CYLCHGRAWN MISOLMONTHLY MAGAZINE

Medi/September 201650c/50p

BROCYFEILIOG a MAWDDWY.

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Rheithordy Mallwyd

I stepped out of the house on Wednesday morning (17thAugust) as if walking into a wall of heat. It was wonderful to feelthe life giving warmth of the sun. I almost wanted to turn around,go back into the house, and then come out again, just to enjoythe sensation over and over again. I could not help but compareit to a religious experience, or perhaps a metaphor for ourChristian faith. Isn't our faith a little bit like the weather? Wehave a faith which is always part of our lives – although much ofthe time somewhat in the background; as we are so busy withthe practicalities of living. Our faith is like the sun, controlling allour weather patterns, even though we are not always aware of it.Sometimes it is hidden behind the clouds, or it is night-time; wehuddle under coats and umbrellas or warm ourselves in front ofthe stove. But then one day the sun shines in all its glory and fillsevery pore of our bodies, we feel lifted up, we feel the verypresence of God, we feel elated in the Spirit. I wonder what gives you that Kingdom experience? Could thisbe what Jesus is describing, when he rather enigmaticallycompares The kingdom of God to the mustard seed. (Mark 4. 30 –32) Something tiny, hardly noticed, often hidden, yet able togrow and become – as Jesus describes it : “the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches thatbirds can perch in its shade.”Jesus evokes a wonderful image of protecting branches, shadeand comfort; an expression indeed of the kingdom. We all experience “the faith” the “Kingdom” in different ways.That was very clear at the Fun day at the Plas the other week.Our good friend, rapping with Christian lyrics, was not toeveryone's taste – some loved it, some hated it. For those wholiked it, it was part of a Christian / sunshine experience! (Hey,don't try to analyse the words; deep theological analysis does notlend itself to rap lyrics!) Sometimes we have to simply “go withthe experience” - provided that experience is motivated by love;then we might find ourselves surprised by the sunshine, inspiredby the psalm, filled with the wonder of the mustard seed.

Roland

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The Reverend Gwynn ap Gwilym

It is with sadness that we heard of the untimely passing on the30th July of The Revd. Gwynn ap Gwilym; a son of this valley,rector of Penegoes, Darowen and Llanbrynmair from 1986, andfrom 1997 to 2004, rector of Mallwyd, Darowen, Llanbrynmair,Cemaes and Llanymawddwy. We offer our condolences to his wifeMari and brother Ifor.

Gwynn was a man of great intellect, who could truly claim towalk in the footsteps of the great 16-17th century Welshacademic and biblical scholar Dr John Davies of Mallwyd. As wellas lecturing in Aberystwyth University on Biblical studies -especially The Old Testament, we were privileged to listen to himpreach from Sunday to Sunday.

Church life was never dull with Gwynn around, and controversynever far away. I can still remember clearly the sermon hepreached in Llanymawddwy Church many years ago at the timeof some dispute with the members (can't remember what theargument was about) and we got it with both barrels! The theme2 Samuel 11 -12; the story of King David, Bathsheba and Uriah,a story of adultery and duplicity; and then the rebuke of Nathan. -The rich man refusing to kill one of his many hundreds of lambsfor the feast, insisting that the poor man kill his one and onlylamb. You can guess who we were compared to in the story. Tellyou what, we were talking about that sermon for weeks!

Gwynn left us in 2004, his final service was to be on Sunday 27thOctober, but fate intervened. A terrible storm blew up on theSaturday night, trees blown down, electricity cut off, servicecancelled. I wonder how Gwynne was going to address us in hisfinal sermon? He made a point of recording the biblical referencein the Mallwyd Church register – Proverbs 29.19.

“You cannot discipline (correct) a servant with words only, eventhough he understands, he will not respond (pay attention).”

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Strong words to pick from the whole of the Bible, to leave as alegacy after 18 years work. Was Gwynn expressing frustration athis own failure, as he might have seen it, to change peoples' livesby his words and teaching? Or was he saying that words were notenough and that, he, Gwynn, was not a good enough example inhis personal life for others to feel able to follow, in a life ofChrist? Either way, I think Gwynn would have been too hard onhimself. Or was Gwynn going to castigate us as being too cold, tohard hearted to respond to the Christian message? Maybe, butthat would have been very hard on us!

Perhaps Gwynn, on that dramatic day, was going to focus on akey word “servant,”

“You cannot disciple a servant with words only.” In order toavoid the difficult conclusions above, perhaps we have to stopthinking of ourselves as servants, victims or passive ciphers, buttake our lives in our own hands, become our own masters,embrace the love of God and stop expecting others to turn thetap on for us? The Christian transformation has to come fromwithin.

We shall never know what was on Gwynn's mind, perhaps he wasreferring to himself as the “servant,” pointing out to us that, allour words of criticism were simply hypocritical.

The 2016 / 2017 session will be restarting on ThursdaySeptember 15th with a Holy Eucharist Service in Church at

2pm

followed by the AGM in the Mezzanine Hall.

New Members very welcome.

Undeb y Mamau / Mothers' Union

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Fun in the rain on Thursday 11th August. Next yearthe sun will shine

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MACHYNLLETH, LLANWRIN, PENEGOES & CORRISGWASANAETHU’R SUL/SUNDAY SERVICES.

Medi 4 September Pentecost 168.00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Machynlleth)9.30 a.m. Cymun Bendigaid/Holy Eucharist (Corris)9.30 a.m. Cymun Bendigaid/Holy Eucharist (Llanwrin)11.00 a.m. Cymun Bendigaid/Holy Eucharist (Machynlleth)

Medi 11 September Pentecost 179.30a.m. Morning Worship (Corris)9.30a.m. Boreol Weddi (Penegoes)11.00 a.m. Cymun Bendigaid/Holy Eucharist (Machynlleth)

Medi 18 September Pentecost 188.00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Machynlleth)9.30 a.m. Cymun Bendigaid/Holy Eucharist (Llanwrin)11.00 a.m. Cymun Bendigaid/Holy Eucharist (Machynlleth)

Medi 25 September Pentecost 199.30 a.m. Cymun Bendigaid/Holy Eucharist (Corris)9.30 a.m. Y Cymun Bendigaid (Machynlleth)11.00 a.m. Y Cymun Bendigaid (Penegoes)11.00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Machynlleth)

Hydre 2 October Pentecost 209.30 a.m. Y Cymun Bendigaid /Holy Eucharist (Machynlleth)9.30 a.m. Y Cymun Bendigaid/Holy Eucharist (Corris).2.00 p.m. Bilingual Service of Thanksgiving

Wednesday10.00a.m. Holy Eucharist (Machynlleth)

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CEMAES, DAROWEN, MALLWYD & LLANBRYNMAIRGWASANAETHU’R SUL/SUNDAY SERVICES.

Medi 4 September Pentecost 1609.45 a.m. Cemaes RPB (E)….......... Darowen11.15 a.m. Mallwyd RPB (E)….......... LlanbrynmairMedi 11 September Pentecost 17Ymweliad yr Esgob Eglwys LlanfachrethBishop's Visitation Llanfachreth Church (3 miles outsideDolgellau) 15.00pm.Medi 18 September Pentecost 1809.45.a.m. Cemaes RPB (E)….......... Darowen11.15 a.m. Mallwyd Diolchgarwch / Harvest Festival….......... LlanbrynmairMedi 25 September Pentecost 1909.45.a.m. Cemaes PW (E)14.00.y.p. Darowen RPB (E)11.15.a.m. Mallwyd PW (E)11.00.a.m. Llanbrynmair RPB (E)Hydref 2 October Pentecost 20Ail-cysegru Eglwys Pedr Sant MachynllethRe-dedication of St Peter's Church Machynlleth.14.00 p.m.Church Open day 14.00 – 17.00 p.m. Medi 24 SeptemberCyngerdd Cor Llanwnog Concert Eglwys y Llan ChurchLlanbrynmair 7pm. Tocynnau £5 TicketsMedi 26 September Synod Machynlleth Synod 2pmBishop's Ministry Fund, 6pm OpenSynod Agored.

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Dyddiadur / Diary

Medi 8 September Whist Drive Ystafell yr EglwysCemaes.Medi 10 – 11 September Ffair Grefft / Craft FairYstafell yr Eglwys Cemaes.Medi 11 September Ymweliad yr Esgob / Bishop'sVisitation. 15.00pm Eglwys Llanfachreth Church.Trwyddedu Wardeiniad / Licencing of Wardens. Croeso ibawb/All welcome.

Diwrnod Agored Open Day

Eglwys Tydecho SantSt Tydecho's Church

Mallwyd

Dydd Sadwrn SaturdayMis Medi 17 September 2-5pm

Gardd agored Open gardenCerddoriaeth byw Live music

Te a cacen LluniauTea and cake Photo Display

Straeon Mynediad am ddimStorytelling Free entry

Dydd Sul SundayMis Medi 18 September

Diolchgarwch Harvest Thanksgiving Service11:15am

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Côr Llanwnog

ChoirYmuno â ni am noson oGerddoriaeth.

Join us for an evening ofMusic.

Eglwys y Llan ChurcgLlanbrynmair.

Mis Medi 25 September7pm.

Tocynnau/Tickets £5 - Linda Davies (01650 521533)Neu wrth y drws ar y noson, or at the door on the night.

Sponsored Organ PlayingEglwys St Pedr/St Peter’s Church

Machynlleth

I godi arian tuag at Ardal WeinidogaethBro Cyfeiliog a Mawddwy

To raise funds for Bro Cyfeiliog a Mawddwy Ministry Area

Dydd Mercher Medi 21ain Wednesday September 21strhwng 11 o’r gloch a 3 o’r gloch between 11 am & 3pm/Dewch i gefnogi’r organyddion Come and support the

organistsFfurflenni noddi ar gael Sponsor forms availableym mhob eglwys in each church

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More pictures from Fun Day

LADIES FELLOWSHIP

A.G.MTuesday 13th September

@ 2 p.m.Service followed by meeting upstairs in St Peter’s.

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Holy Trinity Corris.

On Saturday 6th August we at Corris Church helped celebrate themarriage of Dannii and Ben. It was a joyous family occasionblessed with good weather. The presence of their very wellbehaved dog Lara complete with camera made the day. It wasespecially good to have Dannii 's grand parents, Eufyl and PatWilliams present both looking very well. We wish Dannii and Benevery happiness in the next stage of their lives.

News around Ministry Area.

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Borth to Ynyslas (5 miles)Saturday 10th September.

Catching the 08:49 train to Borth, we shall then walk the riverLeri to the boatyard near Ynyslas, then onto Ynyslas it’sself,stopping for refreshments at the Outdoor Centre situated inthe dunes of Ynyslas. We shall then return to Borth along thebeach, Hopefully the tide will be favourable and the PetrifiedForest will be in sight. A few of the intrepid Plodders tried to dothis walk last year but the weather cut it short. Please bring apacked lunch, but hopefully we’ll be able to have a drink in one ofthe cafe’s before catching return train.

Last month’s walk although short was most enjoyable, followingthe upper reaches of Afon Hengwm. As you can see from thepicture, there was a good turn out. Surrounded by Fir trees andmountains they might be forgiven for thinking we were in aforeign land.

St Peter’s Plodders.September Walk

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Y LLEW GWYN THE WHITE LION HOTEL

A VERY WARM WELCOME AWAITS ALLBWYD AR GAEL O HANNER DYDD TAN NAW BOB

DYDDGREAT BEERS AND GOOD FOOD SERVED FROM !” TILL’ 9

EVERY DAY

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE CHURCH IN WALESSPONSORSHIP IS AVAILABLE FOR OTHER MACH AREA CLUBS

AND GROUPS, PLEASE SPEAK TO ALAN OR MICHELLE

10 HEOL PENTRERHEDYN, SY20 8DN. TEL: 01654 703 455@machthewhite enquiries@whitelionhotel.co.uk

Mid Wales Furniture & Interiors.01654 702130 / 07979805584

11 Maengwyn Street,Machynlleth,

SY20 8AA

Mwfurniture@hotmail.co.ukwww.midwalesfurniture.co.uk

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High Class Meat Purveyors

William Lloyd Williams.All types of meat cut for deep freeze.All stock dressed at our own abattoir.E.E.C. No. 7069.Retailer & Wholesaler.

5 Maengwyn StreetMachynlleth, PowysTel:01654 702106, 703280, 702193 Mob: 07836685548

Tîm Gweinidogaeth / Ministry Team.

Rev Roland Barnes Team LeaderRev Canon Kathleen Rogers Team LeaderRev Peter Ward ChairpersonRev Dominic McCleanMrs. Jen Evans Worship LeaderMrs. Denise PerkinsMr. Alan Murphy

Gweinidogaeth Swyddogion Cyngor Ardal.Ministry Area Council Officials.

Ysgrifennyddes / Secretary: Mrs Denise Perkins.Trysorydd / Treasurer: Mrs Joanne Gower.Wardeiniaid / Wardens: Mr Alan Murphy,

Mrs Denise Perkins.