serving the people of Kinmel Bay and Towyn

August, a month of sun, sea and sand!!

Info@St.Mary’s

August

2020

We’re here to help you

– Please ask for assistance.

Welcome to the fifth, and possibly the last, Newsletter

produced under the circumstances influenced by COVID-19.

We are beginning to see the green shoots of a recovery to

something resembling normality, although we all know that

this will be something short of what we used to call, and

feel, as normal including attending church and praising God

in the manner we are used to. For a while at least, we all

must do our very best to follow whatever instructions there

are for us generally, but particulary when attending church.

We continue to pray and remember those who have lost

someone recently, whom they loved, and for those of you

who have relatives or friends who remain affected by illness,

praying for a return to good health, soon, for each and every

one of them.

Rev. Jan’s workload remains as great as ever and we give her

our sincere thanks. Suported by her team of helpers, she is

still doing her very best to ensure that the pastoral care

needs of people within the parish are met, especially with

church members who may be vulnerable and/or isolated..

When possible we continue to ensure that we keep you

equiped with written material in relation to current Sunday

Services. If you know of anyone who is not receiving

support, or information, please make this known to either

Rev. Jan on 07913 061363 or Jean Wilson on 07950 206508.

Those of you who use Facebook will be able to see the video

Sunday Service that you will find if you go to the St. Mary’s

Church Towyn Facebook Page. I.T. can be temperamental at

times, so please be patient if you can’t find the Service.

We’re all learning!!

Finally we would remind you that the opportunity exists to

enter the church for private prayer and there is guidance

about this in this newsletter

All in the month of AUGUST

250 years ago, on 22nd August 1770 that British

explorer Captain James Cook discovered eastern

Australia, named it New South Wales, and

claimed it for Britain.

150 years ago, on 4th August 1870 that the

British Red Cross Society was founded.

125 years ago, on 10th August 1895 that the

Proms (Promenade Concerts) began in London.

From the Vicarage… this month, brings a message from

Jean Wilson our Lay Minister who says:

When I was confirmed (back in 1970), a friend of my

mothers gave me a little book of daily prayers and

promises, I still use it. The prayer for today is from

John 4: vs 15 “Give me this water so that I won’t get

thirsty.” When Jesus was talking to the Samaritan

Woman, he realised that her thirst was spiritual rather

than physical.

How thirsty we are today, some of us may be feeling a

bit depressed because we have been unable to see our

close family which has left us feeling very miserable, I

know I have been. It’s times like this that we are so

dependant on Jesus.

The promise for today is from Revelation 21: vs 6:

“ To him who is thirsty, I will give to drink without cost

from the spring of the water of life.”

We are reassured of this in the words of a hymn in

Mission Praise:

Come to the waters and I will give you rest;

Come to the waters and you will be refreshed.

Jesus said, ‘come unto me all ye weary, heavy laden.

Jesus said, of the waters that He gave, ‘He who drinks

shall never thirst again.’

Jesus said, ‘He who believes in Me, out of him shall flow

living waters.’

So with joy we shall draw water out of the wells of

salvation.

Come to the waters and I will give you rest;

Come to the waters and you will be refreshed.

God bless you all. Jean. ………………………………………………………………..

What am I?

A teacher gave her young class a lesson on Zoom. It

was about the magnet, and what it does. The next day

in a short test, she included this question: “My full

name has six letters. The first one is M. I am strong

and attractive. I pick up lots of things. What am I?”

When the answers were sent in, the teacher was

astonished to find that more than half her students had

answered the question with the word: “Mother

St. Mary’s Church Towyn

The Please note that curently we have the Church

open for private prayer on the following days:

Mondays 10am - 12 noon

Wednesdays 10am - 12 noon

Fridays 10am - 12 noon

Restrictions are still in place so please follow the

guidelines that are set out in church. They are as

follows:

Take time to be in God’s presence

Keep 2 metres apart

Avoid oveercrowding

Keep hands clean (use the hand sanitising

stations coming in and going out of church)

Follow floor directions that are marked out.

“Getting to know you”

We are pleased to introduce a new feature to the Newsletter!

Occassionally there will be an interview with a member of the

Church, and presented here. You will read somethings that you

aleady knew about the person, and some things for the first time.

Our first interview, carried out by David Lloyd, is with Michael

Petersen, Church Warden:

Many people will know Michael as being behind the practical

changes over the years at St. Mary’s (but as well as this, Michael

combines Church Committee work with computing here) So, where

did Michael learn his skills? He says; “I guess it was essentially

D.I.Y. as well as mathematics and a gift for detecting errors!”

As such Michael draws upon trade at local builders’ merchants

which he thinks are well resourced. And here is the feature of

planning ahead. Michael’s work at St. Mary’s blends work knowledge

within the context of a holy site.

To Michael, church is more than one hour at the weekend. So over

the years we have been blessed with church metal ironmongery

features, summer jamborees, and recently, a superb gazeebo in

memory of the late Gordon Beard who, until his recent death. was

also a Church Warden.

Michael had a career in pubs and restaurants where he was a

manager. He has worked in older churches and novel sites. He liked

this work and felt at home early as a young man.

Michael has 2 brothers and 4 sisters. His early memory is of

playing football in the yard with his brother. He had a period of

attending the Parish Church at Shoeburyness, also called St.

Mary’s. Above all Michael is friendly and caring, as well as having a

gift for practical projects.

Michael (and not forgeting, Harry Edwardson) have created a rich

tapestry of Christian messages down the line to be enjoyed by all,

and it is basically the access to church that he most appreciates.

Finally, Michael doesn’t have a special religious figure that comes

to mind, but he has enjoyed the company of a succession of Priests

here at St. Mary’s.

I hope you have enjoyed this appreciation of Michael and his work

at St. Mary’s.

Our thanks go to David and, of course Michael, for allowing us this

insight into the life and work of Michael Petersen.

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The way I see it

What have you missed most during lockdown?

What have you missed most during lockdown? It’s a good question,

because it is about the things that make us tick. When I examined my

list, I found obvious things – going to church, live sport on TV, meeting

up with friends for a coffee or a beer.

But as I thought more deeply about it, I realised that what I missed

most was TOUCH. For nearly four months I have not touched another

human being!

That is an astonishing deprivation. When a baby is born, its first

experiences are all of touch. The strong hands of the midwife,

mother’s excited and loving embrace, tiny hands reaching out to feel

mummy’s face. We touch our way into life.

And then it goes on. Holding hands with friends, being hugged by

grandma, your first serious kiss, and perhaps a last tearful one at the

end of a much-loved life.

We greet each other with a holy kiss, the Bible says. And why not?

Sight, smell, hearing and touch. Four senses. And I think lockdown has

taught me that the greatest of these is touch!

===============================================================

All in a name

I’m dyslexic, and recently attended a Zoom

conference about the disorder with a friend. The

speakers asked us to share a personal experience

with the group. I told them stress aggravates my

condition, in which I reverse words and letters

when I’m tense. When I finished speaking, my

friend blurted out: “Now I know why you named

your daughter Hannah!

The Rectory, St. James the Least

Prayer Requests

Please hold the following in your prayers regularly

during August:

Harry and Dawn

Geoff Beard

Alex

Ruby Lewis, Jeanette and Richard

Glyn Hughes

Ethel Bridewell

Pat Williams

Jean Crosby

Jane Jones

Elaine Sanderson

Linda Hutchison

Ethel Broghton

Pat Cooper

Stella and Joanne Chadwick

David Griffiths

Trevor Atkinson

Lace McStay

Joan M

FOOD BANK

The need to support those requiring essential food items

remains as great and ever during this Lockdown period and

although items cannot be collected in church we hope that you

will find it possible to support a Foodbank near you. Thank you ---------------------------------------------------------------

THE ”STARFISH AID” PROJECT THANK YOU

FOR YOUR SUPPORT Please remember, that if you, or someone you know, living

in the area served by our church, face a short term

need, financial or otherwise, Revd. Jan,would be pleased

to have a confidential chat with you where, alongside

other support, it could be that the Starfish Aid Project

may be able to help. Donations toward the fund continue

to be gratefully received.

“Little Joan” does Great!

Joan Ward, affectionately known as “Little Joan”,

has reached a lifetime goal of reading the Bible from

cover to cover!! This took her 3 years to complete and she

finished this at the end of May. Well done Joan, on a

fantastic achievement!! We all send our love and

congratulations to you.x

The Mission Area has introduced a prayer for

each of the 4 churches comprising the Mission

Area. Here we pray for St Mary’s,Rhuddlan:

St Mary’s Rhuddlan: Even during this period

where our flock are scattered but we prepare for

the return to some of our regular church

activities we pray for:

-the Revd Jayne Coxall and her work, and that of

others, during this disrupted period of church

life, in reaching out to those who are sick, lonely

bereaved, or in other ways socially isolated and in

promoting the Gospel

-numerical and spiritual growth in St. Mary’s

-the continuing work with the school that the

children will hear and learn the gospel

-the Family Service that more young families may

attend and value the warm welcome

-the continuing outreach to the community

through the special events held in church

throughout the year

-all those who organise and attend the Artisan’s

Fair that they may find fellowship and a warm

welcome

-the organist, thanking God for his gift of music

to support our worship.

We give thanks for:

-the conscientious commitment of all those on the

Church Committee, especially the Wardens and

Treasurer

-all who help to organise special events which

welcome people to the church.

We have 3 Home Groups in the Parish, providing

opportunities for people to get together regularly to learn

and grow together in the faith that we share, as we study the

Bible and pray together. The Home Groups are not meeting

during lockdown but why not think and pray about finding

out more about the groups and what they offer. If you would

like to be part of a Home Group, and would like to know

more, please have a word with Rev’d Jan, who will be Who’s

right for which job?

Do you know of a company that struggles with the problem

of properly fitting people to jobs? Here is a handy way for

them to decide…. Take the prospective employees that they

are trying to place and put them in a room with only a table

and two chairs. Leave them alone for two hours, without any

instruction. At the end of that time, go back and see what

they are doing.

If they have taken the table apart in that time, put them in

Engineering.

If they are counting the cracks in the floor, assign them to

Finance.

If they are screaming and waving their arms, send them to

Manufacturing.

If they are talking to the chairs, Personnel is a good place for

them.

If they are sleeping, they are Management material.

If they are writing up the experience, send them to Technical

Publications.

If they don’t even look up when you enter the room, assign them

to Security.

If they try to tell you it’s not as bad as it looks, send them to

Marketing.

And if they’ve left early, put them in Sales.pleased to answer any

questions you may have!!

The Lockdown Lifts

There’s life in the town!

No longer ‘locked down’!

The people stroll out in the sun

The majestic trees

Sway in the light breeze

Like they wanted to join in the fun!

-

Like light after dark!

We can walk in the park!

Buy our tea, and sit out on the grass!

We can chat to our friends

As our loneliness ends

And we smile at the strangers we pass!

-

Yes there are still queues

Which cease to amuse

But things are no longer so black!

As they sing in that song –

You miss what is gone, But it’s great when at last it comes

back!

By Nigel Beeton

You will remember that the Mission Area

Prayer for Leading your Church into

Growth, (known as the Lycig Prayer) is as

follows:

God of Mission

Who alone brings growth

to your Church,

Send your Holy Spirit to give

Vision to our planning,

Wisdom to our actions,

And power to our witness.

Help our church to grow in numbers,

In spiritual commitment to you,

And in service to our local community,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

easyfundraising.org.uk

Do you shop online? Interested in making a

donation to St.Mary’s every time you shop online?

Through easyfundraising,when you buy from one

of 4,000 retailers,a free donation is given by the

retailer to St.Mary’s. easyfundraising.org.uk

offers a simple way to raise a donation, without

it costing you a penny.Getting involved is simple

and Paul, our Church Treasurer, would be

delighted to exlplain to you what it is that you

need to do.

Regular events during August are

suspended during the period that

the church is closed

Who’s Who at St. Mary’s

Permitted to Officiate

Rev’d Jan Crane 07913 061363 Licensed Lay Minister

Jean Wilson 07950 206508

Church Warden Mr.Michael Petersen: 07538 494488

Church Committee Lay Chair

Michael Petersen

Church Committee Secretary

Margaret Brown

Church Committee Treasurer

Paul Collins

Gift Aid Secretary

Lynda Griffiths 01745 355714

Safeguarding Officer

Jean Tod 01745 798107

Verger

Harry Edwardson

Music

Liz Anderson

Lyn Singers Leader

9:48 Coordinator

Jean Tod 01745 798107

Friday Group Coordinator Jean Wilson 07950 206508 Church General Duties, Flowers in Church Rotas Joan Mason 01745 825738 Newsletter Editor/Facebook/Webmaster Mike Mason 01745 825738 Publications and Printing Kevin Denaro Copycats Ltd Church Booking

Please contact us by via the church telephone 01745 355449 for details about how to book You can also contact us via Facebook

HOW TO CONTACT US

If you to wish to discuss arrangements for Thanksgiving

for a Child, Baptisms, or Weddings or feel you need any

assistance with matters with which you think the church

could assist, including Pastoral Support, please

telephone the Parish Office 01745 355449.

If necessary, please leave a message and your contact

details on the answer phone and we will get in touch

with you as soon as possible.

For information about St. Mary’s church and our

activities, please visit our website at

www.stmaryschurchtowyn.co.uk You can also follow us

on Facebook and email us at

stmaryschurchtowyn@live.com

If you have information about an event, or something

that you would like included that might be of interest to

others through “Info@St.Mary’s”, please contact Mike

Mason on 01745 825738, or email him at

masonm10@hotmail.co.uk ‘Urgent’ information that

needs to go out during the month will go out via a

“STOP PRESS!” Notice as soon as possible.