Sing for Life

Thanks are conveyed to all who donated their time, voices and cash to the “Sing For Life event”, on Sunday 29th June.

The sum of £112.50 was raised for the charity. Additional sums may have been paid direct using the sponsorship forms that were distributed.

“Sing For Life” was a successful event due in no small way to the hard work of Mr Tom’s Pearce and we are all grateful to him.

We are also grateful to others who played a leading part in the event: Richard Stephens for accompanying us throughout, Brian Lavender for conducting, St John’s Church choir and parishioners from across the deanery for their support.    

Blooming Patron Saints

With the theme of “Patron Saints” the Flower Festival organised by SS James & Elidyr Church Stackpole is not to be missed!

Open 11.00am to 6.00pm daily and running from Thursday 14th August to Sunday 17th this Festival is guaranteed to delight and enthral visitors so come along and join us - you will not be disappointed.

Coffee, lunches and teas will be available in the church throughout the Festival.

All Seasons Songs of Praise

A Songs of Praise with a difference will take place at 6.00pm on Sunday 24th - the Bank Holiday weekend.

In the delightful setting of Stackpole Quay, and accompanied by Pembroke Town Band, there will be an opportunity to enjoy an hour or so of open-air hymn singing like never before. The programme will include Christmas Carols, Easter and Harvest hymns - along with hymns from other times of the Christian Year.

Over the years we have experienced a wonderful atmosphere of fellowship, enjoyment and fun at the annual Bank Holiday Songs of Praise organised by SS James & Elidyr Church Stackpole, and this years’s “All Seasons” theme looks set to follow that tradition.

This event will form the Deanery act of worship for August, and will replace the 5th Sunday of the month Deanery evening service.

Make sure you come along and join us!

Home & Family becomes Families First

Britain’s biggest selling Christian magazine, Home & Family, is re-launching in August as Families First.

Produced by Mothers’ Union to promote good parenting, encourage loving and lasting marriages, and to support people in an active, Christian faith, Families First will be a lifestyle magazine for people who care about family life in their own communities and around the world.

With a focus on relationship - with real people facing real issues - each edition will include interviews and articles on marriage, family life, parenting, Christian faith in action, stories of lives changed, community action ideas and reviews of books, music, films, DVDs, and websites for children.

With an existing readership of over 44,000, Families First inherits not only the title of biggest selling Christian magazine, but also will exceed the  the circulation of the UK’s top parenting magazine.

“Families First will appeal not just to Mothers’ Union members but to all people who want to support a positive, supportive approach to families and communities” said editor Catherine Butcher. “Politicians and statisticians paint a gloomy picture of family life in the UK, but working through churches Mothers’ Union and many other Christians are making a tangible difference to family life in communities.”

Subscribe, or view a sample copy of Families First.

Plant Dewi News

Adrian Cooke was in his usual fine form at the Flower Arranging Demonstration held at the Cricketers, Imble Lane. He created five beautiful arrangements which at the end of the evening were raffled off. Winners and losers having enjoyed a lovely evening, £331 was raised. So thank you to everyone who supported or helped in anyway.

On June 13th we were at Molly Malones in Pembroke for a Summer lunch. During the course of the two sittings, we had a choice of soups, various cheeses and home-made bread. With the proceeds of the tickets and the raffle £200 was raised. Thanks again to all those people who continue to support us. A mention also to Priory Community School, Monkton and Orielton CP School Hundleton and Mr B Jones and his staff at Molly Malones.

On June 20th, Margaret and I attended the High Sheriff of Dyfed, Mrs Claire Mansel Lewis’ garden party held at her home in Llandeilo. Her chosen charity this year is Plant Dewi. It was a memorable day and the sun actually shone.

On Sunday July 13th a few of us from St Mary’s enjoyed the Annual Plant Dewi Service at the Cathedral, by invitation of the Dean, and again the weather was kind to us.

Forthcoming events: A collection day at Asda’s, Pembroke Dock on 28th August.  A Murder Mystery evening at the Cricketers, Imble Lane on 1st October - tickets are now on sale at £10 (to include supper).

Finally, since September 2007 we have banked over £3000 from fund raising and generous donations. Many thanks to you all.

June Willcocks, Chair Plant Dewi Support Group

Lamphey & District WI

Following President Joan Elliott’s warm welcome to members and guests and the singing of Jerusalem, a few announcements were made.

Members were reminded of the cream tea taking place on Sunday 10th August at  3 p.m. There are to be various stalls.

Members of the walking group enjoyed the Stackpole walk and were amazed by the beauty of the wild flowers. The next walk takes place at Lawrenny on June 29th.

The book club members enjoyed their lunch at Lamphey Court Hotel and the club will restart at the end of September.

The speaker for the evening was Joan Elliott, who gave a demonstration of willow craft. Following her explanation of what the craft entailed members became involved in practical participation. The vote of thanks for the enjoyable talk was given by Sue Kingdom.

The competition, a pretty cup and saucer, was won by:

1st Sheila Smith;  2nd Margaret Phillips;  3rd Chris Duffield.

There will be no meeting in August. The next meeting will be on Tuesday September 2nd. New members always welcome.

Sue Kingdom - Press Secretary

Catalyst detonates an explosion

An estimated 3,000 people attended Catalyst, the celebration of Church life at the United Counties Showground, Carmarthen, on 5th July - despite showers of the sort of rain Noah might have experienced.

And what a lot there was to celebrate in the eight tents and activity areas. Visitors were treated to an extravaganza of recitals, theatre sketches, displays, and demonstrations of activities ranging from performances by school choirs to appearances by stars such as BBC Wales’s Chris Needs and Royal Harpist Claire Jones, who not only gave a recital but also passed some of her expertise on to pupils in a workshop session.

There was a chance to quiz the great and the good in Question Time, or to debate the big issues of the day yourself, such as climate change, combating terrorism and the immigration question, in the Issues Tent.

Elsewhere, you could make a stained glass window, belt out some of your favourite hymns during a guided tour of their history, admire regional craftsmanship and savour the delights of locally-grown produce.

Young children enjoyed the funfair rides while their older brothers and sisters scaled the climbing wall.

Worship wasn’t neglected, of course, and there was plenty of opportunity to take your pick from the unique styles of Taize and Iona, through an exploration of worship resources through the medium of Welsh, to the prayerful music of the young people’s band Awaiting.

In the moving Final Act of Worship, over 1,000 people were inspired by the Archbishop of Wales, the Most Reverend Dr Barry Morgan, and raised the roof with the help of the Catalyst Choir under the direction of Seimon Morris.

These were just a few of the activities on offer, and the presence of visitors aged from just a few months to 80 plus confirmed the organisers’ promise that this would be a fun day out for all the family. And if ‘life’ is a central theme of Christianity, there was certainly plenty of it on display.

The aims of Catalyst were to showcase all that is best in the Church in West Wales, to draw its far-flung branches closer together, and - just like its scientific namesake - to set off a ‘chemical reaction’, releasing renewed energy channelled into achieving even greater goals in the future.

The first two aims have been achieved in what was unquestionably a resounding success. Now watch out for the resulting explosion!

Source: St Davids Diocese

Bosherston WI

In September we are holding an open meeting at St Twynnell’s Hall on Thursday 4th. Our Speaker will be Dr Robin Crump who will tell us all about the Flowers and Antiquities of Cyprus. Everyone is most welcome.

Sarah Thomas