Services during December 2019

 

Penrice
15th December    8.30 am    Eucharist
22nd December   4.00 pm    Nine Lessons and Carols
25th December    10.00 am  Eucharist

 

Oxwich
1st December      11.00 am  United Parish Eucharist and Licensing of Rev Justin by Archbishop John
15th December    10.00 am  Eucharist
20th December    6.00  pm   Village Carol Service & Crafts
22nd December   10.00 am  Eucharist
24th December    5.00  pm   Readings and Carols

 

Port Eynon
8th December      10.00 am  United Parish Eucharist
15th December    10.15 am  Morning Worship
22nd December   3.30  pm   Carol Service in church, then Nativity Play in Village Hall

 

Rhossili
15th December    10.00 am  Morning Worship
15th December     6.00 pm   Chapel-Church Carol Service at Pitton Chapel
17th December    10.00 am  Eucharist
24th December    10.00 am  Family Eucharist
29th December    10.00 am  United Parish Eucharist

 

Llandewi
4th December      9.30 am    Midweek Eucharist
11th December    9.30 am    Midweek Eucharist
18th December    9.30 am    Midweek Eucharist
25th December    9.30 am    Eucharist

 

Reynoldston
15th December    10.00 am  Eucharist
17th December    7.00 pm    Carols on Lower Green & in Hall with Salvation Army Band
22nd December   3.00 pm    Carols and Readings
24th December    8.00 pm    Eucharist

 

DECEMBER UNITED MEETINGS

Sunday 1st December, 11am, St Illtyd’s Oxwich  Rev. Justin will be  licensed by the Archbishop of Wales and installed as priest for the parish of South West Gower.

 

Sunday 8th December, 10am,  St Cattwgs, Port Eynon Parish Service.

Sunday 15th December 9am, Breakfast Church at Reynoldston Methodist Church.

Every Wednesday, 9.30am, St David’s Llanddewi  Midweek Eucharist

 

Bible Study Group meets weekly on Wednesdays at Highmead, Overton, starting 10.15 for 10.30am. Contact Penny Henderson (390119) or Richard Herbert (390300). All are welcome.

 

Saturday 7th December, STABLE TRAIL around Reynoldston,  for all Gower.  

 

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS in our South  West  GOWER VILLAGES.  Please Come:

 

Sunday 15th December, 6pm, Pitton Chapel,  Annual Chapel and Church Carol Service

 

Tuesday 17th  December, 7pm Reynoldston, Tree lights switch-on and Carols on the Green and then in the Hall with Salvation Army Band

 

Friday 20th December, 6pm, St Illtyd’s, Oxwich, Village Carol Service and Crafts

 

Sunday 22nd December 

3pm  St George’s Reynoldston,  Carols and Readings

4pm,  St Andrew’s Penrice, Nine Lessons and Carols

4pm,  St Cattwg’s Port Eynon, Carols followed by Nativity Play in Hall

 

REPORTS FROM THE CHURCHES    

                                           
St David’s, Llanddewi           
Following the joyous Harvest Celebration in Llanddewi, the remainder of October was quiet.  The sunny days of autumn, when sun streamed across the altar and down the church, enfolding our fellowship in the Chancel during Wednesday worship, have suddenly become rare.  However, the sense of fellowship and of peace remain at these simple, short mid-week gatherings around the Lord’s table, where everyone is welcome.  Tea and coffee are available afterwards for continued fellowship.

Penny Henderson

 

St Illtyd’s, Oxwich
We are delighted to host the 1st December Service when the Rev Justin will be licensed and installed by the Archbishop of Wales in our parish of South West Gower.  We hope as many people as possible will come to support Justin and to meet our Bishop and Archbishop. It will be a very special day.
Christmas fast approaches and once again and we imagine we will never be ready but one thing for certain, there will be two lovely services in Oxwich as usual this Christmas.

 The first will be the Village Carol Service on Dec. 20th at 6.30pm when friends and neighbours will gather to celebrate , with various appropriate readings and carols, followed by mulled wine and mince pies.

Our second service on Christmas Eve is now a non-eucharistic service at 5 o’clock and attracts a congregation from near and far. This change of time and form is now well established and very popular.  If you have not come to one of these services before do come and enjoy this essential part of Christmas. You will be very welcome.

We recently had a wonderful ladies acappella choir, visit us from Wiltshire and the evening was a delight. The event was organised by one of our congregation who worships with us regularly who has promised that the Blue Belles Choir will come again next year. I urge any music lovers to join us when the time comes.                        

Rosemary Wigley

 

Hearne and Mike Highfield, who were facing operations. We wish them each a quick recovery.

The interment in the churchyard of the ashes of Richard Morris took place on Saturday 19 October

Sue Morris

 

St George’s  Reynoldston    

It was good to see St George’s full with members from all six churches for the Parish Service of Remembrance on 10th November. A special form of Service had been written with more than the usual number of hymns which were sung with real feeling. As usual the Reading of all the names of those from South West Gower who never returned from either of the World Wars,  followed by the Act of Remembrance was very moving.  Members of the congregation were invited to put a poppy on the Altar in memory of anyone known to them – an innovative and loving moment. Wreaths were then laid by representatives of the local Fire Service and Scouts. During the singing of the last hymn, a wreath was laid  in the churchyard on the War Commission Grave of Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Benson.  Thank you to Revd Justin and Heather (who made the poppies) and to David Williams on the organ for creating such a beautiful Service.

We shall again be collecting money for the Christmas lunch at St Thomas’ church for the ‘significant number of people in that parish who would either be alone or have no lunch at all.’

Our Annual Christmas Craft and Food Fair will take place in Reynoldston Hall on Sunday , 8th December, 11am - 3pm. Please see separate notice elsewhere in this Magazine for details.                

On the 8th November the church was full for the Funeral  Service followed by burial of Hazel Jefford who had been a regular member of St George’s until recent years when she continued to receive home Communion.  Our sincere condolences to Helen and Steve and family.

Valerie Beynon

 

St Andrew’s, Penrice
November is a time for Remembrance as the cover of the November magazine depicted.  Many of the names are still familiar to local families.  My great uncle is included as he died at Ypres and in our family he has always been spoken of with affection and respect, so they are not forgotten.

On November 3rd John Tucker led the Service by reading from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.  Last year John led a Service from the 1549 Prayer Book so the revised Prayer Book was a continuation but as John said the secret of the revision is its respect and love for the first Prayer Book.  The continuity with past parishioners, sharing the same words and aspirations for a better world was quite humbling as the language was so familiar.  We all enjoyed the Service and hope to repeat it again.

The Penrice calendars are selling well and can be obtained from members of the congregation or on 390338.  They are £7.50 and can be delivered.  Advent is ahead with the Service of Nine lessons and Carols on Dec. 22nd and we hope to welcome many members of the other churches to the service on Christmas  Day.

Angela Barnett

 

St Cattwg’s, Port Eynon          

The next Seniors’ lunch will be our Christmas gathering on Thursday 19 December.

The churchwardens have secured a faculty to go ahead with the necessary repairs and repainting in the chancel and nave and are applying for grants to help with the cost. The church has so far received £1,000 from the Oakdale Trust Hearne and Mike Highfield, who were facing operations. We wish them each a quick recovery.

The interment in the churchyard of the ashes of Richard Morris took place on Saturday 19 October

Sue Morris

St Cattwg’s, Port Eynon          

The next Seniors’ lunch will be our Christmas gathering on Thursday 19 December.

The churchwardens have secured a faculty to go ahead with the necessary repairs and repainting in the chancel and nave and are applying for grants to help with the cost. The church has so far received £1,000 from the Oakdale Trust and £1,500 from the Allchurches Trust. Hugh Dunthorne and David Attwell, probably joined by Rev Justin, are valiantly planning a sponsored bike ride round all 17 Gower churches in aid of this cause and will welcome donations, preferably gift-aided. They may take off at short notice when the weather looks promising!

Mary Grove made her annual gift of lovely flowers to the church, in memory of her late father. Please pray for our neighbours Nova

 

    

 

 

St Mary the Virgin, Rhossili 
It’s all about perspectives.  Since moving to 10am Sunday services we are more reliant on local worship leaders - this is revealing a rich seam of talent for our weekly contemplation.  For example, we rely on the considered historical reflections from Hugh Dunthorne, practical applications from David Attwell, well-researched themes and family inclusive preaching from Ross Davies, Biblical interpretations into our modern lives from Sue Waite, salutary lessons and constant loving care from Peter Davies, together with his uplifting hymn choices, and, most recently, the warm and thoughtful services from Roger Button who involves us all in their delivery.  These myriad perspectives are interspersed with nuggets of gold from Rev Justin, Rev Nigel Doyle and, once in a while, ‘Mick the Vic’ and we are very grateful for everyone’s individual creative efforts on our behalf.

Christopher and Gillian Beynon recently moved into their new home and we send best wishes from St Mary’s. Also congratulations to Rita and Brian Jones on their 60th wedding anniversary – we look forward to Rita’s return to full health and fitness after she fell and broke both her arms on last year’s anniversary. 

Caroline Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev Justin Davies, The Rectory, Knelston, Reynoldston,Swansea SA3 1AR  Tel 01792 391384