News & Diary Page

(please scroll down for Diary)

 

Joan Baker Over seventy people were mesmerised as Joan Baker demonstrated her artistic skills in Llansanffraid on Saturday November 19th at the Community Hall. The event was organised by Mrs Viv Cook as part of the fundraising for the remodernisation of St Ffraid’s Church.

Joan Baker Joan Baker is a renowned artist. She demonstrated the movement from the beautiful simplicity of watercolour: creating a composition from translating into brushstrokes the reality of the known image to the journeying into mixed media for stronger statements about the underlying energy in the landscape. Joan paints her way through her life and for a day the people in Llansanffraid journeyed with her. Joan is a church member in Bishop’s Castle and has a following of local artists. The event raised £670 and church members provided refreshments throughout the day. In total over £66 000 has been raised by St Ffraid’s for this project.

 

 

Planting BulbsYesterday, the closest Sunday to All Souls, people gathered to a service of Remembrance for their loved ones. As well as the usual lighting of candles in church bulbs were planted in a corner of the churchyard to begin an eco memorial garden. Mrs Jennie Juckes (1658 finishing touches) has responsibility for the development of the area.

 

 

Ann KirkhamSt Ffraid’s re modelling fund three quarter way to its target thanks to grant aid funding. The church held an enjoyable morning on 29th October in which Ann Kirkham (of Floranz and daughter of the late Percy Thrower) demonstrated “Flowers with a touch of Sparkle”. Over 75 people supported the event organised by Mrs Viv Cook, Grant Co ordinator for the building project. The event raised £460 and Ann kindly donated her two displays as raffle prizes.

 

 A similar event will be held on November 19th, again in Llansanffraid Community with well known artist Joan Baker who will be demonstrating artistic skills. Tickets are selling well but always room for more. Please contact pampowell@micro-plus-web.net 01691 828244for further details.

 

 

St Ffraid’s is pleased to report that the car park is nearly completed and that both the Faculty and Planning Permission have been passed.

This will include:

· A new extension to house a toilet with baby changing facilities and kitchen.

· Removal of 2 pews each side from back to enlarge social area, welcoming area adjacent to new facilities.

· Removal of 2 front pews in front of pulpit to enable space for children / family service / concerts and other events.

· Removal of pews by North door to enable a quiet and more intimate space for prayer and counselling.

· Tidying up the existing vestry and inserting a door for security which will also provide a more comfortable meeting space.

 We have started applying for funding for this project and our target is £100 000. We have currently reached £52,000 by local donations and Grant Aid. Our latest donation of nearly £800 was from Cost Cutters in the village. Thank you to Jamie and all the staff. For further information about this project please contact Rev’d Pam Powell.

 

Llansantffraid and Llanfechain Diary

Many thanks to all who gave to the Llansanffraid appeal and to our Community Council for the grant from the recycling site.


A number of people from both churches have moved their regular giving to Gift Direct which means that we claim the gift aid monthly. Please contact Pam for further information on this.

 

The Grouped Parishes of Llansanffraid and Llanfechain

December 2011

 

Towards the end of the First Letter to Timothy, there is a stirring passage:
“Charge those who are prosperous in this world not to be over-confident.  They shouldn’t set their hopes on something so uncertain as wealth, but on God, who richly provides everything for us to enjoy. People should work for good, rich in acts of kindness, being open-handed and generous.  In this way, they will store up for themselves the best possible foundation for the future, and take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6.17-19)
This same passage is the source of the phrase - the motto - that has been chosen by the Standing Committee for the coming year:  “Take hold of the life that is truly life.”
This phrase calls us to begin the Church year by thinking about what is really important in our lives.  The claim of the Christian faith is that there is a fullness of life that begins with faith in Jesus Christ.  True life is first found when we make our peace with God, and let him into our lives.  Jesus himself said “I have come that you may have life, and life in all its abundance” (John 10.10) and God was born as a baby in Bethlehem in order to assure us of his forgiveness and welcome, if, like the prodigal son, we will turn and journey towards our true home.  Christian discipleship begins when each of us comes to Christ and makes our peace with him, a peace which is not based on any efforts to make ourselves worthy, but on a letting go, an acceptance that God’s love is unconditionally given.
Our diocese faces many challenges:  learning to be a people, who don’t just attend Church, but who become Church, and the initiative lies with you.  The diocese will be trying to get its message across in various ways in the course of 2012.  My hope is that together we can fashion a local Church in which you feel you have a vested interest; that offers teaching and fellowship and a quality of worship and life that helps you to grow in holiness.  If our motto means anything, however, it means that the initiative for change lies with each one of us, on our own generous response to God’s love revealed in Jesus.  May God bless you in this holy season and in the coming year.

+ Gregory Llanelwy

 28 November 2011, Advent Sunday

 

 

Regular services:  Morning Prayer or the Morning Office will continue at 8.30am in churches. (Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Llanfechain and Mondays and Thursdays in Llansanffraid.) This is a half hour service in which we pray for the World, the Church and our Parishes, including individual concerns. Exceptions-26th-29th.
 
Thursday Communions at 10am in Llansanffraid. A said  Communion (1984 Rite/ Green Book) which is a half hour service.  
 
The Vyrnwy Nursing Home is visited by the Pastoral Team for Holy Communion. This month’s visits will take place at 2pm on 7th  and 21st   
 
Prayer Group meets on the 1st and 3rd  Tuesday from 7-8pm in the Vicarage -6th and 20th  this month.
 

Schools: Pam sometimes supported by other church members, is involved most of the day each Tuesday in both our schools.

 

 

4th December: Advent 2

Llansanffraid

8am Holy Communion

11am Holy Communion

Llanfechain

9.30am Holy Communion

 

11th December: Advent 3

Llansanffraid

11am Carol Service (in Church this year)

Llanfechain

9.30am Morning Service

3.30pm Carol Service

 

18th December: Advent 4

Llansanffraid

8am Holy Communion

11am Holy Communion with Baptism

Llanfechain

9.30am Holy Communion

 

25th December: Christmas Day

Llansanffraid

11am Holy Communion

Llanfechain

9.30am Holy Communion

 

During Advent there will be a Prayer Labyrinth (devised by Jane) in Llanfechain. Church is open daily as usual and lights will be left on. Please visit and give yourself and God some time in this busy period.

 

Christmas Party
All are invited to the Vicarage on Friday 16th December from 6.30pm. Please sign up on the sheet at the back of churches to help us with numbers.


From 28th November until 5th December there will be an exhibition of work in St Ffraid’s by Robin
 
Those living in the village will receive a card giving details of all our services. Thank you to all who will deliver them.


Christmas Eve Crib Services
Between 2pm and 3.30pm there will be a “Living Crib” moving around Llanfechain village which will finish in St Garmon’s. Everyone welcome but ready made shepherds and angels very welcome!! Children must be accompanied to walk.
5pm Crib Service at St Ffraid’s, Llansanffraid
Again, ready made shepherds and angels very welcome!!


Christmas Eve at 11.30pm
 Holy Communion and carols at both Llansanffraid and Llanfechain.
 
Will church members please donate mince pies for the Carol Services. Thank you
 
New Year's Eve: There will be a short service in St Ffraid’s Church before we ring in the New Year.

Refreshments in the Vicarage afterwards.  Please let Pam know if you intend coming to this.
 
Services on Christmas 1 (New Years Day)

 8am (St Ffraid’s) and 9.30am (St Garmon’s) only. These will be said services to give our organists a rest.
 
Please note that for the rest of January St Ffraid’s will be closed for ceiling repairs and there will be joint services at Llanfechain at 9.30am. Please let us know if you require transport. We really hope that this won’t be considered “ a holiday” for the St Ffraid’s congregation. 8th (Morning Prayer); 15th (HC) ;
22nd (Family Service); 29th  (HC)

 

Other Dates

December 4th 6.30pm Choral Evensong and Advent Carols in Llansilin. If you require a lift ask Pam
6th Staging into St Ffraid’s for school performance
13th Llansanffraid school performances at 1.30pm and 6pm
17th 10-12 Rehearsal for those involved in the Crib Service in Llansanffraid
20th School services in both churches 
January 2012

 Saturday 14th Coffee Morning at The Vicarage in aid of The Living Stones Trail
29th January at 3pm. Caereinion and Llanfyllin Deaneries will celebrate their merger with a Service for Candlemas at St Mary’s Church, Llanfair Caereinion. Bishop Gregory to preside.

 

A Happy and Blessed New Year from all at The Vicarage

 

 

 

News Archive

Confirmation September 2008

Some of our 08 Confirmees with Bishop John on his last Confirmation in our  Deanery. We wish Bishop John and Mrs Davies a long and happy retirement.
 

 

St Ffraid's Church, Llansantffraid

Some of the animals who came to our blessing service yesterday. Rather wind swept but terapins, guinea pigs, ducks and a range of dogs brought their owners to worship. The talk was given by our local community vet-Mr Mark Overend who talked of the awe and wonder of his work particularly in the field of cardiology.

 

In March this year we held a Celebration of Marriage in St Ffraid's' church. This year our sister church, St Garmon's Church, Llanfechain has hosted more weddings than in the last 20 years. Half of these are Roman Catholic weddings and we are proud to share our church with another denomination. There have also been more weddings booked in Llansantffraid this year and our two churches are enjoying developing a ministry to couples and young families.
 

Easter

 

 

As usual we enjoyed a full week of services with our Worship Leaders leading the evening services.

 

 

 

This year Bruno led the Palm Sunday procession from the Community Hall to church and on Wednesday of Holy Week we enjoyed a pilgrimage to Pennant Melangell.

 

 

Confirmation

 

Bishop John after the Deanery Confirmation on 23rd September at St Ffraid's

Bishop John after the Deanery Confirmation on 23rd September at St Ffraid's. Fifteen of the confirmees were from our parishes and we look forward to them all getting involved in our church life through youth events, Pathfinders and Family Services.

(Click on the pictures for a larger view)

 

Lunchtime Barbeque at Llansantffraid

Llansantffraid hosted a day for all those in the Llanfyllin Deanery preparing for Confirmation.

Favourite part- definitely the lunchtime BBQ!

 

 

 

Pathfinders

 

Pathfinders from Llansantffraid and LlanfechainPathfinders from Llansantffraid and Llanfechain

(Click on the pictures for a larger view)

Members of Pathfinders from Llansantffraid and Llanfechain Churches joined together on 1st August to enjoy a day at Redridge Adventure Centre on one of the sunniest days of the year. The group were challenged at heights, through artificial caves and on water. Pathfinders will start again on Mondays (Llansantffraid) and Thursdays (Llanfechain) with a lot more resources - thanks to a grant from the Archbishop of Wales' Fund for Children.