Good evening all,

I’m a day early this week because Will and I are taking our extra day off tomorrow – the church in Wales recently changed the day off rules for clergy, so that we have one day a week routinely, but once a month can take two days as a 48 hour extended rest period. So we are doing that tomorrow and Friday. It is our intention to go to St. Fagan’s museum tomorrow, provided this glorious weather continues, and then have a good meal out in Cardiff, before doing some shopping on Friday. We have discovered that we don’t need to go far to feel like we are having a little break – it’s all about attitude! The timing is excellent as we are both feeling rather tired, (I suspect that is a grief weariness) and we want to be at our best for the important week ahead. Holy Week is a very special time and I hope you will feel able to join us in the various things that are going on. I’ve attached a couple of posters with the information.

This week has been very full so far, and I must confess that one of the highlights was the termly school Eucharist. To have so many children singing, reading, praying, and then receiving Communion or God’s blessing, is such a joy. The children really do understand what it means to be Christian, and I know that if you were to come to the service in school you would recognise it as almost identical to what goes on in our church buildings on a Sunday. I also had the most wonderful visit to a family in which all the children (who are school age) have expressed a desire to be baptised. Their questions and insistence that they choose the readings and the hymns was both delightful and encouraging. They even want to write the prayers for the service! It occurred to me that unless these stories and activities are shared with you, we might all be left thinking that young people are not engaging with faith, or wanting to be part of church. The truth is that they are and do, it just doesn’t look the same as it did a few decades ago.

My last task this evening is to try to sort out the To Do list for next week – ensuring that I can get a balance of keeping everything on track whilst also making space to be confident that I can prepare for Easter, through Holy Week, alongside you, prayerfully and sincerely. Wish me luck with that!

I’ll be back at it on Saturday, until then, be assured of my prayers,

With love,

Sally xxxx

Ooo, I should mention – the advert to recruit our new team vicar is out this week. It is being advertised nationally. Please pray for the right person to hear God’s call. We have such a lot to offer and such a hopeful time ahead of us.

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.