there are enough craft materials. The children who attended last time had a fabulous time.
Safeguarding roadshows are in the pipeline. Judy will be running some roadshows once she is fully up to date on the new legislation. The Independent Safeguarding Authority is holding its own roadshow in Cardiff on 24 February designed to explain the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act legislation. It is expected attendees will have some knowledge. Book a place at
http://www.vbsroadshow.org.
The Welsh Assembly is holding an inquiry into the provision of safe places for children and young people to play and hang out.It is interested in hearing views. Evidence should be emailed to
children&youngpeoplecommittee@wales.gsi.gov.uk by 19 February.
Any questions to Judy Harris, Children's and Youth Development Officer. Tel: 01639 892315 or email
cydo@urcwales.org.uk
Uncovering the past and building for the future
The latest phase of refurbishment at Van Road URC, Caerphilly, has begun, and has already led to some fascinating discoveries – including an old spiral staircase that allowed former ministers to climb from their vestry downstairs directly into the pulpit, making a dramatic appearance at the start of worship! Historical features of the sanctuary of the listed building are being restored, while also making the place suitable for 21st century worship – notably by replacing the pews with comfortable, stylish chairs. In this respect, Van Road are following the lead of St David's Uniting Church, Pontypridd, which also meets in a listed building – proving that using a historic place of worship need not be a barrier to contemporary styles of worship and mission, or modern comforts.
Hope Theatre – back again at Fairwater
The second season of Hope Theatre Café at Christchurch URC/Methodist in Fairwater, Cardiff, kicks off again on Saturday 6 February with singer/songwriter Paul Field and Dan Wheeler with Rites of Passage. Saturday 6 March will see Steve Eaton Evans and Tim Goodwright with Can I be Frank? - a hilarious yet thought provoking play. Saturday 3 April sees Cath Woolridge with Darren and Anne Middleton present the Easter Story, The Way of the Cross, through drama, music and words. Saturday 1 May sees the return of Rascal Productions with Rendezvous with Love. On Saturday 5 June Mime artist Steve Murray performs Seeing is Believing. The season ends on Saturday 3 July with gospel illusionist Steve Price with his unique mix of comedy and magic. Tickets are £5 and must be purchased in advance. More information from Anne Middleton. Tel: 07748 595178 or email: anne.middleton@live.co.uk
Please note that my telephone and e-mail details have changed and if you need to contact me by telephone its: Home 02920 623263, Mobile 07811 259476 or email: des.kitto@sky.com. Grateful thanks to my colleagues Eleri Evans and Gethin Rhys for 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.