Horeb United Reformed Church

Horeb United Reformed Church - Eglwys Unedig Diwygiedig Horeb

An update 2024.09

The continuing story of what goes on at Horeb Chapel, and how we have moved forward as things have continued to settle down in these increasingly challenging times. As I confessed in the last issue at this stage my mind goes into 1950 mode so a couple of questions:

Is there anyone out there still standing who attended the Dyserth ‘Old School’ at the bottom of the High Street just before the crossroads and the top of Waterfall Hill? If like me you were an avid ‘Archers listener’ at 6.45 each day can you remember what radio programme it replaced? (if you have to search the web – look it up – it will be in the next Village Quiz.

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

I am of course aware that not much changes when I write my piece every couple of months. My apologies, but we are fewer now than back in the day but still trying to carry out our role as a Church and as an important part of life in the village.

So here we go – What’s On!

Son of Food Co-op – Our Wednesday Coffee Morning This has now been going for over two years. 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.

… and if there is anything at all that warrants celebration… invariably we will arrange a Bacon Butty or two.

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 from 12.30 – all are welcome.

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 a bread roll and butter followed by a pudding and a cup of tea/coffee or a soft drink.

I’m still i.c. washing up and 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 the latest meal attracted 22 folk – nowhere near full – so if any are losing interest or are in any way unhappy about anything to do with Community Lunch – PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR IDEAS - within reason things can be changed.

So, what is now considered ‘Normal’ - I must 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

• Note: Harvest Festival Service – October 6th at 10.30 – followed by HotPot lunch.

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

Since the deterioration of Colin’s vision beyond the point where expecting him to be able to use a computer became unreasonable our weekly publication CONTACT has ceased. As an admittedly poor alternative we have continued to distribute 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 ‘What’s On at Horeb’ - mail me on allandavidmorgan@gmail.com and I will add you to my list.

Ongoing - Maintenance

The Building - Stage 4 - Planned and ready to go if it would just stop raining for a while.

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.

The Horeb Web Site If you have looked for it recently – well it’s no longer there.

Danny, our neighbour spotted the problem and, as he knows what he is talking about unlike most of the Horeb Elders we have gratefully accept ed his help and advice and are in the process of establishing a new simpler version which will contain a brief outline of what Horeb is about and how we can be contacted

Horeb trying to be 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. We suspect that they too have had their plans disrupted by the long periods of very wet weather lately - but we are at the difficult stage of needing to know but not seen to be nagging. We hope this will be resolved soon and we’ll back on track.

And how did I forget this, - for many year now, we have supported Tŷ Golau – the homeless Night Shelter in Rhyl. Our members, when they do their weekly shopping purchase a few extra items, put them in a box in Horeb and they are delivered to Tŷ Golau every few weeks. The staff appreciate the gifts and the support and the fact that we appreciate their need – we just ‘do our bit’.

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 few more dryish, warmish days before the winter arrives in earnest and the single bar-b-cue we managed this so called ‘summer?’ disappears totally from my memory.

Allan Morgan (Horeb Elder)