A new format was used and the children took part with their own items. Rev. Gareth Edwards led the prayers and gave the Christmas message.

It was a wonderful prelude to the highly popular Lantern Walk through the village.

Local Preachers and worship leaders who would like to lead on a Tuesday are invited to contact Gwenllian Knighton  and any dates are available from end of January onwards.

ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE

IS BEING HELD ON SUNDAY

30^th OCTOBER FROM 6.00 pm

Everyone is invited to attend and to
remember loved ones who have died and were so special that they are forever in
our hearts and minds.

If you wish, you will be able to light a candle and to have the name of your loved-one
added to a “Role of Honour”

Light refreshments will be served after
the service and transport home within the village will be provided if requested.

• How has your understanding of being a Methodist changed from what you have listened to?
• Martyn talked about ‘dirty fingernail spirituality’ – how do you respond to this? From your own experience, how has your spirituality been dirty finger nailed?
• Is the experience of the local church always about settlement and being static? Why or why not?
• What does God want of you – individually, as a group, as a church or as a community?
• What image of Jesus do you follow?

See www.methodist.org.uk/dsign for more.

Martyn’s book on discipleship can be downloaded by clicking here.

The service will be taken by Victory Outreach – young people whose lives have been changed from drug/drink dependency to new life.

Come and hear how. All Welcome!

Tea and coffee will be served after the service.

The choir have taken this step in order to make their presence known in the wider world. Their constitution clearly says that they exist in order to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ in a modern way through the medium of music and drama. The choir make themselves available for mission and outreach events as well as performing concerts of their own.

Putting the videos on YouTube will give family and friends who can’t come to their concerts a flavour of what they are missing. Big thanks must go to Glyn Walters who filmed the concert and to Vic Owens who used his video software to create
the short video clips used.

The easiest way to find all the videos is to put ‘Spirit Choir Pontypool’ into YouTube’s search bar or follow one of the links below:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhh6LsmVBHQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yej8lZ_IUs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-6lFjSRPPI

Please look out for notices about a repeat performance of Testament in the new year!

Their latest production is ‘The Murder Room’ – a comedy by Jack Sharkey.

They will be performing at 7.30pm on the 1st and 2nd of July, 2011, at Llanyrafon Methodist Church.

Tickets £5 from the Box Office: 01633 485432.

Admission Tickets available at £2.50 each from Ann Ball (01495 214081) or Parish Nurse Lynda Booth (01495 272162)

All welcome. Proceeds to Parish Nursing.

Lynda’s Story

As a registered nurse my Christian faith has always been the basis for my work…..

Having been privileged to hold a variety of nursing posts over the past 38 years in acute care, midwifery, community, palliative care and for a short time at St Anne’s Hospice. My faith has encouraged me to see the value of nursing in an holistic way – physical needs have to be met, but emotional and social requirements play an important role in a person`s well being. Our spiritual health has a strong influence on our emotional and physical well being but in many spheres of nursing practice it is not always possible to address this area. In any professional / personal relationship listening is important and especially when individuals are going through difficult times with illness. I can remember being chastised by a ward sister for talking to patients and politely asked to please go and tidy the linen cupboard…..

Fast forward to some years later….

Having being nurtured in the church and becoming a church member, Sunday school teacher, steward and local preacher it was my work as a local preacher combined with my role as a district nurse that was to lead and provide an opportunity for mission and outreach into the local community through health ministry.

There came a time when my job as a D/N was no longer fulfilling and then an opportunity presented itself for early retirement. Then came an answer to a prayer – a leaflet about parish nursing came through my letterbox. I picked it up, put it down and kept reading it over and over. `This is it! this is what I want to do! Over the next few months the possibility of setting up a project was explored with PNMUK, church and circuit committees as well as shadowing a PN colleague.

Whilst it is still early days I am quite busy using my skills in a number of ways. I visit and support people hospitalised with serious and life threatening illnesses. I make home visits offering support and help. Prayer can be part of that support if appropriate. Support can also be given via a telephone call or a written Christian message. I promote positive health by encouraging healthy eating and lifestyles. I meet with people at coffee mornings, offer health advice and BP checks. I act as a resource person at a `Mums and Toddler Group` as well as making links with the 3^rd sector ( voluntary organisations ) through health fairs to raise awareness of `Parish Nursing` I encourage others to develop their gifts and talents by training volunteers to support the project. I work closely with the minister and pastoral teams in each church and will be looking at ways of developing more health related initiatives through the `Faith and Health Committee`.

Together with the initial training from PNMUK and some additional training from the Open Bible College on Ministry and Mission I am beginning to see how the role of the PN alongside my faith can help people in real and urgent need of help and support. If I/ we can make a difference to one life then we have made a difference.