Saint Davids Uniting Church - Inauguration 5th January 2002

Saint David's Uniting Church

Gelliwastad Road, Pontypridd

Baptist, Presbyterian and United Reformed Church

Eglwys Undebol Dewi Sant

St. David's Uniting Church

Inauguration service on 5th January 2002

This was a very special day for our new church. Many people gathered together for a service of inauguration. The service began in United Church building and was led by the Rev. David Smith who is a former minister of St. David's Presbyterian Church and who was also involved in the many discussions and negotiations that brought our two churches together. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Eric Blakebrough, Pastor Emeritus of the John Bunyan Baptist Church, Kingston-upon-Thames and Chairperson of the Kaleidoscope Project.

Members of the two churches coming together were invited to write their names on cards which were collected in different baskets before we all crossed the road to the St. David's building. Here, a lot of the 'business' took place and the new church was recognised by the three denominations: Baptist, Presbyterian and URC. The Rev. Dr. Mary Cotes was inducted as the minister of the new church. Gifts were brought forward by the many church groups that are active in our church life. A new banner was installed and at this stage the baskets of name cards were brought forward and the cards were all mingled in one large basket. Greetings were brought to the new church by the various local church denominational bodies, the leader of Cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf and also a variety of community projects with which the church is involved.

The whole event was rounded off with a marvelous tea!

On Sunday, many people gathered to worship God again and we had the privilege and delight of accepting our first new members, Iestyn and Liz Henson, into the new church.

Church banner

New church banner

David Smith and Mary Cotes

Rev. David Smith who presided at the service and Rev. Dr. Mary Cotes, minister of St. David's Uniting Church.

Rev. Peter Noble and Mr Phil George

Rev. Peter Noble, Moderator of the URC, Synod of Wales and Mr. Phil George, elder of Canton Uniting Church who played a valuable role in uniting the two churches together.

Service of Inauguration

for

St David’s Uniting Church

Gelliwastad Road, Pontypridd

uniting

Pontypridd United Church

and

St David’s Presbyterian Church

held on

Saturday 5th January 2002

Commencing at 2.30pm

The Service commences in Pontypridd United Church Building.

THE OPENING

THE INTRODUCTION

THE CALL TO WORSHIP.

HYMN: Thy hand, O God, has guided

OPENING PRAYERS.

THE WORD

READINGS: Isaiah 25:6-9; Mark 10:32-45.

HYMN: Christ is the King! O friends rejoice;

ADDRESS.

HYMN: I the Lord of sea and sky,

THE NAME CARDS. These are written by members of St. David’s and United Church. They are collected as the entire congregation leaves the United Church building and crosses the road into St. David’s building.

The Service continues in St. David’s Church Building.

THE RECOGNITION

HYMN: Christ is made the sure foundation,

THE STATEMENT OF INTENT.

THE HISTORY OF THE FORMATION OF ST. DAVID’S UNITING CHURCH.

RECOGNITION - by the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

RECOGNITION - by the Presbyterian Church of Wales:

The Presbyterian Church of Wales, having given its blessing and approval to the negotiations and Scheme of Union which have brought into being this Joint Church, St. David’s Uniting Church, now recognises this Joint Church, its members, elders and minister as being within the Glamorgan Presbytery East.

RECOGNITION - by the United Reformed Church:

The United Reformed Church, having given its blessing and approval to the negotiations and Scheme of Union which have brought into being this Joint Church, St. David’s Uniting Church, now recognises its members, elders and minister as being within the South Wales District Council of the United Reformed Church.

RESPONSE by all members of the Joint Church to questions posed by the Presiding Minister:

Members of St. David’s Uniting Church, do you accept with thanksgiving the recognition given us today by the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Presbyterian Church of Wales and the United Reformed Church?

WE DO.

Do you confess anew your faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

WE DO.

Do you promise, depending on God’s grace, to follow the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ, to serve his kingdom on earth, to be faithful to the Church, to seek to build up its fellowship as the people of God in this place, and to share in its work and mission?

WE DO.

QUESTIONS to the elders by the Presiding Minister:

Will you, the elders of this church, promise by God’s grace to perform your duties faithfully and in accordance with the principles and practices of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Presbyterian Church of Wales and the United Reformed Church?

WE WILL.

Will you strive, to the glory of God, for the building up of Christ’s Church and for the work of God’s Kingdom in the world?

WE WILL.

SYMBOLS representing different groups within the life of the Church are offered.

The name baskets are joined and the new banner is installed.

ROUND: Gloria! Gloria!

PRAYER.

THE INDUCTION OF THE MINISTER:

One of the church secretaries says to the Regional Minister:

On behalf of the members of St. David’s Uniting Church, I present Mary to you. Believing that we are guided by the Spirit of God, we ask you to induct her to the pastorate of this new church.

The Induction continues as follows. To the minister:

My sister, seeing that we are about to appoint you to this charge, and that you have been called by God to this ministry, I ask you in his name: do you believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and do you confess Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord?

I DO.

As you serve among this church family will you be committed to giving to its members and receiving from them? Will you obey the call to lead this fellowship whilst continuing to follow our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Head of the Church?

BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WILL.

To the members:

My sisters and brothers, do you as members of this new church acknowledge and receive Mary as your minister?

WE DO.

To representatives of the wider church and community:

As representatives of the wider church and community, do you support this new chapter in the life of church and minister?

WE DO.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I now declare that Mary has been inducted to the pastorate of this new Church and congregation, to work with the members in the ministry to which Christ has called them all.

PRAYER

HYMN: Fe chwythodd yr awel ar Gymru drachefn,

GREETINGS FROM THE WIDER CHURCH AND COMMUNITY.

Greetings are offered by representatives of the wider church, and local community groups. Each representative says:

I bring greetings on behalf of ...

THE CLOSE

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

HYMN: Love Divine, all loves excelling,

THE GRACE.

THE PEACE:

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

AND ALSO WITH YOU.

There will be a retiring collection for Bite for the Nite.

Thanks to all those who have taken part in the service, especially:

Rev. David Smith – Presiding Minister.

Rev. Eric Blakebrough – Preacher.

Rev. Glaslyn Bowen – Presbyterian Church of Wales.

Rev. Peter Manson – Baptist Union of Great Britain

Rev. Peter Noble – United Reformed Church.

Mr. Phil George.

Mr. Jonathan Gulliford – Organist.

Unedig Music Group.

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This web site was created with WebExpress version 3.0 on March 20th 2005.
Website Copyright (C) 2005 Saint David's Uniting Church

	Saint David's Uniting Church Gelliwastad Road, Pontypridd Baptist, Presbyterian and United Reformed Church Eglwys Undebol Dewi Sant
	St. David's Uniting Church Inauguration service on 5th January 2002 This was a very special day for our new church. Many people gathered together for a service of inauguration. The service began in United Church building and was led by the Rev. David Smith who is a former minister of St. David's Presbyterian Church and who was also involved in the many discussions and negotiations that brought our two churches together. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Eric Blakebrough, Pastor Emeritus of the John Bunyan Baptist Church, Kingston-upon-Thames and Chairperson of the Kaleidoscope Project. Members of the two churches coming together were invited to write their names on cards which were collected in different baskets before we all crossed the road to the St. David's building. Here, a lot of the 'business' took place and the new church was recognised by the three denominations: Baptist, Presbyterian and URC. The Rev. Dr. Mary Cotes was inducted as the minister of the new church. Gifts were brought forward by the many church groups that are active in our church life. A new banner was installed and at this stage the baskets of name cards were brought forward and the cards were all mingled in one large basket. Greetings were brought to the new church by the various local church denominational bodies, the leader of Cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf and also a variety of community projects with which the church is involved. The whole event was rounded off with a marvelous tea! On Sunday, many people gathered to worship God again and we had the privilege and delight of accepting our first new members, Iestyn and Liz Henson, into the new church. New church banner Rev. David Smith who presided at the service and Rev. Dr. Mary Cotes, minister of St. David's Uniting Church. Rev. Peter Noble, Moderator of the URC, Synod of Wales and Mr. Phil George, elder of Canton Uniting Church who played a valuable role in uniting the two churches together. Service of Inauguration for St David’s Uniting Church Gelliwastad Road, Pontypridd uniting Pontypridd United Church and St David’s Presbyterian Church held on Saturday 5th January 2002 Commencing at 2.30pm The Service commences in Pontypridd United Church Building. THE OPENING THE INTRODUCTION THE CALL TO WORSHIP. HYMN: Thy hand, O God, has guided OPENING PRAYERS. THE WORD READINGS: Isaiah 25:6-9; Mark 10:32-45. HYMN: Christ is the King! O friends rejoice; ADDRESS. HYMN: I the Lord of sea and sky, THE NAME CARDS. These are written by members of St. David’s and United Church. They are collected as the entire congregation leaves the United Church building and crosses the road into St. David’s building. The Service continues in St. David’s Church Building. THE RECOGNITION HYMN: Christ is made the sure foundation, THE STATEMENT OF INTENT. THE HISTORY OF THE FORMATION OF ST. DAVID’S UNITING CHURCH. RECOGNITION - by the Baptist Union of Great Britain. RECOGNITION - by the Presbyterian Church of Wales: The Presbyterian Church of Wales, having given its blessing and approval to the negotiations and Scheme of Union which have brought into being this Joint Church, St. David’s Uniting Church, now recognises this Joint Church, its members, elders and minister as being within the Glamorgan Presbytery East. RECOGNITION - by the United Reformed Church: The United Reformed Church, having given its blessing and approval to the negotiations and Scheme of Union which have brought into being this Joint Church, St. David’s Uniting Church, now recognises its members, elders and minister as being within the South Wales District Council of the United Reformed Church. RESPONSE by all members of the Joint Church to questions posed by the Presiding Minister: Members of St. David’s Uniting Church, do you accept with thanksgiving the recognition given us today by the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Presbyterian Church of Wales and the United Reformed Church? WE DO. Do you confess anew your faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? WE DO. Do you promise, depending on God’s grace, to follow the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ, to serve his kingdom on earth, to be faithful to the Church, to seek to build up its fellowship as the people of God in this place, and to share in its work and mission? WE DO. QUESTIONS to the elders by the Presiding Minister: Will you, the elders of this church, promise by God’s grace to perform your duties faithfully and in accordance with the principles and practices of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Presbyterian Church of Wales and the United Reformed Church? WE WILL. Will you strive, to the glory of God, for the building up of Christ’s Church and for the work of God’s Kingdom in the world? WE WILL. SYMBOLS representing different groups within the life of the Church are offered. The name baskets are joined and the new banner is installed. ROUND: Gloria! Gloria! PRAYER. THE INDUCTION OF THE MINISTER: One of the church secretaries says to the Regional Minister: On behalf of the members of St. David’s Uniting Church, I present Mary to you. Believing that we are guided by the Spirit of God, we ask you to induct her to the pastorate of this new church. The Induction continues as follows. To the minister: My sister, seeing that we are about to appoint you to this charge, and that you have been called by God to this ministry, I ask you in his name: do you believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and do you confess Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord? I DO. As you serve among this church family will you be committed to giving to its members and receiving from them? Will you obey the call to lead this fellowship whilst continuing to follow our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Head of the Church? BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WILL. To the members: My sisters and brothers, do you as members of this new church acknowledge and receive Mary as your minister? WE DO. To representatives of the wider church and community: As representatives of the wider church and community, do you support this new chapter in the life of church and minister? WE DO. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I now declare that Mary has been inducted to the pastorate of this new Church and congregation, to work with the members in the ministry to which Christ has called them all. PRAYER HYMN: Fe chwythodd yr awel ar Gymru drachefn, GREETINGS FROM THE WIDER CHURCH AND COMMUNITY. Greetings are offered by representatives of the wider church, and local community groups. Each representative says: I bring greetings on behalf of ... THE CLOSE PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION HYMN: Love Divine, all loves excelling, THE GRACE. THE PEACE: The peace of the Lord be always with you. AND ALSO WITH YOU. There will be a retiring collection for Bite for the Nite. Thanks to all those who have taken part in the service, especially: Rev. David Smith – Presiding Minister. Rev. Eric Blakebrough – Preacher. Rev. Glaslyn Bowen – Presbyterian Church of Wales. Rev. Peter Manson – Baptist Union of Great Britain Rev. Peter Noble – United Reformed Church. Mr. Phil George. Mr. Jonathan Gulliford – Organist. Unedig Music Group.
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	This web site was created with WebExpress version 3.0 on March 20th 2005. Website Copyright (C) 2005 Saint David's Uniting Church