"Although we have lived in Lampeter for over 19 years, I first started attending St Thomas' Methodist Church 8 years ago, after a service to celebrate The Week of Church Unity which was held at St Thomas.
Each church in the market town takes its in turns to host this service. This was in January 1999. My commitment to the fellowship has steadily increased.
Every January the Methodist Church has its annual Covenant service which gives people the opportunity to recommit themselves to the Christian life and rededicate themselves to service to God.
It is celebrated annually in Methodist Churches throughout the United Kingdom. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, included the prayer in his enthronement service in February 2003. He was the first Archbishop of Canterbury to use this prayer as part of his enthronement to show his ecumenical Spirit.
Each month, on a Monday, usually the first one, the ecumenical group consisting of local Christians living in Lampeter, meets at St Thomas to study the Bible and to enjoy fellowship with one another.
Every Tuesday throughout the year, we have a coffee morning from 9.30 - 12 in which anyone can drop in for tea/coffee and to provide an interlude or creative pause for busy shoppers. There is no charge but any donations we receive goes towards the six charities that we support. We have found that if we don't ask for a fixed rate for the drinks, people very willingly donate generously.
On Thursdays during the College term time, we have a student lunch between 12.00-1.30, comprising soup, bread/cheese, followed by tea/coffee and biscuits. This refreshment is generously provided by a team of volunteers who work on a rota. Everyone is welcome even those of us who aren't students. St Thomas provides a warm and loving ambience where people can feel free to relax, enjoy fellowship and have a peaceful interlude within their busy schedule.
I love being a member of St Thomas' because it is a friendly, loving church where people are given the opportunity to use their talents and no one is made to feel that their contribution isn't good enough. It is an inclusive and community minded Church, not a private members club.
Article written by a member of St. Thomas' Methodist Church, Lampeter
your comments
Neil Marchant
I used to play the organ occasionally when I was a student 1990-3. A warm and friendly church although the old Victorian building was actually very cold as it didn't have any heating. I still miss this church quite a lot but pop back across the bridge from Thornbury quite a lot. It was very interesting watching the 'new' church being built. Rev Peter Barber was superb as the minister.Best Wishes Neil Marchant
Tammy Thomas, Whitehall, Ohio
It is interesting to read an article about the Methodist church, from a Welsh viewpoint. I am a Methodist in the US. I think coffee/tea is a line item in the Methodist budget. It was a beautiful article.
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