V.E. Day Ready Steady Go!

People might be unable to go out shopping for decorations to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe but that hasn’t stopped them using what is at hand and creative imagination to make their own .

Here is just a small collection we have gathered

Claire Kirby of Company Street has been painting pillow cases to make Union Jacks 

Alison Griffiths of Nant y Gleisiad has been using her knitting and crochet skills to occupy her time in lockdown and this bunting is her very successful result.

 

Here is Lacey Bevan of Melincourt who transformed her lockdown birthday banners with her mother Laura to make some fantastic bunting for their window . What a wonderful way to recycle.

 

Young Kelsey Mead of John Street has been missing her friends during lockdown but spent some time to create a commemorative window for us to enjoy

 

Nora and Steve Cooper transformed  their window in John Street into a delightful “flashback” photo gallery showing 50th V.E Day celebrations in John Street and Company Street.

 

 

More photographs taken around the village:-

Rugby Road

Neath Road

Neath Road

Vaughan Ave

Vaughan Ave

 

Ynysfach Avenue

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If you have pictures to add to our gallery , send them to us at Resolven District News -we’d be delighted to see them and share them.

Our email address is:

am@resolvendistrictnews.co.uk

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Nik Samuel Remembers Gran and Getting the Coal In

 

 

Just another memory..

 

Ow, what’s for tea Gran

Bugger tea she’d say

There’s a ton of coal out back

And don’t take all bloody day

Well?    Gran would say

I’d go and change into my scruffs

The barrow had a puncher

The shovel was short and worn

I hated getting the coal in

But if I didn’t they’d only bloody moan..

Gran would pitch in too

As long as she had a fag

We’d both be black as midnight

And the dust would make me gag..

 

Nearly finished now

We swept up all the small

A man came round the corner

He wasn’t very tall

A man who swung a man drill

He too was black as soot

Hard as granite and had that miners look

 

He tipped he cap

And tipped his fag

And gave me a knowing wink

Then said as only miners do

“How be”

He’d probably dug that coal

In the dark and soaking hell

I tip my cap to him and the miners

All like Sel…

BY NIK SAMUEL

 

 

 

 

 

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VE Day Street Party – 8 May 1945

This photograph of a VE Day Street Party was sent in by Cllr. William Lewis, Rugby {front left} who was 3 years old at the time.

8 May 1945
VE Day Street Party
Lyons Place/Vale Terrace

 

If you have any photographs of the 1945 VE Day Street Parties in Resolven we will be pleased to include them on the RDN website.

Also any photographs of  the VE Day ‘STAY AT HOME’ ~ STREET PARTIES planned for Friday, 8 May 2020, please e-mail to am@resolvendistrictnews.co.uk

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Sardis Message from Pastor Santos

 

Hello there

I trust you are well and truly enjoying the Lord’s blessings. Here at Resolven we are great. I miss seeing everyone but we are keeping in touch and it is so good to hear from everyone.

Tonight at 7:15pm Keith Gardner and his family will be on the Antiques Road Show, National Botanic Gardens Wales

Take care and God bless

“Let’s do our best to reach the whole world as soon as possible for Christ’

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PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9, 13 – 03/05/20

In the beginning of this chapter we see Paul talking about two sisters in the church who had a disagreement between them and Paul asked them to put things right and not to dwell on them. It is so easy for us to dwell on bad things instead of dwelling on good things. It seems that our minds are programmed to concentrate on bad things instead of concentrating on good things.

We are living in very strange days and if we allow it, it can bring us a lot of fear and anxiety. Whenever we turn the TV on we need to be selective to avoid negative news or violent films. One of these evenings I wanted to watch a film and it took me a long time to find a film that I could just enjoy watching. I did not want to watch anything violent or negative. My mind has been saturated with negative news and I truly wanted to give it a break. This is true not only for me but for all of us.

There is a proverb that says ‘an empty mind is satan’s workshop’. We reflect what is in our minds and hearts. It is so important for us to feed our minds with good things and positive thoughts. I am not saying for us to bury our heads in the sand. What I am saying is that sometimes we expose ourselves to a bombardment of bad news and it can affect our ways of thinking and acting. It can make you insecure and afraid. The news does not aim to help you to feel good, the aim of the publishers is to grasp your attention and keep your focus on what they have to say and more or less to make you a slave of their attention. I do advise you, ‘do not allow the TV or newspapers to guide your thoughts or dictate how you should feel about a situation. The news these days is putting before us a banquet of negativity and all of us do not like it but still sitting at the table and eating more and more of what is being dished out to us. Encouragement and comfort you will find in God’s word.

We need to discipline ourselves to learn to think about different things on different levels. In verse 8 Paul says ‘Finally, brothers…’ he is exhorting to think about positive and things that will edify us. For instance when someone will do something bad to you, easily you could concentrate on the wrong the person has done and you forget all the good the person has done for you. We believers we have the Holy Spirit in us and the Spirit of God ministers into our hearts the deep things of God. At this time in history we do need an injection of faith, encouragement, tenderness etc into our souls. We are not allowed to have social gatherings but there is nothing or power in this world that can stop God from visiting you and sustaining you. It is wonderful when we meet together and we share in fellowship with each other but the God of the bible is much bigger than all these social difficulties we are facing at the moment. Moses was in the desert when he fled Egypt for 40 years, Joseph was in prison for many years, Jeremiah was thrown in to the dungeons for preaching the word of God, Paul was in prison, John was in exile and the list goes on and on and on. Because we are on ‘lockdown’ at the moment it does not mean our minds are in lockdown, however, this could well be the case. If you find you are scared, anxious, frightened, you can’t sleep, your mind cannot rest, it means your mind is on lockdown because of the situation we are living in and because of what the news is telling you. It is time for you to open your bible and be encouraged by the word of God. Tell yourself the stories of great deliverances related in the bible, if you are good at history remind yourself of the hand of God throughout the existence of mankind. You are going to find so many passages in the bible and places in history that when it looked like evil was prevailing God stepped in and something very good was birthed. Instead of being drawn to the TV all the time be drawn to God Himself and ask Him to inject you with a new line of thinking. Learn to see life through God’s eyes. The advice Paul is giving us is ‘whatever is pure, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things’. It can be a very slippery slope, your mind has become addicted to negative thoughts or bad thoughts. I am not talking just about Covid19. I am talking about you believing people are thinking negatively about you and you abide in these lines of thoughts. You are telling yourself again and again about a bad situation you faced. You are dwelling again and again on your illness etc. Hey, it is time to retrain your mind to think differently. You can say to yourself this is impossible, however ‘With Christ all things are possible’.

God bless

Communion

Read I Corinthians 11:16-23

Ask God to forgive your sins. Say a prayer of thanks for the Lord dying for you on the cross on calvary. Then eat the bread which represents the body of Christ and drink the cup that represent the blood He shed for us.

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AND GOD STEPPED IN – BIBLE STUDY – PSALM 105: 1 – 8 05/05/20

In the very beginning of the bible when Adam and Eve sinned against God; it seemed everything was lost and God stepped in (Gen 3:15)

The story of Abraham and Lot, Lot was taken captive, it seems everything was lost and God stepped in (Gen 14).

The story of Abraham and Isaac, it seems everything was lost and God stepped in (Gen 22)

The story of Esau and Jacob, it seemed everything was lost and God stepped in (Gen 33).

The story of Joseph in prison, it seemed everything was lost and God stepped in (Gen 41).

The story of Moses in the wicker basket, it seemed everything was lost and God stepped in (Ex 2).

The story of Moses killing the Egyptian, it seemed everything was lost and God stepped in (Ex 2).

The story of the 10 Plagues in Egypt, it seemed everything was lost and God stepped in (Ex 12).

The story of the crossing of Red Sea, it seemed everything was lost and God stepped in (Ex 13).

The story of the lack of food in the desert, it seemed everything was lost and God stepped Ex16).

The story of the lack of water in the desert, it seemed everything was lost and God stepped in (Ex 17).

The story of Joshua fighting the 5 kings, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Js 10).

The story of Ruth and the young widow, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Ruth 4).

The story David and Goliath, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (I Sam 17).

The story of David committing adultery, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (2 Sam 11).

The story of Elijah, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (I Kings 17).

The story of famine in Samaria, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (2 Kings 6).

The story of King Jehoshaphat, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (2 Ch 20).

The story of Daniel’s friend in the furnace of fire, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Dan 3).

The story of Daniel in the lions’ den. It seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Dan 6).

The story of the Jews going into captivity in Babylon, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Isaiah 47).

The story of how Nehemiah found the city of Jerusalem destroyed, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Neh 6).

The story of Malachi and people’s unfaithfulness towards God, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in.

Between the last book of the Old Testament and the birth of Jesus, it was 400 years of complete silence and no revelation or prophecy, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in.

The birth of Jesus, Herod tried to kill all the baby boys, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Mat 2).

The story of Judas betraying Jesus, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Mat 26).

The story of Peter denying Jesus, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Mat 26).

The story of Jesus’ crucifixion, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Mat 27).

The story of Jesus’ death, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Mat 28).

The story of Jesus’ ascension, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Mat 28 Act 2).

The story of Stephen being martyred, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Act 7).

The story of Paul persecuting the church, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Acts 9).

The story of Peter in prison, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Ac 12).

The story of Paul being stoned in Lystra, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Acts 14).

The story of Paul and Silas in prison, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Ac 16).

The story of John in exile, it seemed everything was lost and then God stepped in (Rev 1).

The End of Times is going to be a horrendous time. We are going to have problems of earthquake, wars, pestilence etc. The bible tells us, our redemption is near. God will step in. I am not saying we are living in the End of Times, what I am saying is the prophecies are being fulfilled and life on earth will come to the point where it will be unbearable and when everything seems to be lost, God will step in. Jesus will return for His church (I Thes 4).

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Vaccination to be found against Coronavirus

Government

People on the Frontline

Sardis Fellowship

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Search Your Family History Free

 

ANCESTRY PROUDLY WORKS WITH UK GOVERNMENT TO HELP THE NATION COMMEMORATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF VE DAY

 

  • VE Day 75 takes place on Friday 8th May, commemorating 75 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe
  • Ancestry is working alongside the UK Government as part of their official programme of events to help people commemorate the anniversary from their homes
  • All UK historical records on Ancestry.co.uk will be made free from 4th-10th May, giving people the chance to discover personal stories of their family during the Second World War

 

29th April 2020, London UK – Ancestry – the global leader in family history, is proud to announce it is working alongside the UK government to help the nation commemorate VE Day from their homes. The 75th anniversary of VE Day will take place on Friday 8th May, marking 75 years since Winston Churchill declared a national holiday to celebrate the news that the Second World War – and nearly six years of fighting in Europe – had come to an end.

 

To help mark the significance of VE Day, at a time when feeling connected to our families and to the wider nation is more important than ever, Ancestry is offering all UK historical records on Ancestry.co.uk for free from 4th-10th May. This free access gives people the chance to discover more about their family’s involvement in the Second World War, the roles they played in a time of need and the personal stories that lie behind that period of history.

 

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden said: “I am looking forward to finding out more about what my relatives did during the Second World War with the help of Ancestry and I hope that, as we mark 75 years since VE Day, everyone will join in with our national commemorations. It is important that we remember and give thanks to the greatest generation and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to bring peace.”

 

Ancestry.co.uk hosts the UK’s largest online collection of family history documents with more than two billion searchable records. Millions of these records are specifically from the Second World War, which can help people discover the everyday experiences of soldiers on the frontline as well as all the people back home who lived through rationing, evacuation, and led the vital efforts on the home front.

 

Russell JamesFamily History expert at Ancestry, said: “VE Day is one of the most significant moments in British history, so we’re proud to be working with the UK government to help the nation commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day from their homes. The stories of what it was like to live through the Second World War are something we share not only within our families, but as a nation. Using this time to learn about those experiences, whether they were on the front line or helping keep the country going back home, gives us all an opportunity to feel connected – to our relatives and to people all over the country.”

 

To access Ancestry’s records for free and discover your family story from the Second World War, visit www.ancestry.co.uk. For more information about  the 75th anniversary of VE Day visit https://ve-vjday75.gov.uk/. On social media follow #VEDay75

 

 

Refuse Collection Information

Neath Port Talbot residents are being advised that there will be no changes to kerbside collection arrangements this May Day bank holiday and are being asked to present their recycling and refuse on their normal collection days.

Collections in the County Borough usually take place a day later in the week following a bank holiday but there will be no changes to scheduled collections for the upcoming bank holiday on Friday 8th May.

The May Day bank holiday, which is normally held on the first Monday in May, has this year been moved to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day on Friday 8th May.

There will be no changes to recycling and refuse collections either in the week beginning Monday 4th May or the week following the bank holiday (week beginning Monday 11th May).

For more information visit: www.npt.gov.uk/recycle

Welfare Hall Lit Up

We are half way through the 12 week shielding process for the coronavirus and the weekly clapping for NHS and care workers is the social highlight for many of us, giving interaction whilst isolating and distancing.
If you live within sight of Resolven Miners Welfare, we hope the lights that have been put in place to cheer on all the key workers show the measure of respect we hold for all their efforts not only at this time but always.

 

 

#clapforkeyworkers #ClapForOurCarers #NHSh

VE DAY NATIONAL CELEBRATION NEWS

Her Majesty The Queen to send a message to the nation to mark 75th anniversary of VE Day

 

 

Her Majesty The Queen will send a message to the nation on Friday 8 May.

Published 29 April 2020

From:

Department for Digital, Culture, Media & SportMinistry of Defence, and The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP

  • His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will read an extract from King George VI’s diary from 8 May 1945
  • Members of The Royal Family, the Prime Minister and the Culture Secretary will take part in video calls with Second World War veterans
  • Churchill’s famous victory speech will be broadcast as part of BBC special programming
  • A national moment of remembrance will take place with a two minute silence as Culture Secretary calls on the public to mark the occasion at home
  • Second World War veterans will receive calls from NHS Volunteer Responders

The UK Government has announced revised plans to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day which will include an address from Her Majesty The Queen.

In line with government guidance, the original plans for VE Day 75, which included a veteran procession, had to be adjusted due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced a new programme that will allow members of the public to remember and give thanks to the Second World War generation from the safety of their own homes.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the greatest generation that served in combat and on the home front during the Second World War.

Whilst we now need to celebrate VE 75 in our homes and on our doorsteps, rather than in parades and street parties, I know the nation will come together to mark this historic occasion.

In these difficult times, acts of remembrance are even more poignant and I am sure that millions will want to join me to remember and give thanks to those who gave so much to secure peace, freedom and prosperity in Europe.

To mark this historic occasion, Her Majesty The Queen will send a message to the nation at 9pm on BBC One, the exact moment her father, King George VI, gave a radio address in 1945.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will read an extract from King George VI’s diary from 8 May 1945 which describes the day including The Royal Family’s iconic Buckingham Palace balcony appearances.

Members of The Royal Family, the Prime Minister and the Culture Secretary will take part in a series of video calls with Second World War veterans and those who served on the Home Front. First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford will also host calls with veterans in Wales.   The official commemorations will begin at 11am with a national moment of remembrance and a two minute silence.

Other plans for the day include:

  • As part of special BBC programming, extracts from Sir Winston Churchill’s victory speech will recreate the moment peace in Europe was announced 75 years ago at 3pm and the Prime Minister will speak about the importance of VE Day.
  • The Archbishop of Canterbury will record a special reflection and moment of prayer for VE Day.
  • Her Majesty The Queen’s 9pm address to the nation will be followed by a national singalong of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’. The public will be encouraged to open their doors and join in with this national moment of celebration.
  • The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has produced a template packso that the public can hold a 1940s style afternoon tea party at home complete with homemade VE Day bunting, original recipes, games, and educational and creative activities for children.
  • NHS Volunteer Responders will be deployed to give a number of Second World War veterans a call and provide an opportunity to share their stories.
  • Historian and broadcaster Dan Snow will host history lessons for children from Monday 4 May. At 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Dan will host a History Hit live on YouTube’s Timeline channel that will focus on a different aspect of the Second World War and aim to teach the public about the importance of VE Day.
  • The Government and Ancestry are working together to encourage the public to join together in commemorating VE Day by discovering their own connection to the Second World War. As part of this, all UK historical records available on co.ukwill be free for the public from Monday 4 May until Sunday 10 May, giving people the opportunity to uncover the personal stories of the Second World War and the roles their families played.
  • Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland will broadcast a virtual Service of Remembrance followed by online tributes from a range of performers.
  • The First Minister of Wales will host a video call to veterans.
  • A number of commemorative events will also take place across Northern Ireland.

The Royal British Legion’s Assistant Director of Commemorative Events, Bob Gamble OBE, said:

As we face some of the most challenging times since the Second World War, now more than ever it is important to unite in recognition of people’s service to the nation, just as communities did 75 years ago.

With members of the public unable to attend VE Day 75 events, we are calling on people across the UK to mark the anniversary from home and take part in these national moments of remembrance and thanksgiving. There is no right or wrong way to take part in the Silence at 11am, some people may wish to stand at their windows or step outside their front door, but we hope that individuals and families across the UK will embrace the opportunity to share in a national moment of reflection.

Russell James, Family History expert at Ancestry®, said:

> VE Day is one of the most significant moments in British history and Ancestry is proud to be working with the UK government to help the nation commemorate its 75th anniversary from their homes. Stories of WWII are something we share not only within our families, but as a nation, so using this time to learn about those experiences through historical records and speaking to our relatives gives us all an opportunity to feel connected – to our family and to people all over the country.

Graeme Dey, Scottish Government Minister for Veterans said:

The upcoming 75th anniversary of VE Day is a fantastic opportunity to remember and thank our Second World War generation for the many personnel sacrifices they made – both at home and abroad, both in and out of uniform.

If it weren’t for their efforts, we wouldn’t enjoy the many freedoms which we now take for granted. I look forward to joining with the rest of the nation on May 8th to pay tribute to them.

First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford said:

We wouldn’t be where we are today without the determination of our veterans and those who contributed to Britain’s efforts during the Second World War. As we remember and thank them, let’s find inspiration in their bravery to guide us through our own extraordinary moment in history

Notes to Editors:

  • The BBC will broadcast two special programmes on BBC One to mark VE 75 which will be shown at 14:45 – 15:45 and 20:00 – 21:10.
  • All events will be pre-recorded. Journalists and the public are not encouraged to travel to watch events being filmed. The public are reminded not to travel to watch events and must adhere to the Government’s social distancing and travel guidance. Everyone must stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
  • You can download DCMS’s commemoration afternoon tea party guidehere and activity pack for children here.
  • You can see and take part in Dan Snow’s creative challenge for children here.

Neath Port Talbot cemeteries re-opening to public

28 April 2020

PRESS RELEASE

Following new Welsh Government advice, all Neath Port Talbot owned cemeteries plus Margam Crematorium will be re-opened to the public from Thursday (April 30th, 2020) for visits to graves or memorials.

In common with other Welsh local authorities earlier this month, Neath Port Talbot Council announced the temporary closure of its crematorium and cemeteries to members of the public (unless attending a funeral) to help stop the spread of Coronavirus.

But following dialogue between Council Leaders and Welsh Government Ministers due to the sensitivity of family visits to graves, the Welsh Government issued further guidance.

Margam Crematorium and the Council owned cemeteries will now re-open from Thursday though people making visits are reminded social distancing and other measures designed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 must be adhered to.

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Engineering, Cllr Ted Latham said: “This has been a hugely challenging time for everyone and we understand the closure of cemeteries and the grounds of Margam Crematorium for family visits has not been welcome.

“This is why we are now re-opening them as soon as we can with measures put in place to ensure public visits are as safe as possible for everyone involved.

“Please ensure you are mindful of social distancing rules and please remember to observe them when visiting loved ones who have passed.

“This is a balance between stopping the spread of Coronavirus and meeting the basic human need for people to visit the resting place of their loved ones. Working together I am sure we can get this balance right.”

Along with Margam Crematorium, the Council operates cemeteries in the following areas:
•     Cymmer
•     Goytre
•     Margam
•     Ynysmaerdy
•     Cwmbedd (Giants Grave)
•     Onllwyn
•     Llantwit
•     Carmel
•     Godre’r Graig

VE Day-Stay at Home Street Party!

Sardis-Message for this week from Pastor Santos

 

 

 

Hello everyone. 

I trust you are well and enjoying fellowship with God.

Last night I was teaching via the internet a Theological College in Brazil. It is such a blessing to be able to share what God is doing.

We certainly serve an amazing and all compassionate God.

God bless

“Let’s do our best to reach the whole world as soon as possible for Christ

 

With God we can do great things – Daniel 11:32 – 26/04/20

Every year as a fellowship of believers we have a theme for the year. This year’s theme is “Attempt Great Things for God and Expect Great Things from God” the biblical foundation for it is Daniel 11:32 .  We are concentrating on the 2nd part of the verse “but the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits”.

The man who coined our theme for the year is called William Carey. Mr Carey was a cobbler and in his workshop he had a map of the world and as he repaired shoes he prayed for the world to be saved. He was the first Baptist missionary, and he went to India and he never returned to Britain again. He gave himself completely to serve the Lord and through his vision and efforts the  ‘Baptist Mission Society’ was founded. He accomplished a lot for God and deservedly received the title ‘The Father of Modern Missions’.

The name Daniel means – God is my judge. Daniel was a young Jewish man who belonged to the nobility in Jerusalem and together with thousands of other Jewish people he was taken into captivity in Babylon. When in Babylon, he and some of his friends remained faithful to God and because of this they faced some very challenging times. The verse in Daniel 11 is written later on in his life time. However, Daniel had seen the results of the furnace of fire and how God spared his friends’ lives.

Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den and his life was spared. Daniel had dreams and visions from God and he could truly say ‘but the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits”. Daniel did not have it easy but he remained faithful to God. Daniel was young, handsome, and intelligent; he had dreams of being married, becoming a father and enjoying a family life. All of these things were taken away from him when he became a captive in Babylon. To make life more complicated he became an eunuch and that was a humiliating situation to find himself in. In all the troubles and humiliation he faced Daniel remained faithful and true to the Lord. He could have asked himself ‘what have I done to deserve this?’. He could have become a very bitter person, but instead of embracing bitterness Daniel embraced the grace of God which enabled him not just to survive but to be a real blessing and encouragement. We know that Daniel became very high up in a governmental position within the Babylonian empire. Daniel never went back to Jerusalem even though his heart was set on it. We can sit down and cry at what life throws at us and or learn to stand and make a difference and be blessing.

Daniel had decided that from the very beginning of his captivity that he would not conform but he would make a stand for the Lord. It took great courage and he was just a young man. Age does not come into it, when a man or a woman is devoted to the Lord, He will use them regardless of their age. It is a wonderful thing to know about God, and when studying theology we learn a lot about God, but there is a great difference in knowing about God, and knowing God. It is not the people who know about God that will do great exploits, it is the people who know God that will do great exploits. We are called to be a blessing and a living witness wherever we are. If we work in a hospital we are called to be courageous in that environment, if we work as a teacher or a bus driver, or whatever place we find ourselves in, if we know God we are going to achieve great things for Him. We are not aiming to be heroes but we are aiming to be courageous men and women of God who every day depend upon Him. We are living in a very self-sufficient society but we believers are not embarrass to approach God to ask Him to bless us in ways that we can achieve great things for Him.

You need to have an active faith and believe beyond circumstances that God will see you through. At the present moment I feel like all of us are in a gym – I mean spiritual gym and God is teaching us how to exercise our spiritual muscles. We are getting stronger and at a time such as this we need to focus on Him.

Do not be afraid, trust, and keep going strong.

 

 

Cast all you cares on Him – Bible Study 28/04/20

1 Peter 5: 1-10 / 5:7

Peter says something very powerful here in verse 1 ‘a witness of Christ’s sufferings’. He was with the Master for 3 ½ years and he saw how He lived His life and also ‘His sufferings’. Pay attention Peter does not say ‘suffering’ he says ‘sufferings’. The Lord throughout His life faced sufferings – a refugee in Egypt, religious persecution, false accusations, etc. Peter never saw the Lord anxious about what life would dish Him out next.

We are living in a society when many people are suffering terribly with problems of anxiety. Many people are taking tablets  for their anxiety and please do not misunderstand me because medically speaking there is room for such treatments.  What I am saying is we need to learn to rest in the Lord. In Matthew 11:28 we read about it.  The teaching of Matthew 6 about the ‘Daily Bread’ is about us not being anxious about tomorrow. The news today is so bad and scary that I miss the times when it was all about ‘Brexit’ and ‘Brexit’ did get on my nerves.

When looking at the bible there are many verses in which messages are not complete in themselves and we need to read the whole passage to understand it. Nevertheless, verse 7 is a complete verse, it makes complete sense in itself  and reaffirms biblical truths about anxiety. Someone went to the doctor and said ‘doctor every time I turn my neck around it hurts me’ and the doctor said ‘do not turn it around then’. In other words you will have no pain but the problem will not be solved either. I could tell you ‘just do not watch television or listen to the news’, however it would not solve the problem, it would just cover it up. I know sometimes we need to be kind to ourselves but we cannot hide from reality.

All of us have plenty of reasons to be anxious about different things in life. It is something that can take over our lives and cause us to live with insecurity and fear. We can get worried or uneasy about something with an uncertain outcome. When these feelings come upon you, you need to cast them over to the Lord. To cast means to throw them over to him and say in an audible voice ‘Lord I cannot control these situations and it is taking over my life, but in accordance to the teachings of your word I cast them over to you asking you handle this situation’. To hand a situation over to the Lord is not a sign of weakness but a clear sign that we trust in Him and also in His compassionate character. The bible gives us so many examples of how caring God is  – Caring Father (Psalm 103:13), Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14 Friend (John 15:15) etc. Every day we should pray, and during our times of prayer  we should hand the day over to Him knowing that He will do a better job of it than what we would. As the day develops in front of you, you will meet new challenges and anxiety will knock at the door of your heart. Just remember, ‘cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you’. I know Maureen’s favourite verse is Proverb 3:5,6. This passage speaks about trusting in the Lord with all of our hearts. We exercise trust everyday in our lives. When we turn on the light  we trust it will work, when it does not we are quite surprised. When we sit down we trust the chair will hold our weight, when we open the fridge door we trust the food would have kept cold. If we can trust in these things that have no brain, no personality, no desire, we certainly can trust much more in God who exceeds in intelligence, kindness, love etc. Instead of listening to the news for comfort, listen to it for information because for comfort and strength we listen to the Lord. If you are frightened because of the news on TV, open your bible and read, and be encouraged in who God is and learn to rest in His love. He cares for you.

Funeral Notice for Mrs Mair Norton

Funeral Notice for Mr Gwyn Thomas

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Rainbows in our windows

Youngsters across the country are taking part in the movement known as the Rainbow Trail.  The idea has taken off and rainbows are now seen in windows all over the U.K. helping to cheer us up-a symbol of hope.

Our RDN photographer Mike Davies would have been out chasing rainbows for us now had he not been self isolating.  So instead, to lift our spirits, here are some images taken in happier times when  he pointed his camera at the sky from  his own back garden.

 

THE RAINBOW

Boats sail on the rivers,
And ships sail on the seas;
But clouds that sail across the sky
Are prettier than these.
There are bridges on the rivers,
As pretty as you please;
But the bow that bridges heaven,
And overtops the trees,
And builds a road from earth to sky,
Is prettier far than these

CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

 

IMAGES BY MIKE DAVIES

Message from Father Andrew

A Message from Father Andrew

Photo of St David’s Church, Resolven by Glyn Davies

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Lockdown

God of compassion,

be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.

In their loneliness, be their consolation;

in their anxiety, be their hope;

 in their darkness, be their light;

 through him who suffered alone on the cross,

but reigns with you in glory,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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We are now into our fourth week in lockdown and entering the fifth week. To say that life is strange would be an understatement. We have all had to adjust how we live our lives daily.

 

For many if not most of us the difficulty lies in our lack of social contact. Whilst some can go to the shops where we will see others, there are many who may see no-one during any given day.

 

However, like me I expect many in Resolven if not within the parish boundaries are watching on BBC 1 on Monday evenings the programme called Lockdown; a programme which has our very own Ross (autographs will be given after the crisis is over for those forming an orderly queue) my words not his.

 

As we watch those people who are participating in this programme, it has I hope helped us all to realise the seriousness of what is happening in the world at this time; at a more human level, whilst also keeping us amused (the Davies family from Swansea in particular).

 

In a way this programme shows our helplessness but, in another way, it shows our capacity for goodness, our compassion for others. This week I watched a colleague from Llantwit Major lock the doors of his church and walk away, however, I know that although he has had to walk away from a building like all of us who minister we have not walked away from church.

 

Our role may have changed, we no longer see many of those who live alongside us in the parish face to face, but we have found new ways mixed with old ways of staying in touch. I speak with so many of the congregation from all 3 churches during the week by phone. I also know that they in turn keep in contact with each other.

 

I am learning how to use aspects of social media I had not used before. Each Sunday I place a pre-recorded message on the parish Facebook page, I through the help of a colleague to join with their parish to form a zoom ministry area where some of our regular worshippers zoom in so to speak. We also hold a zoom coffee morning on a Friday at 10.30.

 

The church is alive in this place even though its buildings are closed. The community needs each other more than ever and I believe it is once again finding itself. From the stories that I hear from those telephone conversations I have daily people are reaching out for each, looking out for each other, caring for each other. What I see in the communities that I serve here in this parish is a God who alive and well and showing his face of love through each one of you.

 

If you feel the need to just have a chat about anything or nothing, then please feel free to give us a call 01639 711657.

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Lord Jesus Christ,

you taught us to love our neighbour,

 and to care for those in need

as if we were caring for you.

In this time of anxiety, give us strength

to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick,

and to assure the isolated

of our love, and your love,

for your name’s sake.

Amen.

___

 Father Andrew.

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