Church Services for the local Bro Teifi Ministry area

Sunday, February 6: St John, Betws Ifan 9.30am Holy Communion; St Cynwyl, Aberporth 11.00am Holy Communion; St Cynllo, Llangoedmor 9.30am Holy Communion; St Mary’s, Cardigan 11.00am Holy Communion; St Tygwydd, Llandygwydd 11.00am Holy Communion; St Cristiolus, Eglwyswrw 9.30am Holy Communion; St Llawddog, Cilgerran 11.00am Holy Communion; St Thomas, St Dogmaels 11.00am Holy Communion; St Brynach, Nevern 9.30am Holy Communion. February 2: Candlemas. 10.00am Holy Communion, St Mary’s Cardigan; 9. 10.00am Holy Communion in St Mary’s, Cardigan.

Church Services in Newcastle Emlyn

Sunday, February 6: Holy Trinity, NCE Holy Communion 10am; St Llawddog, Cenarth Celtic Morning Prayer, 10am; St Celer, Llangeler, Cymun Bendigaid 10am. Sunday, February 13: St Llawddog, Cenarth Holy Communion 10am; St Michaels, Troedyraur Holy Communion, 2.30pm; St Barnabas, Drefach Velindre, Bilingual Communion 11.15am.

Eglwys Blaenwaun, Llandudoch: February 6: Oedfa Gymun 10yb. Y gweinidog yn gwasanaethu. February 23: Oedfa Bregeth 10yb.

Thought for the Week by Reverend Elizabeth Rowe

It is a time of change, and, looking at the Christian calendar this week we celebrate CANDLEMAS on February 2.

It is the presentation of Jesus to God and a rite of purification – we should consider that ritual actually does something!

The season moves from Christmas, a time of joy at new birth and the period of revelation following, to a new recognition of what it now means to be in the world.

Parents and those caring for our young, generally wonder what kind of world we have to offer them. This is particularly thought-provoking when we are so connected by information highways, providing a direct view into many difficult and often traumatic realities.

The imminence of war, the heartbreak of loss, the tragedy of suffering, often experienced by those without the basic necessities of life which we can so easily take for granted, and the way we have so badly affected nature globally.

It is so important to set a right pathway, to open a gate, away from the confusion of selfish motivations, of ambition which tramples others, or that which promotes hate and anger, and which darkens many lives.

To set our heads and feet and those of our children into a way of being which is loving, and which appreciates each of our neighbours as part of our world- wide family, truly “coming from God”. (I encourage you to read the first chapter of James).

This is what religion is set up to achieve, in rejoining us to the source of all being, irrespective of colour, creed, sex, and our apparent differences or age.

All our Bible readings for Candlemas gives insight into this: Malachi 3: 1-5; Psalm 24; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2: 22-40.

In Luke we have Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the temple at exactly the right time, meeting Simeon and Anna at that very point and season in the twilight of their lives when each had been waiting for His coming for so long and who were joyously, despite their long suffering, able to recognize Him for who he truly was – The Messiah, Christ the Lord, the One who saves.

Whether we suffer war or disease, famine or strife, pain or despair, there is a wonderful hope in Christ. The path each of us takes often veers and branches, and may give occasional glimpses, beyond our weaknesses or pride, of a glorious vista, a shimmering place of peace which draws and arrests us.

This journey, which when the final path you choose is to the Lord, does mean going through the refining and purifying process, just as does silver and gold which we can all see ends in a glorious shimmering of beauty. Candlemas is to be treasured likewise for the light of the candles we kindle and reflect on, that “the King of glory may come in” (Psalm 24). 

Emyn / Hymn gan  William Williams

Let me walk my Life with you:

Cyfarwydda f’enaid, Arglwydd, Pan fwy’n teithio ‘mlaen ar hyd, Llwybrau culion dyrys anodd, Sydd I’w cerdded yn y byd: Cnawd ac ysbryd yn rhyfela, Weithiau cariad, weithiau cas, Ton ar don sydd yn gorchuddio, Egwyddorion nefol ras.

Cul yw’r llwybyr imi gerdded, Is fy llaw mae dyfnder mawr, Ofn sydd arnaf yn fy nghalon, Rhag I’m troed I llithro I lawr, Yn dy law y gallaf sefyll, Yn dy law y dof I’r lan, Yn dy law byth ni ddyffygiaf, Er and ydwyf fi ond gwan.