ST. JOHNS CHURCH
On the first Sunday in the new year, the children's call to worship was read by Lara. The Rev. Nanette Lewis affirmed her welcome and shared with everyone the joyous news of the birth of Renate's new grandson. Mention was also made of those members who are currently in hospital. Let us remember them in our prayers.
Nanette illustrated her talk to the children with a piece of embroidery of clasped hands, focusing on the back of the work with all its imperfections. God sees us with all our imperfections. What we do with our hands is sometimes good, sometimes bad, but God always forgives us. The children then put their hands together to pray. The hymn 'Joy to the World' was sung before they left for their own worship.
The Gospel readings were taken from Jeremiah 31, verses 7-14, Ephesians 1, verses 3-14, and John 1, verses 10-18, and were read by Mrs. Margaret Day. The readings led the congregation into the Covenant Service renewing their relationship with God.
At the heart of Nanette's address on Covenant Sunday was the truth of the Gospel, that God's great gift to us is the gift of life itself. The light of life flows through the whole of creation, life is continually unfolding. Let us give thanks for this gift of life.
With the breaking of bread and wine, the Sacrament of Holy Communion was shared.
During the singing of the final hymn, the children returned for their blessing.
Thank you Nanette for helping us draw nearer to God in faith.
The organist on Sunday was Mr. Alan Adams.
In conclusion the Grace was shared.
This Sunday's worship at 10.30 am will be led by the Rev. Nanette Lewis Head. Everyone is welcome.
TENBY CYMRODORION
The next meeting of the society will take place on Thursday, January 15, when a coffee morning will be held at the Royal Lion Hotel at 10.45 am. Following the success of a similar event a year or so ago, it is hoped that all members able to do so will attend and make this occasion another splendid success. A guest speaker will give a short address.
It is now confirmed that the annual St. David's Day Luncheon will be held on the eve of St. David's Day, Sunday, February 29, at the Heywood Mount Hotel, Heywood Lane, Tenby. Guest speaker will be the Rt. Rev. Dewi Bridges, Anglican Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, well known to all in Tenby as a former Rector of St. Mary's.
The luncheon will commence at 1.30 pm at a price of £11.95 per person. Details of menu, booking etc, will be given at the January meeting.
The president, secretary and treasurer wish to extend to all members their best wishes for a very happy new year - a blwydyn newydd dda.
DEER PARK
BAPTIST CHURCH
The main message was to want God to give us more because in our spiritual life if we think we are standing still then we are actually sliding backwards.
Worshippers were greeted at the door by Mr. Dene Hardwick and welcomed by Mrs. Phyllis Duffet (deacon). Hymns and songs were led by songsters Mrs. Cheryl Payne and Mrs. Myria Hopkins, with Mrs. Nan Dortez on the keyboard and church organ accompanied by Mr. Arran Török on the drums.
Before leading a time of open prayer, Mr. Bryn Rees (church secretary and treasurer) read from Exodus chapter 33, verses 13-17.
Pastor Tom Török read Philippians chapter 3, verses 7-21 about how Paul disregarded things others held dear in order to know more about Jesus.
Tom warned that anyone really desiring to know Jesus more must reassess their values. Even Paul the apostle expected to encounter more adversity, for he mentioned experiencing the fellowship of Christ's sufferings.
Compared with knowing Jesus more, other objectives and aspirations for the new year 2004 are rubbish. Like Saul, who later became Paul, the past could easily have shackled his progress. But instead of looking back to dwell on the past, he pressed on to gain new heights and a deeper saving knowledge of the Master.
After the closing hymn, before leaving for refreshments in the hall, those in the congregation who desired to learn more about Jesus came to the front and shared prayers with one another.
This Sunday, God willing, the preacher at the 10.45 am service will be Mr. Ken Wilson from Fishguard.
Anyone wanting more details, particularly about Alpha courses or Bible Studies groups, is invited to telephone Tom Török on (01834) 845838.
KCF-TENBY
Following the Christmas break, the initial meeting of the New Year met with an unexpected problem - the doors to the Community Centre were firmly padlocked! After a round of telephone calls and a lonely vigil by one of the members outside the hall, we reconvened at the house of one of the Tenby members to enjoy Christian fellowship and share communion together.
Meeting in this informal setting, Michael and Brenda Rycroft frankly shared some of their experiences of life.
Michael likened some serious structural problems they had encountered with their present house with his life prior to becoming a Christian. Things appeared OK on the surface, but underneath big problems were developing which endangered the entire stability of the house.
Michael shared how his increasing obsession with career and personal ambition caused him to become so selfish and uncaring that he subjected his wife, children and those he worked with to tyrannical obedience to his opinions. All that mattered to him was the achievement of his pleasure. In the resulting climate, the family became victims of his obsession and suffered badly.
Brenda was able to share the effect this had on the family and how the marriage and Michael's health both deteriorated. The outside looked OK, but things were approaching a point of collapse.
Having reached a low point of despair, help arrived in the form of a young curate who was able to show that it needed the entire mess to be committed to Jesus if the situation was to be sorted out. Michael was sceptical about the advice given, but was desperate enough to try it. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.
From that low point in their lives, Michael and Brenda were able to point out the major changes that occurred as they began to develop this submission of their lives to the influence of Jesus and the way scripture tells us life should be lived. It seemed to both of them that weaknesses and deficiencies they had were being pointed out to them, whilst at the same time, an opening seemed to be created aimed at changing the way they had viewed things. It was rather like learning to live again, but this time thinking of each other rather than themselves.
The effect of committing their lives to Jesus also changed their appreciation of God's ability. Years of religious observance at a once weekly church service was replaced by an awareness that God desired to show His power to change their lives 24 hours round the clock every day. A relationship with Jesus had replaced the cold rituals of tradition.The Good News is that Jesus is still willing to take on as many shaky situations as we are prepared to hand over to Him.
God willing we hope to meet this Sunday afternoon at 5 pm in Augustus Place Community Centre (opposite the multi-storey car park). Everyone is welcome. Further information on 01834 861777 or 861400.
ELDERS TEA
A very successful tea was enjoyed by many members, friends and visitors to St. Johns on Sunday afternoon.
Mr. Lew Day presented a humorous and absorbing insight into the life of St. Johns Church with the aid of a slide show. Many memories were brought back.
Thank you Lew for entertaining everyone in this happy way.
The 'scrumptious' tea had been prepared by the minister and elders as a thank you to everyone for their help and support during the past year.
Last but not least, a very big thank you to everyone who came to make the afternoon such a huge success.
SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army band played carols throughout Pembrokeshire during December at various locations, including homes for the elderly, outside supermarkets, at Tenby Cottage Hospital and in the streets.
Over £2,700 was collected for the local Salvation Army work and the corps would like to thank the public for their generosity.
Two new activities are starting this month - an after-school club for children attending Tenby Junior School and a CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) club for ladies.
CAMEO will meet on the third Monday each month at 7.15 pm at the Salvation Army, Upper Park Road, Tenby, and the first meeting is on Monday, January 19. Activities will include a sugarcraft demonstration, card making, glass painting etc. and a chance for ladies to meet each other and relax for an hour or so.
Further details are available from Tracy (01834 843329) or Irene (01437 781167).
HESED CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
From Arthurian legends to 'Lord of the Rings', many stories imagine the perfect king, under whom peace will be upon all the world forever.
In Carringtons Restaurant on Sunday afternoon, Rev. Peter Richmond, Pastor of Hesed, taught from the Bible that this concept is not just a fantasy. According to prophecy, Jesus, the King of kings, will return to reign from Jerusalem, and will bring peace not only to that troubled city, but to the entire world.
The Hebrew word for peace, used in the Old Testament, is 'Shalom'. Rev. Richmond described how the term means more than 'peace and quiet', it also means goodness, favour, prosperity and abundance.
King David wrote Psalm 72 in honour of his son, Solomon, whose reign covered much of the known world and experienced peaceful prosperity for 40 years. But, as the Pastor explained, even Solomon could not be described as a perfect king. The world can look forward to a time when the words of the psalm ring even truer than they did in the days of Solomon.
In prayer and in song, Hesed Fellowship came before their true king.
A Bible study and prayer meeting took place in Tenby on Tuesday evening.
Sunday services are held weekly at 4.15 pm in Carringtons Restaurant, below the Atlantic Hotel on Tenby's Esplanade. For further details, ring 01646 681805.
LABOUR PARTY AGM
The annual general meeting of Tenby and Saundersfoot branch of the Labour Party was held at St. Teilo's Church Hall, recently, when a record number of members gathered for pre-meeting coffee and biscuits.
Chairman Mollie Neate thanked everyone for their help and support during 2003.
She outlined the highlights of the year as being the re-election of Assembly Member Christine Gwyther in May and the hard work involved in the Cottage Hospital Campaign. Mollie's presence at the Labour Party Conference had been a hectic and interesting personal experience. She thanked Olive Spence for her excellent efforts in continuing to organise the constituency lottery. The Summer Lunch Party had once again been a social and financial success, as had the Quiz Night at the St. Brides Hotel.
The chairman thanked joint secretary Marjorie Bevan for producing a stimulating calendar of monthly speakers and events. Welsh Assembly Minister Andrew Davies AM, Philip Evans, local businessman and chairman of the Wales Tourist Board and County Clr. Joyce Watson, leader of the Labour group on Pembrokeshire County Council, were among the excellent speakers welcomed.
Mollie had also attended all the meetings of the Local Health Board and the Hospital Trust, and had succeeded together with stalwart members of Friends of the Cottage Hospital, Christine Gwyther AM and Nick Ainger MP, in keeping up the pressure.
This pressure certainly produced some results in the compromise decision delivered, and the Health Minister's insistence on an implementation committee being formed with a strong representation of local people. Mollie was very pleased to have been asked to serve on this committee.
Treasurer Doug Wall presented a health financial report. The increased attendance at meetings and events in 2003 had helped boost this result.
Membership secretary Dot Ridley reported an increase in membership over the year. She also reported the sad death of a senior member Joyce Richards.
All the officers on the committee were unanimously re-elected, except Paul Rich (vice-chairman), who resigned and in whose place Will Rossiter was elected. Audrey Hilling, Tony Wales and Bryn Rees were elected as new members of the constituency and county parties.
The branch committee officers for 2004 will be: Mollie Neate - (chair); Will Rossiter - (vice-chair); Marjorie Bevan and Norman Spence - (joint secretary); Doug Wall - (treasurer); Dot Ridley - (member secretary).
Member of Parliament, Nick Ainger expressed his great pleasure at attending the meeting and congratulated all the many members present for their enthusiasm, hard work and interesting meetings, which helped make the branch so successful.
Chris Gwyther AM chose democracy-at-work as her theme. She also thanked the Tenby and Saundersfoot branch for their great support in the last Assembly Election, and for their continued pressure on the Cottage Hospital issue.
Marjorie Bevan (joint secretary), building on the previous success of the guest-speaker calendars in 2002 and 2003, announced that the diary was now full for the Saturday branch meetings in 2004 and asked for continued membership and supporters' attendance.
Chairman Mollie announced a special social event being organised by the Tenby branch. This was a constituency dinner at the Fourcroft Hotel, Tenby, on Friday, February 13. Welsh Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan would be the after-dinner speaker. This was a ticket only event for members, supporters, their families and friends. For details please contact Mollie on 843147, or collect menus for selection on January 17 at the next meeting. Numbers are limited, so please book your ticket soon, to avoid disappointment.
Constituency chairman Mike Thorne thanked Nick Ainger MP and Chris Gwyther AM for their close participation in constituency meetings in 2003. He warmly congratulated Nick Ainger on his re-selection as the Labour Party Parliamentary candidate for the 2005 General Election.
The Christmas raffle prize, a hamper donated by Malcolm and Marjorie, was won by Doug Wall.
Sherry and mince pies were then enjoyed by everyone.
The next meeting of the branch is at 10.45 for 11 am on Saturday, January 17, when the guest speaker will be Mr. Hamish Sanderson from Usk in Gwent. Based in London, he is a Labour Party representative on the National Policy Forum. Everyone is welcome to the speaker slot.