The Benefice
Benefice Quiet Day
You are invited to join some of the Benefice Ministry Team
at
Llantarnum Abbey (near Cwmbran)
Monday 20 June, 2011
10.30am – 3.30pm
Theme: Life in the local church.
Using Paul’s first letter to Timothy and his letter to Titus:
we’ll spend the day considering the words of guidance from these letters.
The aim is to refresh our lives and our vision of church life.
Our day will be centered on three core elements:
- Peace, quiet and prayer
- Biblical study and discussion
- Fellowship and building one another up
Cost £8.50
(toward the upkeep of the Abbey)
Tea or coffee provided
Bring your own lunch and your bible
For further information contact David Flint (Lay Reader)
Tel: 01291 423551 E-mail: DvdDvdflnt@aol.com
Funeral of Ross Goff
When I started to think of words that I felt were appropriate for Ross, my mind turned to the dialogue that took place between Aslan the Lion and Reepicheep the Mouse in the story from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Aslan the Lion who represents Jesus turns to his brave disciple Reepicheep and says “Extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people”
As we have just heard Ross was indeed a remarkable person, an extraordinary person who was involved in so many extraordinary things. We have been told of so many of Ross’ achievements, but I want to show you Ross the follower of Jesus who like brave Reepicheep realised that Extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people”
I first met Ross in June 2001 when I was licensed as Team Vicar during the service to begin the life of the new Benefice of Caldicot. However, it was not until December 2004 that Ross and I became truly spiritual friends.
Our much loved Rector Canon Jones had suddenly died and even though we were all in a state of shock I realised that the work of the benefice had to continue. I called upon our newly appointed deacon Fr. Will, our priest Fr. David, Cynthia our Reader and Ross our Eucharistic minister.
That evening in the midst of great sadness we prayed and planned for the days and weeks ahead. Little did we know that it was at that precise moment we saw the birth of our Ministry Team, a team which benefited greatly from the inclusion of Ross. We faced many obstacles but Ross being the type of person that he was turned obstacles into challenges and challenges were things to overcome. The prayers and encouragement Ross and the team shared were invaluable.
In 2005 I was appointed Rector and I had a meeting with Ross. He asked what was my vision for our three churches, I replied that the vision was the easy part, putting it into practice would be what would be difficult. But of course I hadn’t then understood that extraordinary people say extraordinary things. Ross explained the hardest thing was to get the vision the easiest part was finding a way to achieve it. We sat together and I explained what I felt God wanted from us and Ross scribbled away on his notepad.
Ross took his jottings back home to Gwen. About a week later, he returned with what was the blue print for running the benefice, for school work and for mission. Ross’ plan is the template we still use today.
Over a time our ministry team grew and we as a group became closer, spiritually dependent on one another, and excited about working for God. Always at the centre of operations was Ross. He once begged me never to stop him working in his ministry, because it kept him feeling young, and spiritually challenged.
Exciting things began to happen but we shouldn’t have been surprised with Ross around because with Ross we could see that Extraordinary things do happen to extraordinary people”
Ross became very involved with Caldicot Churches Together, and perhaps one of the most wonderful missions I have ever witnessed was the Life Exhibition that we held in the Methodist Church, when 1,200 children from eight schools would experience the Christian life. It was the largest of its type that had ever been in Wales up to that time. Ross became our co-ordinator and I know that much of the success that we witnessed was down to the tireless work, and expertise of Ross. At one of our early meetings in the Methodist Church, Ross was asked a question about the buses we would need for the children. Ross stood up and spoke for quarter of an hour on the importance of living by faith. If Jesus wants us to succeed then succeed we would. The mission went like clockwork How could it have failed with some many Christians from different traditions working together under God’s blessings, I think that week we all became like Ross extraordinary people and saw first hand that Extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people”
Ross loved his church his ministry not only in the benefice but in other parts of the deanery and I know he held a very soft spot for Bulwark.
Ross was devoted to God and His Church, He was a man who loved God and loved His family, and you know Gwen he thought the world of you as we in church all do.
We will of course miss Ross in our church, but today is the day when we commend our great friend into God’s care. In Scripture we are told that those who follow Jesus will share in His promise of eternal life. Ross followed Jesus he ran the race, he kept the faith, well done Ross good and faithful servant.
We now travel through the season of Lent when a church has no floral decorations, where crosses are veiled in purple; however we know that though we have to go remember the pain of Good Friday, the day of crucifixion, we know that the joy of resurrection, the joy of Easter day is only around the corner. Indeed Ross like all Christians was an Easter child.
Extraordinary things do indeed happen to extraordinary people” especially for those who have tried to live their lives for God’s pleasure, as did our brother Ross.
Amen
Message from the Rector
I have been requested by the Bishop to announce that 
Pastor Jim will be licensed as Hon. Associate Vicar in the parish of Chepstow on Sunday 6th February. It has been a great pleasure that we as a benefice have been used by God in helping Pastor Jim's transition into Anglican Orders and to witness Pastor Jim's growth into the Anglican priesthood. We wish Pastor Jim and his fiancée Jo every blessing on their forthcoming marriage and we pray for their success in their new ministry together.
Pastor Jim will continue to live in Portskewett and will continue to teach the Living Faith course assisted as ever by Judith.
Fr. Lyndon
The importance of prayer.
When I was a child, I remember the minister stressing the importance of prayer.
Prayer, he said, is the power house of the church, and we need the power of God to be able to function and do the work of God in meeting the peoples’ needs. These words still ring out in my ears decades later. Prayer sets the temperature of the church.
The temperature outside is dropping as we are in the Autumn season. Winter is just around the corner, and I’m relying on the central heating boiler. Not only to heat the water for washing, but to provide the radiators with heat so that the house is comfortable enough for me to perform my daily duties, and to look after my grandson in the colder season.
If the boiler ceases to function for lack of power, I call in an expert to put it right. I can’t do it, but he is qualified to carry out the work. I then press the button, and release the power that transforms the power.
1 Thessalonians 5: v.25 says: Pray without ceasing this is the will of Christ Jesus concerning you. God is highlighting the importance of prayer.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray:
Our Father who art in heaven.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We have prayed this prayer since childhood. God loves, and has great pleasure in hearing us calling on Him in prayer. Just as we appreciate it when our children call and ask for advice when they have a need. It is a two-way process. They speak, we listen. Then we set out to solve their problem, and ease their distress.
James 5: v.16: Confess your trespasses to one another. Pray for one another.
We have been studying the Apostle Paul in “Living Faith”, looking at his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus appeared to him as a shining light, called him by name, telling of his wrongdoings and persecutions. The power of God touched him and he fell to the ground. The Lord transformed his life. He became a man of faith who shared the good news of the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit; he released Gods’ power in miracles of healing, and deliverance.
In Colossians 4: we have this man of faith, asking for prayer. Continue earnestly, he says, in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Meanwhile, praying for us that God would open to us a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
He recognised his need for prayer to be able to carry out the work that God had called him to do.
We too recognise the need for prayer. That is why on All Saints day at 7.30, on Monday November 1st. in St. Mary’s Caldicot, we are commencing a prayer meeting at the High Altar: to release God’s power raising the temperature of faith, that lives will be changed.
Come! Bring your prayers with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God: Philippians 4: v.6.
Dorothy Harries.
ST. Michael's Llanfihangle
On Sunday 3rd October, 2010, at 3 p.m. there will be a Benefice Eucharist Service celebrated at St. Michael's to commemorate Saint Michael and All Angels Day (29th September).
MONTV – Faith in Monmouthshire
Please check the new edition on MONTV: Faith Matters SACRE Religious Education P1 and P2.
To do this follow this link
A big 'THANK YOU' to all the gardeners in all three churches who work tirelessly to keep the churchyards looking so wonderful whatever the weather.
SHOPMOBILITY
'Churches Together' now run Shopmobility in Caldicot. Volunteers are needed from all churches to help run this scheme for disabled people. Please contact Fr. Lyndon or Fr. Den.
STREET PASTORS
If anyone would like to find out how to become a local street pastor please contact Fr. Lyndon.
Good News
Diggy, our loving and faithful donkey, is fit and well again and joined us at our Palm Sunday Services this year.
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