St Asaph Round-up: Dydd Iau, 11fed Rhagfyr 2014
Newyddion o Esgobaeth Llanelwy: Thursday 11 December
2014
Christmas Services in local papers - The press have been in touch asking for details of
Christmas services in our Churches. If you would like your Christmas services to be listed in
the local press, please send details through to philtopham@churchinwales.org.uk by Friday
12 December.
***STOP PRESS*** £15m UK fund for listed Church roof repairs – This fund is
available to all listed churches that have had their roof repair work highlighted in a
Quinquennial inspection but the deadline to apply is Friday 30 January 2015. The work has
to be completed within two years and a faculty doesn’t have to have been agreed yet for
you to apply. Up to £100,000 is available for each Church. You can find out more details
here: http://www.nhmf.org.uk/LatestNews/Pages/LPOWRoof.aspx or on our website here:
http://bit.ly/12mdGdN
This week:
“Carols and Songs from the Shows" with the Vale Singers. Friday 12 December in St
Mary’s, Towyn 7.30 p.m. No charge, but donations welcome!
Nativity Scene Festival at St Beuno’s Church, Berriew from 12 December to 6
January. Poster of events circulated previously.
Entertaining Angels weekend - 12-14 December at St Peter’s, Ruthin - including
exhibition of 'angels' made by the public and children's singing competition.
An evening of music with Dave Bainbridge from Iona. Saturday 13 December in the
Old School Room, Llanarmon yn Ial, Mold, CH7 4DA. Doors at 7 p.m. starts at 7.30 p.m.
Poster attached.
“St John’s Nativity Festival” Rhosnesni, Wrexham. Please come and join us in the
celebration of Jesus Christ. 13 and 14 December, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Carol Singing Saturday
2 p.m. & 3 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. Plus: live music; refreshments; various Nativity
displays; interactive fun with toy figures; dressing up fun with a life size Nativity scene
Admission: £2 per adult £1 per child.
"Blue Christmas" - A service for those who will find Christmas celebrations difficult this
year, for any reason. Please join us as we gather to hear the Christmas story and gently
remind ourselves of God's love revealed through the gift of the Christ Child. Sunday 14
December in St Mary’s, Towyn at 3 p.m.
St Asaph Cathedral’s Artist in Residence Angela Davies will be hosting an open
studio event to share some of the ongoing work in response to the theme of pilgrimage on
14 December from 4 - 5 p.m. For more information contact Angela on
stasaphpilgrimage@gmail.com
"Chaotic Carol Service" followed by refreshments in Christ Church, Pontblyddyn. Sunday
14 December at 4 p.m. This will be a fun celebration of Christmas, featuring "Bethania
Puppets" and "Ysgol Derwenfa Choir". Crèche Facilities available - All Welcome.
The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Evensong with Carols by Candlelight in St
Asaph Cathedral on Sunday 14 December at 6 p.m. This will be followed by traditional
Christmas Refreshments and announcement of the Choir Association Christmas Raffle prize
winners. Raffle tickets (£1 each) are available from Alan or at the Song School (01745
584053) – all monies raised go towards the ongoing work of the Cathedral Choir.
Advent studies in Connah’s Quay DATE CHANGE – During Advent, the Parish of
Connah’s Quay will be hosting a study series called “Do you hear what I hear?” each
Tuesday at 7 p.m. in St David’s Church. Please see the poster circulated previously for more
information.
Carols with The Salvation Army at All Saints Poyser St, Wrexham on Thursday 18
December at 7.30 p.m. £5 entrance.
Information/Marketplace:
HMRC is ending its concession allowing envelopes bearing old style Gift Aid declarations
to be used up. Churches and charities that have not replaced their Gift Aid envelopes since 2011
may now be using invalid declarations. New wording requirements were introduced in early
2012 emphasising the need to ensure donors understood they needed to pay enough tax to
cover all donations in the year. The new rules also clarified which taxes qualified for Gift Aid. An
HMRC spokesman said: "As we approach the end of 2014, after 2½ years, we do expect
churches to have stopped using old stocks of Gift Aid declarations and Gift Aid envelopes and to
now be using forms and envelopes that contain the updated wording explaining the types of
income tax that can be used to cover a donor's Gift Aid declarations." A bilingual updated
declaration can be found at http://stasaph.churchinwales.org.uk/life/fundingfinance/funding/giftaid/ or you can see further guidance at
http://www.parishresources.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/GAB4DecsandEnvs.pdf
Coming soon:
Forest Church - The December Gathering will take place on Saturday 20 December
with a Winter Solstice climb of Moel Famau. Hot Chocolate awaits those who make it to the
top! Revd Stuart Elliott says: “Now I know everyone is busy, but that is the point! It is time
to take a moment to reflect on the year past and the year to come. Not indoors worrying
about the last minute details for Christmas, but outside with our feet firmly on the floor. At
the cold, dark half of the year it is important to give ourselves a lift.” Meet at the car park
for Moel Famau at 11.30 a.m. Directions: From the A494, follow the signs for Moel Famau
at Tafarn Y Gelyn. The car park is on the right, the one with the toilets.
‘Christmas Eve in Sinan’ - There are a number of events planned for All Saints Church,
Sinan on Christmas Eve, including the sequel to last years’ successful ‘four and a half
lessons by disco light’, which is entitled ‘A few carols more.....’
The events start at 2 p.m. and culminates in Community Carol Singing at 4.05 p.m. More
information can be found on the church website, just click on the following link
http://parish.churchinwales.org.uk/a015/event/christmas-eve-at-sinan/
Artist in Residence Pilgrimage - There will be an 8 mile circular walk along part of the
North Wales Pilgrim's Way on Tuesday 13 January. It begins at 9.30 a.m. from Ty Gwen
Hotel, Rowen. For further information and to confirm attendance please contact Angela
Davies, Artist in Residence at St Asaph Cathedral on stasaphpilgrimage@gmail.com
Film Screenings responding to Pilgrimage - There will be an evening of artists' film
screenings that respond to the theme of Journeying and Pilgrimage on Wednesday 21
January at 6.30 p.m. at St Asaph Cathedral. Refreshments provided, all welcome. The
evening has been organised by St Asaph Cathedral’s Artist in Residence Angela Davies. For
more information contact her on stasaphpilgrimage@gmail.com
Reminders:
Please see the following message from Revd Hermione Morris: “ In support of
NSPCC's 'Go Green' campaign to get info about the support, advice etc they provide into
primary schools, I've pledged to wear a green NSPCC t-shirt everyday this month. Please
give what you can at www.justgiving.com/Hermione-Morris or send to me at the Rectory
please. Also please share this as widely as possible. Thank you Hermione”
TCC Fair Funerals Action - How would you feel if you couldn’t afford a decent send-off for
someone you love? Today more and more people are struggling with the cost of a funeral
and more than 100,000 people in Britain are living with funeral debt. As you may know,
TCC ran a successful campaign to make local funeral directors more open and honest about
their pricing. Recently we've been working with Quaker Social Action, Church Action on
Poverty, and other organisations to get this turned into national policy. On 9th December
the Funeral Poverty Bill will be presented in Parliament. Please click here to contact your MP
and encourage them to support the Bill: http://www.tcc-wales.org.uk/#!fair-funerals/c3hc
Please note that the correct email address to use for contacting Revd Bryn Parry
Jones is parryjonesbryn@gmail.com
Please see the following message from Revd Sue Moriatry – “HELP! Please is there
anyone out there who has a financial background, and would be willing to use their
expertise to help the parish of Christ Church, Mostyn? This would be on a voluntary basis so
it is a big ask. Please contact Mrs Helen Dawson on 01352 720913 M 07940865939.
Thank you. Revd Sue Moriarty.”
Double your donation to the Jubilee debt campaign for free. See the information
circulated previously to find out how.
What’s on
St Asaph Choral Society 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert on Saturday 13
December. Messiah - George Frideric Handel at St Asaph Cathedral at 7.30 p.m. Graham
Eccles conducts members of the Philharmonia of North Wales. Tickets , Adults £12. Children and students. £6. From 01745 730727 or choir members. Additional car parking at
Ysgol Glan Clwyd.
Christmas Carol Concert led by Alun Birchall and Bob Gilston at All Saints Church
Cymau on 21 December at 4 p.m. This event is free with refreshments. Poster circulated
previously.
Events taking place at All Saints Poyser St, Wrexham:
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9 lessons and carols on Sunday 21 December at 4 p.m.
Christmas Eve Crib Service at 3 p.m.
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols followed by mulled wine and mince pies at St
Peter’s, Ruthin. Sunday 21 December, 5 p.m.
Crib Service with Nativity and Carols - Sunday 21 December in St Mary’s, Towyn at 6
p.m. Everyone welcome to join us as our 948 Club present the Nativity story and as we build
our crib within the altar. Mince pies and mulled wine will be served!
The Revd John Bernard Jones retires at the end of the year having been Vicar of St.
Mary's Nercwys and St. Mary's Treuddyn for the past 24 years. A presentation evening
will take place on Saturday 3 January 2015 at Hafan Deg Community Centre, Treuddyn at 7
p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend. Anyone wishing to contribute to the presentation
fund can do so by contacting Mrs Mair Williams 01352 771442 or Mr Ken Jones 01352
759816
A Fun Quiz and Hot Meal at St Giles' Church, Wrexham. Saturday 17 January at
12.30 p.m. Tickets £5 at the door or from the parish office: 01978 355808 or email
management.stgiles@gmail.com
StAR - If you want something including in the St Asaph Round up, please send it to
sianconnelly@churchinwales.org.uk. The next StAR will be on Thursday 18 December.
Check back on previous editions of StAR at http://stasaph.churchinwales.org.uk/news/star/
(also linked from the home page)
Nominate people in your church to receive this information. It’s free and we want to share
it! Ask your PCC Secretary, Wardens or Parish Communications Officer to send an e-mail to
sianconnelly@churchinwales.org.uk with ‘Subscribe to StAR’ in the subject line and we’ll do
the rest.
Sian Connelly
Administrative Assistant / Cymhorthydd Gweinyddol
Diocesan Office /Swyddfa'r Esgobaeth
High Street / Stryd Fawr
St. Asaph / Llanelwy
LL17 0RD
Tel.01745 582245 ~ Fax 01745 530078