Horeb United Reformed Church

An update 2024.07

The continuing story of what goes on at Horeb, and how Horeb has moved forward as things have continued to settle down in ‘Post Covid’ times.

When I write this or something like it my mind immediately goes back to 1950s Dyserth – 6 Thomas Ave (Yes the Police ‘Station’) 6.45 p.m. and ‘The Archers – an Everyday story of Countryfolk.’. Not to be missed Mon. to Fri. and the omnibus edition on a Sunday.

So when we talk about the ‘Good Old Days’ – these were most definitely mine – a mountain to climb and play on (all pre ‘Health and Safety’ – if you hurt yourself you learned how to do it better / more carefully and probably fibbed a little to parents about the reason for the cuts and bruises.)

And then there were the times when, with my dad I spent many hours visiting local farms as he did what he did as Village Policeman simply keeping an eye on what was going on. Actually, I suspect that he enjoyed being outside and spending time with local farmers. For me, I experienced helping with Sheep-dipping; being part of a circle of helpers as a hay-rick was (I’m not sure what you would call it) but ‘dismantled’ leading to a mass exodus of first mice and – then rats that we helpers killed as they ran for freedom. What fun for an 8/9-year-old.

So, no more talk of the good old days – just a very brief summery of what we do /are doing / planning - just to let folk know that we're still alive and kicking.

Son of Food Co-op – Our Wednesday Coffee Morning

This has now been going for two years. As we do we celebrated by having a Big Brekkie day i.e. as well as the usual Tea /coffee we organised bacon butties / rolls for the posher..

If you have free time on a Wednesday – PLEASE JOIN US! As I have written repeatedly, this is not in any way a 'closed shop' - it is open to all on Wednesdays (10.00 to 12.00. Tea / coffee / biscuits / cakes (occasionally) are provided; the cost being covered whatever you feel like putting in the pot.

A relaxing time in good company with tea/coffee made to order and if it doesn't suitwe'll show you how the Lincat (Water Heater) works and where the tea/coffee/ crockery is kept provide a bit of INSET … … and you can make your own.

Community Lunches - still up and running at Horeb on the second Tuesday of the month.

The menu for our lunches continues to be one that the small team of folk from Horeb (plus some friends) can manage i.e. a bowl of soup (a choice from 2 or three) with bread roll and butter followed by a pudding and a cup of tea/coffee or a soft drink. In my role as i.c. washing up I can truthfully report that at every lunch thus far, all the dishes have been returned empty – and there have been no complaints either about the quantity of food or the choice of soups / puddings so again we must be doing something right.

BUT Numbers attending have been down a little recently – perhaps expected during the Holiday Season – but if you’re in any way unhappy about anything to do with Community Lunch – PLEASE LET US KNOW - within reason things can be changed.

Village Quizzes

I had little response to my suggestion that we could hold a quiz more frequently than annually it is at present.

• I am quite happy to organise quizzes more frequently – if there are sufficient numbers (teams) interested to make it worthwhile. If you think so and you would like to enter a team please contact me with for each team …

• Organisation /group + Contact name and position / e-mail address

So, what is now considered ‘Normal’ - I’ll repeat –

• Morning Worship: [Sundays (10.30 - 11.30) and a social time with tea/coffee and biscuits afterwards.

• The service is available 'live' to all on Zoom on a Sunday morning

DETAILS Zoom (meeting id 923 732 5176 password 3fHEG9)

As I reported in May, we have had to stop providing CONTACT for our members and friends who are unable to attend for Sunday Worship or manage Zoom - this being a consequence of Rev. Colin Richard’s failing eyesight. What has continued is the Weekly ‘What’s On at Horeb’ which is e-mailed every Saturday evening to keep those folk who will not hear the Notices on a Sunday in touch with Horeb life.

If anyone reading this update would like to receive the Notices email me on allandavidmorgan@gmail.com and I will add you to my list.

Ongoing

Building Maintenance

Stage 4 - Planned Repainting the Main Door and Removing the existing temporary Noticeboard and rethinking the use of the main Notice Board to the left of the Entrance.

Horeb being useful

Our link with Pengwern College in Rhuddlan – involved in some maintenance of Horeb ‘ground-works’

At present we are waiting to hear from Pengwern. At the difficult stage of needing to know but not seen to be nagging. We hope this will be resolved soon.

Finances - (always on the back of our minds)

The Hiring of Paterson Hall and other space in Horeb

This is a major source of income which, although there has been an upsurge in recent weeks, has still to return to a pre-Covid level – and with the increase in fuel costs it is increasingly difficult to balance what hirers can afford to pay and what we need to charge to cover our costs - let alone gain some 'income'.

BUT - if anyone needs to hire some space for a club or event The Paterson Hall is still available for Hiring for several hours during the week. Indeed, if anyone reading has a need or knows anyone who wishes to Hire a space, they should contact Barbara Tebbutt on 01745 570793 or me on 01745 570364.

Aware that we, in many ways, are battling for the survival of Horeb, the Elders and Members, remain determined to continue to work hard and to do our best to keep Horeb Chapel alive and well.

Finally, as usual, you know where we are, you know we will be open for worship at 10.30 a.m. every Sunday, and if you are thinking about joining us for worship one Sunday, you will be very welcome.

So, I'll sign off wishing all the best as we hope for a little more Summery weather i.e. warmer, drier and less windy; and promising myself that I really will try to make the next update more interesting and less a re-hash of what has gone before – maybe a few jokes?

Allan Morgan (Horeb Elder)