To the friends at Llanishen,

As I began to write this letter I had a song running around in my head – I wonder if you remember it? It was by a band called the Byrds ( they were around in the late 60s - that’s showing my age!)– and it began with the lyrics ‘to everything turn, turn, turn, there is a season – turn, turn, turn , and a time for every purpose under heaven ‘. Based on the reading from Ecclesiastes Ch 3, it reminded me that this year, as we enter another season and move from Summer to Autumn, we are also entering another season in the life of the Methodist Circuit in Cardiff and Caerphilly.

Following on from the circuit review, that has been taking place over the past two years, the circuit begins this new church year reshaped; comprising of three clusters and with a team of ministers for each cluster. We along with five other churches form ‘cluster 2’ to be renamed later in the year! The other churches within our cluster are Christ church URC, Copleston Road, Whitchurch, Wesley Caerphilly and Taffs Well.

So what does this mean in reality for each of the churches who are part of our cluster?

The team of ministers operating across the six churches are, Rev Sue O’Hare, Rev John Rowe and myself, Deacon Liz Rowe. We will be supporting and encouraging each of the churches within the group although each church

will have a named minister who is the first point of pastoral contact; for Llanishen this will be myself. The response to any pastoral request will be dealt with by whoever is deemed, by the team of ministers, to be the most appropriate.

It is hoped that over the coming months we will, as a cluster, begin to get to know each other a little better through; coming together for evening worship, supporting events at other churches, finding ways to work together on different projects, and through shared social events.

To begin our journey together over a hundred folk, from the six churches of our cluster, gathered together at Caerphilly for a celebratory tea and act of worship the highlight of which was to share together in the Lord’s supper – it truly was a very special celebration.

And so, as we begin this time of change, this new season in the life of our church let us recall the words of the closing hymn we sang, as we celebrated the beginning of our journey together.

We are pilgrims on a journey, And companions on the road We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load.

May God Bless us all with his presence, in the coming days and months.

Liz