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the FEBRUARY
TREASURY 2022
MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WALES
A NUMBERS GAME
W
e hope that readers will This month Nan Powell Davies was
be encouraged by the interviewed on S4C where she spoke
news items included in about the Christian Aid appeal
this month’s edition. Seeds of Hope. It is currently
available on BBC iPlayer. We trust
Below you will see photographs of that God will use that one
various events in our churches. opportunity to bring about much
Eight young people at a youth club; good.
ve students at English Corner; four
church members in a newly As you work in your church why not
refurbished kitchen. These are small consider penning a few lines and
numbers. Yet we are not sending them in to The Treasury?
discouraged. How many stories does You may consider your event a
the Bible tell of God’s ability to do ‘small thing’ but what
mighty things with small resources? encouragement might you be to
other readers? Yours might be just
Gideon had 300 men, David had a the reminder needed that God
handful of pebbles. Elijah was fed has put his ‘treasure in jars of clay to
with just a little our and oil. Most show that this all-surpassing power
wonderfully, one man, Jesus, died on is from God and not from us.’ Photo: unsplash.com
a cross, for the sake of the world.
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NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES
WOMEN’S DEPARTMENT For further information please
BIBLE STUDIES contact Nerys Rowlands. Please
T
hese will continue through note that if anyone is nding it
March on the theme of the di cult to pay for attending the
Lord’s Prayer. A warm Summer School, there is a special
invitation is extended to all to fund that can be used for this
participate every other purpose.
Wednesday at 1.30pm (March 2nd,
16th & 30th). WALES: FAITH IN THE
FUTURE
T
Join Zoom Meeting he National Churches
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/ Trust and Welsh PoW
82317151660 Forum is organising a free
Meeting ID: 823 1715 1660 event , held online on 8th March at
1.30pm. They write:
Contact: Eirian Roberts
(Organiser) Tel: 01678 520 065 / Fundraising is, as always, a huge
07900308981 for further details challenge in 2022.
THE HEALING Whether you're thinking about
MINISTRY SUMMER SCHOOL. contactless giving, or wondering
T
his will take place on May how to generate income from
23-26 2022 at Cefn Lea, visitors there's lots of advice and
Dolfor, Newtown, support available.
Powys, SY16 4AJ
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In our free seminar, our speakers help inform the future work of the
will o er advice and practical Welsh Places of Worship Forum.
examples to help you : We'll also encourage you to share
• Re ne your ask for donations ideas and questions with
(how, where and when to ask) volunteers from churches, chapels
• Hear how other places of worship and other places of worship taking
are making the most of giving part in the chat.
technology (contactless, online
giving etc) RURAL MINISTRY COURSE
• Identify ways and means to raise 13TH - 16TH JUNE 2022,
T
income from activities his residential course looks
Everyone involved in places of at de nitions of ‘rural’ and
worship across Wales is invited to some of the issues faced by
attend. This event is free for rural communities, including
everyone, please share this invite housing, poverty and transport.
with anyone you think might be The aim is to help participants
interested. begin to understand their speci c
context. It draws on work by
The event will be run as a Zoom Bishop David Walker and DEFRA
webinar, so you can join us from to consider the di erent,
wherever you are. We will use the increasingly diverse groups of
'polling' and other functions to people who make up rural
involve everyone. communities. This is a more
sociological view which also looks
We will present two 45-60 minute at di erent types of social capital
sections, with a chance for a break and the church’s place in rural
in between. communities. During the few days
participants will be Exploring
You are the expert when it comes Rural Mission.
to your own place of worship. We
are looking forward to hearing For e ective mission, context is
your response to discussions and key: what works in one community
the feedback that you provide will won’t necessarily work in another. Photo: Coutesy of the J. Arthur
Rank Foundation
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We explore what mission means in churches. This module looks at
the rural context and create space some of the challenges and
for delegates to share stories from opportunities of working with
their own communities. rural children and young people.
There will be a workshop which
explores some ways of working on The course costs £300, and will be
mission with local congregations. held at the King’s Conference
This session enables delegates to Centre, Nottingham. Contact:
identify what connections those in arthurrankcentre.org.uk
their congregations already have
with the wider community and MANCOT
T
draw on these as a starting point wo hymns during the
for thinking about mission. morning service on
Sunday 13th February
A session about Agriculture will were favourites. The congregation
include a representative of the sang Praise my soul the King of
agricultural community sharing Heaven in recognition of the
insights into the rhythm of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and
farming year, some of the current because it is one Her Majesty
opportunities and challenges enjoys singing. A second hymn,
facing farmers, and ways to make How Great Thou Art was the
contact and build relationships choice of Mrs Kath Lammond who
with local farmers. had celebrated her 90th birthday a
week earlier. In referring to Kath’s
Rural Evangelism is sharing the lifetime of association with
good news and context must Mancot Chapel, one of the Eder’s,
in uence the way we share it. The Iain Hodgins spoke of some of
rural context has its own speci c Kath’s memories of the chapel and
opportunities and challenges community, going back over nine
which are explored here. decades. Her parents had owned
Children and young people are Melrose Stores near the chapel,
present in rural communities but – and hence there are few people of a
as in many suburban and urban certain age living in the
Photo: The women of Northop
communities – not always in community that Kath doesn’t Hall in their new kitchen
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know. In referring to her regularity TATL AT PORT TALBOT
Y
in the services, he mentioned how oung people had a great
Revd Jonathan Hodgins often time on 4th February. There
speaks of the way we encourage a were brilliant competitions
minister and others by our and lots of winners…one girl won
presence, and conversely how we two prizes! Mr Troy Wright who
can be a discouragement through leads TATL is available to run such
constant absences. Faithfulness, he evenings in other churches.
observed, is mentioned in Galatians
5:22 as a fruit of the Spirit. PARK END
C
o ee Morning has resumed
MOLD at Park End and on 9th
T
he church’s magazine, ‘The February nine people came
Torch’ reports how and enjoyed co ee, cake and
Embrace workers have fellowship.
thanked the church at Tyddyn
Street for their nancial and GOLFTYN
prayerful support. Working in rs Phyllis Lewis’s
Lebanon the charity tells of how
di cult life is, and how partners are
M celebrated her 101st
birthday on 8th February.
putting their trust in Jesus, She continues to serve as an elder
dependent on God to sustain them and regular worshipper at St Mark’s
each and every day. Embrace
prepare worship materials, and
one particular item is a Prayer
Diary, another a weekly free
Lenten Re ection on-line. See
Embrace.org/lent-re ections.
The magazine helpfully
reminded its readers that Lent
begins on 2nd March.
Photo: TATL, Port Talbot;
Co ee Morning, Park End
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Church where the chapel now evd Jonathan Kirk has
meets on a Sunday evening. announced that he will be
bringing his pastorate in
PONTARDDULAIS Haverfordwest, Gilead, Neyland,
S
wansea Road church was Wiston and Millin Cross to an end
able to replace the carpet in on 30th April. He will be
the church recently. The commencing a di erent type of
kitchen has also been remodelled. ministry in Fishguard shortly
Sadly a few weeks after the afterwards supported by the New
improvements, there was a leak in a Ministries Fund.
central heating radiator that
destroyed some of the LLANELLI-BORN CHARITY
refurbishment. Hopefully matters WORKER'S ATTEMPT TO BEAT
will be resolved soon and repairs THE CHASER
undertaken so that services may It was a happy surprise for those
resume. Enquiries are being made who watch The Chase before or
about a totally di erent type of during their evening meal to notice
heating, and one that will accord Christian Aid's Welsh Engagement
with the Green Energy Policy of the and Fundraising O cer, Dr Nathan
PCW. Munday amongst the contestants
one evening in February. Describing
ARGYLE/RHYDDINGS PARK, himself and his wife as simple folk,
SWANSEA he told Bradley Walsh that his
R
evd Charles and Mrs Chua ambition in becoming a contestant
have returned to Swansea was to win enough money to buy a
after an extended visit to log burner. Having scored well in
Singapore. Their work with the the opening round, Nathan was
English Corner and Overseas outrun by the Chaser (Paul Sinha),
Students continues, and blessings and presumably Nathan's hopes of
are being experienced. acquiring a log burner remain a
PEMBROKESHIRE dream!
Photo: English Corner, Swansea
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A Christian occupational
requirement applies to this post.
Closing Date: 23rd March 2022,
4pm.
Bangor and District Pastorate
Ministerial assistant to
Children, Youth and Families for
the Pastorate.
Apart from his TV appearance on
16th February, another of Nathan's
signi cant life-moments has been The Presbyterian Pastorate in
as Guardian of Ty Mawr Wybrnant, Bangor and the District are looking
birthplace of Bible translator, for an energetic and enthusiastic
William Morgan. His pleasing person to work in its three churches
demeanour on TV and description and to develop the work further.
of himself walking and writing at
the same time may encourage some Hours: 35 hours per week (or to be
to read his published book Seven discussed)
Days: A Pyrenean Adventure. Contract: 3 years initially with the
rst 6 months being a trial period
OPPORTUNITIES Salary: Scale 26-30 (£ 25,913 - £
28,049) plus a house allowance of £
Park End Presbyterian Church
3,000 and an opportunity to join the
Family and Youth Worker PCW pension scheme.
(Part Time)
This Post is subject to an enhanced
Park End Presbyterian Church of DBS disclosure and two satisfactory
Wales is looking to appoint a worker references. For a job description and
to join the church an application form, please contact
leadership team in leading, admin@parkendcardi .org.uk
developing and coordinating the A Christian occupational
Family and Young People’s requirement applies to this post.
Ministry and Outreach Activities.
This Post is subject to an enhanced
Location: Park End Presbyterian DBS disclosure and two satisfactory
Church of Wales, Llandennis Road, references.
Cardi
Hours: 21 hours a week For further information, and an
Term: 3 years, with the rst 6 application form, please contact: -
months being a probationary period. email - Mr Hedd Morgan,
Salary: £21,638 - £23,775 pro rata Hedd@ebcpcw.cymru Tel: 07815
(Point 18-22) and an opportunity to 960 439
join the PCW
Pension Scheme. Closing date: 28th February 2022 at
This Post is subject to an enhanced 4 o'clock.
DBS disclosure and two satisfactory Interview Date: 8th March 2022
references. For a job description and in Bangor.
an application form, please contact
admin@parkendcardi .org.uk Photo: Nathan Munday on The
Chase
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EVAN MORGAN ON SEEDS OF HOPE
I
n one of our scripture We cannot deny this, or hide
readings, we read from ourselves to the fact that climate
Romans 8 where Paul talks of change is happening. We must
'the groaning of creation’. care and do those small things in
our lives that will help and hope
We are here today because we hear that Governments throughout the
all kinds of groaning around us. world do the larger things to help.
The world, our communities, are This isn't an optional extra, we
facing vast problems because of must adapt our way of life to show
the consequence of climate we care.
change.
Secondly as we hear the 'groan' of
This is is very real and happening mankind , we must act.
now and therefore our appeal Let us show in a practical way as
Seeds Of Hope is focusing on we help our brothers and sisters
Kenya and later in the year throughout the world. So many
Honduras. face poverty, famine, the e ects of
ooding and soil erosion and
Firstly, as we hear the 'groan' of extreme weather conditions, we
nature, we must care. We have have such a responsibility in the
been called to be stewards to care Northern Hemisphere to help
for this Earth, for God's creation. others. We witness prejudice,
The late Desmond Tutu, before he hatred, intolerance increasing and
died when referring to climate we must act for justice in the name
change said this:'Never before of His love. The complaint is made
have human beings been called to often enough that the Church is
act collectively in defence of the too insular and irrelevant - 'Listen
Earth'. to the cry of the Earth, and the cry
Photo: Evan Morgan prepares
to deliver his talk on Zoom
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of the poor, who su er most" Finally, as we hear the 'groan' of
comments Pope Francis. the Holy Spirit, we must pray. Pray
We must ll ourselves in His love for wisdom and leadership in our
in order to empty and drench world. We pray for our our appeal
others with it. My personal trainer and all the events and fundraising
at my gym often complains I moan e orts. (Our target is £250,000
too much if I do leg exercises, working out at £16 per member).
indeed I will remark 'o no not We must be awake, to work and
another leg day'! 'Just do it,' he face the challenge, reminding
retorts, 'you don't walk on your ourselves that the world we build
hands.' Let us strengthen now our tomorrow is born in the prayers we
legs so as to walk the extra mile for say today,
others in need. I look forward so Remember when we hear the
much in seeing many of you as I groaning around us we must
complete my sponsored walk endeavour to sow the seeds of
throughout the Presbyteries this hope.
Spring and Summer.
NOT THE SUNDAY SERMON
Y
ou can see ‘E’ standing in Valentines Day pale into
the front row of our insigni cance, a mere drop in the
centenary Moreton romantic ocean. And that is just
Church photo. (Cherish your old the average wedding. At the upper
church photos and retell the end, you can easily spend
stories that go with them.) Knee £60,000 on the day and that
high to a grasshopper, she is a cute would include £2,000 for
wee thing wearing a pink dress. owers, £2,000 for a cake and
Since the photo was taken in £1000 for hair and make-up. I recall the story
2006, ‘E’ has grown a tiny bit. And of a lunch
so it was that she came to my Anyone tempted to spend the hosted by the
vestry hour recently with her deposit on a mortgage on their Queen Mother
ancé to talk about her plans for a big day would do well to at Clarence
church wedding later in the year. remember that a wedding is not House for The
As Ken (our church registrar) and an end in itself but rather the Queen. For the
I shared their excitement, I beginning of a new life. And for
chipped in with my stock of E’s ancé, a new life of being
Queen, a chance
cheerful stories of wedding cars nagged, henpecked, bossed
to relax. But as
being late, car crashes on the way around, told what to do, seeing she started to
to the church or hungover grooms money disappear through his pour herself a
throwing up outside the church. hands like water and having no second glass of
Fathers of brides-to-be, look away freedom to do all the things he wine, the Queen
now. The average wedding last has enjoyed in his former life. If Mother put her
year cost £29,870. That breaks it’s any consolation, I said to hand on top of
down to £11,100 for the reception him, having served in the Army the Queen’s
plus catering and drinks, £1,000 you will be used to obeying glass and said,
for owers, £2,500 for the orders. “No, Lilibet, you
photography and video, £1,300 for
the dress, and so on. It makes The wedding in Cana in Galilee
have to reign
this afternoon!”
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may have been an average the rst miracle he records in his
wedding. We have no names of the gospel. Indeed Cana is the rst
couple, no record of the speci c location for Christ’s life.
cringeworthy speeches that Cana is where it all begins to
inevitably follow the meal. The happen, a new beginning and not
whole thing would have gone just for the happy couple whoever
unrecorded in history had it not they were.
been for the fact that Jesus and his
disciples were invited, along with It was a village wedding so we can
Jesus’ mother. So for Jesus, best assume the spending was at the
behaviour then. I recall the story lower end of wedding budgets. It
of a lunch hosted by the Queen was not a country house or a posh
Mother at Clarence House for The hotel, no marquee on the lawn and
Queen. For the Queen, a chance to photographers from Hello
relax. But as she started to pour magazine but just farmers and
herself a second glass of wine, the shermen gathering to celebrate.
Queen Mother put her hand on top Until things went wrong. It’s
of the Queen’s glass and said, “No, probably why John remembers it;
Lilibet, you have to reign this by the time he writes down his
afternoon!” memories of Jesus, there had been
other weddings they had gone to,
And back in Cana, Jesus had to be to be sure, but it’s when things go
Jesus for the afternoon. What did wrong you remember them. I just
that mean? To John, it must have realised I forgot to tell E another Photo: unsplash.com
been important as what unfolds is cheerful story at our meeting, of
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fithe wedding I conducted where to marks out this last Christmas. But
save a bit of money the bride’s now we have a grown-up Jesus.
auntie made the wedding cake. For those turned o by the stable
And when it came to cutting the scene, we have a marriage feast.
cake, there was silence. Someone Dress, class or age do not matter.
whispered to me: was the inside Come as you are. All thanks to a
meant to be that shade of green? It love story and Jesus’ presence.
had even started to grow hairs. It Nobody is excluded from the
did not need to be cut; it needed a vintage promise of God and the
shave. wine of the new kingdom.
My favourite sermon from St John
But it was not the cake that was Chapter 2 was written almost 500
the problem in Cana. It was the years ago. It comes from St Peter’s,
wine, or lack of it. It had run out. Orkney. The sermon was
So Jesus orders the servants to rediscovered a few years ago in a
bring jars of water. Suddenly it cellar of old papers and published
was the best vintage wine being under the title “A Treading of
ladled out – 600 litres of it! Jesus Grapes” by the poet and writer
was being Jesus for the rst time George Mackay Brown. The
in his reign as Christ. Christ had people had just nished rebuilding
come to his people. their church, destroyed in a storm.
(Orkney Presbytery is still waiting
How often had these people been to give its approval for the
the butt of jokes by their a uent rebuilding.) Celebrating their new
city cousins, how often had they home, their new start, Father
been ignored by those who looked Halcrow describes the slow
down their noses at Cana – if they process by which the wine is
could even nd Cana on the map? made, and the table prepared for
Fishermen and farmers: hard the wedding feat in Cana. He
workers who had made sacri ces, preached the sermon on the
done their bit only to be second Sunday after Epiphany in
constantly put down, ordinary the year 1548. “Get ready your
people who through no fault of gifts, get ready your shoes for the
their own had never been able to journey. Princes, one and all, you
ful l their potential as children of are bidden to a wedding feast.”
God. Now they are the very rst to That is the message if you wince at
discover that Christ is Lord of the the commercialism of Valentine’s
Dance. Forget the big city; Cana is Day: a glorious new wine. And the
where it is all happening. For location of this party: everywhere
them, it was indeed a new – in your church, in your home.
beginning symbolised by new Lords and princes, the new wine,
wine, the best wine, and it was – the best wine and its for you! God
they could hardly believe it – for loves, God reigns: no overpriced
them. red roses required!
Get ready your
What do you remember about Revd Mike Ward is the minister of
gifts, get ready
Christmas 2021? It is only just Moreton. your shoes for
over a month ago, but already the journey.
some memories are fading. Every Princes, one
Christmas merges into every and all, you are
other Christmas unless, tragically bidden to a
for some, an illness or a death wedding feast.
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fiELIN WILLIAMS: SERVING IN IRELAND
A
fter some years working and ultimately, taste and see that
with Welsh speaking He is good.
students in Wales, Elin has
moved to the Republic of Ireland Moving from one Celtic nation to
where she is working with another I already feel a warmth
Christian Unions as a Sta Worker towards Ireland, it being so similar
for Galway and Limerick. She says, to Wales. However, I know I have a
“I love seeing students come to
know more about God, to see and
experience Him, and discover that
He is good.
I’m delighted that God has opened
the door for me to continue
working with students but now in
Galway, Limerick, Athlone and
Sligo.
The Christian Unions have such a
unique opportunity to reach peers
and friends and to give them a
beautiful chance to explore the
Christian faith for themselves. In
the midst of all of this, I love seeing
students come to know more of
God, to see and experience Him, Photo: Elin Williams;
ffcontinues to settle in to Galway
and to the work.
And then there's Eli…
to whom she has become engaged.
‘We are really looking forward to
getting married. Eli has been such
a blessing over this move and has
been patient through it all, even at
times when my 'drama-queeness'
was in full swing and I was crying
leaving Wales and turned to him
and said:
“Eli it's not raining, Wales is
crying because I'm leaving... "
(Unfortunately... when we arrived
in Ireland it was raining here too.
lot to learn about Ireland and what Was Ireland crying on my
makes the Irish... Irish! Our God is arrival?!)
a God of all the nations and I’m
excited to serve and witness here.’ I'm so grateful to God for Eli and
his support in this work, with the
Speaking of the time after her logistics and his listening ear. Eli
arrival she wrote how ‘God in His will move when we are married
providence placed me in the lovely later this month, having found
little village of Cregcarragh with suitable employment here.
cows and horses as my
'neighbours... Cregcarragh is about Ed. It is wonderful to hear how God
15/20 minutes from Galway and a has used a child of the Manse, and
very handy place to travel to Coleg y Bala in Christian witness to
Limerick, Sligo and Athlone. the student world.
Having left the land of my fathers,
the 'hiraeth' has a hold of me, but Any who are interested in
our great God holds tighter. supporting Elin in prayer or
Speaking of her Relay Worker through practical support are
(assistant), Elin mentions how invited to contact Christian Union
Molly is Galway's relay worker for Ireland ℅ either
this year. Molly has set aside a year Café Grace
to serve the CU in Galway and I'm 12–14 Elmwood Avenue
so glad to have her here with me. Belfast BT9 6AY
Molly is from Belfast but she is Tel. 02828 9066 7672
able to understand my Welshness or
a bit since she studied in Cardi Ulysses House
for three years. It's been such a 22–24 Foley Street
pleasure to meet with her weekly Dublin 1
to study the Bible, pray and think Tel. 003531 856 1821
together how best to encourage the
work here. It's been such a blessing
already to see her grow in her
under- standing and love for God.
Please pray for her as she
ffPUNDITS FOLLY
WHAT THE BUTLER SAW
“But while he was still a long way it on him. Put a ring on his nger
o , his father saw him and was and sandals on his feet. Bring the
lled with compassion for him; he fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have
ran to his son, threw his arms a feast and celebrate. For this son
around him and kissed him. of mine was dead and is alive
again; he was lost and is found.’
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I
have sinned against heaven and So they began to celebrate.
against you. I am no longer worthy
U
to be called your son.’ pstairs or Downstairs?
“But the father said to his servants, Eating breakfast with Photo: The Prodigal Son by Sir
John Everett Millais;
‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey tate.org.uk
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fior making the breakfast with Mrs them expect the Father to hug the
Patmore in the servant’s son?
quarters?
Not a ‘Welcome home’ or even an
Serve or be served? 'I’ve missed you'. Instead, what
they saw was an enormous, bear-
Given the choice I suppose most hug. An instinctive act that said: 'I
people would pick owning a have missed you. I didn’t know
stately home to working in one, where you were. I thought you
but I wouldn’t altogether hate the would never come home. I
idea of being a butler or a wondered if you were dead. I love
‘Gentleman’s gentleman’. Serving you.'
a half decent employer wouldn’t
be the worst job in the world. In No wonder the master had to tell
fact, if your employer were them to celebrate! They were
decent, you’d probably come to completely dumbstruck. This was
respect, even to like him. And, if not what anyone would expect,
nothing else you’d eventually pick not the older brother, not the
up some juicy upper class gossip. servants, not the son.
In the story of the Prodigal Son His preprepared speech re ects
we sometimes miss the servants, that. He honestly thought that the
but they were there and they best the Father would do would
didn’t miss a thing. be to employ him. He never
imagined that the Father would
They were there when the son restore him, let alone love him. It
left. They saw their master turn was human logic at its nest. He
grey overnight. They watched him assumed that, at best, the Father
struggle to readjust the nances would draw on some dregs of
after division of the inheritance. compassion and give him a
They watched him try to come to chance to earn favour.
terms with the loss of a son. They
discussed him as he sat, waiting, And yet, Jesus wants us to
hoping against hope. understand God’s love like this:-
‘vast, unmeasured, boundless,
It would take a hard hearted free.’
servant not to feel pity for his
employer. Indeed one might well I don’t know if you played the
have turned against the wayward game ‘Mercy’ as a child. Perhaps The father
son for the damage he had done to you knew it as ‘Peanuts’ or
family life on that estate. possibly by another name
was not
altogether? The game requires
thinking
So when the son returns, lthy you to interlink your ngers with about past or
and muttering something about an opponent and then trying to future, sins or
‘becoming a hired hand’, the bend their ngers back until the forgiveness,
servants will have given thought person you’re playing cries malice or
to what might happen next. ‘Mercy’ before the person you’re mercy. He
playing does the same to you. was thinking,
They might have expected harsh ‘here is my
words. They could have predicted When thinking about this son whom I
a reconciliation. But did any of parable, and this moment in this love’
parable, I think everybody
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flThe Treasury
incorporating Glad Tidings
eventually cries, ‘Mercy!’, Either And our theology, however well
morally, or theologically, or thought out it is, breaks down English publication of the
logically, everyone eventually when we fail to understand this. Presbyterian Church of Wales.
says, ‘Mercy! You’re pushing too Published monthly
far, you’re bending the story to I really wonder if we can Price 50p
breaking point. God cannot love overstate what Jesus is telling us
us like this’. Maybe we think it is in this parable. I wonder if, until Editor: Revd Iain B Hodgins,
not becoming of God to love like we see it for ourself in heaven, 1a Chestnut Grove, Hawarden
CH5 3HD
this. Or it is not theologically we will ever really grasp quite
appropriate to describe God like how amazing this story actually iain.hodgins@ebcpcw.cymru
this. Or, for whatever reason, it is is. Over Lockdown I heard the
not sensible to tell people of a comedian Harry Hill joke that he Unless otherwise stated the
views expressed are those of
God like this. had ‘completed Net ix’. It was the individual contributor and
funny because the idea with are not necessarily the view of
And yet, Jesus is the perfect Net ix is that there’s more hours the General Assembly or the
storyteller and he tells of a God of programming than hours in Editor.
like this. an average persons life. You can’t Enquires about subscriptions
‘complete’ it! Well, I don’t think and non-editorial matters
Because in the story, nobody was I’ll ever ‘complete’ this parable. should be addressed to:
counting on the elemental desire In fact I don’t think I’m meant
The Presbyterian Church of
of a Father to see his son. The to. I think this is less like a Wales, Tabernacle Chapel, 81
incredible bond between father streaming service and more like Heol Merthyr,
and son that could not be a game like Snake or Candy Caerdydd
severed. The father was not Crush where I’m meant to spend CF14 1DD
thinking about past or future, more and more time, getting
sins or forgiveness, malice or better and better scores but
mercy. He was thinking, here is never with any hope of getting
my son whom I love. the, High Score. It’s just too
wonderful.
And so he has to tell them to
celebrate. And once he does, Instead my job, and yours, is to
they do! learn to live like the servants.
Consider What ‘the Butler Saw' -
They eat and drink and dress in a father yearn, a prodigal return,
best clothes. They slap the son a family reunion!
on the back and roar approval as
the chef roasts the meat. The Look around Wales today. How
wine ows, the music plays. desperately the prodigals need
Everything they have is invested to come home. Pray. See the new
in celebrating the return, the prodigal come in. Feel the joy of
resurrection of the son. the father. And then begin,
unbidden, to celebrate a heart
The only way to explain this, is returned to God.
that the Father longs above all,
to be united with his children. Revd Jonathan Hodgins
Those who have wandered away,
those who have stormed o ,
those who have stayed dutifully
by his side, even as they long for
the things of the world. The
Father wants them all back.
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