I'm sure you will join with me in thanking Neil Mansfield for managing to cut the hay meadow that "No Mow May" left in the church grounds.

I hope those of you who use the Devauden Calendar for 2022 have been enjoying August's photo of the bumble bee! As ever, entries for this year's Photography competition are welcome at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

One of the first social events for the ministry area is a BBQ on Sunday 14th it should be a lovely afternoon and an opportunity to meet people from the 12 churches that make up the new ministry area, so please do attend - especially if you've not been to an event at Penterry before! For catering purposes please let Rv. Philip know if you intend to come and any dietary requirements by 10th August (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) 

Thanks all
Gay

I think it is sensible that we don't open again until the infection rate is under 200 per 100,000 people in Monmouthshire - St James is quite a small building after all.

The next service we would normally hold would be Morning Prayer on Sunday 20th February at 9 - I will confirm if this service is happening on the Friday prior.

Lent this year starts on Wednesday 2nd March (so it's pancakes for St David!) and there will be a Lent Course running in the ministry area. I joined one last year and it was very interesting, and a good way to meet people from all over the ministry area. I'll circulate details once they are known - I'm not sure if this will be an on-line or in-person meeting - last year we could only meet online, but that did make getting there & parking so much easier...

In person services continue at St Arvans, but you must book a place with Maureen Stephens Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Text or telephone on: 07743 375474, Telephone: 01291 626377

Live service stream : https://www.facebook.com/pg/vicaragecello1/videos

Thanks all
Gay

As we are currently planning to hold the carol service on the village green at 6:30 pm on Christmas Eve. I've attached an electronic copy of the 'normal' order of service so you don't have to use a paper copy if you'd rather not. I do need some volunteers to do the 3 readings - there will be a PA system so you won't have to shout.

If you'd like to do a reading please let me know.

For the 9am service on Christmas Day you do need to reserve a place - so email Gay Kenington or call her on 650806 if you would like to attend - we need to make sure we keep to the rules on social distancing.

Services at churches in our group of 5:
Tuesday 21st December:
7 p.m. Nine Lessons & Carols at St Deiniol’s, Itton

Thursday 23rd December:
6 p.m. Nine Lessons & Carols at St Arvans
Friday 24th December:
11 p.m. Midnight Mass (The first Eucharist of Christmas) at St Arvans
This is the midnight celebration for all our parishes

Saturday 25th December: Christmas Day - The Nativity of Our Lord
9 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Carols at St James, Devauden
10.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Carols at St Deiniol’s, Itton

Sunday 26th December: First Sunday of Christmas (The Holy Family)
10 a.m. Sung Eucharist at St Arvans

And fyi, these are the services at St Peters Newchurch:
1. Sunday 19th December - this coming Sunday - at 3.30 we will be holding outside carol singing at the church gate, where there is a Christmas tree. We hope to sing a few carols there and then following Herbie (our new to us donkey) up to the church singing - yes you have guessed it - Little Donkey. Depending on numbers and Covid requirements we will go into church [face coverings required at this point] where we will sing a couple more carols and have a Bible reading, some prayers and Blessing followed by mulled wine and minced pies. If the numbers are high and of course if the weather is kind we will probably hold all aspects as mentioned above outside and not go into the church itself, mulled wine will then be served in the entrance drive.
2. Christmas Day 25th. December there will be a Holy Communion Service with carols at 10.00.
For more information please contact Rev. John Waters on email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Phone 07836585250
Please remember, there is no need to attend any service, your safety is the most important thing! Services from St Arvans are streamed on Facebook, but we won't be able to stream the carol service on the green. and - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Gay

You may have heard about 'Ministry Areas' - our parish is joining with others in and around Chepstow to form the Severn Wye Ministry Area. There are a number of public meetings where you can find out more about the proposed changes - the first one is next Tuesday, and if you can't get to any in person, the meetings will also be on-line. Your opinions will help shape the ministry area so please consider attending.

The change I have to announce is that the service planned for Sunday 21st November at 9am is CANCELLED - instead there is a service for the whole Severn Wye Ministry Area at St Marys in Chepstow at 10am. If you'd like to attend I think you have to contact Rev Phil Averay to reserve a place - he's on email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or you can telephone 620980.

Sadly we have decided to cancel the service planned for Sunday 7th November as too many of the PCC have other commitments that day so can't be at the service - and I'd rather cancel early than have someone turn up to a cold, dark & locked building.

We do still plan to have the following services in November:

Sunday 14th November - 10am An Act of Remembrance, on the village green
Sunday 21st November - 9am Morning Prayer in Church CANCELLED

Services at St Arvans are still being streamed on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pg/vicaragecello1/videos/?ref=page_internal but if you want to attend St Arvans in person, you need to book a place - contact details for Maureen Stephens are stephensmo56 at gmail.com

If you'd like a more interactive, but on-line service Rev John Waters, at Newchurch who kindly led a Cafe Service for us some years back does organise one, once a month. If you'd like to be invited do contact him on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I was asked about collections at a recent service - at present we are advised not to take cash collections, but we are set up on the Church in Wales Direct Giving scheme. This allows you to give an amount of your choice on a regular basis via a Direct Debit from your bank account. The Church in Wales collect any gift aid from HMRC and Daniel our treasurer gets one payment from them - simples! It is all on the Church in Wales website. and the link is:
https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/clergy-and-members/gift-direct/start-donating-your-church-or-parish/
and to make sure your donation goes to St James, when you get to the 'beneficiary' field type Devauden & 'St James Devauden Green' will appear! You can give a small amount every month, or set up a once-a-year payment or just a one-off payment - it's entirely up to you.

And - saving the best 'til last - the calendars are back! Do stop by Devauden Stores where Debs or Leigh will gladly turn £10 in cash into the 2022 calendar. If you can't get to Devauden stores, there are some available at Parkfield Stores in St Arvans where Leah will do the honours.

Thanks everyone - and apologies for cancelling the 7th November service. Stay safe!
Gay

The full set of services between now & Christmas is as follows.

Sunday 3rd October - 4pm Family Service in the Church
Sunday 17th October - 9am Morning Prayer in the Church

Sunday 7th November - 4pm Family Service in the Village Hall CANCELLED
Sunday 14th November - 10am An Act of Remembrance, on the village green
Sunday 21st November - 9am Morning Prayer in Church CANCELLED

Sunday 5th December - 4pm Family Service in Church
Sunday 19th December - 9am Morning Prayer in Church
Friday 24th December 6:30pm Carol Service (in church if we are allowed to sing indoors, on the green if we have to sing outside or socially distanced!)
Saturday 25th December 9am - Morning Prayer (or, possibly, Holy Communion!)

Services at St Arvans are still being streamed on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pg/vicaragecello1/videos/?ref=page_internal but if you want to attend St Arvans in person, you need to book a place - contact details for Maureen Stephens are This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Text or telephone on 626377.

We still have socially distanced chairs at St James, but you don't need to book - we can fit in 21 people / 7 household bubbles which is more than enough for our usual congregation.

If you'd like a more interactive, but on-line service Rev John Waters, at Newchurch who kindly led a Cafe Service for us some years back does organise one, once a month. If you'd like to be invited do contact him on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

And don't forget - the lovely Devauden Recipe Collection is available to purchase at the village shop, and when we get the Photo Competition calendar back from the printers that too will be available from the shop. There were fewer people entering this year, but the photos sent in were lovely, so I hope you too will be impressed when you see it!

Thanks all, and stay safe
Gay