Club features VOLUNTEER HELEN MURDOCH AWARDED GIRLGUIDING’S PRESIGIOUS AWARD
Porthcawl volunteer has been awarded one of the organisation’s highest honours, The Laurel Award. Leaders are nominated by fellow volunteers for making a significant contribution to guiding and demonstrating exceptional leadership skills. Helen has been awarded the Laurel Award for her sparkling Guiding enthusiasm, making everyone she meets feel special and for her boundless energy and support travelling far and wide. She is a true asset to her community! Due to the current government restrictions, Girlguiding Cymru had to cancel their annual awards day so had to come up with an alternative plan! Helen believed she was attending a ZOOM meeting but whilst on the call she was told there was a knock on the door. It was then fellow volunteer Sarah-Jane, practising social distancing, presented her with the exciting news and flowers. On receiving the award Helen said: “I was astonished to receive the Laurel Award –and absolutely thrilled, it is such an honour! I have been involved in Girlguiding most of my life and have gained so much –as well as the adventures, opportunities and challenges, I have met so many wonderful people. And I love sharing this adventure with others, both girls and adults, so that they can experience the Guiding buzz too”.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH? Understanding what the church is is very important. Before I became a Christian I thought the church was the local church building where people went to on a Sunday morning. When I became a Christian however, and spent time studying the bible, I soon realised that the church was not the building at all. The word church in Greek is ekklesia, which actually means to be called out. The word ekklesia also means to congregate. So it means to be called out and called together. What is really interesting about this word church is that it can actually be applied to any group of people in the world that come together for a common purpose. Rugby is a very popular sport in the U.K. and when there are big games on you can literally get thousands of people coming together to watch the game. Now, in it’s basic meaning it could be said that this is church for those people. However, when the word is used in the bible, and in relation with God, it means to be called out of darkness. Obviously that takes on a different meaning all together. Jesus is calling us out of darkness, to himself, as he is the light of the world. A message we all so need to hear at these tunes! Neil Harvey 28 | seaside news
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH What is it that you can’t wait to hear? Is it that tickets have been released for your favourite singer? That the one you love is coming? That a long-expected baby has finally arrived? The writer of the 85th Psalm speaks with the same sense of urgency when they penned, “I can’t wait to hear what God will say!’” Not only is the Psalmist confident that God will speak, the psalmist is also confident about the outcome: “It will bring peace ... to those who turn their hearts toward God.” Why is it so much easier to desire peace than it is to truly turn our hearts toward the God of love and forgiveness? When we are angry, hurt, afraid, or feeling abandoned, it seems easier to turn our hearts to our old feelings and not toward the God of life-giving liberation, hope, and healing. So, what’s it going to be today? The old stuff? Or taking a chance on God? When expressed, the choice sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Because it is. Walk in a new direction, today. Just do it. God Bless. Rev Lewis Rees, Minister to Nottage General Baptist & Unitarian Chapel
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NATIONAL COASTWATCH INSTITUTION – PORTHCAWL We are pleased to report that we have reopened and are once again providing 7-day cover of the local coastline. In accordance with COVID 19 NCI guidelines, we are currently operating each watch with a single watch keeper and are unable to accept any visitors to the station until further notice. On our first weekend of operation we had two incidents, one involving a swimmer and another involving a surfer. Both incidents were resolved safely. We are also unable to loan tow floats or hoist the warning flags to advise boat traffic of the presence of swimmers in the waters around the lookout, until the Welsh Government relaxes the guidelines on social distancing. Our hours are 1000 to 1900 Monday to Thursday and 0900 to 2100 Friday to Sunday. From July this will be expanded to 0900hrs to 2100hrs daily. We can provide weather reports and updates on local conditions. Call us on 01656 782936 or VHF Ch 65 “Porthcawl NCI”. Similarly, we continue to provide radio checks if required. We thank you for your continued support during these difficult times, especially when our fund-raising efforts have been suspended. We are self-funded and rely on donations to keep our station running. Nick Weedon Media Officer, Porthcawl NCI
