The Grapevine Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8)
Welcome ..………………….…………….....................4 Revival and not Rivals ………..………………….......5 Youngsters show the Way.........……………………..6 Grace for the World ……………….....……................7 Jesus at the Pool and Door ………….……...............8 Love Never Fails …………..…....……………..........10 Expensive Perfume …..……….……………….........12 Hardship and Hope ……........……………………….13 Shine Your Light .........………………………...........14 How does Society see the Church? .....................17 Youth Retreat: A Reflection …...…………………..19 Faith Hope & Love “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5)
light on the Church in the st 21 Century - see last article and event on 13th Dec EDITORIAL TEAM: General contact & news stories: grapevinepublication@gmail.com Editor: Phil Burkhard philipburkhard63@gmail.com Christ The King: Justin McCarthy jpmccarthy@btinternet.com St. Brigid’s: vacant St. Paul’s: Madeleine Jeremy mj@madeleinejeremy.com Community: Emelyne Burkhard emelyne@hotmail.co.uk
Everyone Welcome to the 8th issue of The Grapevine! This is produced by the 3 Churches in North Cardiff with contributors and an audience from the wider Christian community – both near and far. The content reflects ‘faith, hope and love’, in the 21st century. Church is more than a building; it’s a community & it’s people. One body in Christ. This issue has a focus on unity but viewed through the lens of individual testimonies. There are also different views on what Church looks like, including a famous one and drones! Pupils and students mix with pools and perfume, too! Contact us: grapevinepublication@gmail.com Prior issues are on: www.3churches.org or enjoy reading and sharing via the QR code. Office Glory Story! Uche is from Vineyard Church and works for Aviva Insurance. He also leads the Christian network in the company. Not too long ago, Uche felt God ask him to start giving out free Bibles and Christian art at his office. Click on the video opposite, to discover more. St. Paul said: “meet people where they are at”. How do you share the Good News? A picture containing icon Description automatically generated
Students and seasoned evangelists, from multiple Christian churches, as part of the Wales Revival Alliance, recently joined many local churches, in Rhondda to support revival in the Valleys. It was too wet to meet at the statue of Our Lady of Penrhys so we gathered at Providence Church, Ystrad. ‘Rhondda’ is often thought to mean “noisy” (referring to the river) or “babbling brook”. Both are apt when music, prayer and worship will flow at Blessed Fest – to encourage revival as One Church.
In Mark 10:15 Jesus says: “Truly I say to Rudy thought, we could do that too and you, whoever, does not receive the decided he wanted to set up games with Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter school friends and have people pay to it…” David and Natalie Marsh submitted watch. With the help of the school (who let the following, last year, and it also us use the grounds), the energy of the reminds us how we can learn from children and the generosity of parents and children… families, Rudy made this happen and the children raised over £600 for the Food Our son, Rudy Marsh, is in Year 3 at Market held in St Brigid’s every third Christ the King Primary School. He was Saturday of the month. It was a fantastic reading a book called: "The boy who day and all the boys and girls should be started Celtic" about an Irish Marist very proud of themselves. All the Year 3 Brother who created a football club in children who could make it took park, and Glasgow in 1887 to alleviate poverty. In 4 friends from Year 2 joined to make up 4 the book, Brother Walfrid organises some teams, meaning a total of 6 matches took matches to raise money to feed locals in place. Parents helped to coach the teams need - ‘Poor Children’s Dinner Table’. and a great time was had by all.
Fabrizio Falsini, from Christ the King RC Church, Cardiff, was in his native Rome, A picture containing icon Description automatically generated along with his wife and family, for his son’s wedding, in September 2025. It was a celebration for the Falsinis but they witnessed an even greater spectacle when, as nearby onlookers, they joined 250,000 people, gathered in St. Peter’s Square, for the Grace for the World Concert (click on image to view). Fabrizio took these photos of the 3000 drones shining a light on the World. The Concert was co-directed by Pharell Williams and maestro Andrea Bocelli, along with the Holy See. It was an historic occasion as it was the first time a music event had been held inside Bernini’s majestic and enchanting marble columns. It was the Vatican’s way of ending a World Meeting on Human Fraternity and part of the 2025 Papal Jubilee / ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ theme.
Alastair is from Vineyard Church, in I have to say at this stage that I have a Cardiff, and a student evangelist on the heart for the lost and recognise some Kingdom Equipping course, run by the gifting in evangelism. I had purchased Wales Revival Alliance. This is Alastair’s some helpful books on the subject. One witness to meeting Jesus at an unlikely of which was a glossy white book about place and time… how to use the short time we have in an encounter with people to share the Myself and my wife are foster parents gospel. I thought this a good choice and and in June 2022 we had a chance of packed it ready for the trip. some respite and planned a last-minute break week away in the sun. We wanted We checked into the hotel and got a change to rest and recuperate so we changed and went to the pool area. found a hotel in Tunisia. One thing that I thought it was an opportunity to read attracted us to the hotel was the large the book I had brought. The strange swimming pool with pool bar. thing was that it wasn’t the book I thought I had packed. It was a bright red book entitled ‘Jesus At The Door’ by Scott McNamara. As we walked outside towards the pool I noticed a woman walking past us. I felt the Holy Spirit as we passed which I wasn’t expecting. When we found a place to sit, I opened the book. Again, I I’m not much of a reader, but I took the felt the Holy Spirit even stronger than opportunity to take a book with me and before. I decided this book was important hopefully find time to read it. and started to read it…
I spent the next few days reading After the prayer I asked her: “How about the nine steps you can take was that ?” She had a stunned look someone through sharing the gospel and said: “That was amazing, it’s message. It is based on Rev 3:20 like electricity, wow!“. I asked her “Behold, I stand at the door and if she was ready to open the door to knock. If anyone hears My voice and Jesus and she was. opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with The pool had started to get busier Me”. I spent another day learning the and the seats at the bar were filling 9 steps off by heart. up. I turned to the guy to my left and we started to talk. Again, I started at Later that day I thought it was time to step 1 with him. When we reached try it out. I went in the pool and sat Step 8 I prayed for him to be filled up at the bar and ordered a G&T with with the Holy Spirit. He was like a ice. Other than the barman I was the statue, didn’t move a muscle. I only one in the pool. I took a couple thought to myself, “oh that last of sips of my drink and was joined by encounter was a one off.” After I had the woman I saw on the first day we finished praying, I asked: “how was arrived. She sat next to me, ordered that ?” he replied: “I have never felt a drink and said “hello.” We chatted so peaceful in all my life”. He also for a minute or two and then I started opened the door to Jesus and step 1 of the 9 with her. She seemed prayed a prayer of salvation. receptive and was happy to listen. When I got to step 8 I asked her if I In the book it says evangelism is like could pray for her to feel the Holy an apple tree. The fruit varies in Spirit. As I prayed, she shook. It was ripeness. All God requires is that we powerful and I felt God’s presence. share and He shakes.
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