REPORTS FROM THE CHURCHES
St David’s, Llanddewi
Scaffolding is again erected at the west end of the church, and we hope that work will be done soon to make the church watertight.
Swallows have occupied the boxes in the porch – lovely to have them back, hopefully safely, rearing another generation there. We are looking forward to hosting a lecture to be given by the officer from the City Council’s Gower Landscape who are providing nesting boxes for swifts, swallows and bats and promoting habitats for biodiversity in Gower, including our churches. Entry will be free, and refreshments will be available. Do join us for what should be an interesting evening about an important subject of caring for wildlife. The recent second heatwave this year, and the impact it has on all living things, makes climate change increasingly evident, and we need to be helped to know how we can respond well.
It’s difficult to choose one story about being present with Jesus. I have chosen the occasion when Jesus healed the demon-possessed man. What must it have felt like stepping out from a boat with him onto the shore, and to have been met by a demon-possessed man, naked with a broken chain hanging off his limbs, shouting at Jesus? Luke tells us that for a long time he had lived in the tombs, chained hand and foot and kept under guard, yet had broken his chains and been driven by demons into solitary places. What an utterly dreadful state this isolated, lonely and hopeless, feared and fearful man was in, so controlled by the force of demons!
They recognized and confronted Jesus as Son of the Most High God. Jesus cast out the demons and when folk from the neighbouring town came to see what was happening, they found the man from whom the demons had been cast out ‘sitting at Jesus feet, clothed and in his right mind’. What amazing transformation! As an onlooker I would have run the whole gamut of sheer fear to astonishment, peace and new-found basis for trust in Jesus: this healing of body, mind, spirit and social circumstance makes explicit the reality of his unique, divine nature and authority, and his amazing love.
Penny Henderson
St Illtyd’s, Oxwich
We finally said our farewells to Canon Roger a couple of weeks ago. This followed one of his thought-provoking sermons. We were joined by a few members of other churches of the parish. Liza had made a beautiful cake decorated with a shepherd and his sheep which we all enjoyed, washed down with various drinks. A few informal speeches were delivered in appreciation of Roger’s time with us. Roger responded by saying that he had greatly enjoyed his time with all six churches. May God bless Roger in his retirement with health and happiness. We live in the hope of future visits as he will be living only a stone’s throw away in north Gower.
Considering this month’s topic in choosing a biblical situation in which we would have liked to have lived, I opened My Daily Prayer by Nick Fawcett, which just happened to turn up a page on Habakkuk. Be this by chance or good fortune but this is the prophet that the Wednesday study group has been looking into at the King Arthur which I have been finding quite difficult.
Nick Fawcett thinks Habakkuk very refreshing in the way that he tackles the enigmas of life. No pious acceptance that every event must somehow be God’s will and no tortuous attempt to find a spiritual explanation for whatever happens. The world presents deep puzzles for which we attempt to find answers. He believes God prefers an honest cry of confusion to a faith that deals with life’s riddles by sweeping them under the carpet.
Rosemary Wigley
St Andrew’s, Penrice
As I write this the sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky, cyclists and motorists are making their way down to the beach and I can hear children in the sea. After such a long wet winter it is such a good thing that so many can enjoy the outdoors without watching for rain clouds and carrying waterproof clothing. For those of us that remember the heat wave of 1976 this seems so much hotter and to be lasting longer.
Canon Roger took his last Service with us on 28th June. We have enjoyed all his sermons, his good humour and his kindness and now we wish him and his family a long and happy retirement in their new home.
We have had much discussion about keeping the church open as up until now it has always been locked, mainly due to the isolation of the building. The surrounding cottages are holiday homes so nobody is there on a regular basis to keep an eye out or be prepared to open and shut morning and evening. Having recently spent a lot of time and money on repainting the church we are nervous about any vandalism. It was decided to try it for a trial period during the summer months.
Congratulations to Revd Peter for taking part in the Macmillan Walk. The Macmillan Nurses are well known to provide a service that many families have benefited from, as they not only give nursing care but help and support the families too.
It was sad news to hear that Digs, the electrician, had died after a very short illness. He had helped many of us with electrical problems over the years and had done a lot of work at St. Andrew’s. He will be deeply missed and to his partner and family we send love and deepest sympathy.
Angela Barnett
St Cattwg’s, Port Eynon
Both happy and sad news from our area. The wedding of William and Molly took place on a lovely July day, with the bridal pair walking back across the beach to Horton. Congratulations to them both and best wishes for a long and happy marriage.
To everyone’s shock and grief, the sudden death of popular local electrician and family man, Wallace Cole, known as Diggs, was announced on July 7th. Our deepest sympathy to all his family.
Very best wishes and good luck to Lleisiau Gŵyr, our local choir who practice in St. Cattwg’s. They are to compete as Welsh learners and first-timers at the National Eisteddfod on August 6th.
If I’d been in the Temple at Jerusalem, I would have written home about the boy of 12 debating with the Elders! Jesus had come there at Passover with his parents and got left behind when they returned to Nazareth. (Luke 2:41-52). It resonates with all parents’ dilemma of giving a child freedom and then being embroiled in terrible worry when he can’t be found, culminating in a feeling of anger that the child has put them to such stress. Less restrained parents than Mary and Joseph might well have slapped the child soundly. It must have been especially hard for Joseph to hear Jesus say, ‘Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’, when they finally tracked him down after three days. Though Mary had had previous intimations of the status of her son, it’s possible that Joseph had not absorbed the full implications. It would be good to know how long it took for the family to regain its equilibrium, and also what other upsets occurred in their lives during Jesus’ teenage years and early adulthood. The Bible tells us no more.
Susan Morris
St George’s, Reynoldston
Funeral: Monday 8th June Anna-Leena Collins of West Cross.
On Monday 22nd June Iain and Sian were married at St. George’s. We have got to know the couple well in recent months as they the frequently attend our Sunday services. Both serve in the military hence the Guard of Honour and a Piper!
Billed as a Comedy Showcase, the production by Gower Players at Reynoldston Village Hall certainly lived up to its name. The audience was really entertained with some highly amusing sketches and monologues along with an excellent meal. Prominent amongst the cast were Peter Lewis and John Mahoney both playing many parts including criminals, a driving instructor, doctor and Max Boyce! We are not sure which one played the ape?
We were so pleased to welcome Ross Davies to St. George’s when she conducted our Morning Prayer service in July. We are also so fortunate to have Pam Dennis conducting our Morning Prayer services on a regular basis. We look forward to Sunday 9th August as we have been invited to join the members of the Methodist Church in Reynoldston for their Communion Service.
Congratulation to Sian and Paul of Gower Reels who have produced such an interesting range of films about the life in Gower in the past, including the history of the Tucker family. There will be another showing in the Village Hall on Friday 28th August.
Hugh Jones
St Mary the Virgin, Rhossili
Even more visitors have been to St Mary’s this month to view the ‘New Beginnings’ Wonder of Wellbeing exhibition of local artists: comments are complimentary and affirming. At the end of June, several local volunteers joined the Wellbeing team to welcome people into the church during the Macmillan Mighty Hike on Gower, offering a moment of peace or prayers, a listening ear, or just to pause.
Very well done to Revd Peter, Natalie, Dan and Marian for their sponsored walk which raised £1800 for the cancer support charity.
A one hundred-strong audience filled the church to overflowing for a superb afternoon concert by the world-renowned Carducci Quartet during Gower Festival. Performances of Mendelssohn and Debussy were made all the more memorable by bright sunny weather and, of course, unforgettable views of Rhossili Bay.
Regulars, locals and visitors attended for a Communion service on ‘Ironman’ Sunday on 12 July with Rev Peter, including a baby and youngster who made such a joyful impact on the congregation. Many roads were closed at that time, and it was a great pleasure to be with those who had purposely chosen Rhossili for their worship that day.
In St Illtyd’s church, the divine ‘Rev Rog’ delivered his final retiring sermon to all his friends in Gower, including the Rhossili contingent who have loved him being amongst us for these last great years. Thank you to all the Oxwich folk who provided cake and bubbly to everyone after the service, and we all wish Roger and his family long, happy and relaxing times ahead as they move imminently to Penclawdd.
Caroline Johnson
Gower Ministry Area 