1. Art and Diseño

Newydd
February 2015
The Parish magazine of
the Rectorial Benefice of Aberavon
www.parishofaberavon.org
60p
Newydd
page 2
February 2015
Condon Funeral Service
Funeral directors
John Condon M.B.I.E.
Michael Condon M.B.I.E.
Glanafan Court Funeral Home
48-50 Margam Road,
Port Talbot
SA13 2BN
01639 883688
01639 885452
24 hour service
Newydd
page 3
From The Rector
[email protected]
01639 883630
Were you confused when you read last
month’s magazine and saw that Fr Ben’s
article from December had been
reprinted?
So was I ! How did that happen?
Well, the one possibility is that I had lost
my mind and just made a huge mistake.
That is a perfectly feasible scenario, but
alas not true.
February 2015
There are some things that are entirely
outside our sphere of control.
But, there are other things that are entirely
within our sphere of control.
One such thing that depends upon us, and
not the vagaries of computers, the
changing weather patterns or the whims of
other people is our determination to keep
the seasons of the Church Year in a way
that leads us into a deeper relationship
with Jesus, using the opportunities the
Church provides on a regular cyclical basis
to learn from the life of Our Lord and grow
in spiritual grace.
What happened is that, when I completed
the editing and had it ready to send to
Denise the computer crashed. When the
computer was restored to its working glory
I had the chance to recover the work I was
engaged on just before the crash - the
magazine. But, although I had finished the
work I hadn't saved the entire document,
and so two pages repeated themselves
from the previous document, and I didn't
notice.
St Luke says of the infant Jesus:
“The child grew and became strong, filled
with wisdom; and the favour of God was
upon him.”
If you are confused it doesn’t matter these things just happen.
The keeping of a good Lent enables us to
ponder anew the reality of our discipleship
and gives opportunities for a renewal of
our lives and a re-assessment of the
discipline we exercise in our lives in
relation to God and the Church. Something
over which we alone have complete
control.
That is what the owners of the Parish
Opera House told the prima donna in Lloyd
Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera,” “these things happen!” Her reply was,
“Well, until these things stop happening,
this thing” (banging her chest) “does NOT
happen!” She was emphatic that they had
to stop the awful things that were taking
place and scaring everyone ( including the
apparent suicide of a stage hand. ) It was a
tall order, and something the owners of
the Opera House found themselves
incapable of achieving.
We are all God’s children, and even if the
days of our youth are over, we need to be
continually filled with wisdom, and we
surely desire the favour of God to rest
upon us.
We are about to enter the fourth season of
the Church Year. Already we have moved
from Advent to Christmas and through
Epiphany. Lent is just days away, and it is a
very important time of preparation for the
queen of all festivals: Easter.
Newydd
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February 2015
Newydd
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Every year I emphasise the importance of
keeping a good Lent as a time of reflection,
spiritual renewal and preparation. I am
convinced that without the keeping of a
good Lent, with discipline, endeavour and
sacrifice, we do not properly appreciate
the work of Jesus in bringing salvation. As
Lent leads us into Holy Week we are called
to set aside everything else that we
normally do and concentrate entirely upon
him who is the Lord and Saviour of us all.
Then, when we come to sing once more
the Alleluia that has been set aside for the
forty solemn days of Lent, we will with
heart and mind be able to more deeply
appreciate the love of God for us as
individuals, communities and nations.
Of course, I cannot make you take Lent
seriously. Indeed, I don’t have to make
many of you take it seriously because you
already do, and it is such a pleasure to see
how seriously many of you pursue the
holiness of Christian living. But there are
also many of you who don’t take it
seriously, and I find that baffling. And there
is one more thing that baffles me that I will
come to in a moment.
Even as a teenager, I found it difficult
to understand why so many
people refused to
come to the
weekly Lent
service on a
Wednesday night
in the parish
church. We
would have
about 70
people from
right across the
parish (4 churches )
February 2015
but on something like Ascension Day we
would have 130 people.
Lent was quite well kept: we had
missionary boxes, were encouraged to
fast, to ponder our sins and seek
forgiveness and to prepare through the
weekly Lenten addresses to celebrate
Easter. But so many people wouldn’t come
out: and I frequently asked myself, “Why?”
But then I would also wonder “why” again
in Holy Week: for so few would make the
effort to be in church and follow Jesus to
the cross every night. Monday through to
Wednesday we would be lucky to hit 40.
Come Maundy Thursday we would
probably get about 80, but on Good Friday
the church was packed out.
Then would come the Easter Vigil, and we
would be lucky to get 20 people there for
the first mass of Easter, held in the night but midnight mass at Christmas would
bring out 200 people.
And that’s the other thing that baffles me:
even the most loyal and apparently devout
people cannot see that they should be in
church during Holy Week, but without fail
on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and
Easter Eve. It seems that these things are,
put simply, of no consequence to so many
people who nonetheless want to sing that
Alleluia on Easter Day and for the rest of
the year.
For one week in 52 we are asked to set
aside our routines and give our all to God.
And put equally simply, so many can’t be
bothered. There are meals out with
friends, theatre trips booked in advance,
Newydd
page 6
regular social activities that we enjoy every
week that we can’t possibly give up.
I just thank God that Jesus was able to
carry on with all he did for us despite the
pain and suffering and the inevitable
temptation to set it all aside and have a
quiet, peaceful, ordinary routine-bound
life.
People are very kind and they often
apologise to me and to my colleagues
throughout the Diocese as to why it simply
isn't possible to take Holy Week, (but
especially Maundy Thursday, Good Friday
and Easter Eve) seriously. But, actually, it
makes no real difference to my salvation or
my relationship with Jesus that they
haven’t come. I, and none of the other
diocesan clergy, need an apology. No one
has turned their backs on us. It is Jesus
who calls out “ is it nothing to you, all you
who pass by?”
So why do I care? Why do I bother to
encourage, exhort, implore people to keep
a good Lent and ensure they are in church
during Holy Week, but without fail on
those important three days we call the
Triduum that begin with Maundy
Thursday? Why do I put myself and you
through this every year?
February 2015
prepared to stand out. That they are
prepared to witness to the world that they
have priorities that demand they change
their weekly routines in order to show
everyone how God matters in the world,
in the community, in each individual life.
I want people to grow in love and faith so
that others may grow in love and faith too,
having been inspired by our common
example.
For just as I want individuals to grow I
want the parish to grow. I want, and
yearn, for growth in our three churches;
for a new generation of people to follow
each other in that cycle of life that will see
those who come after us still singing His
praises within the hallowed walls that we
all hold so dear. And I know that if we fail
in this generation there may not be
another.
So, every year, I will continue to remind,
exhort, suggest and invite everyone to
rethink their lives and keep a good Lent;
and I thank God that Jesus was no prima
donna whose call in the Garden of
Gethsemane was “this thing do not
happen” but rather ‘My Father, if it is
possible, let this cup pass from me; yet
not what I want but what you want.”
Because I want people to feel what I feel:
to love Jesus with the same intensity I love
him; to discover a relationship that sees us
through the many pains and sorrows of
life as well as the joys, and to be ever more
certain of the fact that His love has
brought us such a precious gift as freedom
from sin and death.
Perhaps that can be our motto for Lent:
Father, not what I want but what you
want.”
AND, I want the world to see that
Christians are different: that they are
Canon Nigel
___________
With my prayers and good wishes,
Newydd
page 7
February 2015
O happy band of ringers!
These are some of the people who have been honing their skills on the bell ropes at St
Mary’s for many months, and who rang the lovely peal on Christmas Eve for the First Mass
(C)
of the Nativity.
They planned to ring again on the 1st February, so if you were at the Benefice Candlemass
celebration you will have heard the bells ring out again.
Thank you all for your hard work, and for your commitment to learning the ropes.
Holocaust Memorial Service
You are all invited to a service at the Princess Royal Theatre on Wednesday 4th February at
7.00pm.
Good wishes
We extend our good wishes to Bernard Rees ( husband of Anne ) who is recuperating after
an accident, to Sylvan Thomas, recuperating at home after an operation, to David Watkins
and Dilys Rowlands who have been into hospital, to all those who receive Holy Communion
at home and in our nursing homes.
Newydd
page 8
‘Come and See’
February 2015
by Fr Ben
In a reading which we heard on Sunday a
few weeks ago from St John’s Gospel, Jesus
emerges onto the scene and begins calling
people to follow him.
Firstly, some of John the Baptist’s disciples
follow him, one of whom is Andrew, Simon
Peter’s brother, who brings Peter with him.
Jesus then tells Philip to follow him, who
then goes to find Nathanael and brings him
along too, even though Nathanael is
sceptical.
It’s an interesting beginning to John’s story,
in which many remarkable things will
happen, because these first disciples don’t
see any amazing things happening but
simply seem to be fascinated by a person,
by Jesus, and are drawn by their fascination
to follow him. Others, like Nathanael, are
sceptical and need people to encourage
them to ‘come and see’ when they are told
about Jesus. It is this encouragement,
followed by an introduction to Jesus
himself, which adds to the number of
Jesus’ followers.
In the Benefice, one of our plans for this
Eastertide is to offer a short course in Holy
Trinity Church which will hopefully
introduce people to Jesus.
The plan is to send invitations to each
household on the Sandfields estate, simply
inviting them to ‘come and see’ - and
hopefully some people will respond and
want to come and discover more about
Jesus. The course will try and help people
to discover who Jesus is by looking at some
of the things Jesus says about himself in
John’s Gospel and will last for seven weeks.
Our hope and prayer must be that people
who come will indeed encounter Jesus,
just as those first disciples did, and that
they might perhaps be intrigued enough by
what they discover to want to follow him.
One thing we can all do is pray about the
course and for those who might come perhaps I could encourage you to use the
prayer at the end of this article to do so,
particularly during Lent.
But one other thing which we will also
need is for people from across the Benefice
to come along to Holy Trinity for those
seven weeks and be willing to accompany
those who might come to learn more
about Jesus as they undertake the course.
It’s obvious from the beginning of John’s
Gospel that one of the things which some
people needed in order to discover Jesus
was someone to invite them - to say to
them ‘come and see’ - and then to
accompany them on the journey.
We will be sending out invitations - and
you can spread the word amongst people
you know too - we will be saying to
people ‘come and see’. But the reason why
we need to be committed to attending the
sessions in Holy Trinity ourselves is so that
others who may come can have
companions on the journey like Andrew
and Philip who went to people and told
them about Jesus but then went with them
to see him.
We can pray that, by our invitation, and by
our willingness to be with others on the
journey, people may encounter Jesus and
be as fascinated by him as those first
Newydd
page 9
February 2015
disciples were. And perhaps, by our
example and encouragement, they might
just begin to think about becoming
disciples too.
‘Nathanael said to Philip, ‘Can anything
good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to
him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw
Nathanael coming towards him, he said of
him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom
there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him,
‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus
answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree
before Philip called you.’ Nathanael
replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God!
You are the King of Israel!’’
Let us pray:
Almighty God, who called your Church to
witness that you were in Christ reconciling
the world to yourself: we pray for all those
we have invited to ‘Come and See’ this
Eastertide, and for ourselves as we seek to
bring others to know your Son. Help us to
proclaim the good news of your love, that
all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the
cross, and reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Course dates
Please write these in your diary now:
April
14th, 21st, 28th
May
5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
Each session will start at 7pm and finish by
8.30pm
Jesus calls Nathanael
Course themes
The sessions will look at the “I Am” sayings
of Jesus:
14th April
I am the bread of life
21st April
I am water for the thirsty
28th April
I am the light of the world
5th May
I am the Good Shepherd
12th May
I am the True Vine
19th May
Jesus is The Word
26th May
A time to reflect and think
about the future
Newydd
page 10
February 2015
Deposits of £20 per person should now be given to Fr Nigel.
Cheques are to be made payable to LDWP please.
Balance payable by 14th June
Newydd
page 11
February 2015
From the Registers
Our condolences
The Faithful Departed
It was sad to hear the news that Muriel
Harries had died before just before
Christmas, but it was recognised by the
family that it was the right time for her though of course there would never be a
right time for them.
Muriel had lived all her life in the shadow
of St Agnes’ and was a faithful
churchwoman. We assure Jeanette and
Linda of our continued prayers and good
wishes as they come to terms with their
loss.
We extend our deepest
sympathy to the families of
those who have recently
died, amongst them
Muriel Harries
Beryl Crawford
Violet Caroline Maud Phillips
Christine Frederick Collins
Justin Josiah Marshall
May they rest in peace
and rise in glory.
Communicants for the month of
December
7th
119
14th
117
21st
121
28th
117
Thank You
I would like to thank everyone for their
kind wishes, cards and gifts, which I
received over the Christmas period. I wish
you all a very Happy, Healthy New Year.
Joan Jenkins
We offer to Roger Slennett our sympathy
on the death of his mother, and to Rhun
ap Robert on the death of his grandfather.
Please pray too for Lily Garvey, who has
died. Lily lived next door to St Paul’s for so
many years, and was faithfully cared for by
church members and neighbours, as well
as the professional carers.
Congratulations and Best
Wishes to

Danny Bird who will be celebrating his
80th birthday on 5th February.

Howell Price who will be celebrating
his 60th birthday on 11th February.

Megan Clements who will be
celebrating her 90th birthday on 27th
February.

Denise and Ray Tamlyn who will be
celebrating their Ruby Wedding
Anniversary (40 years) on 15th
February.
200 Club St Mary’s
The winner for January was number 63,
Danny Bird.
Newydd
page 12
February 2015
Fibromyalgia Support Group
South Wales
hold meetings regularly at
Saint Mary’s Centre
on the 2nd Tuesday of each
month
12.30 pm - 2.30 pm
Refreshments available
Everyone Welcome
Rolls Choice
Café &
Takeaway
1st Floor Aberafan Shopping
Centre (next to Library)
Selection of Home Cooked Meals
Wide variety of Rolls and
Baguettes
For any inquiries please contact:
Yvonne Singleton 01639 681468
or
Linda Cardy 01639 769097
Welsh Cakes Freshly Baked
Telephone: 01639 885374
Cockwell’s Funeral Service
Cwmavon
Established Over 135 Years
Dedicated Private Chapel of Rest
24 Hr Service 365 Days a Year
Personal Attention
Funeral Director: Andrew Akins
Telephone: 01639 884585
3 Seaward Avenue, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan, SA12 7LT
www.cockwellsfuneralservice.co.uk
A Family Concern With A Concern For Families
Newydd
page 13
February 2015
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday
18th February
Mass with imposition of ashes
10am
11am
7pm
at Holy Trinity
at St Mary’s
at St Agnes’
Give and eat lunches
begin 12 noon Thursday 19th February at St Agnes’
and on Friday 20th February at St Mary’s after
Stations of the Cross, which starts at 12 noon.
Stations of the Cross
every Wednesday night at 7pm at St Agnes’
(except 25th March Sung Mass for the Annunciation)
every Friday at 12 noon at St Mary’s
St David’s Day celebrations
Concert
All are warmly invited to the Friends of St Mary’s St David’s Day
Concert by Côr Serenata and the Cymric Male Voice Choir on Friday
27th February at 7pm at St Mary’s Church. Tickets £5, available from
Susan Hughes on 770832 or pay at the door.
Sung Mass & lunch
All are welcome at the St David’s Day Mass on Saturday 28th February at 12pm at St Mary’s
Church which will be followed by a Cawl lunch. Please put your names on the list at the
back of church if you intending staying for lunch after mass.
Why not the 1st March? Sundays in Lent cannot be kept as Saints’ Days, as they are
regarded as so important a time in our preparation for Easter.
Newydd
page 14
February 2015
Nosh & Natter
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 4th February at 7pm at Holy Trinity Church with a
talk on Pancake Day. All are very welcome.
Men’s Fellowship
The Annual General Meeting will be at Holy Trinity Church on Monday 9th February
commencing at 7pm.
Mothers’ Union & Dementia Friends
Dementia Friends is an Alzheimer’s Society led initiative, funded by the Welsh
Government. It aims to increase dementia awareness and change the way the nation
thinks, talks and acts about dementia.
A Dementia Friend is someone who has attended a one hour information session and has
committed to an action that will make the lives of people living with dementia a little bit
better. Anyone of any age can be a Dementia Friend and every action counts – from
helping someone to find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia on social
media.
The Aberavon branch of the Mothers’ Union jointly with
Dementia Friends Wales, invite you to attend a light buffet
lunch, followed by a free one hour Dementia Friends
information session on Tuesday 10th February 2015 at
12.30pm (buffet lunch provided) in the Michael Sheen suite at
Blanco’s Hotel, Green Park, Port Talbot, SA12 6NT
During the Dementia Friends session you can learn more about dementia and how you can
help to create dementia friendly communities.
If you would like to find out more about Dementia Friends please visit
dementiafriends.org.uk
If you wish to attend please contact Joan Oxley on 01639
774366 or by emailing: [email protected]
Newydd
page 15
Daily Bible Readings
Monday
02-Feb
Hebrews 11.32–end
Psalm 31.19–end
Mark 5.1–20
Tuesday
03-Feb
Mark 5.21–43
04-Feb
Hebrews 12.4–7, 11–15
Psalm 103.1–2, 13–18
Mark 6.1–6a
Thursday
05-Feb
Hebrews 12.18–19, 21–
24
Psalm 48.1–3, 8–10
Mark 6.7–13
Friday
06-Feb
Hebrews 13.1–8
Psalm 27.1–6, 9–12
Mark 6.14–29
Saturday
07-Feb
Hebrews 13.15–17, 20–
21
Psalm 23
Mark 6.30–34
Monday
09-Feb
Genesis 1.1–19
Psalm 104.1, 2, 6–13,
26
Mark 6.53–end
Tuesday
10-Feb
Genesis 1.20—2.4a
Psalm 8
Mark 7.1–13
Wednesday
11-Feb
Genesis 2.4b–9, 15–17
Psalm 104.11–12, 29–
32
Mark 7.14–23
Thursday
12-Feb
Genesis 2.18–end
Psalm 128
Mark 7.24–30
Friday
13-Feb
Genesis 3.1–8
Psalm 32.1–8
Mark 7.31–end
Saturday
14-Feb
These readings are suggested for private use
at home each day. It is good to try and set
aside some time each day for reading
Scripture as part of our personal payer
routine.
Hebrews 12.1–4
Psalm 22.25b–end
Wednesday
February 2015
Genesis 3.9–end
Psalm 90.1–12
Mark 8.1–10
Monday
16-Feb Genesis 4.1–15, 25
Psalm 50.1, 8, 16–end
Mark 8.11–13
Tuesday
17-Feb Genesis 6.5–8; 7.1–5, 10
Psalm 29
Mark 8.14–21
Wednesday 18-Feb Joel 2.1–2, 12–17 or Isaiah
58.1–12
Psalm 51.1–18
2 Corinthians 5.20b—6.10
Thursday
19-Feb Deuteronomy 30.15–end
Psalm 1
Luke 9.22–25
Friday
20-Feb Isaiah 58.1–9a
Psalm 51.1–5, 17–18
Matthew 9.14–15
Saturday
21-Feb Isaiah 58.9b–end
Psalm 86.1–7
Luke 5.27–32
Monday
23-Feb Leviticus 19.1–2, 11–18
Psalm 19.7–end
Matthew 25.31–end
Tuesday
24-Feb Isaiah 55.10–11
Psalm 34.4–6, 21–22
Matthew 6.7–15
Wednesday 25-Feb Jonah 3
Psalm 51.1–5, 17–18
Luke 11.29–32
Thursday
26-Feb Esther 14.1–5, 12 –14 or
Isaiah 55.6–9
Psalm 138
Matthew 7.7–12
Friday
27-Feb Ezekiel 18.21–28
Psalm 130
Matthew 5.20–26
Saturday
28-Feb Deuteronomy 26.16–end
Psalm 119.1–8
Matthew 5.43–end
Newydd
page 16
Wells Cathedral Trip
The Friends of St Mary’s are running a Pre
Mothers’ Day trip to Wells Cathedral on
Saturday 14th March, leaving the Bus
Station at 9am. Cost £11 per person.
On the way back we will stop for a meal at
the Masons Arms Bryncethin at 5.30pm,
cost £8.95. Menu is available now. If you
wish to go please contact Monica Selway
as soon as possible on 01639 883984.
Take notice
That in accordance with The Constitution
of the Church in Wales Chapter IV C [III,
7.3] the Electoral Roll of the Rectorial
Benefice of Aberavon must be revised this
year.
The revision will begin on Sunday 1st
February 2015 and the new Roll will take
effect at the Vestry Meeting in April 2015.
February 2015
From a parishioner
Premier Christian Life Line.
One of our parishioners has found
Premier Christian radio to be very helpful
in the early hours when sleep doesn't
seem to come, and at other times of the
day too.
There is also a Life Line on 03001110101
the National Christian helpline.
But, Premier Christian radio will close
unless they can raise money towards the
Broadcasting licence. They have until 31st
March because of a 3 month extension.
To donate text “hope” 70907 to give a £5
donation or go to premier.org.uk/donate
Our parishioner also wanted to share with
you all that a new Christian television
channel started on 5th January 2015 on
Freeview channel 65: films, drama
documentaries, music, cartoons, youth
shows, ministry, news and more.
PCC Meeting
The next Parochial Church Council meeting
will take place on Monday 2nd March after
6.30pm Mass at St Agnes’.
Woman Bishop
The first woman bishop was consecrated in
England on 26th January.
Confirmation 2015
This year we will be going to Aberaman in
the Cynon Valley with candidates who
wish to be confirmed. The date of the
service is 29th September.
If you are interested in confirmation
please pick up a form from the back of
church, fill it in and give it to one of the
clergy.
We anticipate classes staring around the
22nd June, and would appreciate an early
return of forms in order to help us plan
the classes properly.
Newydd
page 17
February 2015
Britain's Holy Places
by Avril Williams
Northumbria was the most powerful of the
Anglo Saxon Kingdoms which had been
inhabited since the time of the Bronze Age.
In 627 Edwin, the Anglian king of
Northumbria, converted to Christianity and
was baptised by the Roman missionary St
Paulinus. Edwin's great niece Hild, born in
614 was also baptised by Paulinus at the
age of thirteen.
Being a close missionary companion of
Saint Aidan, he managed to persuade Hild
not to travel to Gaul to become a nun but
to remain in Northumbria. She became
the Abbess of Hartlepool in 649 and
founded the Monastic settlement at
Streanaeshalch which later became known
by the Danes as Whitby.
The monastery contained monks and nuns
(which was not unusual in the Celtic
tradition) and soon became a place of
education and the arts. It was at Whitby
that the first religious poet Caedmon
composed his 'Hymn to Creation' in the
emerging English Language. At least five
bishops were trained there and it is to
Hilda's credit and powers of reconciliation
that Whitby was chosen to host the Synod
of Whitby in 664.
For some time the differences between the
Celtic and Roman traditions had been
causing confusion. Should the monks hair
be cut in a tonsure to represent the crown
of thorns, or should they shave the front of
the head and grow a pony tail as was the
style of the Druids? Should baptised
converts be dipped into water once, or
three times as in the Celtic tradition? But
most difficult of all was the problem of the
celebration of Easter. The Celtic and
Roman missionaries celebrated at
different times. One particular instance
was in the marriage of King Oswiu and his
wife - Edwin's daughter. She was still
observing Palm Sunday when Oswiu was
celebrating Easter according to the pattern
laid down by Saint John. Eventually a
nineteen year cycle was established and
with The Venerable Bede adding Anno
Domini to the year, this became the
prescribed method.
today the ruins are cared for
by English Heritage
Hilde or Hilda continued to encourage
Christians in the ways of Rome and was
credited with many miracles and many
myths grew up around her. One story tells
how Hilda rid Whitby of snakes by cutting
off their heads with her whip. Fossils of
ammonites found locally were long
thought to be the fossilised bodies of the
headless snakes. She is thought to have
died around 680 and was buried at Whitby
Abbey until her remains were removed to
Glastonbury in the tenth century. Hilda's
monastery was destroyed by the Vikings in
867.
The Domesday Survey referred to a
'prestebi' Danish for the habitation of
priests and in 1078 under William the
Conquerer Reinfrid a monk from Evesham
built a new monastic community there but
only for monks. Around 1100 a stone
Newydd
page 18
February 2015
History in the making
Port Talbots Ladies Choir Côr Serenata, made a little bit of history on Tuesday 20 th January 2015
by being the first ladies community choir to be invited to sing at the Palace of Westminster.
The ladies were invited by Lord Kinnock to go along to The Atlee Suite and Entertain an audience
made up of members of parliament, including Lord Cashman. **
Kerry Joshua writes: “We took several supporters with us and they were all invited to take part
in the whole day. We all had a tour of parliament and they really enjoyed our singing. Lord
Kinnock, his wife Glenys and son Steven said they felt so proud to have Welsh ladies there
singing, and they joined us in singing Calon Lan, and had photographs with us all. We left Blanco’s
at 10.30am and reserved a restaurant in Swindon to stop for lunch on the way to London. We
returned at 12.30 in the night, but it was a wonderful day and every one loved it. Lord Kinnock
said we would definitely be invited back next year, so we are all looking forward to that. We are
indeed a very proud choir.”
Kerry, the choir’s manager, and Matthew Lewis the choir’s Musical Director thanked Neill
Kinnock for giving the choir such a wonderful opportunity.
**Many of you will know Lord Cashman by sight from a previous life, as he was an actor and
starred in Eastenders during its early years - when he was known simply as Michael Cashman.
Before his ennoblement as Baron Cashman he was a member of the European Parliament. He is
now an advocate of secularism.
from page 17
church existed in the Romanesque style with a parish church nearby. It became the richest
monastic community in Yorkshire.
After the Dissolution of the monasteries, Sir Richard Cholmley (1600 – 1657 )bought the
abbey buildings which had been weakened by erosion from wind and rain and built a new
manor house.
In December 1914, two German battleships, The Von Der Tann and the Derfflinger attacked
the headland and the abbey was seriously damaged.
Today Whitby is still dominated by the Abbey ruins on the cliff top. English Heritage now
care for the site and undertake valuable work to keep it in repair. A new visitor centre
suspended in the shell of the 17th century mansion was opened in 2002.
Newydd
page 19
February 2015
Are you joining the 2015 campaign to reclaim Easter?
Voted the UK’s favourite Fairtrade Easter Egg. The campaign is making progress, but
there’s still a long way to go. As ever a donation of 10p per Real Easter Egg (Original) is
made to Traidcraft Exchange and this year the Meaningful Chocolate Company are helping
us promote their Fair Necessities Appeal on all their marketing materials.
Easter is a lot earlier this year, so you’ll need to shop sooner.
‘Peace Egg’
(Limited Edition)
The Real Easter Egg
Dark 180g
The Real Easter Egg
(Original)
Inside this specially crafted
edition of The Real Easter
Egg you will find an olive
wood dove keyring from
Bethlehem, a simple guide
to the Easter story, an
orange milk chocolate bar
(80g) and a luxury milk
chocolate egg (200g).
£9.99
Inside this dark chocolate
edition of The Real Easter
Egg you will find a simple
guide to the Easter story,
3 Dark Chocolate Mini
Squares (3x5g) and a
luxury smooth dark
chocolate egg (165g).
£5.50 each
This year inside the box
there is a 24 page Easter
story book, with quiz and
3ft ‘Happy Easter’ banner. A
high quality Fairtrade milk
chocolate egg (125g) and a
pack of Fairtrade Chunky
Buttons (25g).
£3.99 each
We can arrange to order the eggs for you direct, but we will need the
money up-front this year, please, and you do need to order before 22nd
February.
There is an order form at the back of each church. Please put your name there with the
number of each egg you require, and pay the wardens in your own church on or before
22nd February.
Why so early? Because, with Easter at the very beginning of April the wholesale
distribution has to take place in good time to get the eggs into the shops.
Newydd
page 20
For All Your Floral Needs
Margaret
Gammonds
Wedding Flowers
Funeral Tributes
All made to order
Tel: 01639 883291
and 01639 888537
Special Prices for
Special Occasions
February 2015
Rob’s Taxis
friendly and reliable
4, 5 & 6 seats available
wheelchair friendly
01639 893183
You drink - we drive
The Celebration Suite
at the Masonic Hall Forge Road
catering for weddings, birthdays and funerals
Sunday Carvery
Three courses for £10
contact Jayne on 07791452988
Newydd
page 21
February 2015
The PCC met on the 14th January
The following matters were discussed:
Autumn Fayre
The debrief meeting has taken place, the details have been published in the
parish magazine.
Holy Trinity Vicarage
Neath Port Talbot Council have offered to waive the covenant on Holy Trinity
House at a cost of £5,000 plus legal costs. The Executive Committee accepted
the offer on behalf of the Parochial Church Council. The fee can be paid when
the house is sold. Repairs to the roof have been made at a cost of £60 plus
VAT.
Christmas: a review
Christmas: The Story, the Rector congratulated Fr. Rhun on the production, it
went well with 1,386 visitors. Fr. Rhuh was pleased with the support from the
Benefice and other churches. He informed members that a meeting for
everyone involved will take place on Monday 19th January at 7.15pm at St
Agnes Church and that Wilkinson’s are happy to for it to take place again this
year. They have £1,096 in the account towards this year’s production but will
need to raise more funds. Paula Durnell proposed the Benefice give £1,000 to
support it and all agreed. It was also suggested members of the congregations
be asked to make donations towards the cost of the next production and all
agreed. Fr. Rhun also said that they are going to start a Hand Bell Ringing
Group soon and members from all churches will be welcome.
Christmas Services
The Carol Service was well attended by 270 people and £370 was donated for
Let the Children Live. Carol singing in the town centre was well received. The
numbers at Mass together for St Mary’s and Holy Trinity came to 2 more than
last year. It was agreed to have outside Christmas trees again this year and
the Memorial tree in St Agnes’.
Lent 2015
Ash Wednesday is on 18th February and the usual Masses will take place. Give
and Eat Lunches will also take place at St Agnes at 12pm on Thursdays and
after 12pm Stations of the Cross at St Mary’s on Fridays. Edna Williams for St
Agnes’ and Ann Lewis for St Mary’s will coordinate the lunches.
Newydd
page 22
February 2015
Finances
A statement of the current financial position was noted. Another appeal will
be done for the Churchyard maintenance fund. We will exceed the Charity
Commission limit therefore the account will have to be audited by an
accountant, for which we will have to pay. Mike Howe has been in touch with
DRP of Swansea to check costs.
Organ Repairs at St Mary’s
The Organ at St Mary’s is in need of repair at a cost of £3,108, we may need a
faculty for it. St Mary’s is to receive a bequest from Tina John of £5,000 and it
was agreed this be kept to pay for the repairs on the organ. Everyone agreed
that we cannot afford to allow the organ to fall into disrepair, and must do all
we can to tackle each job as and when it is necessary.
Parish Report
Fr. Rhun is compiling the report. The Annual Vestry meeting will take place on
Wednesday 22nd April.
Foodbank – taking food to Carmel
St Agnes and Holy Trinity need to put a system in place for taking food to
Carmel which is open Mondays 10am to 1pm to receive donations.
Mission and Charitable giving 2015
Agreed: to continue to support Let the Children Live, Embrace, the Church
Army in Cardiff, ACS, WaterAid, Christian Aid, the Mission to Seafarers, the
Foodbank and the Archbishop’s Training Fund.
Karen Davies suggested we make a collection towards the Ebola Crisis. The
Rector suggested a collection be taken at the next Benefice Mass on 1st
February at St Mary’s and all agreed.
Date of next meeting
The next PCC meeting will take place on Monday 2nd March.
Other Dates
Attention as drawn to the dates published in the magazine. In addition The
Friends of St Mary’s have booked a St David’s Day concert on 27th February, a
Skittles Night on 20th April, a Children’s Disco on 31st October. No other
groups have given dates for the coming year for any of their activities. The
Summer Fair will be on Saturday 13th June at the Parish Centre and Paula
Durnell will coordinate it. Copies of the minutes of the debrief meeting from
2014 were given to members. The Mothers’ Union together with Dementia
Friends are holding an awareness meeting in Blanco’s on 10th February.
Newydd
page 23
The Friends of St Mary’s
It’s time to start collecting the
subscriptions from those who are annual
Friends of St Mary’s.
If you are not yet a member, perhaps you
may consider the possibility. Have a chat to
Len Jones or Susan Hughes.
If you took out a life subscription to the
Friends of St Paul’s, please remember that
the offer to become a life member of the
Friends of St Mary’s free of charge still
stands. If you never got around to asking
for your membership to be transferred,
please have a chat to Len Jones.
Nuns thrown out of Crimea
The Russians have forcible expelled three
Roman Catholic nuns from Crimea
according to local sources.
The Church Times says:
“Their residence permits were not
extended, which forced their departure
and the closure of their small convent in
the Crimean capital, Simferopol. Since
Russia invaded the Ukrainian peninsula and
annexed it last year, a number of RC priests
and all Crimea's foreign-born imams have
been required to leave as well.”
Pope calls for peace
The world's governments, the Pope has
said, must strive to "end every form of
fighting, hatred, and violence, and to
pursue reconciliation, peace, and the
defence of the transcendent dignity of the
human person". He has called for dialogue
between the Israelis and the Palestinians,
and also between rivals in Ukraine.
February 2015
Crisis facing Indian
Christians
India’s Christian leaders have reported that
violent attacks, the desecration of
churches, forced conversions, and a
programme of "reconversion" spread fear
among India's Christian communities.
The country's church leaders have also
warned that government actions
undermine rather than protect the place of
the country's minorities.
The Rt Revd Pradeep Kumar (the
Moderator of the Church of North India) is
among several Christian leaders who have
called on the Prime Minister of India, to act
positively to stop the violence. Church
leaders have voiced great concern about
incidents of violence against buildings and
personnel, and mention a catalogue of
abuses, including the communal
ostracisation of Christians (for example,
banning them from using common water
facilities), physical assaults, and the
desecration of churches, including the
burning of a Roman Catholic church, St
Sebastian's, in East Delhi, on 1 December
last year.
The national secretary of the All India
Christian Council, Kumar Swamy, said that
Christians were being "threatened and
harassed" and forced to convert back to
Hinduism.
Please pray for the peoples of India to be
reconciled, and for our brothers and sisters
in Christ to be given strength and hope in
this conflict.
Newydd
page 24
February 2015
Our monthly mass intentions
Please use these intentions in your daily prayers at home:
1st February
The Police and Fire Services
2nd February
Local nursing and residentail homes
3rd February
The unemployed & the Job Centre staff
4th February
Neath Port Talbot Hospital
5th February
Post Office workers and Royal Mail delivery services
6th February
The homeless and roofless in our community
7th February
Glan Afan & Sandfields Comprehensive Schools
8th February
The Local Council: councillors, officers and other personnel
9th February
The Coastguards, Lifeguards & Mission to Seafarers
10th February
Local Magistrates, Magistrates' Clerks and staff
11th February
Local funeral directors and those who help the bereaved
12th February
Communities First & The Aberavon Renewal Area Team
13th February
Sandfields & Traethmelyn Primary Schools
14th February
Awel Y Mor & Tywyn Primary Schools
15th February
Rhos Afan Primary School & The pupil referral unit
16th February
Port Talbot Food Bank
17th February
The Forge Centre
18th February
GP's, community health care workers
19th February
Youth workers
20th February
The Sea Cadets & Air Training Corps
21st February
Let the Children Live
22nd February Our Missionary Society Us ( formerly known as USPG)
23rd February Those who work in our shops, cafes, pubs and hotels
24th February
Refuse collection staff and all who work in recycling
25th February
Those who are housebound and unable to worship in church
26th February
Water Aid
27th February
All local employers
28th February
The Ambulance, Air Ambulance & St John's Ambulance services
Seven Sacred Spaces
Cell - private prayer
Newydd
page 25
February 2015
© Church Times
Tom suddenly saw his granddad in a new light
Newydd
page 26
February 2015
Dyfrig R Jones of Cwmafan
Funeral Directors
Funeral director
Clive Manchipp
(Advanced Certificate in Funeral Directing)
8 Tyr Eglwys
Cwmafan
Port Talbot
SA12 9BD
01639 896440
24 hour service
Parish Directory
Rector
Parish Media Officer
The Reverend Canon Nigel Cahill
The Rectory,
Forge Road,
Port Talbot
SA13 1US
Simon Smith
[email protected]
07827 974529
01639 883630
[email protected]
Mr Michael Howe
01639 794138
[email protected]
Team Vicar
The Parish Secretary
The Reverend Ben Rabjohns
44 Ynys Y Gored
Port Talbot
SA13 2EB
01639 698878
[email protected]
Assistant Curates
The Reverend Jane Slennett (Parish Deacon)
42 Carlton Place,
Porthcawl,
CF36 3ET
01656 784840
[email protected]
The Reverend Rhun ap Robert
62 Mariners Point
Port Talbot
SA13 6DN
The Parish Treasurer
Mrs Denise Tamlyn
The Parish Office
01639 886740
[email protected]
Subwardens
St Mary’s
Mrs Anne Lewis
01639 892086
[email protected]
St Agnes’
Mrs Edna Williams
01639 886649
[email protected]
Mr Jeff John
01639 887030
Holy Trinity
Miss Karen Davies
01639 892395
[email protected]
01639 415651
[email protected]
The Benefice Director of Music
Mr Matthew Lewis
contact via the Parish Office
The Parish Wardens
The Mothers Union
Mrs Paula Durnell
01639 770829
[email protected]
Mrs Joan Oxley
Mrs Elizabeth Jones
01639 794559
[email protected]
01639 774366
Anglican Chaplaincy at
Neath Port Talbot Hospital
07917 526761
[email protected]
Baptisms & Weddings
Please contact the Parish Office
Monday
12pm to 3pm
Tuesday
10am to 1pm
Thursday
12pm to 3pm
The Rectorial Benefice of Aberavon
A registered charity no 1130785
Registered Office
The Rectory,
Forge Road, Port Talbot,
SA13 1US
01639 883630
[email protected]
01639 886740
[email protected]
The office is closed on Bank Holidays and
during Christmas week.
Post cannot be received at the churches or
the church halls.
Please use the registered office address.
Neath Port Talbot Hospital Chaplaincy
The clergy provide chaplaincy services to Anglicans at the local hospital, and the lead team member
is The Reverend Jane Slennett. The dedicated phone line and email are
07917 526761
[email protected]
The Sunday Eucharist
The Holy Eucharist on Weekdays
9.15am
Monday
St Agnes’ Forge Road
6.30pm
St Agnes’ Forge Road
but 10.00am Bank Holidays
11.00am
Tuesday
St Mary’s, St Mary’s Place
10.00am
St Mary’s, St Mary’s Place
Holy Trinity, Fairway
Wednesday
Sunday School is at St Mary’s at 11am
10.00am
Holy Trinity Church, Fairway
For times of services on Holy Days please
consult the parish website
11.00am
St Mary’s, St Mary’s Place
www.parishofaberavon.org
Thursday
10.00am
St Agnes’ Forge Road
Open Churches
St Mary’s and St Agnes’ are usually open every day during the hours of daylight.