PreachersAprJun2013

Apr 7
May 5 Jun 2 9 16 23 30 RevCChua MrHuwRoberts RevCChua RevJJones RevCChua 12 19 26 RevCChua RevBillSteed RevCChua RevJJones 14 21 28 RevCChua RevClemRoberts RevCChua RevIvorRees

Flowerlist
Apr
May 5 Jun 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 30 MrsAJames Tobeconfirmed MrsHJohn MrsBCrabbe MrsERandig MrsVBevan MrAlanElder MrsMollyChua MrsAJames 7 14 21 28 MrsHJohn MrsHPJones MrsBDavies MrsPamCuttill

The Messenger
ArgyleandRhyddingsParkPresbyterianChurch, RhyddingsTerrace,SwanseaSA20DR Minister:RevCharlesChua01792207274
Apr - June 2013

Church News

We celebrate some key moments

fromthepastfewmonths... In February, Molly and a group of studentsfromUK,NorwayandChina gave a wellreceived talk about Chi nese New Year to over 300 children and staff at Sketty Primary School. Mercy Aju, Ariel Zhou and Sunniva Jonsen attended a youth conference in Bala and truly had a blessed time. Find out more from Mercys story inside. Mothers Day lunch a few weeks ago saw around 50 people join us to celebratethisspecialday. Also in March, a group went on a mission trip to Hungary. They were invited by the Youth for Christ (Hungary) to teach English and share experiences of how God has worked in their lives. Our cosmopolitan church family put out a really inter national team from Wales, Singa pore, Norway, Nigeria/England and HongKong.

Biblestudies
Tuesday Time:14:15 Venue:Gorseinon TabernacleChapel Tuesday(internationalgroup)& Thursday Time:20:00 Venue:42LlwynMawrClose, Tycoch

EnglishCorner
EveryFriday Time:19:00 Venue:Schoolroom (BehindArgyleandRhyddings)

Volunteerswelcometocomeear liertohelpsetupfrom18:30

SundayService
EverySundayat10.30am

Inreturn,wewelcomedvisitorsfrom the Czech Republic, pastor Daniel DostrasilandJanProchzka. English Corner continued to go from strength to strength. Highlights in cluded a Chinese New Year celebra tion in February and in March, 67 studentsandvisitorsfrom17nations went by faith in spite reported ap palling weather conditions to West Midlands Safari Park and had a won derful dry day. We hope for similar favour for upcoming trips to Strat ford upon Avon on 20th April and Blenheim Palace/Oxford on 18th May. Molly and Charles continue to mentor Sunniva Jonsen and Tim Hodgins. We give thanks for their continued dedication and hard work in offering bible classes and (extensive) hospitality 5 days a week at the Manse for students, members and friends, as well as individual/ couple counselling sessions when everthereisneed.

The Annual General Meeting of Ar gyle and Rhyddings was held on Sunday 24thMarch.Mr Hywel Davies announced that he will be stepping down as Pulpit Secretary. Thank you so much Hywel, for your years of serviceinthiscrucialrole. Looking ahead .... We shall be cele brating the 120th anniversary of Argyle and Rhyddings Park Chapel onSunday5thMay.Baptismwilltake place during the service which will befollowedbylunch. Wedding celebrations will be seen againatArgyleandRhyddingson8th May 2013, as Gerrit and Margriet embark on a life of holy matrimony, withourheartfeltcongratulations. Our church renovations remain the subject of discussions with PCW. Pray with us as we seek Gods guidance in this matter that God will build His church: the buildings but moreso,Hispeople. Andfinally.....

English Corner News

www.ec-swansea.co.uk

I have saved the most exciting news until last: since the turn of the year, 13 young people have accepted Jesus as their per sonal Saviour and Lord! We extend a warm welcome to our new brothers and sistersintothefamilyofGodandcontinue topraythattheywillgrowintheirfaith. ByMsSiewOH Wesendlovinggreetingstothosewho arenotabletojoinusinchurch. Wemissyou! MsDJones,MrsEMorgan,MrGPennar, MsTRichards,MrsMThomas,MrA Elder,MrsBrendaCrabbeandMsE Clarke

English Corner continues to run every Friday evening in the schoolroom with 50plusattendeeseachweek. We celebrated Chinese New Year with students from China and other nations as well on 15 Feb with lots of food (of course!)andperformances. A lesson on how to make an Easter bonnet by Day trips included excursions to Ros Oates CheddarGorgeandtheCityofWellsin February, and West Midlands Safari We were also delighted when Ayaki and ParkinMarch. Owen called in on their way west on Friday andAyakiplayedforusthatevening. We would like to say thank you to Eric Yin (from China) who has been Not forgetting all the other volunteers. providing the piano accompaniment at Thankyousomuchforyourcontinuedsup English Corner every Friday for the port! pastfewmonths.

English Corner Events

English Corner Camp 9 - 11 June 2013 Planned activities include strawberry picking, BBQ, outdoor sports, extended EC activities, games and lessons indoors. Cost 55 per person (includes food, transport and accommodation... bargain!) Contact : Mr Dennise Ardi 07428 567133 dennise_ardi@yahoo.com.sg

Retiring collections on Communion Sundays Retiringcollections onSun days 8 April .. 31.10 January16.50 6 May 15.64 February15 March18 3 June 20.70

Charity Fund
Donations30eachto: SwanseaDrugsProject,TyHafan,BibleSoci ety,SwanseaSamaritansandBritishHeart Foundation(inmemoryofJoyceCharles). 100forSyriaOMAppeal(specialcollection) 60toMissionBoard(Womenswork)

Trip to Stratford upon Avon and Shakespeare birthday celebrations Date : Saturday 20 April Time : 0700 till 2100 Coach only 18

Trip to Blenheim Palace and Oxford Date : Saturday 18 May Time : 0700 till 2100 Student 33 / Adults 35 / Child 18 Contact Molly Chua 07588 636877 look4molly@yahoo.co.uk

Equip 13 - Trip to Bala (North Wales) by Mercy Aju

Five of us went to a weekend conference from 8th to 10th of February. It was only for a couple days but within that time I learnt so much. The conference was part Welsh and part English. The majority of the people there were fluent Welsh speakers so of course there was a language barrier but nothing a little game of football couldnt fix.

I didnt realise that God had been trying to help me by revealing things to me that happened years ago. But when I was in Bala I found his saving grace, the healing power of God. He helped me and I was healed from my past and the Lord taught me forgiveness.

Mrs Joyce Charles

by Mrs Brenda Davies

Joyce was a faithful member of the church for many years. She and her husband were in charge of the Post Office in Argyle Street and were members in Argyle Church. When the church had safety problems, it was decided to sell the building and join the nearest Presbyterian Church en bloc, and thats when we moved to Rhyddings Church around 20 years ago. During this period, Harold had passed away. They had retired and moved house to where she now lived near Treboeth and as she was still able to drive, she continued to attend Argyle and Rhyddings Church. In recent years, she was unable to drive and eventually became house-bound. However, her neighbours were very kind and have been very good to her in later years - God placed her in the right neighbourhood! She is now safe in the arms of the Lord with her dear husband Harold.

Sunniva (Norway), Mercy (British/ Nigeria), Ariel (China)

The first day we arrived there after a long 4 hour journey, we were met by friendly faces and we mingled with a few people there. I was fascinated with the Welsh language so I spent time just listening to others having conversations in Welsh. We had dinner together which was nice basic food. We had the first session after dinner. This is where the speaker, Andy introduced us to a guy named Philip, also known as Phil. The theme of this years Equip 13 was Philip, an ordinary guy, extraordinary God. We focused on Acts 6:8 and went in -depth into the character of Philip and the type of person her was. How by doing the simplest of things, he brought glory to God. We also looked a little into the character of Stephen being the first man to die for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After the first session, we separated into small groups.

My group consisted of myself, Sunniva, Ariel, Sam, Jade (girl from Cardiff) and our group leader. The weekend continued like this teaching sessions, seminars and small groups. I really found strength in my small group. We shared testimonies, prayed together, encouraged each other in the Word of God, as well as just enjoying each others company. It was an amazing experience and that weekend really made me realise that we are all one in Jesus Christ and we all have the same mission to serve God and to proclaim His name. The way we found comfort in each other was beautiful and the trip brought me closer to the team I went with. I learnt something new about the people I went with and most importantly, I learnt a lot about myself.

When we went up for communion, I felt the power of God, knowing that He died for me, as sinful as I was, (Romans 5:8 But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.) and that if He can forgive me and still loves me, why can I not forgive those who have hurt me? I poured out my heart to Him, for Him to help me forgive and I asked Him to also forgive me. And He did! Bala was truly a fantastic experience. It taught me more about myself and more about God. It taught me that Im an ordinary person who serves an extraordinary God and that in everything I do, I should not rely on my strength nor my knowledge but rely on God to help me and that all I do should be done for His glory.

Mission trip to Hungary (Team report)

by Sunniva Jonsen

Our journey started with a visit to beautiful

Budapest.Aswespenttimesightseeingwewereable to also get to know one another better. It was a re markable group traveling together, Molly from Singa pore, Ros and Sam from Wales, Mandy from Hong Kong, Mercy from Nigeria/London and Sunniva from Norway. Needless to say we stood out! But what was sowonderfullyconfirmedduringthetripwasthatthe Holy Spirit unites people from all nations, tribes and tongues in worship of God our Father through Jesus Christ. Early the second morning we packed up and drove to Szentendre to teach English. We presented our countries and played games with the 1214 year old kids. After six tiring but inspiring lessons, while having lunch, we were honoured to be paid a visit by the head mistress and the mayor of Szentendre, thanking us for our contributions to the community. The following day we drove to Tatabnya where we were invited into two schools, again doing six English lessons.

Over the two days we met over 200 children and were so blessed by their warm welcome and joy of learning. The teaching was not merely for the children, however. Through our visit the local Christians were able to enter into the schools, to meet more children and be a light for Christ in their communities, prayer fully a lasting influence upon some of the childrens livestowardsthesavingknowledgeofChrist. Following our school ministry we spent time with the youth of Szentendre, being encouraged by the workYouthforChristisdoinginthattown.Wewereso honoured to be allowed to take part in the church ser vice on Sunday morning, and tears were rolling across the congregation as we sang Amazing grace. Indeed, Godsgraceisamazing! Our journey next took us (via a 10minute visit to Slovakia) to Debrecen where we had a wonderful time catching up with Adam and Dora & family. Throughout our stay we were so spoiled by rich and delicious homecooked food. The love and hospitality was never ending everywhere we went! WearesothankfulforthisGodgivenopportunitytobe instrumentsofencouragementinHismightyhand!