NEWSLETTER
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From the Revd. Nansi Davies, Curate. Dear Friends, It is very good to be back amongst you sharing in worship, and good to see so many friends and familiar faces. Soon we shall begin the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is on February 28th, so our minds must inevitably turn towards this time-honoured season in the Church's valendar. It is intended to be a time of spiritual growth and renewal. You could compare it to a very special journey with Our Lord into the solitude of the wilderness. So Lent provides an opportunity to go with Him to sort out our spiritual priorities, to see ourselves in the light of the Gospel. It is part of our pilgrimage as Christian disciples. Lent is necessary in order that our Christianity and Christian values do not become soft and feeble. As a mater of fact, Lent originated as a period of intensive preparation of those seeking baptism at the approaching Easter. The candidates were reminded constantly of what was required of them as Christians. The baptism vows were explained and the standards of Christian life in a pagan world were taught. Today's world is not dissimilar to that of the early Christians. Instead of living amongst pagans we now live in what is called a secular society - not too different! It is thereforeopen to each one of us to use this opportunity in the Church's calendar to go over again, so to speak, the essentials of what it really means to be a Christian and a member of the Church, the family of God. We are challenged to prayer and worship and also to go back to school as disciples (learners) and engage in a course of study. This can take the form of spiritual reading - or the careful daily reading of one of the Gospels, and also in group sessions that will enable discussion and prayer together. Such a Course For Lent will be available, please make use of it. Don't imagine that it is intended only for the few keen ones! It is open to all and you could even do a bit of missionary work by introducing a friend who might not otherwise come. The Lent Course will meet at my home and it considers the Sacrament of Holy Communion, or if you prefer, The Holy Eucharist. Do try to come along for just over an hour and join in the fellowship and enter more deeply into the understanding of this Sacrament. It is after all at the very heart of our faith. If we are to make our Church fellowship more vibrant, witnessing the love and light of Jesus Christ, then surely we ought to join together to learn and grow as we continue our pilgrimage. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday, March 7th at 7:30pm, at 'Junipers', Court House Road, Llanfair Discoed. If transport is a problem, let me know and I feel sure we can resolve it. So let's go together into Lent. May it be a genuine time for the reaffirmation of our faith and the renewal of our commitment to be witnessing Christians in this pagan society in which we live. With all good wishes, Nansi Davies |
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All we know for certain about St. David is that he was Welsh, a monk, a bishop and alive in the sixth century. St. David, or Dewi, was a saint of Pembrokeshire (Dyfed) on the western tip of Wales. After the Saxon invasion, Christians in the west and north of Britain developed links with Christians in Ireland, Gaul (France) and other Celtic communities. From Gaul came the monastic movement which spread and flourished in Wales.Small monastic communities provided centres of Christianity and learning. Although St. David is the most popular Welsh saint, the earliest written account to have survived dates from long after his death. Born in Dyfed, the son of Xantus, Prince of Cereticu (Cardiganshire), he was educated at Illtud, the head of the great monastic school at Llantwit Major in South Glamorgan. From there he travelled through the south west of Britain, founding twelve monasteries including those at Bath, Leominster and Glastonhury. A noted orator, he played a leading part in the Synod of Brevi, which determined the course of Welsh Christianity. David died at his monastery at Menevia, and his relics are believed to he in St. David's Cathedral. |