July 2010
The Rector Writes – July 2010
Dear Friends
Last month I promised to address some of the eight critical factors for a healthy church outlined in ‘Dry Bones Can Live’ by John James.
June 2010
The Rector Writes – June 2010
Dear Friends
I have been reading a book called ‘Dry Bones Can Live’ by John James, who is a former minister of a Baptist church in Penarth near Cardiff. The title is based on one of the most graphic passages in the Old Testament – the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel chapter 37.
May 2010
The Area Dean Writes
Dear Everyone
Many of you will have heard that the Bishop has appointed me as Area Dean of Hawarden. To fulfill this ministry and serve this deanery in this way I feel is a great privilege, and to do so well, I would appreciate your prayers. As I start this ministry I just wanted to write a short letter to each parish to do primarily two things.
April 2010
The Rector Writes – April 2010
Dear Friends
You will be familiar with Aesop’s story of The Boy Who Cried ‘Wolf’. A young shepherd enjoyed observing the panic which was caused by shouting out that there was a wolf coming so much that he did it too often, with the result that when there really was a wolf no one took him seriously and the wolf destroyed the flock.
March 2010
The Rector Writes – March 2010
Dear Friends
Have you noticed that the passage of time speeds up as you get older? I don’t remember Einstein explaining that in his Theory of Relativity! It may come as a surprise to you that it is only four years since all church members were asked to fill in an application form for the membership list known as the Electoral Roll. The Diocese has reminded us that this is now due. Here are a few questions and answers about it.
February 2010
The Rector Writes – February 2010
Dear Friends
This month I would like us to consider the question, ‘What is a Christian?’ I have come across several definitions and I have noticed that whilst many of them are in terms of a person’s character and virtues or maybe their membership of the Church very few are anything to do with Christ.
January 2010
The Rector Writes – January 2010
Dear Friends
This month includes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which runs from 18th to 25th. Local churches have organised a service to launch the Week on the preceding Sunday evening – 17th January – at 6 pm at St Francis’ Catholic Church in Llay, which always offers a warm welcome on such occasions.
December 2009
The Rector Writes – December 2009
Dear Friends
“All Things Bright and Beautiful” is one of the best-known of hymns. Modern hymn-books omit the following verse:
The rich man in his castle,
the poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
and ordered their estate.
It’s not difficult to understand why this item is not usually sung
November 2009
The Rector Writes – November 2009
Dear Friends
Pam and I would like to express our thanks to everyone who congratulated us on the occasion of our silver wedding anniversary. We were married at 12 noon at Holy Trinity Church, Norwich on Saturday 29th September 1984 and therefore we have spent just over one third of our married life in this parish.
October 2009
The Rector Writes – October 2009
Dear Friends,
During the September meeting of the Parochial Church Council we received, with regret, the resignation of Michael Fletcher as People’s Parish Warden on grounds of health. Mike has had varied experience of this role in various parishes and in connection with several of his postings in the RAF. We are