Ffynnongroyw Cross of Flowers made on Good Friday

Llanasa Parish News

Croeso, Welcome to the May Llanasa Parish News Email.

Uncertain Bank-Holiday weather forcasts put off some car-booters, but the weather held admirably and a good, but windy day was has on the field, better off perhaps in the hall where bacon butties, tea and cakes were happily consumed!

There was an important announcement in the Diocese of St. Asaph this weekend. The 5th of May is the day in the Church calendar on which we remember St. Asaph. This 6th Century Saint and his companion Cyndeyrn (Kentigern elswhere in Wales and Mungo in Scotland) established their Llan in our Midst. The Diocese of St. Asaph has declared the year beginning the 5th of May 2013 a year of pilgrimage. It has been proclaimed a year in advance in order that we might prepare for this year searching out our lost or forgotten holy sites and preparing ourselves to be a journeying people. It is an exciting prospect one I hope all can engage with in some way. Plans are not only being made for pilgrimages on foot, (though pilgrims are encouraged to try to leave the car at home and to travel lightly) but also by train, bike and bus. Pilgrimage has always been an important part of discipleship in Christianity. Whether to the well known places, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostella, Iona, Lindisfarne our own Ynys Enlli, TyDdewi, Valle Crucis or to small local places of significance in the lives of local people, it is something to be honoured and welcomed. Not just as an invitation to visit the places in our diocese with historical or faith connections, but also as an opportunity to deepen the relationships between those who travel together. A mile travelled together can be better than a score of meetings in one place.

Dates for the diary

9th May Deanery Conference – Showing the video of Robin Gamble at the Diocesan Conference. This will be an opportunity to discuss the future of the Church in Wales in our Deanery. All Are Welcome and encouraged to attend this open meeting. 7.30pm Church of the Holy Spirit, Prestatyn.

17th May Ascension Day Outdoor Service in the Churchyard at Llanasa 7pm (weather permitting!!)

19th May Ffynnongoryw Community Forest Garden work Day 11am -4pm

24th May Archdeacon’s Visitation at St. Peter’s Church Holywell. 7pm All Wardens are called upon to attend this meeting.

3rd June 50’s Night Jubilee Celebrations – Tickets now on sale and going fast. Fish and Chip Supper, Bar, Band. 50’s Dress Code

4th June Civic Service at Llanasa followed by reception in Red Lion

and

Children’s Party in the Village Hall. Tickets for the party are free & available now.

5th June Bank Holiday Monday Car Boot Sale – Llanasa

9th June Comedy Evening With Barbara Nice & Jo Enright hosted by Tony Vino at Llangollen Pavilion. Bar from 7pm, Comedy from 8pm Tickets are now on sale. £10 Transport will be provided.

(Photo: Ffynnongroyw Cross of flowers on Good Friday)

Llanasa Easter Vestry will be held today following the service in the morning.  Lunch will be provided.

28th April    Ffynnongroyw Forest Garden Work Day 11 – 4

29th April    Easter Vestry – Llanasa

7th May        Car Boot Sale – Llanasa
Many helpers needed as usual!

9th May        Deanery Conference – Showing the video of Robin Gamble at the Diocesan Conference.  This will be an opportunity to discuss the future of the  Church in Wales in our Deanery.

All are Welcome and encouraged to attend this open meeting
7.30pm Church of the Holy Spirit, Prestatyn

19th May        Ffynnongroyw Forest Garden Work Day  11 – 4

24th May        Archdeacon’s Visitation St. Peter’s Church Holywell

3rd June        50’s Night Jubilee Celebrations
4th June        Civic Service at Llanasa Church to mark the Jubilee
5th June        Car Boot Sale – Llanasa

9th June        Comedy evening Llangollen Pavilion

Service times as normal

9.30am Eucharist Ffynnongroyw

11am Eucharist Llanasa

4pm Evensong Gronant

We continue to celebrate the Easter Season.  Service times as normal.

Easter can provide many opportunities and plenty of temptation, as if Lent hadn’t been enough!  But if the vicar has done his job  properly perhaps Easter should also offer an opportunity to begin again – for renewal.  Every Maundy Thursday at the Chrism Mass (and all are warmly invited to this) the Bishop invites all those ordained and lay persons present to re-affirm their commitment to the service of God be it ministerial or otherwise.  Again at our service of light on Easter Saturday as the first light of Easter is carried into a dark church we are called to renew vows taken at baptism by us or on our behalf and all go out with a candle lit from the new light to proclaim the message of Easter.
What do we do with these gifts?  To where do they take us?  I imagine – in many ways we do what the first disciples did – run and hide in fear.  Or in modern times perhaps, carry on regardless.  We do need to embrace the message of Easter and allow it to carry us forward.  If we have been treading the same pathway for many years – Easter is the time to step up to another level or to break free from what holds us back. Such a things can be liberation itself.  ‘Beyond the walls’ is perhaps an apt Easter slogan for this year (see ‘Shawshank Redemption’) encouraging us to take a step out of the ordinary beyond where we are comfortable.  Jesus did not die an horrific death so that we might build ourselves a prison.  He died that we might have life abundant, but we must grasp it, knock down the walls that attempt to constrain us and be set free.

Behold, I am making all things new.  Rev.21v5

or in the words of an Easter Song:

Behold, Behold I make all things new
Beginning with you, and starting from today.

Behold, Behold, I make all things new
My promise is true, for I am Christ the Way.
John L. Bell

Services at Normal times in Llanasa and Ffynnongroyw

Gronant Easter Celebration is on Holy Saturday at 4pm

“BEYOND THE WALLS!!”

If we don’t see you over the Easter Festivities – Every Blessing to you for a  very Happy Easter.

Services and events for Holy Week and Easter are below

Croeso i bawb, All welcome

MONDAY 2nd
Eucharist at Gronant 6.30pm

TUESDAY 3rd
Eucharist at Llanasa 6.30pm

WEDNESDAY 4th
11am Eucharist at Gronant

Holy Week Reflections
6.30pm Gwespyr Hall
Ending with Compline

MAUNDY THURSDAY

11am Chrism Mass – Cathedral (lunch available afterwards)

Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar
6pm Ffynnongroyw
7.30pm Llanasa

GOOD FRIDAY
Dressing of the Cross Ffynnongroyw 11am  – Bring Flowers!!
Stations of the Cross 6.30pm Llanasa

HOLY SATURDAY

Church Decoration at Llanasa 10.30am
Church Decoration at Gronant 11am

4pm Easter Eucharist Gronant
7pm Service of Light Llanasa

EASTER SUNDAY EUCHARIST
9.30am Ffynnongroyw
11am Llanasa

Lovely day for it!