New vicar for St Dyfnog's

Val Rowlands, the new vicar of St Dyfnog's,
with churchwardens June Hughes and Reg Fardoe

November 12^th 2014 saw a wonderful ceremony at St. Dyfnog's Church  before a packed church, the Bishop of St. Asaph, the Right Reverend Gregory K Cameron performed the Institution of the Rev. Val Rowlands as Rector of Llandyrnog and Llangwyfan and Vicar of Llanrhaeadr and Nantglyn. It was a spectacular ceremony attended by many of the clergy, churchwardens and worshippers from the four churches concerned. The whole service was impressive and took one back to the foundation of the church, with the beautiful language, inspired singing and a very thought provoking sermon preached by the Bishop. The ceremony was concluded with a buffet provided by the ladies of the four churches, an amazing spread appeared as if by magic, and was eaten with relish very little being left at the end of a most special evening.

The following Saturday, November 15th, was the occasion of the Autumn Craft Fair - go to NEWS for more information, and pictures.

Autumn Craft Fair Saturday November 15th

Order of St Asaph for Helen

Every year, the Order of St Asaph is awarded to mark outstanding service to the Diocese by lay people. This year, medals were presented at the Diocesan Conference to five people, including Helen Jenkin-Jones - you can see her below, receiving her medal from Bishop Gregory.

from St Asaph Cathedral

At the end of August the Diocese of St Asaph will be welcoming the Right Reverend Gayle Harris, a leading bishop from the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.

As part of Bishop Gayle Harris' visit to Wales, Bishop Gregory will be welcoming her to a special Eucharist in St Asaph Cathedral on Sunday, August 31st at 11am, at which he has invited Bishop Harris to preside and preach.

Bishop Gregory extends a warm invitation to clergy and lay people from across the diocese to join him in welcoming Bishop Harris by being present on the occasion which is believed to be the first when a woman bishop will preside and preach in a cathedral in Wales.

The Right Reverend Gayle Harris was ordained as bishop in 2002 and serves as Bishop Suffragan in the Diocese of Massachusetts, the second woman bishop to hold this position. Her immediate predecessor, the Right Reverend Barbara Harris (no relation) was the first woman bishop in the Anglican Communion.

2014 Flower Festival

At the end of July we held a wonderful flower festival in church, organised by Glenys, it was an incredible success, raising £1700 for church funds.  

The flower arrangements were  based on the theme 'This Wonderful World', twenty two arrangements done by church members and friends. The titles of the arrangements varied from 'The Garden of Eden to 'Out of Africa', they were all so wonderful and varied that it is impossible to describe them all. Every morning the arrangers turned up to remove any drooping flowers, top up water etc. fighting against the amazingly hot weather. Roz produced many posters, and information concerning the displays to her usual high standard. 

We must not forget the outside helpers, putting up the tents, moving chairs and tables, luckily we were not bothered by wind or rain. The weather of course was ideal for the people sitting outside enjoying the home made cakes, tea and coffee, all supplied and served by willing church members. Helpers turned up as promised, working on the door, collecting money, the church silver, displayed on the altar, was diligently guarded, the food servers changed at regular intervals, as did those who offered to do the washing up!

All in all it was a marvellous community effort – well done everybody. A big 'thank you' to everybody who helped. SvdB.

refreshments outside the church during the Flower Festival

(You can see photos of all the flower arrangements on the NEWS page. KM-D)

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE BISHOP

The Bishop of St Asaph, the Right Reverend Dr Gregory K Cameron, is pleased to announce the appointment of the Reverend Val Rowlands, currently Team Vicar in the Parish of St Asaph and Cathedral Chaplain as the next Rector and Vicar of the grouped parishes of Llandyrnog with Llangwyfan, Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch and Nantglyn, following the retirements of the Venerable Canon Bernard Thomas at the end of August and the Revd Michael Williams at the end of October.

Bishop Gregory warmly welcomes Val to this new ministry, and asks for your prayers for Val, Trefor and the family as she prepares for this move.  Val will be licensed at the beginning of September to begin her work in Llandyrnog, but her formal induction to the group will take place in November following the retirement of the Revd Mike Williams.

Ordinary time 2014

From the Vicar
Following Pentecost, the church enters the period of Ordinary Time, which will last over the Summer and into Autumn. However, the word “Ordinary” does not mean “usual or average”, but simply that it lies outside the seasons of Lent / Easter and Advent / Christmas.
Go to NEWS to read more

Pentecost

From the Vicar
Have you ever tried to assemble a piece of furniture which comes to you packed up in a couple of boxes?  It can be rather worrying and daunting at first sight! There is a list of instructions in all sorts of different languages, lots of nuts and bolts of different sizes, and usually a few odd-looking tools, which simply look as if they won’t be up to the job, and then one feels lost, confused and helpless!
Go to NEWS to read more

Book & Plant Fair

The Annual Book and Plant Fair, held from May 1st - 3rd, raised nearly £1500 - an excellent result! Many thanks to all who helped. Go to NEWS for photos.

Celebrating the Year of Pilgrimage

St Asaph Cathedral will host a special service on Sunday May 4 at 3.30pm to mark the end of the Diocesan Year of Pilgrimage. Go to NEWS for more information.

Easter flowers

The team of flower ladies have done a spectacular job this Easter. Go to NEWS for more photos.

Easter 2014

This is Holy Week, and we share Christ’s journey to the cross and beyond.

Please take a few moments to look at the display board in church of paintings by the Benedictine Nuns of Turvey Abbey which offer a vivid feeling of increasing darkness as Christ journeys towards the cross.

In the final beautiful presentation we meet Christ, risen in glory - darkness to light, sorrow to joy, despair to hope, death to resurrection.

A Happy and Peace Filled Easter

Michael

Holy Week

From the Vicar : Holy Week

In just a week’s time we will begin Holy Week, which is described in more detail than any other in the life of Jesus. In its drama it provides an opportunity to perhaps reflect on our own Christian  commitment, loyalty and life. To read more, go to NEWS.

£325 from Deanery Quiz! (St Dyfnog's team pipped at the post ...)

The Deanery Quiz, held at Denbigh Rugby Club on Monday evening, proved a great success. Over fifty participants formed teams of five and six, answering questions on a wide range of subjects. At half-time the leaders, with twenty-nine correct answers out of thirty, were the St Dyfnog's Bizzi Beez team of Jane Williams, Kath & Jules Mitchell-Dawson, and Judy & Ken Naylor. After a break for a hot-pot supper, kindly provided by various cooks in the Deanery, battle was joined again, with Llandyrnog making a late bid for victory in the second thirty questions. At close of play, the result was a tie, with fifty-seven points each for St Dyfnog's and Llandyrnog. This necessitated a tie-break, where both teams gave the correct answer, but Llandyrnog managed it just ahead of St Dyfnog's.

Many thanks to all who took part - around £325 was raised for the Deanery tent at this year's Denbigh & Flint Show - and thanks also to Michael, who proved an excellent and extremely fair quiz-master, and to Denbigh Rugby Club for their hospitality. A good time was had by all.

Transfiguration Sunday

From the Vicar : Lent 2014
This first Sunday in March, Transfiguration Sunday, means we are preparing for Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, this week. Once again we will travel through these six weeks towards the events of Holy Week and Easter. For more, go to NEWS.

Candlemas

From the Vicar 
Candlemas 2014
This note is written at Candlemas, forty days after the birth of Jesus, when we can look back, upon Christmas and Epiphany, and forwards towards Lent and Holy Week.

Go to NEWS to read more.