1806-1964-2016

THE

MESSENGERMARCH 2016

EASTER

And the winner of the St David’s Day poem is . . . then came the traditional pause . . . Nerys. In the true atmosphere of eisteddfodauthere was a silence first as the audience looked around to identify

Nerys. Neighbour checked neighbour until, after much anticipation, a ladystood up. “I am Nerys,” said Wendy Ling. “I wrote the poem In Praise of

Special EASTER SERVICESSunday, March 13: 10.30am Easter Lighthouse. Children &Youth Service followed by refreshments and lunch

Thursday, March 25: Maundy Thursday. 7.30 pm, MaundyThursday Communion Service in the Hall. Led by our Minister

Friday, March 26: 10.30am, Morning Service for Good Friday

Sunday, March 27: Easter Sunday6.45am: Sunrise Service on the Wenallt (Lower Car Park)

GREET THE RISEN LORD!10.30am: Morning Family Worship for Easter Sunday6.00pm: Evening Worship

Why not come and join us and celebrate Easter

worshipping, sharing, serving, caring : : Bethany Baptist Church

March 13: EASTER LIGHTHOUSE for all YOUNGSTERS

A Oes Heddwch? Is there peace?

Wales.” The applause brokeout and she was dulyescorted to the bardic chair.The somewhat grandsword bearer, leader of theBethany Evergreens, Viv Francis, produced a ceremonial sword — actually, a plastic piratesword borrowed from hergrandson, and solemnlyasked, A oes Heddwch? Well,there was peace and theaudience replied enthusias-tically. The plastic swordwas partly drawn andsheathed three times to thecries of Heddwch and win-ner Wendy was presentedwith a Welsh love spoonand a piece of bara brith.

Yes, St David’s Day wascelebrated in style at theBethany Ever-greens withdaffodils, Welsh cakes —and the icing on the cake, atalk on 70 years in showbiz by Wales’s own Wyn Calvin, Narberth born andCardiff bred: 90 years evergreen if he’s a day.

The afternoon commenced with prayer by Rev SamHighway and then in the true tradition of eisteddfodauthe adjudicator Rev Randall Morgan, dignified as ever,announced the winner of the poetry competition.Shirley Salter was runner-up with her highly-praisedpoem My St David’s Day.

The afternoon continued with fun and laughter fromWyn Calvin, story telling and telling stories in his owninimitable style. More Welsh cakes and bara brithbrought the celebration to a close. There’s lovely, said theEvergreens. Tidy said a lady from Gwent

Some verses from the winning ode:

Fair and Glorious is this landAnd very dear to me,Of all the places in the worldIn Wales I’d rather be . . .

Her castles stand as sentinelsGuarding all her past,While voices sing poetic praiseOf virtues that will last.

Poetic license:Comedian

Wyn Calvingives a kiss to

Bethany’spoetic bard Wendy Ling

Iam one of those people youngenough to remember the tales mymother taught me. We called them

Old Wives Tales but I found them tohave more than a grain of truth: Yes,Variety is the spice of life.A change is as good as a rest.Revival is the starting pointto renewal.

This month I want toshare some thoughts withyou about movies thathave stood the test of timeand this coming year arepart of the Theatre andSilver screen revival ofclassic stories.

The 39 Steps is a movieadapted from a JohnBuchan story which beginswhen Richard Hannay comes in contactwith Annabelle Smith at a Music Hall inLondon. The next morning he discoversthat she has been killed and finds himself in the frame for her murder. Sobegins the quest to solve the mystery ofthe 39 Steps.

The original movie was consideredone of Alfred Hitchcock’s finest and wasvoted one of the Top Ten favouriteBritish movies of all time.

Despite its age the movie has pace,black comedy and chemistry between itsstars Robert Donat and MadeleineCarroll.

An Inspector Calls is a movie basedon a play by J B Priestly. It has an all-star cast with that fine actor Alastair Simin the lead.

The story is about the wealthy Birlingfamily who are enjoying dinner whenthey are suddenly interrupted by aPolice Officer who brings them news ofa girl’s suicide which each one of thefamily could have been responsible for.

It’s one of those memo-rable movies that remainsa firm favourite.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roofstars some of the greatestmovie actors of the 1950’s.Elizabeth Taylor PaulNewman and Big DaddyBurl Ives. It’s a storybased on a TennesseeWilliams play of the samename and is set inAmerica’s Deep South: apassionate drama about

the lies we tell ourselves in order to sur-vive. If you like movies full of drama,suspense and tension in family relation-ships then climb onto the Hot Tin Roofand watch the nightmare unfold.

I look forward to watching thesemovies again on my DVD’s but also taking a seat at the theatre to see themon stage at the New Theatre, Cardiff inthe not too distant future.

As a Christian I am grateful thatrevival is often a starting point forrenewal. Perhaps this season of Easteryou might like to visit a Church andexperience revival and renewal in yourlife.

Have a great month.

Sam Highway (Rev)

Come and support theTeam together in

our Main Hall

Watch the matches LIVE onour Big Screen in HD

Licensed games available inBethany

Saturday 12th March at 4pmEngland vs Wales

Saturday 19th March at 2.30pmItaly vs Wales

Food and refreshments(non-alcoholic)

will be served at half timeDonations invited for

Church Charities

The first meal ofthe new monthlyFellowship dininggroup was enjoyedat the Ty GlasHarvesters. Therewere 23 there. OnMarch 7 we shallbe having our mealat theWetherspoon’s inCaerphilly andthen onWednesday,March 9 we shallbe going to theVegetarian FoodStudio, PenarthRoad, Cardiff. OnWednesday, May 11 we shall be at the Holly Bush, Coryton, Whitchurch. New members will be made welcome, with lifts organised if required. For food, fun and fellowship contact Duncan Hockridge on02920626111 or e-mail him at duncan3@hotmail.co.uk for further details

Revival: Renewal

A SEAT ATTHE THEATRE

with Rev SamHighway

BETHANY

FELLOWSHIP

DINING GROUP

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THE ROTARY CLUB OF CARDIFF

Tools for Self Reliance

The Club are collecting old or brokengarden / carpentry/ sewing / builders toolswhich will be refurbished at workshops in

Crickhowell and sent to artisans in Tanzania andother African countries.

If you can help us with this very worthycause please e-mail

dafyddthomas1@googlemail.com or phone Cardiff 2061 4242

Members will be pleased to collect tools or they can bedelivered to premises in Rhiwbina. We are also now

collecting spectacles and hearing aids for recycling andforwarding to needy communities abroad.

We are also seeking ‘readers’ for Herbert ThompsonPrimary School in Ely in order to improve children’s

reading skills. Non Rotarians welcome

BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH

HEOL LLANISHEN FACH

RHIWBINA, CARDIFFwww.bethanybaptist.org.uk

Minister : Rev Philip DunningTel : 029 2069 2I75e-mail: phildunning1968@googlemail.com

Church Secretary : John TownsendThe Messenger Editor : Gareth Jenkins Tel : 029 2088 5389e-mail : gareth-jenkins@supanet.com

6th: 10.30am: Morning Service for Mothering Sunday, including Holy Communion. Led by our Minister Rev Phil Dunning6.00pm: Joint Ecumenical Eucharist Service at All Saints Church

13th: 10.30am: Easter Lighthouse Servicefor Children and Youth and the young at heart. With Music Group and followed by refreshments and lunch6.00pm: Evening Service with Holy Communion in the Church Hall.

20th: 10.30am: Morning Worship for Palm Sunday including Holy Communion.6.00pm Evening Service of Lenten Music led by the choir of the three churches at Beulah URC

24th: 7.30pm Maundy Thursday Communion Service in the Main Hall

25th: Good Friday 10.30am: Morning Service

27th: Easter Sunday6.45am Sunrise Service at the Wenallt lower car park.10.30am: Easter Morning Celebration Service with Holy Communion6.00pm: Evening ServiceAll services conducted by our Minister Rev Phil Dunning

EASTER SERVICES In the run up to Easter in Bethany, I have been leadingour popular Thursday morning service through a seriesbased on the lent hymn, Dear Lord and Father of Mankindby John Whittier.

This hymn begins with the thought that many of ouractions are wrong, and asks us to seek God’s forgiveness,.The remaining verses pick up on some of these wrongbehaviours — including a lack of worship, no trust in God,stress, anger and selfish desire. With an almost childlikequality, these are considered to be our foolish ways and weare asked to reconsider them.

Easter marks the time when we recognise that Jesus died— and died painfully by being nailed upon a crude woodencross. Many have asked why he had to die in this way —particularly as most suggest he had done nothing to deservethat punishment. What they forget is what Whittier remindsus of; that it was actually our foolish ways that caused Jesusto go to the cross. It is these sort of actions on our part thathave separated us from God.

Christian faith begins when we recognise many of ourways are foolish — compared with God’s

perfection, and we then begin to believeand trust in the power of Jesus’ deathto deal with these wrongs in our lives,the sins that separate us from thedivine life God intended.

Make sure this Easter for you ismarked with a realisation that you

are, in fact, foolish, and in manyways. When you begin there, this

profound act of JesusChrist which we markat this special time ofyear begins to makesense.

The Lord bless youthis Easter

Phil

VIEW FROM THE MANSEAn Easter Message from Rev Phil Dunning, Minister of Bethany Baptist Church

Our Foolish ways

PROUD MUM RONA SULLIVAN was invited toWindsor Castle last month to witness theInvestiture of her son, Major John Sullivan,by The Queen. To the background music ofthe Countess of Wessex String Orchestrashe looked on as her son was made aMember of the Most Excellent Order of theBritish Empire. Many in Bethany willremember John as a member of JuniorChurch and particularly the Boys Brigadewhen he lived in Rhiwbina and before hejoined the Army.

THURSDAY MORNING SERVICES

10am-10.30am. Members of all denominations are welcome to listen totalks, messages and music in this informalmid-week interlude: March 3, 10, 17:Lenten reflections by our Minister.24: Rev Randall Morgan. 31: Rev SamHighway. April 7: Rev Randall Morgan.14: John Howells and Margaret Stephens.21: Rev Phil Dunning. 28: Lyn Owen.CONCERT IN AID OF BLOODWISE (formerlyLeukaemia and Lymphoma Research).

Saturday, April 2, 7.30pm. Contact Gill Jones: tel 2062 8696 e-mail: gandt88@hotmail.co.ukWHITCHURCH, RHIWBINA & BIRCHGROVE

MONTHLY PRAYER GROUP Next meeting:April 30: St Andrews, Caerphilly Road,Birchgrove 10.15am-10.45am.CHURCH HOLIDAY : Rev Phil Dunning andCliff Vincent are organising a Church holi-day, travelling to Great Yarmouth and theNorfolk Broads on June 13. Cost is£289.99 a person. Booking forms available.

GOOD NEWS AND DATES FOR THE DIARY and

There are some stories you nevertire of hearing: the adventure onEmmaus Road is one of mine. Youknow the tale as well as I do. Two

disciples of the crucified Jesus, Cleopasand possibly his wife Mary, were walkingslowly homeward after the death of Jesus,their friend and teacher.

They were depressed and totally deflat-ed after the cruel events on Calvary’s hill.The one in whom they had placed all theirtrust and hope was no more. He had metthe cruellest of deaths on a Roman cross.

It was finished.Suddenly, someone caught up with

them and walked along in their company. A total stranger, he asked the reasons fortheir gloom. Surprised at the stranger’signorance they related the events of theday. Could the stranger have been the onlyperson unaware of the terrible happeningsin Jerusalem?

The stranger knew and understoodmore than the disciples would havebelieved. He knew all that had happenedand enthusiastically described andexplained everything so that their mindsand hearts were alight. But still they didnot comprehend it all.

The stranger remained a stranger andwhen the evening shadows closed aroundthem he made as if to walk on when they

reached the home of Cleopas. He was per-suaded to rest and share a meal with thedisciples.

They sat down for the meal and thestranger broke bread and shared it. It wasin the act of breaking the bread that he wasrecognised. The disciples had seen thosehands before and they recognised the scarsof metal nails in the hands. Jesus wasrevealed. He was alive again and in aninstant vanished from sight. In a flash hewas seen, heard, recognised, known andunderstood. Their Lord was risen. He wasalive but suddenly he was gone from sight.

The change in Cleopas and his companion was such that they walked theseven miles back to Jerusalem — the sevenmiles they had just covered. Their experi-ence was not something they wished tokeep to themselves. They returned becausethey had astounding news for all.Everyone should know — Jesus lives.

Their response was sharing the GoodNews that because Jesus lives there wasnew life for all who believe. The future wasthe time of Jesus: time with Jesus, for Jesus.Matthew writes the words of Jesus calledthe Great Commission:

All authority in Heaven and on earth hasbeen given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in thename of the Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit and teaching them to obey every-

thing I have commanded you. And remember, Iam with you always, to the end of the age.

(Mt 28: 16-20 NRSV)How can we keep Jesus and all we

know and have experienced of him to our-selves?

Should we endeavour to keep him toourselves? have we ever realised that wemust share him? When did we last sharethe Good News of Jesus? Could we haverestrained ourselves?

The broken hearts of Emmaus becamehearts aflame for Jesus.

God may surprise us by appearing notwhere nor when we expect him. May Jesusreveal himself in all his glory in our hereand now. Do we think of him as the God ofthe here and now? Where we are now?Where are we now? Jesus is here. Whatdoes that knowledge do for our lives?

He still comes to people, His life moves through lands:He uses us for speaking,He touches with our hands.Go tell it on the mountain,Over the hills and everywhere;Go tell it on the mountainThat Jesus is his name.

Geoffrey Marshall-Taylor (altd) BPW571The Lord bless you each one

J Randall Morgan (Rev)

Stranger than fiction

BETHANY EVERGREENS

February took the Evergreens into OtherPeople’s Gardens without moving from ourseats thanks to a slide show with SheenaCrossley. And we also sang along with thetalented Caerphilly Lions and FriendsUkulele Band.

As if that was not enough, we wereamazed to discover what felt maker PatJohnson got up to in her shed.

Starting with the finest merino fleece shecombines the fibres with silk fibres, finesilk and cotton fabrics and a variety ofyarns which are added for decoration. Theresult was a stunning array of clothing andaccessories such as bags, scarves, glovesand jewellery, pictures and wall hangings.

Pat greatly entertained us with her withher collection of hats. She brought alongher earliest prototypes and called them hatsto frighten the neighbours and modelled themwith hilarious results. An extremely funnyand talented artist.

Then there was March and St David’sDay . . . The Evergreens have a varied programme of speakers plus outings and, ofcourse, time for the all-important cup of tea,biscuits and a chat. You can contact VivFrancis on 2088 5389 for details or just turnup and say hello. Evergreens starts at 2.30pm.

Who is Nerys?It’s Wendy Ling —the winning poet

Laughter time

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