13th October 2013 Number – 737

Do join us for tea & coffee after the service

this morning

Our Congratulations and best wishes to all who are celebrating:–Debbie Halligan celebrated her birthday yesterdayKeith Scott celebrates his birthday TodayYvonne Davies celebrates her birthday on Wednesday

Today’s flowers are provided by Rachel in thanks for a wonderful family celebration.

We welcome you to all our services and activities

Sunday 13th October 11:00 Pastoral Visitors Dedication— Rev Una McLean

Sunday 20th October 11:00 Morning Worship — Ian Valentine

Sunday 27th October11:00 “Peoples’ Worship” — based on requests from members of the

congregation 6:00 Sacred Spaces — Memorial Hall

Today’s Readings2 Timothy 2:8–15

Page 203 in the New Testament section of the pew Bible

Luke 17:11–19Page 76 in the New Testament

section of the pew Bible

Minister:- Rev Una McLean (01978) 860877 Email:- unamcl@yahoo.co.uk

Sunday 13th October:–9:30 Singing Group practise10:45 Bible Club — Memorial Hall11:00 Morning Worship including Pastoral Visitors Dedication — Rev Una McLeanOur music today is provided by Ted Blackman.Today’s refreshments are provided by Rachel Horne and Sue Smith; Rachel Horne greeted you at the door; and the books were given out by Sue Smith.Bridget Jackson and Rachel Horne will be reading the Scriptures.Today’s steward is Alan Williams.Sunday 20th October:–9:30 Singing Group practise10:45 Bible Club — Memorial Hall11:00 Morning Worship — Ian ValentineOur music today will be provided by Ted Blackman.Today’s refreshments will be provided by John & Gill Newbrook; books will be given out by Marion Blackman, Sheila Spedding will greet at the door.Kate Collins and Norman Pybus will be reading the Scriptures.

Modern day slavery — we live in a time when vast numbers of vulnerable people, often young girls, are enslaved in human

trafficking. Should we not be standing against this evil trade. We can learn more at the drama at Buckley Methodist Church on 23rd October (see page 3). Also read about the 1250km cycle ride from Sofia to London to raise awareness about human trafficking and funds to help the victims (see page 5). Norman

T h e C o m i n g W e e k s

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Monday 14th October2:30 Worship Leaders Training — Wrexham Methodist Church7:30 This‘n’That — Keith Offord “The Wild wood” — Memorial HallTuesday 15th October10:00 Coffee Morning for Llantysilio Church — Memorial Hall7:00 Worship Leaders Training — Wrexham Methodist ChurchWednesday 16th October10:00 Prayer Group — in the Vestry.6:00–9:00 Games & Activity Evening — for all ages! — Come and join us

at the Memorial HallThursday 17th October07:30 Church Council — Memorial Hall

Friday 18th October7:30 Pint and a Chat — Hand Hotel

Monday 21st October2:30 Worship Leaders Training — Wrexham Methodist Church

Tuesday 22nd October10:00 Coffee Morning for Nightingale House — Memorial Hall

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A final reminder that Catherine would like all the ‘Action for Children’ boxes in for the annual count.

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Daily Bible Study (from the Methodist Church Website)Luke 17:11-19, “Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well’.” (v.19)BackgroundOne of the many interesting features of Luke’s Gospel is his geography. When he tells us very precisely where something happened there is always a good reason. So, “the region between Samaria and Galilee” is a clue that something significant is going on. Normally Galilean Jews and Samaritan Jews would keep their distance from each other because of their ancient religious disputes (see here for some background) so the boundary between Samaria and Galilee was a religious one, as well as being political and geographical.It was a slightly ‘fuzzy’ boundary though - a kind of no-man’s-land - which was inhabited by those people who were welcome in neither Samaria nor Galilee. Especially lepers, who were regarded by Jews, whether Galilean or Samaritan, as ‘ceremonially unclean’ (because of their bleeding sores - contact with blood was to be avoided at all costs) and they were forced to live as outcasts away from ‘clean’ people. (You can read all about a range of unpleasant skin diseases in Leviticus 13.) So for Jesus to venture into this region, and enter a leper colony, was extremely odd.What happens next is fascinating. This particular leper colony was mixed - Galileans and Samaritans thrown together as religious and social outcasts, united by their suffering. And they recognised Jesus as someone who could help them. Just being in the presence of Jesus was enough for them - they didn’t dare get too close - and they asked him to heal them so that they could return to their homes and families as ‘clean’ people. Jewish law required them to be checked by a priest before this could happen, and Jesus simply sent them off and, as they obeyed him, they were “made clean”.But the Samaritan who came back to Jesus to thank him was the only one to praise God for his healing (or ‘salvation’ - the same word in Greek). And that, too, is highly significant.To Ponder

Part of Luke’s purpose in his Gospel was to show that salvation was not restricted to the Jews. Why do you think that religious people tend to draw boundaries beyond which salvation is not possible? In Luke’s Gospel, much of Jesus’ ministry is ‘on the boundary’. Where are the boundaries for the Church’s mission today? How much do you think the healing of the ten lepers depended on Jesus, and how much on them? Was there anything different about the Samaritan’s healing?

Bible notes author: Revd David Rhymer

Information for ‘Riverside Weekly’ should be sent to the editor,

Norman Pybus (01978) 861390 Email:-editor@llangollenmethodist.org.ukPage 5

Some of the religious programmes on TV & Radio in the coming weeksBBC1— 16:15 Sunday 6th Songs of Praise — Gospel Choir of the YearRadio Wales — 7:30 & 17:30 Sunday — CelebrationA weekly act of worship from churches around WalesRadio 2 — 6:00 Sunday Morning —The Sunday HourDiane Louise Jordan plays spiritually uplifting and inspiring music through hymns, Gospel and choral classics.Radio 2 — 7:00 Sunday Morning — Good Morning Sunday with Clare

BaldingClare Balding discusses ethical and religious issues, with guests and spiritual music.Radio 4 — 8:10 Sunday Morning — Sunday WorshipA service from a church in the British Isles

The A21 Freedom ChallengeTen cyclist are cycling 1250km from Sofia, Bulgaria to London over these 11 days. They aim to:1: Raise awareness of human trafficking and its effects as they cycle through the countries and along the routes that young girls are trafficked.2: Raise funds by sponsorship to help run refuges and shelters in their victim assistance programme.One of these cyclists is Reuben, Anne and Elisabeth’s nephew.

Reuben hates the injustice of human trafficking and the horror that goes with it. He loves that he can ride for a cause and do something practical to raise awareness and make a change in this world. Having a daughter of an age that this could happen to stirred Reuben to action to help bring FREEDOM for those enslaved. “Enough is enough!”

If you would like to sponsor Reuben please see Elisabeth.

The start in Sofia

Crossing the Austrian Mountains with roads closed by snow and -15˚C on Friday!

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Prayer & PraisePraise & Thanks:–

= Praise God for all the answers to our prayers. = Thank God for the things we go through that enable us to help and

understand others.Prayers & Requests:–

= Ian Valentine preparing for our worship next Sunday. = Rev Una preparing for Overton and Rhosymedre next Sunday = All the children who have been baptised in our church in recent years,

remembering the promises we as a church made to support and pray for them.

= Those who are sick:–Mary Humphreys — Cath Critchley — Bernadette Maxwell —Jan & Don Ware — Raymond Jones — Clifford Jones — Winnie Jones — Norman & Dorothy King — John & Gill — Margaret Davies — Alan Mossman’s daughter, Nikkie Pointer — Jack Lomax — Helen Evans — Hazel and David Vinton —Margaret Pierce-Jenkins — Marion’s Sister-in-law — Liam, known specially to Jan & Don — Oscar, known to Bernadette and family and their parents

= The world situation, with conflict and the threat of violence in so many places, especially the need for peace in Syria and the surrounding countries.

= Those subjected to modern slavery and trafficking, and those seeking to help the victims.

= The victims of the Cyclone in India.Circuit prayer focus:– RhosdduLoving Lord forgive us we pray for the ways we have allowed distance to develop between our Church and the community we seek to serve. As we face significant changes regarding our future as a result of declining attendances at worship and serious issues with our premises, we pray that you will guide our decision making and inspire our wider membership to work together to renew a commitment to prayerful reflection on what this Church has meant to this community in the past and how it could serve today. We pray that we may all bear witness by our words and actions that we can continue to maintain a Methodist presence her is Rhosddu serving those in our community who need our help. We thank you for the moral and practical support we have received from individuals throughout the

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Circuit during recent years in our struggle to keep our Church open and pray for your guidance and transforming love. Amen

Most of you will know that Dan Ware has been in hospital in Bangor. He is now back at the caravan he and Jan stay in and is making good progress, walking well and driving a little. They have been so encouraged by everyone’s concern and prayers.

Prayer requests from Embrace the Middle EastSyria & Lebanon:The Syrian crisis continues to escalate with close to 5 million displaced inside Syria and over 2 million refugees in the surrounding countries – of which 750,000 have been registered in Lebanon. This is now the worst humanitarian crisis since the Rwandan genocide. However, we are hearing wonderful news about churches in the region. In Lebanon, churches who had only believed in verbally preaching the Gospel are now demonstrating the reality of the Kingdom of God through helping those in need. There are innumerable stories of forgiveness as Lebanese in the churches are moving beyond the hatred they have felt for the 20 year occupation by the Syrian army, to showing compassion to the Syrians. As one pastor commented - as they forgive the Syrians and start helping the refugees, they are experiencing the reality of the verses from Isaiah 58:7-9 “Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn,and your healing will quickly appear;then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” We pray with our partners that the Church in the region in the midst of this horrific crisis will continue to be able to meet the physical and social needs of the refugees, and that their spiritual vision will be broadened.

Jesus, abject and despised, let us not be ashamed to follow you. Jesus, hated and persecuted, let us not be afraid to walk in your footsteps.Jesus, blasphemed and condemned, let us be counted your friends.Jesus, mocked and scourged, let us bear all things patiently.Jesus, crowned and derided, let us not be overwhelmed by our injuries and grief. Amen.

John Wesley (1703-1791)

Wordfor

Today

Forgiveness‘…Forgiving each other, just as…

God forgave you.’Ephesians 4:32

The Bible says, ‘Be kind…forgiving each other…as…God

forgave you.’ Kristin Armstrong says: ‘After you forgive…you get to walk out the process…it’s a collaborative effort of God’s power and your hard work. Letting go isn’t always as simple as opening your tightly-clenched fist, although deliverance sometimes is immediate. For example, some people quit smoking cold-turkey, while others chew nicotine gum for years! Old habits die hard, and letting go of resentment means: a) Recommitting to your decision as many times as old thoughts of unforgiveness pop into your head. b) Making peace with the space formerly occupied by bitterness, regret and thoughts of revenge until the Holy Spirit takes up full-time occupancy in the new digs! c) Releasing old, toxic relationships and people whose only purpose is keeping your old wounds fresh. When people change around unchanging people, it makes them aware of their own need for change, and it scares them. d) Just as your salvation was immediate yet you

have to walk out your sanctification, the release of your forgiveness is immediate but you have to walk out your healing. e) Living a life free from the burden of resentment and the toxicity of unforgiveness is a choice followed by a series of choices. Each one becomes easier…as we move farther from our old ways and into the light…Paul said, ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…’ (Galatians 5:1 NIV) and every time we let something or someone go free, we receive freedom for ourselves in overflowing proportion. It’s a time-tested, guaranteed spiritual principle backed by the promise of Scripture.’

Published by UCB, Stoke on Trent

For free daily readings see Elisabeth or Norman