Blaenwysg Braf

Rhagfyr - 2013 - DecemberThe magazine for the six churches and communities

of the Blaenwysg Beneficein the Upper Usk Valley

From the study window “Sleeper, awake! the watch-cry pealeth” (Advent hymn)Yes, indeed, wake! Advent is upon us – that short season when we prepare for the Coming of Jesus, prepare to rejoice at the Incarnation, the Birth of Jesus. There is much to be done to make ourselves ready to celebrate this most joyous, important event. Many of us wonder if it is all worth the effort with our exhausting pace of life. It is! To be able to wonder and rejoice at the mystery of the Incarnation it is well worth the effort. We long for a space, a time of stillness, of quiet. We need such a time if we are going to rejoice fully in the birth of Jesus, just as Jesus Himself withdrew to a place of quiet whenever major decisions were upon Him. The familiar Advent hymns all remind us of the need to prepare, to make ready to welcome the coming of Jesus. If we are to prepare, to make ourselves ready then we need a time of stillness, of quiet, to refresh our minds, to calm ourselves to see the truth of that wondrous Birth amidst all the bustle and bright lights of Christmas. Beginning on December 2nd there will be an opportunity for just such a time of stillness, of quiet with a service of Night Prayer at Rhydybriw church.

May we, O lord, still our hearts and mindsfrom the busyness of this time, that we may beready to rejoice in the birth of Jesuswho comes to save us and call us to Himself. Amen.

May the grace and love of Jesus be with you.

Who and whereRev M P Wilding, Bryn Orsaf, Sennybridge, LD3 8RR 01874 638927

Lay Reader Sue James 01874 636126 Benefice wardens : Adele Price 01874 636289 Beryl Price 01874 636271

St Cynog, Defynnog, LD3 8SBChurch wardens : Alwyn Perkins 01874 636151 Siân Miller 01874 638855

St Ilid, Crai, LD3 8YPChurch wardens : Gwyn Price 01874 638844 Beryl Price 01874 636271

St David, Llywel, LD3 8RGChurch warden : Eileen Edwards 01874 636608

St Teilo, Llandeilo’r Fân, LD3 8UDChurch wardens : Valerie Lewis 01874 636485 Mervyn Prosser 01874 638261

Capel Rhydybriw, Sennybridge, LD3 8RTChurch warden : Thurza Morgan 01874 638106

St Mary, Treanglas , LD3 8REChurch wardens : Ivor Pugh 01874 638158 Bess Jones 01874 636256

Regular Services

Sunday First Second Third Fourth

9:30 Crai Crai Rhydybriw Crai (Mattins)

11:00 Defynnog Llywel (Family Service)

Defynnog Llywel

2 pm Traeanglas

3 pm Llandeilo’r Fân

4:30 pm Llwyel Defynnog (Evensong & Holy Eucharist)

A combined service is held at 10 am on the fifth Sunday. The next combined service will be on December 29th at Capel Rhydybriw.

Holy Eucharist is held at Trecastle Community Centre at 10:30 am each Thursday and on the first Wednesday of each month at Rhydybriw.

Benefice AnnouncementsBeginning on 2nd December at 7.30 pm and each Monday through Advent, there will be an opportunity for stillness and quiet with a short service of Night Prayer (Compline) at Capel Rhydybriw.

Croeso! Welcome to the first edition of the new parish magazine for the communities in the Blaenwysg group of churches, surrounding Sennybridge. Our aim is to publish this four times a year, and to include the kind of news and articles that you would like. So please tell us what you think of this issue, and make suggestions as to what you would like to see in it. The first edition is free, but in order to be sustainable we would welcome advertisements (at very reasonable rates), or we may ask for subscriptions of up to £1 a year. We can also expand the magazine to include more news about the chapels, and clubs and community groups within the boundaries of the six parishes: Crai, Defynnog, Llandeilo’r Fan, Llywel, Rhydybriw and Traeanglas. The next issue will be produced before Easter, so we should like news, calendar dates up to May 31st and requests for advertisements by February 14th. Do please get in touch with any one of us : John Clifford 01874 638178, john.migley@btinternet.com , Sue James 01874 636126, tysiloh@gmail.com , Siân Miller 01874 638855, sian.miller@btinternet.com

Côr AchlysurolA benefice choir has been formed to sing an appropriate anthem or similar, on an occasional basis at services on church festival days. Practices will be arranged prior to each occasion, usually at St Cynog’s, Defynnog.If you enjoy singing, please come and join us – we need both men and women. Please ring Lesley (01874 636199) or Sophia (01874 636207) if you’re interested in taking part.

Gyd-gyfarfod yn bobl Dduw: Gathering as God’s peopleFis Gorffenaf diwethaf roedd Gymanfa Ganu yn Llywel yn amser gwych. Cyfle roedd e i gasglu ynghyd fel bobl Dduw – rhan cyntaf gweledigaeth yr esgibodaeth: Teulu wedi ein gwreiddio yng Nghrist, yn gweddnewid bywydau trwy Gyd-gyfarfod yn bobl Dduw, Cyd-dyfu’n fwy tebyg i lesu, Cyd-genhadu yn nerth yr Ysbryd.

The Gymanfa Ganu in Llywel church in July was an inspiring time, an excellent example of the Gathering part of the Diocesan Vision:

A family, rooted in Christ, committed to transforming lives by: Gathering as God’s people, Growing more like Jesus, Going out in the power of the Spirit.

Bydd gwasanaeth nesa y grŵp yn 2014 a’r degfed ar hugain o Fawrth yn Llywel: cyfle arall i addoli mewn grŵp mawr a chanu i’r Argwlydd yn ffyddlon.

T h e n e x t g r o u p service in 2014 will be on 30th March at Llywel: another o p p o r t u n i t y t o worship in a large group and truly sing to the Lord.

Sennybridge W.I.Making Christmas Decorations from Fabrics December 3rd at 7.00 pm in Maescar Hall.

Sennybridge W.I. meets every first Tuesday in the month in Maescar Hall. A warm welcome to anyone who would like

to join us.

News from the Pews

St Cynog, DefynnogIn September, we opened the church for the Brecon Heritage Week and were pleased to welcome many visitors, some on a specific quest to trace family history and others just soaking up the atmosphere of our beautiful Grade I listed building. The Harvest Festival service in October gave us the chance to celebrate memories of a golden summer with the church decorated with flowers and produce followed by a delicious Harvest Supper.

St Ilid,Crai In July a good crowd turned out for the Duck Race and Barbecue, which raised £970 for the church – and everyone had a great deal of fun. On August 17th we were delighted to celebrate the wedding of Laura Williams and Matthew Johnson. Laura is the daughter of Jeanette and Glyn Williams of Cwmpadest.

Capel Rhydybriw,Sennybridge Capel Rhydybriw is located within Sennybridge Defence Training Camp. It claims to be the warmest church in the benefice and the only one that is unlocked. Supported by a small group of enthusiasts, it is always clean and furnished with floral art. There are 2 services each month and the pews can occasionally be seen occupied by members of the armed forces at prayer.

St David, LlywelThrough recent money raising activities, the Friends of St David's have raised over £9,000 to help fund much needed repair work to ensure the longevity of our grade 1 listed building. Christmas cards designed by Julie Howells, featuring a beautiful painting of one of our stained glass windows, will be on sale during November. Other items including a specially commissioned tea towel and a poem by Len Williams (“Len the Black”) will also be available for Christmas.

St Teilo, Llandeilo’r FânFollowing tradition at Llandeilo'r Fân, many local people from surrounding farms attended the harvest Thanksgiving on 10th October. The church was prettily decorated with flowers and fruit. Some of the congregation kindly left donations of food for the new food bank in Brecon. A Harvest Buffet was enjoyed by the large congregation in the village hall after the service.On 29th September the choir led a combined congregation from churches in the Benefice to welcome Scarlett Walker on her Baptism.

St Mary, Traeanglas At the beginning of October, we held our Harvest Service with the Harvest flowers and in the evening light the church always looks special. The following week we held our annual bingo fund-raising where we all had a lot of fun. Numbers proving luckier for some than for others. Two lovely opportunities for us members and friends to come together. Our many thanks to all.

Off The Bus Club ... The Off the Bus Club was launched in September, with a dozen children on the register. The Club meets from 3.45 (off the school bus) to 5.00 pm every Monday in term-time in Neuadd y Plwyf, Crai. It is run by Liz Matthews with helpers from the churches and chapels. The children enjoy games and songs, with a Bible story and craft activity. The snack of jam or chocolate spread sandwiches and squash is very popular. We look forward to contributing to the carol services in Crai. Children aged between three and eleven are welcome to come along to the club. Please contact Liz Matthews on 08174 636797.

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Calendar

DecemberFri 6th 7:30pm Bingo, in aid of St Ilid’s Neuadd y Plwyf, church CraiJanuaryThurs 16th 7:30pm Praise and worship with Bronydd Mawr Penny and Ifor Williams

Sat 18th 7pm Sennybridge Show Dinner Castle Hotel, Brecon

Fri 31st 7:30pm Sennybridge Show Maescar Hall Whist Drive

From the Parish Registers

This year we welcomed the following into the Church

Name Baptism date ChurchCharlotte Rosie Morgan 31st March St David. LlywelEdward Gort 18th August St Mary, TraeanglasCaitlin Mair Williams 1st Sept St. Cynog, DefynnogScarlett  Walker           29th September   St Teilo, Llandeilo'r

Fân

We celebrated these marriages

Name Date ChurchRhiannon Howard-Gordon 13th July Capel Rhydybriwand Stephen SadlerLaura Williams     17th August   St Ilid, Craiand Matthew Johnson

We gave thanks for the lives of Name

Janine Davies Sheila Morris Keith Davies Joyce Noller Lily Jones Glyn Powell Deanna (Dinkie) Jones   Hugh Seult David Moses Olwen Watkins Patti Ida Morris   Gwilym Williams John Ivor Morris  Leo Williams

Christmas Services

Sun Dec 1st, 6pm Carol service Zoar Chapel, Pentrefelin

Tues Dec 3rd, 2pm Sennybridge School, Christingle

St Cynog, Defynnog

Wed Dec 18th, 6:30pm

7pm

YFC Trecastle Carol ServiceCarol Service

S a r o n C h a p e l , CwmwysgBrecon Cathedral (with Sennybridge School Choir)

Thurs Dec 19th, 7pm Carol Service St Cynog, DefynnogSun Dec 22nd, 9:30am 11am

2pm

2:30pm

6:30pm

Holy EucharistChildren’s Nativity ServiceChristmas Service

Christmas Service with Communion

Children’s Nativity

St Ilid, CraiSt David, Llywel

Zoar Chapel, PentrefelinBrychgoed Chapel, Heol Senni

St Ilid, CraiChristmas Eve, 6pm

6:30pm

9pm

11:50pm

Holy Eucharist & Carols

Carols and readings

Holy Eucharist & Carols

First Mass of Christmas

St Teilo, Llandeilo’r FânHoreb Chapel, Crai

St Mary, Traeanglas

St Cynog, Defynnog

Christmas Day, 9:30am 11am

Holy Eucharist & CarolsHoly Eucharist & Carols

St Ilid, CraiSt David, Llywel

Sunday 29th, Dec 10:00am

Holy Eucharist Capel Rhydybriw, Sennybridge

Christmas Events

Thurs 28th Nov 6pm Christmas Bingo Sennybridge School

Sat 30th 30th Nov 11am - 3:30pm Advent Art and Craft FairSt Cynog, Defynnog - Inspired gifts, festive treats.

Sun 1st Dec 1pm - 4pm Christmas Tree dressingSt Cynog, Defynnog - sponsor a tree, decorate a tree.

Sat 7th Dec 2:30 - 4:30pm Christmas crafts for families Trecastle Community Centre

Sun 8th Dec 7pm Christmas Social Event Trecastle Community Centre

Wed 11th Dec (see posters for time) Christmas Concert - Sennybridge School

Thurs 12th Dec 6pm Christmas Concert - Sennybridge School Tues 17th 2:30pm - Christmas Fayre Sennybridge School