St Paul's Church Colwyn Bay events

Aled Mission Area * Church in Wales * Dewi Sant * Christ Church Bryn-y-Maen

FEBRUARY 2026

ASH WEDNESDAY February 18th

10.00 am Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes at St Paul's.

FRIDAYS DURING LENT

11.00 am Dewi Sant (coffee 10.30) A pilgrimage across Wales (from Pancakes to Palm Crosses)

CHORAL EVENSONG

St Paul's 5.30pm beginning Sunday 15th February (monthly)

MESSY CHURCH

3pm-5pm in Dewi Sant February 1st and 22nd.

TEA TOGETHER

2-4pm Dewi Sant Wednesday 25th February friendship, quiz, refreshments

CRAFT AFTERNOON

planned for 1st Wednesday of each month

2-4pm Dewi Sant

Bring your own craft - or join in

NOVEMBER 2025

THE ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY SERVICE will be held at St Paul’s Church on Sunday November 9th at 9.45am when we welcome our uniformed organisations and civic dignitaries. The service will be followed by a parade to the War Memorial for the Two Minutes Silence and the laying of wreaths.

There will also be a service to observe the two minutes silence on November 11th at 10.55am at the War Memorial.

We are so grateful to the numerous individuals and organisations who have worked tirelessly, these past few months, to knit and crochet poppies for St Paul’s Poppy Cascade – and to the dedicated team who have attached all the poppies to the cascade. This has been an amazing project – embraced ecumenically and by many in the community.

We look forward to seeing the finished result at the beginning of November.

Gill has compiled a quiz to help fundraise towards the cost of the installation of the Cascade, available in our churches - £2.

SUNDAY – NOVEMBER 2nd – 3pm.

The annual Service of Thanksgiving to Remember those we have loved and who have died will take place at St Paul’s on November 2nd. A reflective service of hymns, music, readings and prayers. As the name of your loved one is read out, you have the opportunity to come forward and light a candle in their memory. If you wish a loved one to be remembered at the service, please add their name to the list at the back of church or email me.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

HOLYWELL BRASS BAND IN CONCERT!

St Paul’s Church

‘In REMEMBRANCE of them’

Saturday November 8th

7.30pm

Free entry – donations invited towards Holywell Band.

THANK YOU - HARVEST

Thank you to so many people from our congregation for their generosity towards our Harvest Appeal – from St Paul’s and Christ Church. An amazing amount of food was delivered to the Colwyn Bay Community Food Bank Hub which will be shared with those who are struggling at present.

100 CLUB October Winners: Alison and Graham Drew £25

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED, PLEASE, for various projects we have leading up to Christmas. AUTUMN PROJECT – TEAMS4U SHOEBOX APPEAL

distributing boxes to vulnerable children in Ukraine, Bosnia, Romania. We are looking for empty shoe boxes to cover – and would be most grateful if people could please help provide gifts to fill the boxes. Suggestions from Teams4U are: Toothbrush, hairbrush / comb; facecloth and soap; stationery / pencils /paper; craft pack; gloves / hat / scarf; soft toy; ball; game; puzzle; bubbles. There will be collection points at the font in both St Paul’s and Christ Church. If you prefer to give a cash donation for us to purchase what is needed, that is also most acceptable. Thank you.

St PAUL’S CHRISTMAS FAIR SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22nd 10am – 2pm Many stalls from numerous organisations will be present – a real community event. Please advertise this and come and join us: craft stalls, home produce, gifts, tombola, raffles and lots more. Refreshments served. If you are able to make cakes for the event – please let us know.

Wendy is looking for bottles of all varieties for a Bottle Stall.

Please bring them to church and leave in the Coffee Area.

Christ Church will be having a Tombola Stall – please see Carol if you are able to help. Thank you.

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS FOR HOME START

Again, this year, Aled Mission Area is going to make Christmas Hampers for families supported by Home Start. Each church has been asked to collect monetary donations

towards purchasing items, allowing uniformity in the boxes. All churches in the Mission Area are participating – and a small Diocesan Grant towards the hampers has been awarded.

There will be a ‘pot’ at the back of church in the coffee area during November for any monetary donations. Thank you. (Shavonne Erlandson is coordinating this on behalf of the MA)

MESSY CHURCH takes place in Dewi Sant on Sunday November 23rd between 3pm – 5pm. An afternoon of themed craft, bible story – and food! for all the family.

TEA TOGETHER will meet in Dewi Sant on Wednesday November 26th. Quizzes, chat, friendship, bingo, tea and cakes

‘FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT’ – Please join us on Advent Sunday, Sunday, November 30th at 5pm at Christ Church, Bryn y Maen, for an atmospheric service of music and readings for Advent. All welcome.

A comprehensive list of Christmas Services and Activities will be published at the end of the month to include our school and church Carol Services and Concerts.

OCTOBER NEWSLETTER 2025

DIOLCHGARWCH - HARVEST THANKSGIVING

As we enter October we enter into a beautiful season of the year, (except for Storm Amy), the time of Harvest. Fields that were once green and growing are now golden and full, and some have already been gathered in. The Harvest season reminds us of the rhythm of creation: sowing, growing, and reaping. It is a time to pause and give thanks for all that we have been given.

Harvest Thanksgiving has been a special celebration in many churches and communities in the United Kingdom since the early 1840’s, when the Rev’d Richard Hawker, a Cornish priest, held a special service of thanksgiving for the harvest. Traditionally, people brought the fruits of the earth — apples, wheat, and vegetables — to decorate the altar and the church. These gifts were not only symbols of God’s goodness but also reminders of our dependence on Him for every meal, every breath, and every blessing.

In 2025, we all take things for granted. We forget how much we truly have — food on our tables, roofs over our heads, friends and family to share life with. Harvest is a time to remind us to stop and say, “Thank you.” Thank you to God for the gifts of creation, for the people who work the land, and for the simple joys that fill our days.

When we say “thank you,” we acknowledge that everything we have is a gift, not something to be earned or owned, but something to be cherished and shared. This Harvest season, let us take time to give thanks, not just with our words, but with our lives. Let us be generous, kind, and mindful of those who have less. Let us remember that every loaf of bread, every drop of rain, and every act of love is a sign of God’s goodness. May this Harvest Thanksgiving be a time of joy, reflection, and deep gratitude for all that God has given us.

We hope to express our ‘thanksgiving’ in our gifts of non-perishable food stuffs and other necessary items that are to be donated to our local food bank. At both our Harvest services:

Sunday October 5th 10.30am St Paul’s

Sunday October 12th 9am Christ Church

we would be grateful for gifts of non- perishable foods which will then be donated to the Colwyn Bay Community Food Bank, housed in the Institute Building on Rhiw Road – the Colwyn Bay Community Hwb. Our food banks are again seeing a continued rise in the number of people who use them.

TEAMS4U SHOEBOX APPEAL

For a number of years, we have supported the annual Teams4U Shoebox Appeal – distributing boxes to vulnerable children and families through schools, nurseries, hospitals and orphanages in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Bosnia and Romania. Can you please help? We are looking for empty shoe boxes to cover – and would be most grateful if people could please help provide gifts to fill the boxes.

Suggestions from Teams4U are: Toothbrush and toothpaste; hairbrush / comb; facecloth and soap; stationery / pens/ pencils /paper; stationery pack; craft pack; gloves / hat / scarf. Suggested small gifts: Soft toy; ball; game; puzzle; bubbles;

harmonica; recorder.

There will be collection points at the font in both St Paul’s and Christ Church. If you prefer to give a cash donation for us to purchase what is needed, that is also most acceptable. Thank you for your support.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Afternoon Tea to celebrate International Day of Older Persons – over fifty attended – and it was lovely to see such a cross section of the community present. Well done, Mark, and his team.

POPPY CASCADE

A message from Gill Wilkinson:

The poppy project is progressing well, THANK YOU to everyone who has knitted, crocheted or sewn – it’s going to look fantastic. We are now adding poppies to the final part of the cascade and ask for anyone who can spare some time to sew the poppies on to the net to please come along and help!

In addition to the Wednesday sewers at Open Church and the Craft Group, Gill will be in St Paul’s on October 11th and 25th from 10am – 3pm. PLEASE come and join us and help us bring this project together.

As part of our REMEMBRANCE Commemorations, we are delighted to welcome Holywell Brass Band to give a concert at St Paul’s Church- ‘In Remembrance of Them’ – Saturday November 8th – 7.30pm. FREE entry – donations towards Holywell Brass Band.

CRAFT CLUB

will meet in St Paul’s Church on Monday October 13th between 2pm and 4pm.

Bring along your craft and share your knowledge. Many people are making poppies to add to our Cascade (and sewing them on to the nets). Knitting – Crochet – Card Making – what craft do you do that can be shared with others? Come along and learn a new skill. All welcome – with your craft!

TEA TOGETHER

‘Tea Together’ will be held in Dewi Sant Wednesday

October 29th between 2pm and 4pm. All are welcome to come along for a time of friendship, fellowship, tea and cakes – quiz and bingo!

THANK YOU to all who supported us on our Moonlight Sponsored Walk last month. A total of £400 was raised towards St David’s Hospice. Diolch - Christine and Louise.

100 CLUB September Winners:

Judith Jones - £100 Jill Cooper - £50 Christina Sleigh - £25

SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER 2025

The Nicene Creed is one of the foundational statements of Christian belief, shared across most Christian traditions. We join in this statement of our faith at every Eucharist. It was first agreed at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, celebrating its 1700 anniversary this year. In 325, a gathering of bishops from across the Christian world were convened by the Emperor Constantine. The Council sought to resolve disputes about the identity of Jesus Christ and affirmed that he is “of one being with the Father”. The Creed was expanded in its present form at the First Council of Constantinople in AD 381. It sets out the Church’s faith in the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and has been recited in Christian worship down the centuries as a shared declaration of belief, unity and hope.

The Church of England has Commissioned We Believe: Exploring the Nicene Creed, inviting readers to mark 1700 years since the Nicene Creed’s original development, and published by Church House Publishing, the booklet explores the theological depth and contemporary relevance of the Nicene Creed – one of the most enduring and universal expressions of Christian faith. Through daily Scripture passages, prayers and prompts for reflection, the booklet encourages individuals and communities to explore what it means to say “we believe” in the context of today’s world. Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, Chair of the Liturgical Commission, said: “The Nicene Creed has been a cornerstone of Christian belief for 1700 years – a statement of faith that connects us not only to one another, but also to generations before us as well as to Christians across the world today.’

The Greatest Story Ever Told. The Big Church Read brings people together to read the same book at the same time. Over five sessions, we will read a chapter from the book, then watch a short video from Bear Grylls and Andrew Ollerton (from the Bible Society) before we reflect and explore the themes.

The five-chapter book invites us into the drama of Jesus’ life like never before. With gripping storytelling and raw honesty, Bear Grylls retells the gospel through the eyes of those who knew Jesus best; his mother Mary, Thomas,

Simon Peter, John and Mary Magdalene. Their first-hand encounters bring the story to life with intensity, warmth, and deep reverence. At the heart of it all are Jesus’ own words, taken directly from the Bible, letting the greatest story ever told speak for itself. If you are interested – please let the Vicar know. The book can be purchased on Amazon – or if a few of us wish to join the read, we can have a group discount from ‘The Big Church Read’!

The United Nations International Day of Older People 2025 is being celebrated to raise awareness of opportunities and the challenges that are being faced by an ageing population.

This year’s theme is about “Building Belonging.” As we get older, staying connected remains important just as it did when we were younger. However, there are certain aspects of life, like retirement, health decline, and loss of a partner, that bring about new challenges and can affect our well-being. This year, our Pastoral Chaplain Mark Cooke is planning an

Afternoon Tea at St Paul’s, Colwyn Bay

Saturday, the 27th September 2 pm-4 pm.

There will be entertainment throughout the afternoon, where hopefully everyone can enjoy each other’s company and, more importantly, make meaningful social connections, and learn about what is taking place in the Mission Area to support Older People’s Well-being. So please do come and support this FREE event, you never know, you might make a new friend.

All welcome – croeso i bawb.

THANK YOU for your support at our recent Afternoon Tea – a total of £379.17 has been sent to the Breast Cancer Now Charity.

POPPY CASCADE

A message from Gill Wilkinson:

The poppy project is progressing well, THANK YOU to everyone who has knitted, crocheted or sewn – it’s going to look fantastic.

If we are going to be ready to display it from the tower for Remembrance Sunday, we really need some help to sew the poppies to the net!

In addition to the Wednesday sewers at Open Church and the Craft Group, we are proposing to meet on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays in September and October from 10am – 3pm.

(September 13th and 27th; October 11th and 25th ). PLEASE come and join us and help us bring this project together - the kettle will be on. All you need to bring is a darning needle and plenty of enthusiasm! Thank you.

100 CLUB is calling for new members!

St Paul’s 100 Club – a monthly draw with a £25 prize each month – and each quarter there is a chance to win £100 or £50. To be part of this - it is £60 per year – or you can set up a Standing Order for £5 pcm or £15 a quarter – please see the Vicar for further details.

July winner: £25 Dawn Evison August winner: £25 Viv Clutton

CONGRATULATIONS

Baptism:

Grace Mia Eastham-Jones and Chase Jaxon James Shacklady-Arraiz, baptised at St Paul’s Church on August 17th.

Olivia Joan Lloyd Lewis, baptised at Christ Church,

Bryn y Maen on August 24th.

Marriage:

Ioan Jones and Erin Fflur Williams, whose marriage took place at Christ Church, Bryn y Maen on August 30th.

And in addition, to Erin Fflur for winning the prestigious and coveted Gwobr Goffa David Ellis - Y Rhuban Glas at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham last month. Llongyfarchiadau.

A very big THANK YOU to Emma and all the team who put on a fantastic Music Theatre Week for 44 children at the beginning of August. The returned evaluation forms show how much the children enjoyed their experience.

CRAFT CLUB

will meet in St Paul’s Church (please note change of venue) on Monday September 8th between 2pm and 4pm. Bring along your craft and share your knowledge. Many people are making poppies to add to our Cascade (and sewing them on to the nets). Knitting – Crochet – Card Making – what craft do you do that can be shared with others? Come along and learn a new skill. All welcome – with your craft!

TEA TOGETHER

‘Tea Together’ will be held in Dewi Sant Wednesday

September 24th between 2pm and 4pm. All are welcome to come along for a time of friendship, fellowship, tea and cakes – quiz and bingo!

ADVANCE NOTICE

Sunday October 5th Harvest St Paul’s and Harvest Lunch

Sunday October 12th Harvest Christ Church

Sunday November 2nd Remembering those whom

we have Lost - St Paul’s Church 3pm

Sunday November 9th Remembrance Sunday

Saturday November 22nd Christmas Fair 10am – 2pm

Sunday November 30th Advent Sunday

Monday December 8th St Paul’s Carol Concert

ST PAUL’S CHURCH and EGLWYS DEWI SANT, COLWYN BAY

CHRIST CHURCH, BRYN Y MAEN

JULY NEWSLETTER 2025

How many of you have heard of Cursillo? It is a movement within the church, originating in Spain, that encourages and supports Christians in their faith. ‘Cursillo’ is a Spanish word which translates as ‘short course’ and is a way of empowering Christians to grow through prayer, study and reflection.

Cursillo was brought to the United Kingdom in 1981, by an American who was serving his curacy in Holyhead. He organised for a group from Dallas, Texas, to come over to put on a three-day course here in Wales and in the Diocese of Gloucester. Over the next few years, Canon Hywyn Jones (Rector of Holyhead at the time) and his wife Valerie were instrumental in promoting this throughout the United Kingdom.

After attending a course – the prayer, study and fellowship continues with regular get togethers or ‘Ultreyas’ of local Christians for continued growth and spiritual development. There will be an Ultreya / Eucharist at St Paul’s on Saturday July 12th at 12 noon followed by refreshments. All welcome.

Would you like to participate in The Big Church Read in October? The Greatest Story Ever Told. The Big Church Read brings people together to read the same book at the same time. Over five sessions, we will read a chapter from the book, then watch a short video from Bear Grylls and Andrew Ollerton (from the Bible Society) before we reflect and explore the themes.

If you are interested – please let the Vicar know.

The book can be purchased on Amazon – or if a few of us wish to join the read, we can have a group discount from ‘The Big Church Read’!

Also available on kindle and to listen to on Audible.

POPPY CASCADE

The knitting and crocheting of poppies has become quite an industry, with people from all walks of life, near and far, making poppies. It is excellent outreach. We are still in need of hundreds more to make an impact! – patterns are available in both churches - and help would be gratefully received to attach the poppies on to the nets. There is a group of ladies that visit Open Church at St Paul’s each Wednesday to help sew the poppies on - if you can help please let Lousie or Gill know.

COLWYN BAY CHURCHES COMMITTEE

Here at St Paul’s we are looking for additional members of our church committee – we meet six times a year, and are responsible for the mission of the church as well as the everyday administration, maintenance and finance. Do you have talents and time to share to help us?

100 CLUB is calling for new members!

June winners: £100 Wendy Milton; £50 Louise Hughes Jones; £25 Christine Sleigh

MISSION AREA APPOINTMENT

Bishop Gregory has announced the appointment of the Rev’d Noel McGarrigle, currently serving in Helsby in the Chester Diocese, to be a priest within the Aled Mission Area, with pastoral responsibility for Abergele, Pensarn and St George.

The date of his licensing will be announced in due course.

ARCHDEACON’S VISITATION

Archdeacon Andy Grimwood invites all Mission Area Clergy and wardens, local church wardens and licensed lay minsters to a visitation on Wednesday July 23rd at 6.30pm at St Margaret’s Church, Bodelwyddan.

MESSY CHURCH this month will be a BIG Messy Church Mission Area Event. – Sunday July 6th 4pm – 6pm at St George’s Church, Rhos on Sea.

Craft, worship and food.

CRAFT CLUB will meet in St Paul’s Church (please note change of venue) on Monday July 14th h between 2pm and 4pm. Bring along your craft and share your knowledge. Many people are making poppies to add to our Cascade (and sewing them on to the nets). Knitting – Crochet – Card Making – what craft do you do that can be shared with others? Come along and learn a new skill. All welcome – with your craft!

TEA TOGETHER will be held in Dewi Sant Wednesday July 30th between 2pm and 4pm. All are welcome to come along for a time of friendship, fellowship, tea and cakes – quiz and bingo!

The Big Picnic takes place in St Paul’s grounds on Saturday August 2nd (indoors if wet), from 10am – 4pm.

A true commnity day of entertaiment, music, Magic, Punch and Judy and more. There will be a variety of stalls. We will have a cake stall and any donations gratefully received, especially individual cakes / tray bakes that can be purchased and eaten straight away! Thank you.

is almost here! A week of Music and Drama for children aged 7 to 12 taking place in St Paul’s August 4th – 8th, with a performance on Friday August 8th at 5pm. If you know of anyone who would be interested, there are a few places left – registration needs to be made as soon as possible: SummerMusicalStPauls@gmail.com

ADVANCE NOTICE

Wednesday October 1st

International Day for Older Persons

Afternoon Tea and Entertainment in St Paul’s Church

2pm – 4pm

Sunday November 2nd

Remembering those whom we have loved

St Paul’s Church 3pm

Sunday November 9th

Remembrance Sunday

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the Mission Area will take place on Wednesday June 18th in St George’s Church, Rhos on Sea at 7pm.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK - THANK YOU

This year, as Christian Aid celebrates 80 years of hope – Louise worked hard to raise funds via big breakfasts, cake stall, envelopes – and along with the e envelope (including Gift Aid) we have raised a grand total of £1347.25.

Thank you to everyone who supported us this year.

SIOE BRYN Y MAEN – THANK YOU to all who donated, supported and helped with the stall – a total of £220 was made towards Church Funds.

100 CLUB

CRAFT CLUB

will meet in Dewi Sant on Monday June 9th between 2pm and 4pm. Bring along your craft and share your knowledge. Many people are making poppies to add to our Cascade. Knitting – Crochet – Card Making – what craft do you do that can be shared with others? Come along and learn a new skill. All welcome – with your craft!

TEA TOGETHER

‘Tea Together’ will be held in Dewi Sant Wednesday June 25th between 2pm and 4pm. All are welcome to come along for a time of friendship, fellowship, tea and cakes – quiz and bingo!

ORGAN RECITAL – IAN TRACEY LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS.

Saturday June 28th at 7pm at St Paul’s Church. Professor Ian Tracy is one of Britain's best known organists! Please advertise this widely. Tickets: £10

MESSY CHURCH will take place in Dewi Sant on Sunday June 29th from 3pm – 5pm. A special afternoon of craft, bible story and food for all the family.

RETIREMENT AND APPOINTMENT

After five years, Clive Myres steps down as leader of Aled Mission Area and his successor is the Revd Gareth Erlandson. Gareth will be commissioned at St Cynbryd’s, Llandulas at 6pm on Thursday June 26th, during Food and Faith.

ANNIVERSARIES

The Very Revd Nigel Williams and Canon Rex Matthias are celebrating an Anniversary this month: 30 years since Nigel was ordained Deacon and 30 years since Rex was ordained Priest. During their ministry, have both served in various churches within the Aled Mission Area and wish to extend a warm invitation to all who know them to celebrate with them at St Asaph Cathedral at 7pm on Tuesday June 24th.

The Venerable Malcolm Squires celebrates his 50th Anniversary to the priesthood on June 29th. There will be a special Eucharis at St Paul’s Church on Sunday June 29th at 10.30am. The preacher at the service will be the Right Revd. Nigel Stock, former bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Bishop at Lambeth and Bishop to the Forces.

GOSPER – WELSH EVENSONG

The Aled Mission Area will be holding.a Welsh Evensong – Ardd Genhadod Bydd yr holl addoliadau Cymraeg in Eglwsy Dewi Sant, Colwyn. Bay on Sunday July 6th at 4pm. Croeso i bawb.

MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Rachel Cutler (St Paul’s Choir) and her daughter Anna are walking 14 miles for Macmillan on June 28th 2025. They have challenged themselves to take on the Yorkshire Dales Mighty Hike to help raise money for people living with cancer. They would be so grateful if you could help by sponsoring them. Any donations would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!! You can support Rachel via her Just Giving Page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/MHYD5H0019?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=015

Rachel says: you get to the part when it adds a donation to Just giving there's a blue box above the confirm donation button. In the box is Enter custom amount. Click on this and set to 0. It will amend to a zero contribution to Just giving so you can then click confirm donation.

Thank you for your support.

Future dates:

Saturday August 2nd The Big Picnic, St Paul’s

Monday August 4th – August 8th

Music Week – Matilda

Sunday September 7th MA Confirmation -Venue tbc