THE MESSENGER worshipping, sharing, serving, caring :: Bethany Baptist Church Constanza Ladies in concert 1806 - 1964 - 2014 December 2014 I t is Christmas time again, and in Bethany we invite you to join with us during the season — to mark Christmas in what we believe to be the right way — with a remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ in a stable in Bethlehem. With our Christmas Tree Festival and services, we hope that you will find something to inspire you. Christmas, of course, is a time of great celebration, with greet- ings and exchanging gifts with family and friends. A time to love, and indeed be loved. We believe this all stems from Jesus, who we see as God’s gift of love to the whole world. This emphasis is beautifully captured in one of the poems we now sing at Christmas — written by the 19th Century English poet, Christina Rossetti — who simply declares that love came down at Christmas. She was also responsible for the much loved carol, In the Bleak Mid-winter, and a number of other poems and hymns that we sing. Rossetti herself had a quite troubled life, with a difficult family background which led to unhappiness in her own relation- ships. I think that this poem, focusing on one important aspect of the birth of Jesus, reflects the need that she recog- nised: to see Jesus as the love she needed to find. Most of us will have a happy time at Christmas but as we celebrate, we are also aware of those less fortunate — those for whom the season of goodwill is actually difficult and frustrating. My hope and prayer is that however we are celebrating this season, all of us recognise the one gift of love we can all receive : Jesus the baby in the Manger, God’s gift of love to the whole world. Whatever you are doing, we hope you will stop and reflect on that particular gift to you. And however you are cele- brating find some time to join us to mark the season in praise and thanksgiving to God, for Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. The Lord bless you this Christmas Phil Dunning (Rev) Welcome to the Christmas Tree Festival Love came down at Christmas Christmas Events & Services Friday, December 5: 2pm Bethany Christmas Tree Festival 7.30pm: Constanza Ladies present a Christmas Concert. £8, students £5 Saturday, December 6: 10.30am-6pm Christmas Tree Festival and Christmas Craft Fair Sunday, December 7: 10.30am Junior Church Christmas Service 6.00pm: Remembering Service Sunday, December 14: 10.30am Morning Traditional Service including Holy Communion 4.00pm: Christmas Lighthouse Children’s Service Sunday 21 December 21: 10.30am Family Christmas Service including Holy Communion 6.00pm: Carol Service Wednesday, December 24: 5pm Children’s Pyjama Service, Main Hall 11.15pm: Christmas Eve Communion Thursday, December 25: 10.30am Christmas Day Worship Sunday, December 28: 10.30am Morning Service including Holy Communion. No evening service
Transcript
THE
MESSENGER
worshipping, sharing, serving, caring : : Bethany Baptist Church
Constanza Ladies in concert1806 - 1964 - 2014
December2014
It is Christmas time again,and in Bethany we inviteyou to join with us duringthe season — to mark
Christmas in what we believe tobe the right way — with aremembrance of the birth ofJesus Christ in a stable inBethlehem.
With our Christmas TreeFestival and services, we hopethat you will find something toinspire you.
Christmas, of course, is a timeof great celebration, with greet-ings and exchanging gifts withfamily and friends. A time tolove, and indeed be loved. Webelieve this all stems from Jesus,who we see as God’s gift of loveto the whole world.
This emphasis is beautifullycaptured in one of the poems wenow sing at Christmas — writtenby the 19th Century Englishpoet, Christina Rossetti — whosimply declares that love camedown at Christmas.
She was also responsible forthe much loved carol, In the BleakMid-winter, and a number ofother poems and hymns that wesing.
Rossetti herself had a quite
troubled life, with a difficultfamily background which led tounhappiness in her own relation-ships. I think that this poem,focusing on one importantaspect of the birth of Jesus,reflects the need that she recog-nised: to see Jesus as the love sheneeded to find.
Most of us will have a happytime at Christmas but as we celebrate, we are also aware ofthose less fortunate — those forwhom the season of goodwill isactually difficult and frustrating.
My hope and prayer is thathowever we are celebrating thisseason, all of us recognise theone gift of love we can allreceive : Jesus the baby in theManger, God’s gift of love to thewhole world.
Whatever you are doing, wehope you will stop and reflect onthat particular gift to you.
And however you are cele-brating find some time to join usto mark the season in praise and thanksgiving to God, for JesusChrist our Lord and Saviour. The Lord bless you thisChristmas
Phil Dunning (Rev)
Welcome tothe ChristmasTree Festival
Love came down at Christmas Christmas Events & Services
Friday, December 5: 2pm Bethany Christmas Tree Festival 7.30pm: Constanza Ladies present a Christmas Concert. £8, students £5
Saturday, December 6: 10.30am-6pm Christmas Tree Festival and Christmas Craft Fair
Sunday, December 7: 10.30amJunior Church Christmas Service6.00pm: Remembering Service
Sunday, December 14: 10.30am Morning Traditional Service including Holy Communion4.00pm: Christmas Lighthouse Children’s Service
Sunday 21 December 21: 10.30am Family Christmas Service including Holy Communion 6.00pm: Carol Service
Wednesday, December 24: 5pmChildren’s Pyjama Service, Main Hall11.15pm: Christmas Eve Communion
Thursday, December 25: 10.30amChristmas Day Worship
Sunday, December 28: 10.30amMorning Service including Holy Communion. No evening service
Bethany Baptist Church Heol Llanishen FachRhiwbina, Cardiffwww.bethanybaptist.org.uk
Minister : Rev Philip DunningTel : 029 2069 2I75e-mail: [email protected]
Church Secretary : John TownsendThe Messenger Editor : Gareth Jenkins Tel : 029 2088 5389e-mail : [email protected] Distribution : Pat EvansTel : 029 2062 7457
7th: 10.30am : Nativity Service, led by Junior Church with Holy Communion. 6.00pm : Evening Service Led by our Minister, Rev Phil Dunning
14th: 10.30am : Morning Worship for including and Holy Communion 4.00pm : “Lighthouse Service” for Children and the young at heart with the Music Group
21st: 10.30am : Morning Service with Holy Communion, and Junior Church. Led by our Minister, Rev Phil Dunning6.00pm : Carol Service
25th: 10.30am : Christmas Day Worship28th: 10.30am : Morning Family Worship
with Holy Communion No Evening Service
DECEMBER SERVICES
DATES FOR THE DIARYThursday morning services 10am-10.30am. Take time out fromthe Christmas shopping to understand the real meaning ofChristmas. December 4th: Led by Rev Randall Morgan; 11th:Favourite Christmas Verses and Music; 18th: Rev Phil Dunning. JANUARY 2015 1st: Rev Randall Morgan; 8th: To be confirmed; 15thRev Phil Dunning; 22nd Rev Sam Highway.EVERGREENS: December 2nd: Quiz; December 9th: ChristmasLunch at the Atlantic Hotel, Porthcawl. FELLOWSHIP: December 10th: Christmas Evening.
❐ When you read the Biblical account of Christmasyou are left with the undeniable reality that God is
not a Christmas Eve sort of planner. Oh no, His idea ofplanning makes the lady who buys her gifts in the Januarysales look disorganised. Let Dave Llewellyn, pastor ofLisvane Baptist Church explain:
The account of Christ’s birth is found in the Gospels ofMatthew and Luke but the detail of his birth, life, death andresurrection are recorded in numerous books in the OldTestament that were written hundreds of years earlier.Have a look at the things the prophets said of the promised Messiah.That he would be born in Bethlehem;He would be born of a virgin;That he would minister in Galilee; That he would speak in parables; That he would perform all manner of miracles; That he would be betrayed by a friend; That he would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver; With the money they would purchase the potter’sfield; That he would be crucified;That people would cast lots for his clothing;Not a bone of his body would be broken;That he would rise from death
❐ ConstanzaLadies choir
will be performingChristmas music attheir concert as partof the ever-popularChristmas TreeFestival. They willinclude pieces byJohn Rutter and BobChilcott but will alsobring in the fun element of Christmaswith Jingle BellSwing, African Noeland The MostWonderful Time of theYear. There will beguest soloists fromthe Royal WelshCollege of Music andDrama, Bass RhysThomas and FrenchHorn player MichaelGibbs. Ticketsinclude a glass ofwine and mince pie.
Planning for Christmas
The Road to Rhiwbina 50 years on
A warm winter awaits at
RHIWBINA MEN’S INDOOR BOWLS CLUB
Experienced or inexperienced applicants welcome
ContactJ. Salaman 20626539 or N. Rendle 07712082042
❐ Bethany celebrated the 50thanniversary of its opening in
Rhiwbina in 1964 with a series of events,beginning with a five-mile walk by morethan 70 people from the City Centrewhere the church was established in1806. We welcomed the Choir of StDenys Church who sang with us hymnscomposed by Rev W E Winks and AnnaLaetitia Waring. West End star PeterKarrie reprised his role as the Phantomof the Opera at a special concert withPencaerau Primary School and conductor and soprano Jo Herco-Thomas. And an anniversary exhibitionattracted many friends and members
Reunion time at the Road to Rhiwbina exhibition for Susan,Jackie, Susan and Catherine — some of the first ‘children’ inNew Bethany. Friends from the BBC recalled early broad-casts when they spotted scripts they had worked withamong the memorabilia. Former Boys’ Brigade lads alsocalled in, including Phil Ivins . . . One visitor even pointedout where she used to sit in Old Bethany . . .
Should we take anynotice of the socalled critics? Thosepeople who love to
tell us what is right andwhat is wrong, what weshould or should not eatand drink. What books andmovies we should orshould not read and see?
Personally I do read thecritics, but retain my free-dom to do as I please. Solet me share with you MYreview of this month'smovies.
The Imitation Game:The second World War produced many heroes butfew remained uncelebratedin popularity than AlanTuring. This movie is basedon his true life story as theman who was known asThe Code Breaker.
He was by profession aCambridge Professor ofMathematics who was sentto Bletchley Park to breakthe German code Enigma.This is a remarkable moviewith some fine performances fromBenedict Cumberbatch,Keira Knightly and CharlesDance.
It has its moments ofsuspense, tension, a touchof comedy and humanemotions. It is a must-seemovie.
My Old Lady is a moviecentred around a pennilessNew Yorker who inherits ahuge apartment in Paris.
His immediate plans areto sell. He soon learns thatunder French Law he cannot do that while thereis a sitting tenant. So thebattle lines are drawnbetween the man in thewill and the Old Lady whois in the way.
Maggie Smith gives agreat performance as theOld Lady. Kristen ScottThomas is convincing asher protective daughterand Kevin Kline is the sympathetic man in themiddle.
Paddington is that long-awaited movie aboutMichael Bond’s famousmarmalade-loving bearwho arrives at PaddingtonRailway Station completein duffel coat, red hat andsuit case. It is a movie ofconsiderable charm withsome of Britain’s top moviestars bringing to life thismuch-loved children’sstory. It is a fun-lovingmovie worth seeing to seeif the evil taxidermistMillicent, played by NicoleKidman, can get herwicked way to capturePaddington Bear.
As I reviewed my choiceof movies I was glad thatmy Faith refuses to liedown and die in Art,Literature, Music and themovies despite its critics ofthe atheist school andhuman rights lobby.
Yes mine is a living faithabout a living God wholoves all of life.
Happy Christmas and ajoyous New Year.
Sam Highway (Rev)
While shepherdswatched . . .
A SEAT AT THEMOVIES
with Rev SamHighway
Those men on the hillside above Bethlehem were made of sternstuff, hardy human material, and were immune to all that naturecould throw at them, but the happenings on the mountain thatnight made even the intrepid shudder with fear and wonder what
on earth, and in heaven, was happening. ‘Don’t be afraid’ were the wordsthey heard from the heavenly choir up yonder. I am not surprised thatthey were afraid, aren’t you? A choir of angels; what did they look likeand what was the sound they made? Those shepherds needed reassur-ance, explanation and understanding and that is what they got. Don’t beafraid. I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy toall the people. This very night in David’s town your Saviour was born— Christ the Lord. (Good News Bible).
What measure of understanding the shepherds had we do not know.There were no great theologians among them, no great scholars; they wereordinary hard-working, hard-living men with no great wisdom from aseminary. Yet they had heard of the coming of a messenger from Godtelling of a future Saviour, the Messiah. In their hearts was no great under-standing but a great expectancy. Now, at last, a promise made was apromise kept. This must be the King that God had promised. What wouldhappen next. What would God do now?
The Bible refers to the child born in Bethlehem as the Baby born to beKing and elsewhere refers to him as the Son of God; then again in John l:8‘the Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to humanity.’
On August 3, 1914, the very threshold of the World War One, theBritish Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey made a sad prophesy that ‘Thelamps were going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time.’ For the next four years it could be argued that they did and thatdarkness covered the land. John, however, in John l:9 writes, ‘The lightshines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.’ (GNB).
I don’t know how you react to the statement that darkness had coveredthe land. You may be of the opinion that darkness still covers the earth; orif not the whole earth at least in part and for extended periods. But I mustsay, even if you are right, so is John right when he says that ‘The lightshines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.’
We look about us and we see so much that causes us concern, worry,fear, doubt and anger. There is much of the darkness about us in theworld. There is also the light. Without the light we can see nothing. Butwith the light we see the positive; we see the good, the joy, the trust, thehope, the healing love. The Bible tells us that the light is no ordinary lightbut is part of the expression of the Godhead himself. That which is good isof God himself.
In the Bible light is one with joy, blessing and life itself and is contrasted with sorrow, adversity and death. Light means that God is pre-sent; that God blesses and does not judge. Light is good; darkness is evil.When God is thought of as being holy it is expressed in terms of light.‘God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him.’ (GNB). In the gospel ofJohn light refers to the revelation of God’s love in Christ and how thatlove penetrates into lives darkened by sin. Christ refers to himself as ‘thelight of the world’ (John 8:12). The God who said, “Out of darkness the lightshall shine” is the same God who makes his light shine in our hearts, tobring us the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of Christ.
May this encourage us this Christmas: may Christ lighten the darknessof the world: may Christ be the light in our hearts. He, the gift of God theFather at that first Christmas, is the light and the ultimate hope for us all.Think on these things: words by Christopher Fry,
The darkest night of the year,The poorest place in town,Cold, and a taste of fear,Man and woman alone . . .What can we hope for here?
More light than we can learn,More wealth than we can treasure,More love than we can earn,More peace than we can measure,Because one child is born.
We’ve been thinking about Christmas. We’ve been thinking about God’sgreatest gift: his gift of love, resplendent in his light. May the Lord bless you each one, J Randall Morgan (Rev)
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