13 Queen St, Cwmdare, Aberdare CF44 8TT stlukescwmdare.org CONFIRMATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

At Baptism parents and Godparents make promises to God on behalf of their child. When a child is in Year 6 they are old enough to make these promises themselves. Confirmation About Confirmation Expectations We believe that our young people must understand what they are choosing, so there is preparation before confirmation. We do not run traditional confirmation classes, but teach about the faith within the Shine Services. Everone being Confirmed must be baptised already. We will do a Baptism in the Shine service on 17 Jan in St Elvans who isn’t baptised already. th We expect new confimation cadidates to attend the Shine services from the autumn till the confirmation in April.

Adult Confirmation There is no age limit on Confirmation. If you would like to explaore more about the Christian faith we run Adult preperation sessions every year. Signup to enquire and we will invite you to adult session when they begin. Signup Today To register for Confirmation preperation as an adult or parent of a young person click the link below Click Here to Sign Up For any additional queries contact: Fr Hywel on 07539 069811 or hywelsnook@cinw.org.uk.

Shine at St Fagans During Shine at St Fagans we hold an informal Mass where the young people take an active part. Within each service we split into three or four groups to explore the message of the day. These involve crafts, active sessions, prayers and discussions. At the same time the adults in the service explore the message through discussions. Each of the services follows the Christian year and they build together to exploare the essentials of Christianity. Shine at St Elvans During Shine at St Elvans we hold an informal Mass with modern songs. The young people also get the chance to serve at the altar.Shine 1st Sunday of Month 6pm at St Fagans 3 Sunday of the Monthrd 6pm at St Elvans

4th Oct 2026 St Fagans 18th Oct 2026 St Elvans 1st Nov 2026 St Fagans 15th Nov 2026 St Elvans 6th Dec 2026 St Fagans 20th Dec 2026 Either 3rd Jan 2027 St Fagans 17th Jan 2027 St Elvans 7th Feb 2027 St Fagans 21st Feb 2027 St Elvans 7th March 2027 St Fagans 21st March 2027 St Elvans 4th April 2027 St Fagans Confirmation in April 2nd May 2027 St Fagans 16th May 2027 St Elvans 6th June 2027 St Fagans 20th June 2027 St Elvans 4th July 2027 St Fagans Dates for Shine 6pm

A time for children aged 5-11 to learn about the theme or message of the day, then join the Sunday service halfway through. Just turn up and join in!Faith Factory 2nd Sunday of Month 9:15 at St Fagans 4 Sunday of the Monthth 9:15 at St Fagans

A very informal service for pre-schoolers and their carers. 15 minutes of songs, a story and prayer. Older children welcome in the school holidays!Praise n Play Every Tuesday 10:30 at St Elvans

Friends of Cynon Uchaf

Friends of Cynon Uchaf Friends of Cynon Uchaf brings together local people and organisations who value the important role our churches play in the community, whether or not they worship with us regularly. Together, Friends raise funds to support the work of our eight churches in the north of the Cynon Valley. The churches involved are St Elvan’s, St Matthew’s, St John’s, St Winifred’s, St Luke’s, St Fagans, St James and St Lleurwg’s Churches By becoming a Friend for £4 a month you can support this work through a regular gift donation. Your generosity helps us serve local people, care for our buildings and sustain worship across the Ministry Area. Why your support matters Our churches are more than buildings. They are places of welcome, comfort, connection and hope. Some have stood at the heart of the valley for centuries. St John’s Church in Aberdare, first built in 1189, has served as a place of prayer and community for more than 800 years. ·Provide pastoral care for individuals and families ·Support children’s and youth ministry ·Care for all our historic churches ·Keep warm, safe spaces open for community groups ·Work with the following local outreach projects, including: o Company at Christmas, Pantri Cariad, School-holiday meals o The school uniform exchange, Caffi Cinio ·Sustain worship and prayer across all eight churches

The difference you make Your support helps us make a practical difference every day by: ·Keeping churches warm and open for local groups ·Supporting families through difficult times ·Helping volunteers deliver community projects ·Preserving historic churches for future generations Together, these small acts of generosity create a lasting impact. Give £4 a month and make a lasting difference ·All Souls, 2 November: a memorial light dedicated to your loved one in St John’s Labyrinth of Lights ·Christmas: a memorial light dedicated to your loved one in the sanctuary of one of our churches ·Easter: a memorial lily dedicated to your loved one in our floral display ·Our heartfelt thanks: from the volunteers who help our churches thrive and support the wider community Ready to become a friend? Please click the link to donate securely through the donation portal below. We will send you a welcome letter and contact you throughout the year to arrange your memorial dedications. Click here to become a Friend For any additional queries contact: Fr Hywel on 07539 069811 or hywelsnook@cinw.org.uk.

Churches in Cynon Uchaf

St Elvan’s St Fagan’s St James’ St John’s CF44 7AB Sunday: 11:00 am Tuesday: 1:05 pm01 CF44 8LL Sunday: 09:30 am Wednesday 8:30 am02 Location and Service Time CF44 0UW Sunday: 08:30 / 11 am Tuesday: 09:30 am03 CF44 7AA Sunday: 09:00 am Thursday: 11:00 am04 St Lleurwg’s CF44 9TA Sunday: 09:30 am Wednesday: 10:30 am05 St Luke’s CF44 8TT Sunday: 11:00 am Thursday: 10:00 am06 St Matthew’s CF44 0SG Sunday: 10:00 am07 St Winifred’s CF44 9BB Sunday: 11:00 am Tuesday: 02:00 pm08