Issue No 181
Magazine for the Irfon and Wye Valley Churches April 2016
Lent in Builth Wells This year Builth CYTUN decided that we should further our understanding of each denomination’s traditions and worship patterns in order that our studies could be enhanced and seen through the eyes of the churches we served with but really knew little about how they worshipped.
Reverend Brian Reardon
Martha Phillips, the wife of a previous minister of Alpha, Rev J.W. Phillips. Some history of the URC church building (Horeb) was presented by the Ecumenical Minister at the final meeting on the fifth Wednesday that consisted of a short service of
It was to be that after the ‘ashing’ service in the Parish church on Ash Wednesday we would continue on the other Wednesday evenings in Lent by visiting the churches in the group asking each church to present a service of worship in their tradition with history of the building and how each church became to be built. To “Wesley” in Methodist tradition we sang some of the great hymns of Charles Wesley, and discovered new things about the Wesley brothers and their mission to Wales. In “Christ the King” the Roman Catholic Church service was taken by the local Priest, Father Michael, who spoke about the “Empty Tomb and the empty pew” followed by a service of Compline. In the Parish Church of St Marys, Father Neil explained the service of evening prayer and the whys and wherefores of the Church in Wales and the organisation of the Swansea and Brecon Diocese. In “Alpha” the Presbyterian ethos and stories about Trefeca became part of the worship with some great singing of “Groeswen’ and “Builth” with the High School’s Music teacher at the organ. We explored the structure of the church building with a further explanation of what the Eldership is all about. We sang, “Teach me to serve you Lord” being written by
praise followed by a discussion upon the success of the project this year. It was deemed to have been a success as all appreciated a greater understanding for differing worship patterns and traditions we have in the town. Although, during Lent, we share together as Christians our personal preparation for Holy Week, I am lifted up as we worship together as a community in Builth Wells when the churches are together and become one. We were richly blessed this period of Lent. We continue to follow our work for Christ with a clearer understanding of each other and each other’s church life.
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