Church and chapel weekly news

Sunday, November 20, 10.45 to 11.45am – Sunday morning service in the sanctuary with full organ and rose window, followed by refreshments in the Schoolroom; 10.30 to 11.45am – Sunday School in the upper room; 10.20 to 10.40am – Men’s time of prayer in the study; 5.30pm to 6.30pm – Evening service in the Sanctuary followed by refreshments in the schoolroom where you will be sure of a warm welcome.

Tuesday, 1.30 to 4pm – Listening Post, share and listen, make new friends, all welcome in the schoolroom; 6.15 to 7pm – Fellowship meal in the schoolroom; 7 to 8pm – Prayer meeting in the Schoolroom, a popular meeting, a chance to commune.

Wednesday, November 23, 2 to 3pm – Glad to see the return of the Women’s Fellowship in the schoolroom.

Thursday, 10.30 to 11.30am – Seniors coffee morning, a real social event welcomes you.

“You O Lord are a God full of compassion and gracious.” Psalm 86

Message by Garry Emlyn: There’s an old song called Open the eyes of my heart.

We have human eyes but we  can also have inner sight from God, like the eyes of our heart. Paul mentions this in his letter to the Ephesians:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength.” (Ephesians 1:17-19)

When people came to Jesus those around saw the sickness, Jesus saw the miracle.

We can be fully sighted yet still not see. We need Spiritual sight. If we worship God, or pray, we can see more with our eyes shut! Anyone can ask God for this inner sight. It’s a sight of faith.

We seek God with our heart, when we accept Jesus and belive, then are our eyes opened, then we will see hope and Light. When God comes in He’s alive within us, giving us faith, hope and strength. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart today.

New Life Church meets at Amroth Parish Hall, Summer hill, Sundays from 10.45am. Contact: 07765935475 Visit: newlifechurchpembs.com or the Facebook page.

Thank you to those who contributed to the Harvest collection for Pembrokeshire Food Bank.  The church has had a lovely letter of thanks from them, and will continue to collect.  The box is filling up already!

SERVICES:

Sunday, October 23, 8am – Said Holy Eucharist; 10.30am – Morning Prayer. All are welcome.

EVENTS:

Friday, November 18 and December 9, Join St Issell’s members for a Coffee Morning 10am - 12noon at the Harbwr Bar Saundersfoot for a chance to catch up or meet neighbours and friends.

The service at Saundersfoot Methodist Church last Sunday was taken by Diane Hodson, when two minutes’ silence was observed at 11am. A warm welcome was extended to visitors and to friends from Stepaside Methodist Church.  Passages of scripture were read by Brian and Hillary, and the organist was Miranda Davies.

Next Sunday the service at 11am will be conducted by Rev. Lorette Hinson, and a warm welcome is extended to all.

Sunday, November, 20, 10.30am – Morning service. Preacher, Rev’d Martin Williams; 3.30pm – Afternoon service. Preacher, Rev Martin Williams.

Friday, November 25, 2.30pm – Bible study and prayer meeting. Rev’d Martin Williams presiding.

For further information,

Call: 01834 812869 or 01834 814832.

Visit: www.bethesdatenbyroad.vpweb.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Find us on Facebook: Bethesda Church, Saundersfoot.

Every Sunday in Regency Hall Saundersfoot. A fresh expression of church.

Breakfast from 10am. Community, music, friendship and support. Bring your friends… and the kids…

Regency Rompers Baby and Toddler group every Monday, 9.30am in the Brookside Suite in Regency Hall.

Also at 6pm on a Wednesday evening at Regency Hall, there is the “Alpha” course; an opportunity to explore the Christian faith in a welcoming, open and friendly environment.

For more information email; [email protected] .

The service this Sunday will be led by Mr Ian Jones at 10.30am.

A Christian welcome is extended to everyone.

Sunday, November 20,  9.45am – Morning Praise

Wednesday, November 23, 7pm – Holy Eucharist

Saturday, November 26, 10am to 12noon – Mince pies coffee morning in the church hall when the annual Grand Draw will take place.

Mondays, 1 to 3pm – The church hall will be a ‘Warm Space’.  All welcome; bring a book, craft, game or just come for a cuppa and a chat.

Tuesdays, 10am to 12noon – Pebbles playgroup for pre-school children and parents.

SERVICES:

Sunday, November 20, 9am – Holy Eucharist.

Sunday 27 – No service

EVENTS:

November 18 to 25, 10am to 4pm – An exhibition of artwork by local village artists that depict the church in various media.

Saturday 19 – Teas and coffee available and a chance to meet some of the artists. One painting is being raffled to raise money for the church.

Over the years people have gone from Hebron to serve God overseas and ministers from overseas have visited Hebron. On one occasion the message was ‘The Crucified Life – Dying to Ourselves.’

This is what Jesus said, ‘If anyone would follow me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it if a man gains the whole world and forfeits his very self?’ (Luke 9:23-25).

We cannot sweep our own hearts clean, but we can renounce the sin in our lives, and when we desire to know Jesus and be like him, day by day we will grow more like him.

Our love for God is directly related to what we think of him. If we are not sure we can trust him, we won’t open our hearts to him.

God is filled with love and compassion for us, far more than we can ever imagine, but when we understand God is worthy of our devotion, we begin to understand who we really are – sinners, yet we were created to be treasured by God. As his treasured possession we will want to live up to all that he has for us, and we can through trusting in Christ. Only in surrendering to him do we really come alive and begin to live.

Visit  www.hebronbaptistsaundersfoot.org or call 01834 811697 for enquiries.

Halloween is past and gone and our next celebration will be Christmas (writes Ian Rees). The celebration of Halloween has always been difficult for some families. It seems to be becoming more Americanised each year. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honour all the saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats. Latterly, however, it has become associated with the darker side of things - witches, skeletons, spells and death etc. and for some it has become quite frightening.

Christians, in the main, would rather emphasise the light of God`s love. One Scripture that comes to mind is, ‘whatever things are lovely, think on these things’. Our Lord came to overcome darkness and death. As the winter progresses and Christmas approaches we will remember when and how the Light of the World came into our world to bring us light and life through Him. ‘God is light and in Him is no darkness at all’.

During the winter days our coffee shop at the Old Chapel will be a warm and we hope a welcoming place for you to drop in and make friends. We will be changing our opening hours to 11am - 4pm but our family service on Sunday mornings will remain at 11am. We would love to see you there - upstairs in the Old Chapel. God bless you.

A 1944 film, It Happened Tomorrow, features an ambitious businessman who wished he could buy tomorrow’s newspaper today to take financial advantage of his privileged glimpse into the future. Suddenly, an elderly gentleman appeared before him, holding the coveted newspaper. “I’ve decided to grant your wish,” he said. The remainder of the movie detailed what happened to the businessman as a result of his “future” knowledge.

Each year, the Church puts us in touch with its responsibilities for the present, while reminding us of what little we know for certain concerning the future.

2 Thessalonians 3: 7-12 teaches us that the best preparation for the future is a devoted embrace of present duties. Believers need to strike a holy and wholesome balance between prayer and service, work and play, balancing making a living with the time and energy needed to develop enduring family ties and values.

In Luke 21:5-19 Jesus warns that the temple in Jerusalem, seemingly timeless and indestructible; would one day be destroyed. However, the true temple, in which God is encountered, praised, and petitioned, is not made of stone but of the heart and soul and mind and strength of a human being, in love with God, in love with the human images of God. It is this temple which we are to hold in a constant state of preparedness to be ever ready to welcome the future and the God who has created it for us.

Masses from St Teilo’s can be viewed on-line from the parish website. News of Parish events are available in the newsletter and on the website www.stteilostenby.co.uk. Parish Tel: 01834 842692.

Remembrance Sunday began at St Johns with the worship at 9:30 am, led by Rev’d John Hayton, with Bible readings from Psalm 98 and Luke ch:21 verses 5-19, where Jesus is speaking about the future destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which was a beautiful, heavily adorned building, which held great importance and symbolism to the Jewish nation.

Jesus is likening this destruction to his forthcoming death on the cross. But this message was only realised after his suffering, persecution, death, and resurrection. Jesus tells us that we too will suffer for our faith in Him and our praise and love for our Heavenly Father. For no one said to be a follower of Christ would be trouble free, but the difference is the troubles are so much easier to bear when we realise that Christ’s strength is with us each day, because we recognise that he died in order to pay for our sins. We can stand firm with Jesus. As today we remember so many other people in wars and conflicts of the past have stood, firm as they have fought for the freedom of their fellow countrymen and women. And we see the same today.

The congregation of St Johns then walked together to the War Memorial to join with many other worshippers as together they sang mymns and said prayers of thanks to God for the selfless bravery of so many people in wars over the years.

Next Sunday at 11am, Rev’d Stella Hayton will lead worship. Monday, 2pm to 4pm – craft. Wednesday, 10am to 12 noon – coffee, and Welsh cakes.

The Remembrance Service held on Sunday last was conducted by Mr Tim Longworth, missioner enabler of the Pembrokeshire Baptist Association. A beautiful poem was read by his daughter Sofi with Mrs Elizabeth Vaughan as organist.

The Service this Sunday, November 20 is at 10.45am and will be conducted by the Rev’d Nanette Lewis Head of Pembroke.

A warm welcome is extended to all.

SERVICES:

Sunday, November 20, 9am – Holy Eucharist in St John’s Church Templeton; 10am – Holy Eucharist in St Andrew’s Church, Narberth; 11.30am – Holy Eucharist in Robeston Wathen Church.

Events:

Tuesday, November 22,  1.30 to 3.30pm – Craft Class in St Andrew’s Church.  All welcome.

Thursday, November 17 and 24, 1.30pm – The discussion group ‘Icon: The Advent Christianity through Art’ will be held  at the home of the Rev’d Seamus Hargrave.  All are welcome to attend.

Friday, November 18 – St Andrew’s Church has a stall in the Queen’s Hall, Narberth. Please support the church.

Saturday, November 19, 7pm – Cor Dyfed Choir are holding a memorial concert in St Andrew’s Church. Tickets £10.

Wednesday, November 23, 12 noon for 12.30pm – Mothers’ Union dinner at Nant-Y-Ffin Hotel.

Saturday November 26, 10.30am to 12.30pm – Coffee morning and table top sale in Robeston Wathen Community Hall in aid of Church funds.

Sunday November 27 (Advent Sunday, St Andrew’s Church Gift day), 5pm – There will be a local ministry area service of Advent carols and readings in St Mary’s Church, Tenby.

Saturday December 3, 10am to 11.30am – St Andrew’s coffee morning, in the Welfare Hall on the Town Moor.

Contacts:  Rev’d Martin Cox (Rector and Local ministry Area Dean) tel. 01834 861192  [email protected]

Rev’d Seamus Hargrave  01834 860611   [email protected] .

Sunday service  begins at 10.45 am. The service is held in the Church hall at the rear of the building during winter months. All are welcome. “Join us for coffee and chat after the service.”

Parking via Harding Street. Mobility access and facilities.