Updated on Sunday, 05 October 2008

Newsletter of the Colwyn Bay & Llandudno Circuit

No 7 June 2008

In the Methodist church the summer is often the season of farewells.  This summer we must say goodbye to Ruth Reynolds Tyson and like all goodbyes it will be lined with joy and tinged with regret.  Joy for all the things we have shared and learned together with Ruth over the past five years and regret for the things that might have been, but have not.  Joys are wonderful, of course, but regrets are not necessarily bad, not if they spur us on to a larger vision and a deeper faith for the future.  Ruth’s ministry, like every presbyter’s, is by its nature about moving on and leaving things for others to complete or continue.  This pattern can also help us in other areas of life where we need to let things go or change direction.

When an American lady, Erma Bombeck, found out she had cancer, her first reaction was to sit down and write a list of the things she’d wished she’d done, but now might not be able to do.  She called her list:  ‘If I had my life to live over’.  The list included these thoughts:  I would have talked less and listened more.  I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble on about his youth.  I would have sat on the lawn and not cared about the grass stains.  I would have burned the pink candle, sculpted like a rose, before it melted in storage.  I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life.  There would have been more “I love you’s” and more “I’m sorry’s”.

As Ruth leaves, and in the uncertainty of what comes next, it will be important for us to look at ourselves, our churches and our Circuit and say ‘what must we now do differently?’,

‘what needs to change?’

‘what opportunities must we seize?’

‘what lessons have we learned?’

Ruth will no doubt ask herself similar questions.  By God’s grace we will both hopefully grow through the asking.

One thing that Ruth will definitely take with her, as she leaves North Wales, is an extra surname.  There’s something she’ll never forget us for!  With Bob, we trust, she will also take away many happy memories and fulfilling experiences.  She certainly leaves plenty of both here with us.  Perhaps the biggest regret we feel is summed up in the old Celtic farewell:  ‘Ruth, would that you were just coming, instead of going’.

Nick Sissons

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WORSHIP LEADER TRAINING

Following the successful training course for Worship Leaders run by Ruth last year another course is now underway with a number of people from various churches across the Circuit.  Worship Leaders are an exciting development in the Circuit and will bring a new richness vitality to worship in our various churches.  Please do continue to pray for them.

Malcolm Chester

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ST PAUL’S COFFEE AND CHAT

St. Paul’s Abergele will be starting Coffee and Chat, on Thursdays (starting 8th May) between 11.15 am and 1.00 pm, all are welcome and the coffee is free…!!

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Circuit Togetherness Day

Do join us at Old Colwyn Church for the Circuit Togetherness Day on Saturday 21st June.  this will be an afternoon of fun and fellowship - a chance to meet with friends old and new from around the Circuit.

On each hour starting at 2 pm there will be an activity such as a Treasure Hunt, a music-based activity or novelty races to be enjoyed “en masse”, while a variety of other things such as quizzes, crafts and children’s games will be on offer in between times - or as an alternative.  The day will end with a barbecue from 5 pm, followed by closing worship around 6 pm.

To get a good start, why not bring a picnic to enjoy before we begin?  Drinks will be provided from 1 pm.

The Circuit Stewards

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WESLEY GUILD LLANDUDNO.

What is happening at the Wesley Guild?

This meeting was originally just for St. John’s and St. David’s but is now open to members and friends in all the Circuit churches.

In the past we have met every Friday evening from October to Easter.  At our recent Annual General Meeting we decided to meet on the first Friday in the month throughout the year. This means that in the summer we shall go out, then revert to the Fellowship Room at St. John’s from September for the winter months.

Our meetings are open to everyone – one of the few Church meetings where men and women can come to the meeting together.

The Wesley Guild is a national organisation to which we are affiliated and our programmes vary from devotional to social.

If you would like to know more please contact Pat Preston on 01745 822152 or  ppptrcprstn@aol.com

We shall send copies of our programmes to all the Circuit churches in due course.

Pat Preston

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Circuit Service

Sunday 6th July at 6 pm

at Rhos Methodist Church

This will be a Communion

service and will include

a farewell

to the Revd Ruth Reynolds-Tyson

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Nant-y-Glyn

Church Anniversary

Sunday 22nd June at 7 pm

Preacher:  Revd Eric Small

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A Summer Pilgrimage

to Dyserth,

Holywell and St. Asaph

Saturday 28th June

To sign up, please contact

Tom Williams or Nick Sissons