‘I WAS GLAD when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord.’ Those familiar opening words of Psalm 122 were especially heartfelt on Sunday 26 July, when we were allowed to meet in the church for worship again, after a 4½
month closure.
There was a good attendance – more than on most normal Sundays. As I said then, being temporarily deprived of the opportunity should hopefully make us more appreciative of the great privilege – denied to so many around the world – of being able to worship God in freedom and to receive the Blessed Sacrament Sunday by Sunday, even day by day.
Alternate rows of chairs had been removed to aid social distancing, which made the church look comparatively full. As always, I am extremely grateful to those who put this and other precautionary measures in place. Everything seemed to work well and, I hope, enabled everyone to feel safe. Of course, we missed many of the things which normally enhance our worship, including the organ and singing. But Martin our organist gave us such a beautiful selection of piano music, chosen with character-
istic thoughtfulness, that it seemed less a deprivation than a refreshing change – though only a temporary one, we hope.
Numbers on the following Sunday were well down. Understandably: we are now into the holiday season, so we must expect that to continue for the next month or more. Some regulars have not yet returned, because they have been shielding. But that confinement ends on August 16, so we hope to see as many as possible then.
THAT will be just in time to celebrate the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a shame that we shall not be able to sing any of the lovely hymns she has inspired, but we shall still honour her joyfully and as fully as possible.
A fortnight later, on Sunday 30 August, we shall observe the second of our yearly patronal festivals, the Beheading of St John the Baptist. We are fortunate in having a patron saint of such eminence that both his birth and his death are marked in the Church’s calendar.
Lockdown prevented us from celebrating John’s birthday on June 24 – usually one of the high days of the year for us. So we must make up for that as well as we can on August 30.
AUGUST normally brings us other causes for celebration, as we rejoice in the scholastic success of our young people.
Harry Lynbeck has emulated his brother Joshua by graduating with 2:1 honours. He has obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Geography at Swansea University. This has also earned him a scholarship to go on to complete his master’s degree.
Of course, we congratulate Harry on this achievement, and wish him and our other young people continuing uccess.
CONGRATULATIONS, too, to Sheldon James, who celebrates his 90th birthday on August 23.
Sheldon is the senior member of our congregation, having been baptized here and remaining a regular worshipper ever since. His faithfulness is an example to us all, and his enduring vigour an inspiration.
We send Sheldon warm felicitations, and wish him a very happy birthday and continuing good health.
WE HAVE been presented with a beautful silver plaque, featuring a reproduction of a well-known icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady is shown nursing the Christ child, who looks up into her face trustingly. The icon is surrounded by figures of the saints and other images.
This is the gift of the late Mrs Brenda Dickinson and comes to us from her daughter, Mrs Helen John. Mrs Dickinson lived on the other side of the Bristol Channel and was a devout communicant. When she came to Newport to visit her daughter, Helen (a faithful member of Nant Coch church) always brought her mother to our Sunday evening Eucharist.
We are very grateful for the gift, and now have to find a suitable place to display it, in or near the Lady Chapel.