Pool Mission Area

The Pool Mission Area in the Archdeaconry of Montgomery, Diocese of St Asaph of the Anglican Church in Wales consists of 16 churches divided in to 3 groups with one of the 3 stipendiary priests in the Mission Area rooted in each group and having pastoral responsibility for each of the communities and churches within their group:

Archdeacon: Venerable Barry Wilson;
Tel: 01691 839667,                                                                                            email: archdeacon.montgomery@churchinwales.org.uk

The Rectory, Llandrinio SY21 6RW, Tel 01691 838533

1.         Pool South: Montgomery, Forden, Llandysill, Castle Caereinion, Berriew, Fron and Pant-y-Ffidd;

Incumbent:  Revd Paulette Gower

Tel:   01686 668706

e-mail:  PauletteGower@churchinwales.org.uk

2.         Pool Central: Welshpool  and Mission Church Belan;

Incumbent:  Rev’d Adam Pawley

Tel:  01938 554803 (note new number for Welshpool Vicarage);

email:  adampawley@churchinwales.org.uk.

3.         Pool North: Guilsfield, Buttington and Pool Quay;

Incumbent:  Revd Caroline Rhodes

Tel: 01938 554245, email:  CarolineRhodes@churchinwales.org.uk

4.        Border Bridges: Llandrinio, Criggion, Llandysilio and Penrhos;

Incumbent:  Revd Jim Thompson

Tel:  01691 828438, email:  lowhousefarm@hotmail.com

Latest Mission Area News

On-Line Services – w/c 21st May

This Sunday’s YouTube service is available on the Pool Mission Area YouTube channel: Pool Mission Area – YouTube. This week’s service has a reflection on understanding scripture.  Alternatively, the direct link to the service is:  https://youtu.be/THXvEgkrg3A.

Zoom daily prayers are every week as follows:

Monday 8:00 am Morning Prayer (15-20 minutes)

Monday – Thursday & Saturday 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (15-20 minutes)

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81257665101?pwd=OHFiQzdYM2t5eFE3bHZkTWFNQm13Zz09

Meeting ID: 812 5766 5101

Passcode: Prayer

Teddy Francis-John’s You-Tube Channel 

You are invited this week to join us this week for our Bible story :

Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law – YouTube 

Teddy Francis-John

Helpers needed for Summer Holiday Children’s Events

The MA are planning to run some children’s holiday events this summer; one in the South and one in the North of the Mission Area, and we need your help!  See Letter 1 to Helpers Summer 2023 for more information and how to volunteer.  Any queries to Jampa please at jampaking@cinw.org.uk.

St Mary’s Church, Welshpool, Open to Visitors

St Mary’s ‘Mission Hub’ Church in Welshpool (SY21 7DP) is open for visitors from 18 to 28 May (Ascension to Pentecost).  Come and enjoy the quiet or make use of the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ Prayer Stations.  More information on the St Mary’s Church Open flyer.

Organ Recital at Berriew

Please see the Organ Recital Berriew poster about the recital celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the installation of the organ at Berriew.

On-Line Services – w/c 14th May

This Sunday’s YouTube service is available on the Pool Mission Area YouTube channel: Pool Mission Area – YouTube. This week’s service has a reflection on the difference between the Christian view of God and that of the ancient Greeks, and how this can frame our relationship with God today. There is also an extra reflection for Ascension Day, May 18th.  Alternatively, the direct link to the service is:  https://youtu.be/zP2IzxbcQAo.

Kindness

See Kindness a short story submitted by Bethan Scotford and slightly adapted from an article in the Welshpool Methodist’s Monthly Newsletter.

MA Joint Service at Forden – 16th April

A big thank you to all those that took part in, contributed to or organised our MA Joint Service on Low Sunday, 16th April.  It was really uplifting to see so many of the churches across the Mission Area represented with more than 90 people packed in to Forden Church for a non-traditional format Eucharist service.  What a great privilege to be present for such a joyful occasion as we praised the Lord together and heard how he is always ready to forgive us, like he did Peter at the resurrection breakfast on the beach.  The story was brought to life by an Open the Book group and and our enthusiastic singing led ably by the brass music group of young people, despite little rehearsal together.  Afterwards, we were able to enjoy fellowship together over coffee and a wonderful selection of cake and treats.

Navigating Trauma

We are asking church members to pray for the Navigating Trauma group. The following prayer could be used:

Prayer for the Navigating Trauma Group

Almighty God,

You are the only source of health and healing.

In You there is calm and the only true peace in the universe.

We pray for the Navigating Trauma group that will take place in Welshpool in April and May. We ask that You will give healing and strength to the participants,

and compassion and wisdom to the facilitators.

Fill us all with your Holy Spirit and empower us to do your works,

so that our lives will bring honour and glory to your holy name.

We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

Serendipity

We hope that everyone is enjoying the free copies of Serendipity that have been given to each church. From May onwards, individuals or churches will need to pay for copies for the remainder of the year to keep receiving them. The May issue will be celebrating the coronation with information about all the special services and events being held across the Mission Area, reminiscences about past coronations and a letter from our Mission Area curate, Helen Dawson, amongst other information and articles. If individuals or churches could complete the forms and send payment for copies for the remainder of the year as soon as possible, it would be most helpful. The cut-off date for copy is 20th April.

Plant a Tree for an Eco Friendly Diocese

The Welsh Government and Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, are offering thousands of trees to households in Wales, free of charge.  This can be done by planting on your behalf or collection of a free tree at one of their local pick-up hubs. A list can be found, along with more information about the project at:  Wales Tree Giveaway: My Tree Our Forest – Woodland Trust

Planting trees and donations can be a great way to get your Church in the EcoChurch scheme.

Turkey and Syria Earthquake

Please see Prayer for Turkey Syria  for a Christian Aid prayer and the following link for the Christian Aid Appeal page:

Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal – Christian Aid.

Coffee Mornings at St John’s Pool Quay 

There is a weekly coffee club raising money for St John’s between 10:00 am and 12 noon every Wednesday.

There is also a Saturday coffee morning on the first week of every month, again between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm. All welcome to attend!

MA Meeting dates for 2023

Please see Meeting Dates 2023 FINAL for Mission Area meeting dates for 2023, for your information; this is an amended version, as there was an error in the previous document which has now been corrected and highlighted in red.  Your church representatives on the MAC and other Committees should be able to let you know the latest information after these meetings.

A Prayer for all in Pool Mission Area (with thanks to Rev’d Bethan)

God of grace and truth, we thank you for calling us to be pilgrims together within our parishes and also as members of Pool Mission Area.

In our praying and thinking, talking and deciding may we be inspired by your Spirit to envisage a vision for the future.

Prepare us to use our resources well, to co-operate with our partner churches and to share faith, hope and love with all we can around us, through and with our Saviour and Friend Jesus Christ.

Amen

The latest Diocesan Standing Committee Bulletin from their meeting on 29th November can be read here:  Standing Committee Bulletin 24 Nov 22 FINAL.

Prayers in the Cost-of-Living Crisis

The Archbishop of Wales is calling for prayers for those impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. As part of the Food and Fuel campaign, Archbishop Andrew is launching a prayer booklet which includes prayers from each diocese.
The booklet is available to download from the Food and Fuel campaign hub at Cost of Living prayers – The Church in Wales. The Prayers were launched in the Food and Fuel Newsletter. You can sign up to receive these at https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/about-us/our-campaigns/food-fuel/.

Cost of living crisis – join the Church in Wales’ campaign

The Church in Wales has launched a campaign to help tackle Wales’ cost of living crisis. Households across the UK are being forced to make a stark choice between food or fuel – a choice no one should have to make. The cost of living crisis is having a detrimental impact on the health, wellbeing and development of children, families and older people in our communities. It is always the poorest and most vulnerable who are hardest hit.  There are a number of different elements to the campaign and you’re encouraged to sign up for the weekly newsletter to find out how to get involved.
In addition, Bishop Gregory and all the Church in Wales bishops are supporting an initiative to accompany this campaign in which we create ‘A gift for Christmas.’ This will be a box full of toiletries only (shower gel, sprays, sanitary products etc). We do not wish to prescribe what each box contains nor how large the box but are simply wishing to commend the idea. Our hope is that every congregation will participate and produce at least 10 boxes. You can find out more here.
You can sign an open letter to the supermarkets asking them to do more to help people who are struggling financially. Click here for more details.

On-Line Services – Compline

Also, there is a service of compline (night prayer) available on the Pool Mission Area YouTube channel: Pool Mission Area – YouTube  The theme is giving reassurance of Christ’s light to help and protect us in the dark places in our lives.  This service can be accessed at any time, as can all the previous Sunday services.  Alternatively, the direct link to the service is here:  https://youtu.be/B7mGRThBr_w.

‘THIS WORKS!’

There is now a section on the Diocesan website called ‘This Works’.  It shares inspiring stories of activities and events going on around the Diocese which may give you ideas for your church.  You can find the information by clicking on this link: https://dioceseofstasaph.org.uk/faith-in-action/this-works/

MA Voices

We are starting a short series of online recordings. This will be called ‘MA Voices’ . We are looking for people who would be willing to be recorded by Rev Tim Hawkins to talk for about 3 or 4 minutes about anything they do for their local church or for the Mission Area. It could be bellringing, singing in the choir, flower arranging or it could be about how they became a Christian. We would love people across the Mission Area to chat about a whole variety of things. If you would like to be involved, please contact Tim by e-mailing him at: timstjhawkins@icloud.com.

Navigating Trauma

The Mission Area is considering training people to run Navigating Trauma groups. Navigating Trauma is a programme for people who’ve experienced suffering and who still feel the effects in their lives, perhaps years later. They haven’t been able to make sense of what’s happened, and it still haunts them. For many there’s a sense of brokenness that they can’t change. The 6-12 week programme aims to help people understand the effects on them of their traumatic experiences, and bring the healing effects of the Christian message in the Bible and prayer into their lives. There is more information about the programme on the website:

Navigating Trauma – Bible Society

If you are interested in helping people who have had difficult experiences, can commit to a 5 day residential training and running at least two groups a year, please contact Helen Hayes on drhelenhayes@gmail.com for further discussion.

Daily Hope

DailyHope, a free national telephone line, offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of the phone.