Welcome to the website of the Shrine Church of Saint Melangell. Here you will find information about our services, events and facilities. Please use the menus at the top and bottom of the page to navigate to the page you need, or click the news links for up to date information.
Mae ein gwefan Gymraeg i’w gweld yma
An Advent Adventure !
As a different form of Advent Calendar marking the days up to Christmas this year, St Melangell’s is holding an online photographic version of an adventurous journey: an Advent-ure! An image can illustrate so much without words being needed and situations can be viewed in many varying ways. Each day, any images sent in will be posted on our FaceBook or website gallery, if you agree, to show what that word inspires. This is not a competition or a technical challenge, just a collective pause to consider what these words indicate to us today. The images don’t have to be ‘religious’ but the age restrictions and safeguarding advised on social media for children or vulnerable adults taking part do need to be observed. Only first names and a brief accompanying comment can be posted or images could be anonymous, subject to what the contributor prefers. Starting on the first Sunday of Advent, that week’s words are: Preparation, Ready, Setting Out, Light, Looking, Perseverance and Which Way? The others will be on FaceBook, our website and the weekly reflections that are sent out – to send in images, please contact admin@stmelangell.org or ring 01691 860408 for further details. We will be posting these photographs on our Advent Page.
December and January Services at the Shrine Church and Centre of St Melangell.
Happy New Year! Although the Gregorian calendar begins on January 1st, the church’s New Year begins on the First Sunday of Advent, November 30th. The four weeks of Advent mark a time of preparation and waiting for the arrival of Jesus, traditionally beginning with the making of Christmas puddings and cakes on Stir Up Sunday, 23rd November. These days, they’re often bought rather than made but that Sunday actually gets its name from the first words of the collect for the day, which begins, ‘Stir up, we beseech you, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people…..’ At a time when so much is being stirred up in national events and many folk can be overwhelmed by the pace of change today, those words can be a reminder that will is important. That was the case for Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the Magi, all of whom had to decide, prepare for and then set out on journeys that first Christmas which led to huge changes – and not just for themselves. What if any of them had decided not to bother?!
Journeys often involve change, risk, choice and adventure. As a different form of Advent Calendar marking the days up to Christmas this year, St Melangell’s is holding an online photographic version of an adventurous journey: an Advent-ure! An image can illustrate so much without words being needed and situations can be viewed in many varying ways. Each day, any images sent in will be posted on our FaceBook or website gallery, if you agree, to show what that word inspires. This is not a competition or a technical challenge, just a collective pause to consider what these words indicate to us today. The images don’t have to be ‘religious’ but the age restrictions and safeguarding advised on social media for children or vulnerable adults taking part do need to be observed. Only first names and a brief accompanying comment can be posted or images could be anonymous, subject to what the contributor prefers. Starting on the first Sunday of Advent, that week’s words are: Preparation, Ready, Setting Out, Light, Looking, Perseverance and Which Way? The others will be on FaceBook, our website and the weekly reflections that are sent out – to send in images, please contact admin@stmelangell.org or ring 01691 860408 for further details.
May Christmas bring blessings and the New Year fresh hope wherever it may lead us!
With my prayers; pob bendith, Christine, Priest Guardian.
The following services will be held in the centre during December and January, except for 21st December, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – please wrap up warmly then! The services will reflect the journeys in the Biblical Advent stories and Thursday services will be followed by a shared lunch with tea and cake on Sundays.
Thursday 4th December, noon: Holy Eucharist – Travelling light.
2nd Sunday of Advent, 7th, 3pm: service of reflection – Looking for light.
Thursday 11th, noon: Holy Eucharist – Receiving the light.
3rd Sunday of Advent, 14th, 3pm: Holy Eucharist – Walking in the light.
Thursday 18th, noon: Holy Eucharist and healing service – Which way?
St Cynog’s, Llangynog, 6.30pm: Children’s Carol service taken by the Guardian.
4th Sunday of Advent, 21st, 3pm: Carol Service.
Monday 22nd, 10.30am: Julian Group.
Christmas Eve, 24th December, 3pm: Cribservice for all ages.
Christmas Day, 25th, 9.30am: Christmass and carols.
First Sunday of Christmas, 28th, 3pm: service of reflection.
New Year’s Day, Thursday 1st January, noon: New Year Covenant Service.
Sunday 4th January, 3pm: Celebration of Epiphany.
Thursday 8th, noon: Holy Eucharist.
Sunday 11th, Baptism of Christ, First of Epiphany, 3pm: service of reflection.
Thursday 15th, noon: Holy Eucharist.
Sunday 18th, Second of Epiphany, 3pm – Holy Eucharist: Christian Unity week.
Thursday 22nd,noon: Holy Eucharist and prayers for Christian Unity Week.
Sunday 25th, Conversion of Paul, 3pm: service of reflection for World Leprosy Day.
Monday 26th, 10.30am: Julian Group.
Thursday 29th, noon: Holy Eucharist.
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