NEWS AND VIEWS
VIEW FROM THE VICARAGE
It must be well nigh impossible to watch an evening of commercial television without noticing that the 'blame game' in our culture has spawned a whole industry. Advertisement after advertisement illustrates to us that legal firms, health and safety professionals and employment experts are eager to apportion blame, establish fault and win a claim. Many of these are proper, right and just. They protect us from all manner of negligence and incompetence as well as securing proper compensation. However, we can't always blame the system or the organization or the company or our school or our background.
The Church’s traditional Lenten disciplines have much to say to today’s ‘litigation culture.’ For example, during Lent we are encouraged to have the courage to look at ourselves honestly and admit where we have ‘fallen short’ and acknowledge where we are to blame. It takes insight and courage to take personal responsibility for our lives. Let us use the season of Lent to acknowledge our own fault and then seek God's grace for healing and reconciliation.
A Lenten Prayer
Lord, bless us with true insight.
Help us to look with clear eyes at all the ways
In which we fudge our duty
And avoid the truth about ourselves.
Free us from prejudice and jealousy
Which so often blind us to the truth.
Bless those who act in our courts of law
That they too may act with integrity
In the service of the greater justice
To which we all aspire. AMEN
CHILDREN’S BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES
IN RECENT YEARS AT ST.MARY’S
8th. On 3rd. March - William Thomas Lloyd
5th. On 6th. March - Caitlin Kerfoot Edwards
6th. On 7th. March - Chiara Niomi Jones
1st. On 8th. March - Aled Donnelly
6th. On 14th. March - Jeskah Megan Jones
9th. On 18th. March - Thomas James Hughes
7th. On 23rd. March - Caitlin Mercer Davies
9th. On 25th. March - Victoria Emily Gaskin
3rd. On 25th. March - Imogen Cherie Mills
We will pray for these children at our service of the Family Eucharist at 10.30am on 28th. March and a candle will be lit for them.
ST. MARY’S SUNDAY SCHOOL:
The Sunday School meets in the Parish Church at the same time as the main morning service - 11.00am (except on the fourth Sunday when we meet at 10.30am ). This enables parents or grand-parents to bring their children with them to church and, in the case of young children, the parents or grand-parents can either stay with their children or join the service knowing that they are nearby if needed.
Further details about Sunday School can be obtained by contacting Mrs. Sara Davidson on 590050.
We have had a number of enquiries from parents of pre-school age children about Sunday School for their children. It would be difficult to serve the needs of such young children with the older ones every week but we are proposing to concentrate on the younger age group on the Family Eucharist Sunday at 10.30am. This would give the very young children a ‘taste’ of Sunday School and the older children will participate in the service by way of reading, serving, junior sidesmen duties, etc. Please contact Mrs. Sara Davidson on 590050 for details.
It’s fun to come to Sunday School
There’s lots of things to do.
We like to make and build things
And hear some stories too.
So why not come along soon,
It’s only for an hour.
We make new friends in God’s House
And sing about His power.
ST. MARY’S RESTORATION
St. Mary’s Parish Church is a listed building and therefore certain rules and guidelines have to be followed when renovations and alterations are being carried out. For over 12 years we have attempted to renovate our Parish Church. With regard to the dampness in the walls we would have liked to have the exterior walls repointed. Upon inspection it was quickly explained to us that such measures would not prove sufficient. Parts of this building date back over 700 years. Each generation here has done it’s best to maintain this church but in doing so have introduced miscellaneous ‘foreign’ materials including cement. The quality of the stone after such a long period is not good and needs some protection.
The Heritage Lottery Fund agreed to give us a substantial grant towards the work so long as we followed the advice of CADW. Our Parochial Church Councillors were asked to visit St. Marcella’s Church at Eglwyswen, Denbigh, to view such work carried out there. Our PCC members were not prepared to follow that example as seven coats of limewash had been applied leaving a ‘flat’ finish and ‘smothering’ the relief of the stone. We also felt that the near white finish would not be in keeping with our environment in Rhuddlan.
After much debate and a number of ‘false’ starts we are now in a position to proceed. The exterior walls will be repointed and have just one coat of limewash applied, leaving evidence of the stonework, and in a grey shade more in keeping with our town vista. As with any building renovation work, in the short term our Parish Church will look slightly different. But nature will soon take it’s course, weathering will take place, and more of the stone will be revealed again. In the meantime, we will be able to obtain the help of the HLF towards the considerable cost of the work and we will have afforded some protection to our old Parish Church.
There are other aspects to our major restoration programme, e.g. a ‘French drain’ around the church, work on the window grills, a new wooden screen for our meeting area at the rear of church, internal plastering and redecoration, etc. In all facets of the work we are trying to look forward so that future generations in Rhuddlan will have the privilege of meeting in this place to offer worship to Almighty God.
It is our intention to continue with services as usual during the restoration period but everyone attending services or visiting family graves are reminded that the churchyard is a ‘temporary building site’ and care should be taken.
E-mail:- info@stmarysrhuddlan.org.uk
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