Once again, I am deeply grateful to so many of you for the cards and gifts sent and given to me, and for the visits you so kindly made in horrible weather, to hospital, and here at home. All these have helped greatly toward recovery of my mobility.
Thank you so much.
Joyce Chalmers

THE ASCENDED CHRIST
Thursday, 17 May was Ascension Day, a day that is often neglected. The original event occurred on Mount Seion, where many of us who have visited the Holy Land have seen the beautiful view of the city of Jerusalem. Coming 40 days after Easter, and 10 days before the Pentecost, it marks the occasion when the risen Christ ascended to the Father in glory in Heaven.
W. H. Griffith Thomas writes in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia : 'The ascension is not only a great fact of the New Testament, but a great factor in the life of Christ and Christians, and no complete view of Jesus Christ is possible unless the ascension and its consequences are included'.
What does Ascension mean to believers? It is as stated in Hebrews 8:1 an accomplished redemption, and in Hebrews 4:14 the Saviours high priestly work. 'We have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God'. His Lordship over the church (Ephesians 1:22), His intercession for us with His heavenly Father (1 Timothy 2:5), the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:33), the Lord's presence with us today (Mathew 28:20), and the expectation of His return to this earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Think of it ! Jesus not only died, but He rose from the grave, went back to the Father, and is interceding for us right now. And he is coming again. Let us rejoice and give the thanksgiving to God. Jesus who died to save us now lives to keep us.
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore. Chapman
Be encouraged and blessed. Yours in Chris t
R . Glyn Jones, Bryn Glas, Glyn Ceiriog, Llangollen, LL20 7EU
01691 718086 or 07760 328752

Mrs Olwen Jones, Cae'r Ysgol, would like to say a big thank you for all the cards that she received while in hospital and also to all who have visited her in hospital and at home. Everyone has been very kind.

I would like to say a special thank you to all my family and friends for making my 70 birthday, 'a day to remember'; for the beautiful flowers, cards, gifts and not forgetting, the mouth-watering cake. Many, many thanks to you all.
Phyllis Morris

This year St Garmon's Church major summer fund raising event will be at 3 Cam o'r Afon, Glyn Ceiriog.
Come and enjoy a 'Strawberry Parfait' Tea, 3pm , knowing you are helping the small congregation of St Garmon's maintain a tranquil centre of Christian worship unbroken for 15 centuries.

Mr Stan Levin wishes to thank neighbours, relatives and friends for all the offers of help with both shopping and household chores. It is nice to know that in this day and age there are so many people, including the younger generation, who are concerned about the welfare of those afflicted by old age and 'dry rot'.
The only unwelcome visitor is 'ARTHRITIS' who is constantly nagging for 24 hours a day.
Stan Levin

The Buddists will be holding a Friendship Meeting in the Canolfan Ceiriog Community Centre on Sunday, 10 June at 2.30pm . Our value creation society promotes peace and happiness for everyone.

Do you find some of the government forms you need to fill in difficult to understand?
Do you dread filling them in?
There is no need to worry, if you need help with pension and welfare benefit forms, assistance is at hand. An experienced and qualified 'retired' Citizen's Advice Bureau advisor is available to give you FREE help, advice and assist you to fill in the forms. For further details please telephone me, Rev'd John Blakeman on 01691 718173.
This service is supported by the Christian Centre as part of its commitment to providing help and support in the community.
N.B.: All information given is strictly confidential.

I would like to thank the residents of Pontfadog and others, who handed in various personal items of mine that had been stolen from my home on 27 March and found scattered along the valley road. I cannot tell you what your honesty and integrity has meant to me, during what has been quite a stressful time. I am most grateful to you and I trust you enjoyed the small token of my thanks in Pontfadog Post Office. Bless you, Ann Kirk

The historical and social evening at the Institute was well attended. The speaker, Miss Einwen Jones, the secretary for many years, was introduced by Cllr Idris Davies. She gave an informative talk on the Institute from when it was built in 1911, with a subsequent addition in 1929. Much information was given on the stained glass windows, the main one being the one facing the High Street and commemorating the bard, John Ceiriog Hughes, in whose memory the Institute was built. Among the many interesting facts, it was noted that the cartoon, situated on the wall at the rear end of the main hall, and being of St David of Wales , is a replica, but ¼ size of the original, which can be seen in the Central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament in London . The newly refurbished book cases were the gift of the Welsh Colony in Patagonia in 1911, the money having been raised by a house-to-house collection in Chubut . The evening was rounded off with refreshments served by committee members, and with commemorative plates, showing the front of the Institute, and copies of Glain-y-Glyn—a book which is a descriptive and illustrated handbook of the Institute and its contents, being available for purchase. The evening raised £300 for the Institute funds, it is hoped to have a follow up evening in the near future.

Congratulations to Rhys Davies, son of Mr and Mrs Ian Davies, Llelty'r Adar, New Road, on raising £20 for Comic Relief. Rhys, a pupil at Ysgol Cynddelw, organised a Fun Run around the village at Glyn Ceiriog, and is grateful to all those who took part and those who gave donations

A meeting of the committee was held at the Christian Centre on 17 April and was presided over by the Vicar, the Rev'd Philip Clarke. The treasurer, Miss M. E. Roberts gave a satisfactory financial report. Members expressed their appreciation of the Easter Cards, produced by Miss Falmai Parry, and hand delivered to the houses within the Ceiriog Valley .
It was noted that the Lent Course had been a success. Arrangements were made for the Pentecost Walk to take place around the village, as in previous years, on 27 May. It is hoped that representatives of all the Chapels and Churches will take part. It is hoped to plan an outing to take place at a future date, but not on August Bank Holiday, as in the past.

Just to let you know what’s happening at the Centre.
Although we have started some regular sessions we are still in the process of buying equipment and furnishings, as well as arranging dates for coaching and activity sessions, but we are getting there and again we thank you for your continued patience.
If you are interested in joining any of the regular sessions please let us know –
Monday… Ysgol Meithrin 9.30am–11.30am; Quilters Group 7pm–9pm
Tuesday… Ceiriog Valley Tuesday Club 9.30am–3.30pm ; Craft Group 2pm–4pm
with tennis courts booked for Ysgol Cynddelw Tennis Club 3.30pm–4.30pm
Wednesday… Yoga 1.15pm–3.15pm (only a few places left)
Coming soon: Youth Club and our own tennis club. Please look out for posters and notices at the Centre.
If you would like to book any part of the Centre, booking forms will now be available at local shops and Post Offices as well as from the Centre, and if you require any further information please ring us on 718200
Hire Charges : Main Hall for events £10 an hour, Badminton court £6.50 an hour
Meeting rooms £5 per hour, tennis courts, £5 each (adults), £2 (children)
Short notice booking of courts can be made by telephoning 718200 when payment details and collection of court key will be arranged.
Sports equipment is available for hire on request and tennis balls and shuttlecocks for sale or hire
We are planning to have a Caretaker and Manager on site on a more regular basis in the future – but need to finalise funding, which will make our administration simpler. So please bear with us in the meantime
As always we look forward to hearing about your ideas and how you would like to use the Centre
Helen Crossley
on behalf of the management committee

At the Annual General Meeting of the Community Council on May 1st, Cllr. J W Thomas was elected Chairman. representatives of the Council to One Voice Wales, Chirk and Ceiriog Valley Partnership and Wrexham Access Forum are to remain the same as last year. The representative to the Police Liason Committee is still to be decided. Donations were made to Llanarmon C P School and to the Wales Air Ambulance. Acting on the advice of the external auditor, Standing Orders were updated and Financial regulations accepted. It was decided that from May to October, inclusive, all Council meetings will begin at 8pm .
The Annual meeting was followed by the regular Council meeting.
The Highways department of Wrexahm County Borough Council have agreed to put a post and rail fence along the side of the stream in Llanarmon and the railings on Pont Fawr and at Pont Caled Wynt are to be painted. Pc Howell Community Beat Manager, reported one crime in the area recently. It was regretted that the youngsters in Tregeiriog are no longer allowed access to Captain Greenwell's field by the Chapel. It is hoped to find another field for them. Meanwhile Pc Howell has obtained 2 goal posts and was thanked for his support.
A member of the Highways department WCBC has offered to attend Council meetings on a regular basis.

The children attending Sunday School at Soar Chapel decided to support the special appeal by the Presbyterian Church in Wales by having an Open Air Stall on The Cross, Glyn Ceiriog on Saturday, 28 April. They had an excellent variety of goods for sale and were successful in raising over £300 for the appeal.

The Dyffryn Ceiriog group of Cancer Research UK held their Annual meeting at the home of the chairman, Mrs Mary Evans on April 17 at which she extended a warm welcome to all present. The reading of the minutes showed that the group had taken part in three events during the year,namely: Llangollen Group's Ten Year's celebrations, the annual July Sale and the 10km sponsored Walk of Chirk Castle.
Several informative letters were read, showing an increase in donations and the group income, enabling major investment in the new Cambridge Institute and additional facilities in Glasgow , Leeds and Manchester . £257 million was spent on research in 2005/06, and £101 million to develop treatments, with seven out of ten children now being treated successfully, compared with three in the 1960's. There is a volunteer network on line and the Wales office is now at Hazell Drive , Newport .
Mrs Gaynor Jones gave the treasurer's report for the past year, this showed that £1,514.61 had been sent to the Wales office. This included collection boxes, donations in memory of relatives, the annual sale and Meibion Ceiriog's contribution.
Arrangements were made for a Coffee Morning and Sale to be held at the Ceiriog Memorial Institute, Glyn Ceiriog on July 28 at 10.30am when there will be several stalls including produce, cakes, white elephant and toys, also a bran tub and raffle. A warm welcome will be extended to all.
The group would like to thank everyone for their support and special thanks to those who donated raffle prizes every year. It should be noted that in 2009 this group will celebrate 30 years of fund raising.

Over 8 million people have now attended an Alpha course, an opportunity to explore the meaning of life, running in tens of thousands of homes and churches across the world.
Alpha is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions, with a day or weekend away.
It is low-key, friendly and fun—and is supported by all the main Christian denominations.
There are courses running near you. Why not take this opportunity to explore the meaning of life?
Here's what others who have attended the course say:
Mark Gray
Analyst
'When I first heard about the Alpha course I was at a stage when I was searching for something ''out there''. I really needed to ask questions and not feel like I was getting a hard-sell pitched at me. Now I perceive things differently and just feel so at peace. I have also met a wonderful bunch of new friends on the course.'
Julia Llewellyn Smith
Daily Express Feature Writer, UK
'At the end of the evening, I was astonished at how much I had enjoyed myself. As the weeks went by, I found myself looking forward to [it]—not so much because of the religious aspect but because of the stimulating debates about subjects which, in our busy lives, few of us take time to address.'
For information about your local course ring Alison on 718994 or details of one nearby call 0845 644 7544 or visit www.alpha.org
Madeleine Bunting, The Guardian
"What Alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is permission, rare in secular culture, to discuss the big questions—life and death and their meaning."

I should like to express my thanks to all concerned in the Valley on the very sudden and unexpected death of my husband, Alan Richards.
I have been overwhelmed with expressions of sympathy by cards, visits, phone calls, and attendance at the Thanksgiving Service in Seion Chapel. My thanks also go to the Rev'd Glyn Jones, Rev'd Dan Parry along with the Rev'd David Watkins for making the service so memorable.
Although we had only moved to Dolywern last August, we had been coming to the Valley on a monthly basis with the Christian Library Service, for the past seven and a half years. Alan played a key role in the Library Service and will be greatly missed by all the Team and our library members. We had also become more and more involved with the Fellowships of Nantyr and Pandy Chapels over the last two years, and looked upon them as our church friends.
On the morning of the 14 April, Alan set out to catch the early bus to Chirk for some shopping. Whilst at the bus stop he had a heart attack and died in the ambulance. I should like to thank those at the Cheshire Home who saw Alan fall and called the person with the defibrillator, and the ambulance. Needless to say the shock is still with us, as we have many adjustments to make, and he will be greatly missed both by myself, his family and friends.
However, Alan was a committed Christian, and spent his life in service to many causes; neither of us have a fear of death believing that to be 'absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord', which is pure joy. We thank God that he did not suffer any long or painful illness. Please continue to pray for us all in the days ahead.
Gillian Richards

I would like to thank my family, neighbours and friends for all the cards, phone calls, gifts and flowers I received after my operation.
Diolch yn fawr
Marian Roberts

Heddwyn and Doris wish to thank everyone for the lovely cards and gifts on Heddwyn's 80 th birthday and Doris 's recent stay in hospital, they are both very delighted with all the kindness shown. Thank you very much to family and friends.
Diolch yn fawr
Doris and Heddwyn

Kit, Merv, Mara and family would like to thank family and friends for their kind words of sympathy and cards and phone calls; also the generous donations to the Llangollen Hospital .
Many thanks
Kit Lloyd

Ar ddydd Mawrth 24 o Ebrill, daeth yr awdur Ian Whybrow i Ysgol Cynddelw i siarad amdan ei lyfrau. Cyraeddodd yr awdur ac aethon ni i mewn ir neuadd iw weld o.
Yn gyntaf, siaradodd o am pam oedd o wedi ysgrifennu rhai i fechgyn.
Wedyn oedd o wedi siarad am llyfrau 'Owain ar bwced llawn o deinasoriaid'. Fel lle roedd o di coel y syniad am y Clyfr a pwy oedd di wneud y Cluniau yn y stori.
Nesafroedd yr awdur wedi coel Nathan, Patrick, Amy a Carol fynny, goel quiz am Robin Hood ac roedd y bechgyn 'di enill.
Ar ol hwmna darllenodd yr audur un o ei Clyfrau barddoniaeth o ac roedd o yn ddonich iawn!
Nessa roedd y peth gorau. Roedd o yn mynd i arwyddo llyfrau i ni! Dyma beth oedd o di ysgrifennu i mi.
Aaaarrroooo to you Ffion!
From Ian Whybrow
Roedd a yn gyffrous iawn
Ffion Mitchell, Year 5

Pet Service
A warm welcome is extended to all who would like to join us at St John's Church , Pontfadog on Sunday, 17 June at 6pm. Bring your pet(s), whatever shape or size.
The service will be held outside and we'd like to see as many different animals as possible, so come along and join the fun

Eiran, Iola, Falnai, Dwywen, gratefully acknowledge the kindness and expression of sympathy, extended to us on the sad loss of our dear brother, Gerallt. Diolch yn fawr

At the moment we are all back in our childhood and enjoying being up to our necks in papier-mâch'é
for our bash at making string puppet heads for our rather naughty play, 'The hot air balloon caper', which we have written (the names have been changed to protect the innocent.) Two years ago we made glove puppets but we have decided to move one bigger; I'm sure bits will drop off as last time when the odd head fell off as we performed the play but it all adds to the fun.
We are not having a fête as such this year and instead are planning an Open Air Concert, with 'The Invisible Band' from 4 pm until about 7.30 pm on Saturday, 28 July.
Stalls are available for anyone come and to sell their bric-a-brac, for a donation, so please if you have a garage full off unwanted goods or if you would like to promote your business and would like to display your wears, please call us on 01691718303 for a chat. We will have the usual cake stall as well as selling food and drinks. Please come along and enjoy the afternoon. I will be putting up posters nearer the time. Regards Diane at the Cheshire Home, Dolywern