Rhydaman Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol

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-Forty years ago,

-a group of people...

-..established a new evangelical

-church in the Ammanford area.

-Since then, the church

-has grown from strength to strength.

-On this programme,

-we'll celebrate its birthday.

-Welcome

-to Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.

-# Soli Deo gloria

-# Soli Deo gloria

-# Soli Deo gloria #

-On this programme, I'll meet members

-of Ammanford Evangelical Church...

-..and learn about the work they do.

-We're involved in CAP -

-Christians Against Poverty.

-We help with the food bank.

-I hope people in the church are kind

-to people who live among them.

-We'll have a performance by Sian

-James of an Ann Griffiths classic.

-I'll meet a woman

-raised in the church...

-..who now makes a living

-as a Christian singer.

-I brought music and faith

-and the fact we're all Welsh...

-..all together.

-Ammanford Evangelical Church meets

-here at Llandybie Memorial Hall.

-Leading the singing

-is the group Sound Of Wales.

-The first hymn is a translation

-of There Is A Redeemer.

-Forty years ago, Ammanford

-Evangelical Church was established.

-Joining me now

-are some of the church's leaders.

-Bethan and John, tell us a little...

-..about establishing

-Ammanford Evangelical Church.

-It started about 40 years ago.

-It started with people coming

-together to talk about the Bible.

-The church

-started to build from there.

-You have a wide age range

-in your church.

-Yes, they were a small group

-at the start...

-..but 150 to 170 now gather together

-on Sunday mornings.

-There's a range of ages -

-older people and younger ones.

-There are lots of schoolchildren.

-There's a large Sunday school.

-People from different backgrounds,

-from different areas...

-..come together as a family

-to worship.

-You're now holding services

-in the Gwendraeth Valley too.

-Some people were coming to the

-church from the Gwendraeth Valley.

-I thought it was a good idea

-to start something there.

-We started with a Sunday evening

-service once a month.

-It grew into meeting

-in different places in Cross Hands.

-We meet once a month at Starbucks

-Cross Hands to discuss subjects.

-Things like Christianity

-and science.

-We look at whether the Bible

-is historically reliable.

-We invite people for a coffee

-and to think about these subjects.

-We want to show that Christians can

-think about the difficult questions.

-We'll see what God does. If people

-come and it grows, then great.

-What do you think is the future

-for Ammanford Evangelical Church?

-We want to create and nurture

-followers of Jesus Christ.

-The efforts to reach out to people

-comes under that umbrella.

-If that helps people

-to hear the message of the Gospel...

-..that's what we'll do.

-I hope our Sunday meetings

-will be open to everyone...

-..and that the message

-is clear to all.

-We're involved in CAP -

-Christians Against Poverty.

-It helps people

-who are struggling financially.

-We help with the food bank.

-I hope people in the church are kind

-to people who live among them.

-Showing God's love.

-Bethan and John, thank you.

-On to the next hymn now, an

-arrangement of Mi Glywaf Dyner Lais.

-Many performers

-have written arrangements...

-..of Ann Griffiths' wonderful words,

-Wele'n Sefyll Rhwng Y Myrtwydd.

-We usually sing the words

-to Cwm Rhondda...

-..but some think it's not suitable.

-John Hughes's tune is a march

-and Ann's words are a love song.

-This is how

-Sian James interprets it.

-# Lo, between the myrtles standing

-# One who merits well my love

-# Though His worth I guess but dimly

-# High all earthly things above

-# Happy morning

-# Happy morning

-# When at last I see Him clear

-# Happy morning

-# Happy morning

-# When at last I see Him clear

-# What can weigh

-with me henceforward

-# All the idols of the earth

-# One and all I here proclaim them

-# Matched with Jesus, nothing worth

-# O to rest me

-# O to rest me

-# All my lifetime in His love

-# O to rest me

-# O to rest me

-# All my lifetime in His love #

-Cath Woolridge,

-the founder of Sound of Wales...

-..is leading the singing tonight.

-She was raised

-in Ammanford Evangelical Church.

-Though she now lives in Pontypridd,

-she loves coming home.

-I met her outside

-Gellimanwydd Chapel in Ammanford.

-There's a special reason for this.

-You've brought me

-outside Gellimanwydd Chapel...

-..but you were raised

-in Ammanford Evangelical Church.

-I grew up in that church.

-It was fantastic.

-There was a man there

-called Kevin Adams.

-He had a passion

-for creative things.

-I realized...

-..that religion

-isn't just about religious things...

-..but it's about faith,

-and faith in Jesus.

-Did you have a religious upbringing?

-Mam and Dad

-came from a Christian background.

-They went to church...

-..but when I was 12,

-I realized that it was for me.

-I wasn't going

-because of Mam and Dad.

-You mentioned the creative side,

-you studied Drama...

-..at the Royal Welsh College

-of Music & Drama.

-I had a passion for drama. I studied

-Drama and did musical things too.

-You then continued

-with your singing.

-That's when I founded

-Sound of Wales.

-My passions are my faith, singing,

-Wales and what it stands for.

-Just bringing these together...

-..and taking it across Wales

-and all over the country.

-# Let me dream

-# Love unfailing #

-We've been to Singapore.

-Next year, we're going to India.

-We've been to America

-and also here in Britain and Wales.

-# Miracles come #

-Tell me about Singapore.

-The Gospel had gone from Wales

-out to Singapore.

-They asked me to go out there

-to lead the music.

-It was fantastic - 10,000 people

-from all over the country...

-..came to worship the God we love.

-People came from all over the world

-to talk about their faith.

-It was fantastic.

-Ammanford Evangelical Church

-is celebrating its 40th birthday.

-I love that church.

-I went to that church

-from when I was a little baby.

-The church taught me about faith,

-about Jesus.

-It's a fantastic place.

-Why have you brought me

-outside Gellimanwydd?

-Watcyn Wyn's grave is here.

-Watcyn Wyn was a Welsh poet.

-Watcyn Wyn

-is also my great, great uncle.

-I'm quite proud of that.

-Next, we're going to hear one

-of Watcyn Wyn's hymns. Which one?

-Rwy'n Gweld O Bell Y Dydd Yn Dod.

-Our prayer

-is that God will work in our hearts.

-Our wish is to spread the good news

-about Jesus...

-..with this area and across Wales...

-..because we believe that Jesus

-is someone worthy of being followed.

-We've already heard modern

-arrangements of some of our hymns.

-That's what we have

-to finish this programme.

-Gwilym Hiraethog wrote the words.

-It became a popular hymn

-during the 1904 revival.

-The words are "Dyma gariad fel

-y moroedd, tosturiaethau fel y lli."

-From us all, goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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