Dear Friends,

Sunday 1st of March marks the feast of St David, the patron saint of Wales who died on that day in the year 589AD aged 89 and is buried at the Cathedral that bears his name in Pembrokeshire.  It only occurred to me that St David is the only patron saint of the British Isles actually born in the country he represents!  Even St Maghould of the Isle of Man was a former Irish brigand.  

On this day throughout my home principality, individuals will be wearing daffodils or leeks (leeks for the hardcore patriots!), at school, the girls would wear traditional Welsh dress with the red shawl and pointy hats (us boys got off lightly…) and we would rejoice singing Welsh Hymns, reciting poetry and doing a great deal of ‘Dawnsio Gweryn’ aka Country Dancing, often involving brooms!  A lot of this would be done within the context of an official ‘Eisteddfod’, a local competition of various arts, singing, dancing, painting, performing, etc, etc.  I went through to the county heats in Denbighshire!  Only to lose my nerve and bottle up in the face of stiff competition (some take it most seriously).

It was wonderful growing up in a land where people were proud of their heritage, but were equally proud of sharing it with others.  Having Patron Saints reminds me that as well as being proud of one’s heritage, we are called to be proud of our faith.  The examples of saints can often seem very daunting steps to follow in (Slaying Dragons, Driving out Snakes, Gruesome Martyrdoms to name a few!).  St David did his fair share of miracles, but his greatest legacy for me were the words on his death bed, ‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd’ – do the little things in life.  If as Christians we all ‘did the little things’, love out neighbours, random acts of kindness, rejoice in God’s gifts of creation (especially Daffodils!) then we will start to see some of the Kingdom of Heaven realised on Earth.  In the name of Christ Amen.

Reverend Joshua Gaskell

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 Sunday morning service new start time of 10.45am.

Sunday 8th March
We look forward to welcoming back Rev Josh Gaskell to preside and preach at our service for the 3rd Sunday of Lent. Music will be provided by Christian our organist and MD with prayers and readings from the St.Nick’s Team. Refreshments will be served after the service.

LIVE BROADCASTS:
Our 10.45 am service is broadcast live every Sunday. View the service via our website www.st-nicholas-church.org.uk or via our You Tube channel #Everyone is welcome, #inclusivechurch

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A prayer for Sunday 8th March

Almighty God,
whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain,
and entered not into glory before he was crucified:
mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross,
may find it none other than the way of life and peace;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen