Percy Road, Wrexham LL13 7EA

A warm welcome to everyone!

Morning worship every Sunday at 10.45am

Minister Rev Brian Mathews16 Milebarn Road, Wrexham. LL13 9LX

01978 357845

milebarn@waitrose.com

Serving Elders

Mrs Michelle Berry – 01978 361320

Mrs Shirley Devaney – 01978 366262

Mrs Judith Dolben – 01978 363955

Mr John Houghton – 01978 750778

Mrs Barbara Jones – 01978 755548

Mrs Yvonne Owen – 01978 354927

Mr Mark Rodgers – 01978 290687

Dear friends,

I am writing this on November 21st, well aware that next Sunday the 28th will be the First Sunday in Advent. Due to Christmas Day falling on a Sunday, it is the earliest that it can be.

In the secular world around us the debate carries on about the importance of Christmas as some would prefer a winter festival or scrap it all together in case it offends people who are not religious or who have a different faith. All this makes me ask the question, "How do we defend Christmas?"

I assume that none of us would argue that we should do it for the sake of nostalgia as it would be extremely difficult to find anyone who genuinely remembers a Victorian or Dickensian Festival. To those who argue that it is a national heritage of some kind I gently remind them that it began as a Jewish Festival and the main characters are Jewish people. Perhaps we would like to argue that it is about children and I would remind people that in the Biblical story it is children who are slaughtered by a tyrant.

I will ignore the clamour of the retailers that it is necessary for their sales as being the real bogus reason.

The first Christmas, the birth of Jesus, is a scandal as God works out His purpose when a single Palestinian girl, perhaps a very young teenager, becomes pregnant; when she and her fiancéare forced by a military power to make a hazardous journey many miles south only to find that there is no room for them, that they are unwanted. To complete the scandal, the baby is born in a manger.

All of this is an Almighty (the capital 'a' is deliberate,) challenge to the power structures around us and to our way of living and thinking in this world. The high and mighty are ignored, and those Magi who will later be called kings will bow their heads before the baby or child.

Now for the real scandal. Your Minister would not want to defend the modern Christmas at all, it is a travesty of the truth of the occasion. The real message is not about the fripperies that we seem to think are so important, but about the God who can bring about His purposes in the powerlessness of the Christ Child.

However it is what we have, but we pray that the true message will shine through as a candle in the darkness, and that it may be seen as the beginning of the Gospel of Hope. This is how I defend it.

I trust that you all have a meaningful Christmas and a happy new year. It will seem no time until I next write for the newsletter when it will be almost Valentine's Day! (No, I will not be commenting on that.)

Brian.

ODE TO PETER

No need to bake a cake todayOur friend will not be calling.He loved a cake with his cup of teaBefore he went on his humble way.He was a friend to everyoneA kind and helpful man.Any problems we encounteredHe would always have a plan.What a privilege to have known himHe had so much Get up and Go.So Rest in Peace Dear FriendWe do miss you so

Merfyn and Glenys

Thank you Merfyn and Glenys. I’m sure he would have loved this poem. MR

Wrexham Foodbank

Thank you all SO much for the donations to the foodbank .I am sure you all know from press reports just how much donated food is given out in the area.The foodbank collection site is now situated at the back of St James’ church in Rhosddu, much nearer to the pick up point at the citadel.I am informed that hampers are given out at Christmas so any “Christmassy”donations, ie food that will keep, is welcome before 6the December.Items could be biscuits, Christmas puds, chocolate ets.On a general note items required are tinned meats –including stewing steak, chicken in sauce , tinned fruit, tinned veg, rice pudding.Once again thank you all very much for your support, any one of us or our families could be in need one day.

Wrexham Feeding The Roofless

Our merry band continues to serve those in need on Thursdays ( every 6 weeks) and Sunday evenings (every 8-10 weeks) We have two more volunteers now who help us , they are Karen-Marie and Allan Butterworth from The society of friends(Quakers) so we now number 10 which works pretty well as we need 5 or 6 each night.Numbers have varied greatly from 50 on some nights during the summer –why we don’t know, to the more manageable 25-35 we have now. The cold dark, nights are not pleasant for us, (especially when the street lamps in the car park are out of action as they have been for three weeks) but how much worse they are for those who have no permanent home or no room at all. We, after all, return to warm ,dry, homes. Our clients have various problems –not just drug and alcohol, although they do account for quite a large portion of the problems, mental health issues , family breakdown all add to the mix.The reasons are many and varied. The answers—who can say what the answers are, homes for everyone, work for all, happy and contented family lives, no wars ,no corruption in governments, .I am sure you could all add to the list.We do our best, and we pray for them all.

Barbara

Details of forthcoming services in December and January 2017

Services4th December – Rev Chris Howard11th December – Minister Rev Brian Matthews (Communion)18th December – Junior Church25th December – Trinity Joint Service 10.30am

Services1st January – Rev Chris Howard8th January – Minister Rev Brian Matthews (Communion)15th January – Mrs Sue Allen22nd January – Mr Mark Rodgers29th January – Mrs Barbara Jones

Salisbury Park Readers – December 2016 & January 2017

Psalm 151 Corinthians 1.18-31

Matthew 5.1-12 Isobel Winter

Micah 6.1-8 Megan Winter

29th Jan

Psalm 27.1,4-9

1 Corinthians 1.10-18

Matthew 4.12-23 Barbara Jones

Isaiah 9.1-4 Paul Fewings

22nd Jan

Psalm 40.1-11

1 Corinthians 1.1-9

John 1.29-42 Judith Dolben

Isaiah 49.1-7 Gordon Burgess

15th Jan

Psalm 29Acts 10.34-43

Matthew 3.13-17 Collette Rodgers

Isaiah 42.1-9 Mark Rodgers

8th Jan

Psalm 72.1-7,10-14

Ephesians 3.1-12

Matthew 2.1-12 Carole Blackwell

Isaiah 60.1-6 Shirley Devaney

1st Jan

Luke 2.1-7, Luke 2.8-20 and Matthew 2.1-2,7-12

25th Dec

Psalm 80.1-7,17-19

Romans 1.1-7

Matthew 1.18-25 Lydia Rodgers

Isaiah 7.10-16 Hannah Rodgers

18th Dec

Psalm 146.5-10

James 5.7-10 Matthew 11.2-11 John Houghton

Isaiah 35.1-10 Sharon Langford

11th Dec

Psalm 72.1-7,18-19

Romans 15.4-13

Matthew 3.1-12 Michelle Berry

Isaiah 11.1-10 Christine Anderson

4th Dec

PsalmEpistleNew Testament

Old Testament

The readings above are not only for use in the service, but for personal use during the period leading up to the relevant Sunday

December Tea Rota4th Dec – Yvonne Owen11th Dec – Sheila and Barbara18th Dec – Glenys and Merfyn

January Tea Rota1st Jan – Shirley Devaney8th Jan – Mark and Collette15th Jan – Gordon Burgess22nd Jan – Christine and Michelle29th Jan – Susan Rowlands

December Flower Rota4th Dec – Advent11th Dec – Advent18th Dec – Advent25th Dec – Christmas

January Flower Rota1st Jan – Mrs Pat Taylor8th Jan – Mrs Jean Jones15th Jan – Mrs Judith Dolben22nd Jan – Mrs Sheila Cherrett29th Jan – Mrs Pat Taylor

December Door Steward – Thelma Jones

January Door Sterward – Gordon Burgess

Christmas PraisesChristmas bells are loudly ringing,Ringing o’er valley, mountain and sea.Welcoming Him, the Son of the Father,Born here on earth for you and me.

Shepherds are gathering close to His cradleOx and Ass lie still in the stall.Mary and Joseph smile oh so sweetly,They know their son is born for all.

Kings from the East come riding on CamelsLaden with gifts to give to the boyThis is the night the angels are singingTrumpets from heaven sound out with joy.

Babe in the manger, heed to our calling,May all the wars on the earth soon cease.Let us show love to one anotherSend down Thy blessing and give us peace.

If anyone has magazines to dispose of, I would be glad to receive them to pass on to Gwern Alyn and HillburyResidential Homes, preferably “Woman”, “Woman’s Own”, “Woman’s Weekly” or “Peoples Friend”, as these are more suitable for the elderly. Thank you.

Lulluby for JesusSleep baby Jesus don’t you cry,Mary will sing you a sweet lullabyAngels are watching, and guarding your bed,One at the foot and one at the head.Dear little infant sent down from above,Filling our hearts with thy goodness and love.Born in a stable, and rocked in a stall,God’s precious gift, the greatest of all.Sleep on beloved, and shepherds will come,To see, and adore Thee, God’s only dear son.Kings will embrace you, who travelled from far,Riding on camels and led by a star.Dear baby Jesus, from sin set us free,Come into our lives and fit us to be.Good Christian soldiers and children of Thine,Ever to serve Thee, o saviour divine!

I’m one of Santa’s helpers – redundant, on the shelf,Who’d ‘ave thought the old man could do this to his elves!It’s known he had his problems with that Euro parl’ament,Battling with so many rules he just can’t implement.A Risk Assessment’s ordered now for all deliv’ry work,‘cos parking on a rooftop’s bad for Santa’s reindeer herd.Another complication for tradit’nal chimney drops,Is central heating flue pipes and cowls on chimney tops.

Even orders for the kiddies’ toys keep Santa feeling flummoxed,No teddy bears, no pretty dolls, just iPads, huds and Xbox.Then someone had to volunteer to do First Aid on a course,But no-one yet has forward stepped, in fact, it’s the reverse.The assembly line is halted, ‘cos Inspectors called around,And said of Health and Safety, sparse evidence was found.These ‘spectors even had the cheekTo check his hours on t’ sleigh,Then tachograph was fixed on boardTo ensure rues were obeyed.

Santa now is fed up and threatening to quitReckons how things are with children now,In fact he’d not be missed.He’s wondering if he could diverse and charge an entrance fee,For public tours of fact’ry, and how things used to be.Us elves are waiting patiently, for Mrs Claus to comeIf anyone can cheer him up, she’s certainly the one.She whispers things, he laughs a lot, it sounds a load of fun.As long as it means we’ve our jobs back,We don’t care how it’s done.

PAT TAYLOR

It’s elf and safety gone mad Pat. MR.

A few years ago, we had a keep fit class each Monday afternoon in the schoolroom, and these were sessions from the cassette tapes of Eileen Fowler, who instructed us to keep fit with simple exercises and non strenuous ones, suitable for all age groups, especially for mature folk, to keep the body supple.

After a time, the exercise tapes were mislaid, and I tried to obtain more by advertising in “Yours” magazine, hoping that someone would have these tapes. But with no response, I sadly gave up. Then suddenly, Shirley gave me a big surprise. When clearing out a cupboard, tucked in the corner were Eileen Fowlers tapes. I was so pleased, and thought how good it would be to start our little sessions again. I myself could do with doing these simple exercises again, and I’m sure that other members and friends would like to join in.

Perhaps we could start again in the New Year? This would be a chance to keep our muscles feeling a little more flexible, and enjoy a chat, and a cup of tea in between. Perhaps if you can let me know how you feel about this, I would be pleased.

Carole Blackwell.

C’mon folks, this sounds like a great idea! MR

Rustic and Rural Canada

My fathers aunt, known as Clarrie, was born in Kent but on her marriage relocated to Canada. She had a surname that always amused me as a child as she was Mrs Young-Crockett -- her husband was not Davy but Jim. I had always thought she was properly named Clara but family documents show she was actually Clarenbold, a family surname, and her christian name was Edith, after her mother…. so its not a surprise to realise that her stories when she visited the family caused a long held desire to visit that country. Unlike her daughter Myra, who came to the UK in the 1960's it took me until my retirement to visit any part of that vast country….

In 2008 Quebec and Halifax, Nova Scotia were visited and the desire to make yet more visits strengthened my interest. My schoolgirl French was really tested in Quebec and the dual languages of that area echoed our own here in parts of north Wales where so many slide easily between Welsh and English in a single conversation. Halifax is a delightful town, reminiscent of so much English heritage with parks and gardens set out to entice every walker around some new picturesque scene of rockery or gazebo or bandstand complete with musicians and lawns that long for a leisurely game of croquet or cricket. Even the fortifications are based on a geometrical design that leaves no area undefended, I was ashamed to know so little of the naval history of that place when guides were so knowledgeable about the UK…..

So when the holiday brochures dropped on the mat with an itinerary for Canada I immediately started to calculate the places that could be visited. Aunt Clarrie is sadly no longer with us and as she lived very much inland a cruise is hardly likely to include a visit…. but the place names and descriptions seemed ever more enticing and a cruise was duly booked entitled "Rustic and Rural Canada" ….I am not over fond of large cities as I have no sense of direction as anyone travelling with me will testify, so the seeming smaller size of our destinations seemed ideal. Deposits paid, waiting begins, departure dates creep inexorably closer…..

I always keep a cruise log to remind myself of people and places encountered ( and to stop arguments about when and where) and this I send home to later join the snapshots I have taken and not deleted from the camera card. My log reminds me "safely embarked at Liverpool then on to a very pleasant , compact cabin. Dance programme needed to keep off the extra baggage consumed and dance hosts already in place, dancing planned for every evening in the ballroom. Off on a tour of Killybegs…" Killybegs is a tiny little village with a delightful centre, the pub and general meeting place for all, where we enjoyed Irish coffee, generously poured, but we weren't driving so could snooze back to the ship passing large areas of cut peat bog being stacked to dry in the wind for winter fuel. No trees shelter any cattle or sheep and I suspect the wind from the oceans would be fierce. Back on board a generous choice of courses for evening dinner and we have pleasant dining companions in Angela and Helen, a mother and daughter from Lytham St Annes.

Four sea days follow, which I enjoy as I explore the ship, its various lounges, coffee corners, quiz times and the planned dance tuition. David does the morning constitutional walk of six times round the deck, which equals a mile on land. A brisk breeze almost removes his hat and no-one is hardy enough to loiter on a deckchair, even under the provided blankets!! The pools are empty of water and nets stretched across prevent any unwary walker falling on the tiled floor. My log notes " force 8 gale, so pills taken as a precaution, but no discomfort and sleep well. A few spaces at breakfast suggests some passengers were not prepared for life at sea…." Our destinations lecturer we have met before on a previous cruise, he is actually a psychologist by profession but now retired he enjoys travelling and talking about his travels…..He always wears a matching waistcoat and bow tie, a topic of interest, bets are taken as to what colour will be his next choice!!! He is actually from Denbighshire and was a Grove Park pupil in his youth, in the time when that school won the popular radio quiz show, "Top of the Form"… the ballrooms always full for Keith's talks, even when people are not actually going ashore.

St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada is my first port of call….. a garden visit and to a Fluvarium (whatever that is) on my own as David is going elsewhere.

St Johns Newfoundland, Canada

Here I chose to visit the gardens linked to the university, over a hundred and forty acres of pine woods intersected by nature trails. Each is quite different, alpine cottage, vegetable, drought resistant etc each linked by a trail of gravel path. In the distance could be seen a tranquil pool, but no time to explore. We were led by a very charming and knowledgeable girl who clearly was besotted with the garden areas in her charge and answered a huge variety of questions from the group, especially in the alpine green house. There I noted a miniature rhododendron plant that could be perched on a windowsill rather than than the usual huge garden site it needs. After our tour we enjoyed scones with cream and jam!! Then on to the Fluvarium, which is a trout stream diverted so that its natural inhabitants can be observed without intrusion, quite fascinating. This is a teaching exhibit area so the tutor told a story of a group of infant pupils brought to observe the different trout in their natural habitat. He had his back to the fish while the children faced him and watched the fish…. eagerly they pointed and gestured to the glass wall behind him but intent on the point he was making he ignored their interruptions. Eventually, his talk ended and he questioned the children about the reason for their excitement. Calmly they explained, the trout fish had spawned, laid a stream of eggs on the vegetation in front of them only to be covered by the male fish moments later….. this had taken but moments and absorbed their interest totally, an annual occurrence but they had observed it and their tutor had not!! Ruefully he elaborated, he had tutored there for twenty five years and only once been present at spawning and due to his self importance, completely missed it……. A salutary lesson indeed!! Everything there is centred on teaching the next generation the importance of the natural world inhabitants, the eostructure and care of the planet.Too short a visit to take in all there was to see……and we are unlikely to visit it again, I think UK universities could learn a lot from this place. My photos were of a tiny cyclamen in the alpine house and a 'herb tree' but no time to retrace our steps for more pictures…… I enjoyed that visit far more than my colleagues who merely tasted several types of rum and learned about 'rum runners'!!

St Pierre and Michelon

Here our tour was cancelled so we made our own exploration of this tiny group of rocks in the ocean. We found a delightful Heritage Museum, pointed out by a local lady I asked for directions in French, she answered in fluent English…..There was reference to Prohibition and Al Capone…. so many facets to enjoy, medical, social, educational, pictorial and industrial, we both loved it. The building had once been home to a couple of nursing nuns who had run the medical side, aided by occasional visits from doctors (medical instruments quite gruesome in their labelling!!) then a schoolroom complete with wall charts in French and bookcases containing literature exercises, maths texts, religious works and student notebooks. Old wooden desks and chairs of different sizes suggested the variety of pupils inthat area, inkwells and graffiti included. David was intrigued by the cooking ranges and heating appliances as well as the shoe mending equipment from a cobblers bench, reminding us of the isolation of the area and the need to be self sufficient and self reliant at a time when the high street shops were not available as in the UK or mainland regions. Fishing equipment was in evidence, boats of all sizes, nets and hooks and ancient oilskins, a time when food was not of the variety we take for granted…..

Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada

This delightful place was accessed by tender…… a huge violin on the quayside led to boutique shops. Our costumed guide led us to a museum chapel where we learned a Cape Breton song to guitar accompaniment. Then on to a heritage house, the Jost House. this house has been transformed over the years and moved from a one-room cellar dwelling to a three storey residence. Each room describes the increasing prosperity of the inhabitants as you ascend, from utilitarian rooms to leisure and comfort. On the top floor I was delighted to see a case of Cranberry glass items. A return later established it was only part of a collection of four cases but our guide could not explain from whence or exactly when they had arrived in Sydney, only that the last owner of the house was widely travelled…. she described a piece I had never seen and by email I hope to see a picture when back in the UK.

Next we visited the Cossit house, bigger and grander, and home to a vicar, parent to at least six surviving children.A small room by the kitchen was used to nurse zany ailing child as it was the warmest and kept under constant observation from the kitchen. The vicar also maintained a vast correspondence, copies of all business dealings, a bookcase full of ledgers…. Elsewhere in the house women made rugs from strips of fabric, a little like crochet patterns, but more like blanket stitch, very 'shabby chic' and warming on the stone floors. In the garden raised beds contained herbs and plants for medical use and basic vegetable cultivars….. raised beds were because the gardeners were forbidden to disturb the soil structure, no 'Time Team' exploration here.

We ended our tour at the Lyceum centre, local theatrical production posters and photos of recognisable works, "The Importance of Being Earnest", the Scottish play, "Pygmalion" and "Hamlet" being some I could identify. We were served oat cakes, a local delicacy, and tea in delicate china cups….. mine was decorated with daffodils and David had the red rose of Lancashire, quite coincidental, but amusing nevertheless.

Our final stop on this visit was to the church of St George, with lovely stained glass and a renowned pipe organ. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second had visited some few years ago a fact of which they were very proud, as displayed framed pictures proved. An abiding memory of this place was the tranquility and calm manner of all people, especially car drivers who were unfailingly courteous to let us cross the roads, no horns blaring and no angry gestures….. space to breathe and enjoy the view.

Sounds like a holiday not to be missed, and we haven’t heard it all yet. Thank you Judith, it sounds magical. More in next month’s newsletter.

Saturday December 3rd

Salisbury Park Christmas Fair. 1pm – 3.30pm

Raffles, cakes, books, toys, other stalls and refreshments. A lovely way to spend an afternoon with friends.

Friday December 16th

Salisbury Park Christmas Dinner. 6.30pm

Come along and share an evening with friends to celebrate the coming of Christmas and its true meaning. You know it’ll be good!

On Wednesday 14th December I will be performing with the Wrexham Playwrights at Un Deg Un. It will be a showcase of original works put together and performed by the playwrights themselves. If you like something different, this may be for you. Fee is a donation, and it’s a bring a bottle occasion!