The Ministry Area Blog
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Loving the Stranger - Hospitality and Open Hearts.
One of the verses in the New Testament that I find most enigmatic is Hebrews 13:2:
"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
If you are familiar with the Old Testament…
The Importance of Hospitality
As we progress through the Lenten period in preparation for a glorious Easter celebration, we may be missing some special items from our diet. In my case, chocolate, which is the most obvious thing for me to be abstaining from as, sadly, it’s the only treat that I truly struggle to be without. In the olden days, Catholic cookbooks contained two categories: ‘fat days’ when no fasting or abstinence was required and ‘meagre days’ which speak for themselves.
The Countdown to Lent Has Begun!
As we approach Lent (Ash Wednesday is the 5th of March), it’s all too easy to think of Christianity as Bad News. Lent often comes with rules, or giving up chocolate, and all that goes with it. But, understanding Lent can actuallly help us better understand the Gospel, as through the observance of a good and holy Lent, we can enter in more fully to the saving joy of Easter…
The Good News: Good for Who?
When Mark the Evangelist tells us that the start of his book records 'the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God' we can rightly ask 'good news for who?'…
The Good News: Caesar’s, or Christ’s?
In Ancient Rome, monuments were carved to celebrate the Good News of the birth of the son of a god. This 'god-man' would triumph over his foes and enforce a lasting peace at the point of a sword…
Sharing what God has provided
Unlike the stormy beginning to 2024, we have certainly experienced a very chilly start to 2025. During the icy conditions, it’s always difficult to comprehend the concept of global warming but who could deny the fact given the extreme weather conditions being reported from all corners of the world? The TV images of wildfires, severe storms and drought definitely give food for thought and it is reported that 2024 was the first year on record to pass the 1.5C global warming threshold. We are also told that, on average, the UK is getting more rain per year.
Observe; Think; Commit.
We are beginning the new year by renewing the way we spend time with God in prayer. This means taking the opportunity to: observe our practices, think about our habits, and commit ourselves to a discipline of prayer….
Threshold of a New Year
As we stand on the ‘threshold’ of a new year we tend to look both backwards at the one just passing and forwards to the one to come. It is a time of reflection. We are acutely aware that 2024 held worldwide and local events both wonderful and dreadful, as, no doubt, will 2025. The one thing of which we can we certain is that, in 2024, in our Ministry Area of Penybont ar Ogwr we experienced both highs and lows.
Of the Father’s Heart Begotten
One of my favourite Christmas Carols is Of The Father's Heart Begotten. I especially enjoy the 1906 translation of the original poem that comes down to us from the middle of the 4th century.
Blessings Follow Unity
In Psalm 133, God promises that blessing will follow unity. At the last Ministry Area Council meeting, the MAC spent half an hour thinking about what it means for us to be united as a Ministry Area. We were able to identify very quickly what unity does not mean. Unity doesn’t mean doing everything the same. Unity is not the same as uniformity.
It’s Beginning to look a lot like Advent…
Although Advent has only just begun, we have seen a huge outpouring of festive Joy around the Ministry Area. From the Advent Experience Coffee Morning at Brackla, to the Pen-y-fai Young Farmers’ Carol service, we are connecting families and young people into the life of Christ through his body, the Church…
Joy To Bridgend
I imagine that we might all agree to a feeling of utter astonishment that 2024 has passed so rapidly and that we are once again approaching the season of Advent and the preparation for our Christmas events and services. The message being sent out from our Ministry Area is ‘Joy to Bridgend’ and to each of our eight church communities.
Engage
We have been taking more time to engage over the past few weeks; this has looked like putting on the sorts of events and services that reinforce our position at the heart of our communities. Remembrance was an especially good time to engage, as people are searching for meaning, and an eternal context in which to set their hopes and fears. Many of you will have been to visit the brilliant Remembrance Display at Merthyr Mawr over the last week; there are opportunities for all our churches to connect with local people in similar ways.
Invitations & Festivals
November is proving to be a very special month in the life of our Ministry Area. We began on Sunday with All Saints Day – such a joyful celebration in all our churches, but especially at All Saints Penyfai, where they held their patronal festival. In a similar, but more subdued, way it was St Illtyd’s Day today, and we kept the occasion up on Newcastle Hill. This coming Sunday, 10th November, is Remembrance, which means our service times will be a little diNerent in some churches.
Confirmation
Do you remember your confirmation? I remember mine. I was 21 and had just begun my postgraduate studies. For the preparation course, we spent three months…
Celebrating differences
Recently, I was invited by my lovely seven-year-old neighbour, to be present at the service to mark her First Holy Communion. When I arrived, the church was filled with family members, so I slipped into a seat, next to a young man, right at the back of the church. He was considerate and immediately began talking to me asking if I was there to support a grandchild.
Growing
It is now only a month until Confirmation Sunday, when on Sunday 17th November at 10am we will welcome Bishop Mary to St Mary’s Church, Nolton. I cannot wait to see you all there as together we celebrate and support our MA Candidates taking their next step of faith. I am told that our last joint service was the best attended Ministry Area Service so far – and I am excited for the Bishop to see that we are growing as a community.
Generous Hearts
Generous hearts have been on display across the Ministry Area over the last few weeks. Not only in our Season of Giving, which has seen many people sign up to support the Ministry Area in new or increased ways, but also in the support we’ve poured out for others.