Leading worship on Sunday was the Rev. Alan Wilcox, from Ammanford, a good friend of St. Johns. The choir, accompanied by Mrs. Sheila Noot, opened with the hymn, 'Spirit of the living God', after which the young people's welcome was read by Robert.

Mr. Tony Scullard thanked Robert and welcomed the Rev. Wilcox on behalf of the congregation. Tony also gave an update of the progress of members. Mrs. Ann Maggs and Mrs. Winifred Hewling are both doing well, and it is hoped that they will be back with us before too long. It was good to see Mr. Jim Walker back in church after his recent operation.

Beginning his talk to the children, the Rev. Wilcox showed them a print of 'Salem'. The original was painted in 1908 and shows the chapel at Llanbedr, Merionethshire, with some of the congregation. The main character in the painting is a lady called Sian Owen, who had borrowed a beautiful shawl from the minister's wife for her sitting. She was extremely proud of this shawl and became rather arrogant. 'Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall' - Proverbs, Chapter 16, verse 18.

"If you are so special and important, why then have you brought the devil in your shaw?" she was asked.

For his second 'little story' in what Alan liked to think of as family time, he produced a soap case with an unused bar of soap. Washing, he said, reminded him of going to church; Jesus washes our sins away.

He also had with him an amusing list of 10 reasons why some people don't like to wash, which included: "It's boring. I'm so busy I haven't got time."

Do we sometimes make the same excuses about coming to church?

The young people then left for their own worship, taking with them a print of 'Salem' to look for the devil in the shawl.

Mrs. Janet Drogan read from the 'Poverty and Justice Bible,' John, Chapter 1, verse 6-18.

"What is the business of the Church?" asked Alan, as he began his address. "God has always been trying to win us back to himself."

Reading the stories of the Bible about Noah, Abraham, Moses, we see that he has not always been successful. Even when he sent his son, there was rejection, but Jesus was a radical and an activist. We, too, must be radical and also be prepared to experiment even further with new ways in the church.

Thank you, Alan, for your words of encouragement.

The congregation then sang the final hymn, 'When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, What a glory he sheds on our way!'

To conclude, the Grace was shared and the choir sang the blessing, 'May the grace of Christ our Saviour and the Father's boundless love'.

This weekend, which is Mothering Sunday, worship will be at the usual time of 11 am and will be led by the Rev. Kim Fabricius. Everyone is welcome.