The weekly newsletter for the Benefice of Laleston and Merthyr Mawr with Pen-y-Fai The LaMMP WELCOME TO OUR CHURCHES If you are new to church or visiting, or if you would like communion to be brought to you in your seat, please make yourself known to the sidesperson 18 th February 2018 The First Sunday of Lent THE WEEK AHEAD Monday 19th Thomas Burgess (Bishop & Teacher of the Faith) 0800 St Teilo s, Merthyr Mawr Morning Prayer 1900 All Saints, Pen-y-Fai Lenten Compline Tuesday 20th Saints, Martyrs & Missionaries of Africa 0800 All Saints, Pen-y-Fai Morning Prayer Wednesday 21st 1045 St David s, Laleston Funeral 1900 St Mary s, Nolton Bishop June s Lenten evenings To live is to change Thursday 22nd Friday 23rd Polycarp (Bishop & Martyr) 0800 St David s, Laleston Morning Prayer Saturday 24th Sunday 25th Second Sunday of Lent 0830 St Teilo s, Merthyr Mawr Holy Eucharist 1030 St Teilo s, Merthyr Mawr Morning Prayer 1030 All Saints, Pen-y-Fai Holy Eucharist 1030 St David s, Laleston Holy Eucharist
Collect Almighty God whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. A reading from the Old Testament Book of Genesis (9: 8-17) Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. God said, This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth. Psalm 25 (1-10) 1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. 3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. 6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness sake, O Lord! 8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. A reading from the 1 st letter of St Peter (3: 18-22) For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him. A reading from the Gospel according to St Mark (1: 9-15) In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. Post Communion prayer Merciful Lord, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you To everyone who helped arrange and support the two Shrove Tuesday events this week. Both the Mothers Union Pancake Tea in Laleston and Pen-y-Fai s Pancake Evening and beetle drive were well attended and fun and they raised just over 100 and 300 respectively. Lent service leaflets Leaflets are now available at the back of all our churches detailing the additional services and activities happening through Lent. Our Monday evening complines begin tomorrow (19th Feb) at All Saints Pen-y-Fai starting at 7pm. In addition, Bishop June will be giving a series of talks about change, as part of Wednesday night evensong services at St Mary s Church, Nolton. Our Benefice will be leading the worship on the night of March 21st and volunteers are requested to act as readers/prayer leaders on that evening. Please contact Anthony if you would like a name to be added to our Benefice-wide, prayer lists. It will remain for four weeks only, after which Anthony should be contacted again if the need remains Recently Departed Ministry of healing (for your prayers) Margaret Hulbert Sheila Stevens Helen Waters Readings for: February 25th Second Sunday of Lent Gemesis 17 : 1-7, 15-16 Psalm 22 (23-31) Romans 4 : 13-25 Mark 8 : 31-38 (for the families of) Trevor Silverman Olive Nicol Henry Boyce Margaret Bertorelli Jack Edwards Enid Price Bernard Jones Clergy Contact Details Anthony s day off is Thursday Anthony Beer, The Vicarage, Rogers Lane, Laleston CF32 0LB Tel : 01656 859 487 e-mail : blammp2013@gmail.com Find us online at http://parish.churchinwales.org.uk/l545/ or on Facebook at merthyr mawr, st teilo s church penyfai all saints church penyfai Laleston st david s church
Notices / Dates for Diaries / Congratulations Church Council / PCC Meetings The next round of PCC and Church Council meetings is upon us. Would PCC members and all who participate in Church Council meetings please note the following details. Laleston & Merthyr Mawr PCC : Tuesday 27th February at 7.00pm in St David s Church Hall, Laleston. Please note the change to date and time Draft notes from recent meetings of St David s Church Council and Pen-y-Fai PCC are available in churches, please do take one and have a look at what s being discussed. Congratulations and a big welcome.. to baby Arthur who was baptised in St David s Church last Sunday afternoon. We welcome Arthur into God s worldwide church and offer him (and his family) all our love and prayers as he sets out on his journey of faith. Lenten Evenings with Bishop June The titles of Bishop June s talks in her series of Wednesday evening conversations through Lent are as follows : 21st Feb : To live is to change 28th Feb ; Change involves loss 7th March : Change and Conflict 21st March : Change and suffering Dates for Diaries / Real Easter Eggs The Real Easter Egg 2018 The Real Easter Egg campaign for 2018 is underway and the Benefice order will go off on Monday March 5th. The Real Easter eggs are all Fairtrade eggs (and are also free from Palm Oil) but there is now a small range of eggs from which to choose. Order forms are available at the back of church for the Original ( 3.99), Dark ( 5.50) and Special Edition ( 9.99) eggs, or you can contact Anthony. If you want one of the boxes of eggs (ie the Egg Hunt or the Sharing box) please contact Anthony direct on 01656 859 487) Further information is available online at www.realeasteregg.co.uk On Friday March 2 nd in The Pheasant, Pen-y-Fai a meal and quiz night has been arranged and all across the Benefice are welcome. Please sign the sheet at the back of All Saints Church or contact Delyth Parry (01656 724 994) or Jenny Morgan (01656 722 953) for more details and/or to reserve your place. Annual Vestry Meeting Updating the Electoral Roll Our Annual Vestry Meetings take place on Sunday March 18 th and over the next two weeks we will be updating the Electoral Rolls. Please check the Rolls which are displayed in each of our churches and if you spot a mistake or need to get on the Roll, please speak to Anthony or to your church wardens.