News

Missionary  Lunch

              

                On Thursday July 9^th, we are looking forward to welcoming our friend Bruce Rossington, working alongside his family with Africa Inland Mission in Rwanda, to a special lunchtime meeting in our Sunday School Hall.  Although the Rossingtons are only in the UK for a short time, and are concentrating this summer on holiday time with the family, Bruce has kindly made himself available to update us on the work in Rwanda since they visited last Spring.  Also joining us will be friends from our sister church at Malpas Road in Newport, and others from the Newport Africa Prayer Group which meets regularly in the city.           

                The meeting will begin with a fellowship lunch at 12.30pm.  Please bring a packed lunch with you.  Cups of tea and coffee will be provided.  Following this, Bruce will speak to us.

Induction Service of Jonathan Davies              

             

              On the last Saturday of June, eight folk from the church made the long journey north to Queensbury, on the outskirts of Bradford, for the induction service of Jonathan Davies.  Leaving the church at 8.15 the minibus, ably driven by Emrys Jones, made good time, and five hours later, after two ‘comfort’ breaks at motorway service stations, the singing of numerous hymns from Mission Praise, and much passing around of welsh cakes, jelly tots and various other snacks, we arrived outside the church in plenty of time for the service.  It was good to see the chapel building in its surroundings, and to be welcomed by Jonathan and Ruth, the children and some of the folk from Union Croft who were still busy with preparations.

                The service was a solemn but lovely occasion.  It was led, most helpfully, by Rev Bernard Umpleby, the Pastor of an evangelical congregational church in Bradford itself, and a former Methodist pastor in Ebbw Vale.  After the initial worship, the church secretary gave the history of the call to the church, to which Jonathan responded, outlining how God had graciously dealt with him in leading him to take up this charge.

                Following this, greetings were brought by a representative of the UCCC and of the other local churches.  Ministers from local Baptist, Anglican and Methodist churches were present, along with the Roman Catholic Priest.  Following the next hymn, our Pastor had the privilege of preaching the charge to the new minister and the church, from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, especially the words at the end of verse eleven; “so we preach and so you believed”. After another hymn, the act of induction itself took place, led by Rev Tim Mills from Christ Church, an independent evangelical church in Bradford.

                The lovely tea that followed, in the church hall, gave us a chance to enjoy further fellowship together, before leaving at 4.45pm for the drive home.  This proved somewhat longer, due to the M1 motorway being closed following a serious accident.  We finally reached New Inn well after midnight, but safe, for which we thank God.

Men's Breakfast

                On the first Saturday of June, the men met for their quarterly breakfast and meeting at Amelia’s café in the centre of the village.  Although numbers were down on the March gathering, those present enjoyed the usual tasty ‘Full English’, and were then challenged as our friend Andrew Holland challenged us from the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Luke 18.  He reminded us particularly that only God is good, and that we have all broken God’s law and are in need of the Saviour that He has provided.

                The next breakfast is on the first Saturday in September, the 5^th, same time, same place, when Andrew Toovey is scheduled to speak.