THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

EVERY year in January it is a tradition for the Christian Churches in the UK and Ireland to gather to pray for their unity for a whole week.

This doesn’t mean we are all trying to do things in exactly the same way. After all we are all different personalities and grow up in different cultures.

We celebrate diversity, but our unity is in witnessing to Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life. In fact it was Jesus’s prayer that we would witness together (John 17 v20-23)

This year the Coptic Orthodox Church in North Wales was honoured to host one of the days in this week of prayer.

My church is one of the oldest in the world, being founded by St Mark, the evangelist, in the second half of the first century.

It started in Alexandria, the capital of Egypt, which was then a cosmopolitan city with a diversity of cultures and races which greatly enriched the church as it developed. Through emigration it has spread to other parts of the world and in 2004 it arrived in Llandudno. In 2008 the Supreme Head of the Coptic Church, the late Pope Shenouda III came to Llandudno to consecrate the church.

I am very proud of the ancient faith and traditions of my Church. By moving to serve God in North Wales I was given the opportunity to discover and explore western spirituality and I am very grateful for this. In doing this I am being obedient to my Saviour who is Lord of all.

It was St Paul who said that there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Fr John Saleeb Bold Arms, Beaumaris: Fridays: Prize bingo, quiz night on last Sunday of month. (01248) 810313. Pant-yr-Ardd, Tregarth: Tues: bingo, Thurs, quiz; Sat, live entertainment; Sun, disco. Sky TV. (01248) 600057. Boatyard Inn, Bangor: Mondays, Open Mic Night. Tuesdays, Ladies Darts & University Challenge, Wednesdays, Quiz night. Fridays, Folk Music, from 9.30pm. Saturdays, Live Music/ Karaoke. (01248) 308038. Anglesey Arms, Menai Bridge: Fun quiz every Thursday (01248) 712305. The North Wales Guitar Circle meet on the second Tuesday each month at 7.45pm. For more details on NWGC call 01407 831480 or go to northwalesguitarcircle. co.uk Benllech Hotel, Benllech: Bingo evening every Weds from 8pm. (01248) 853403. Nefyn Constitutional Club: Live entertainment Fridays and Saturdays. (01758) 720851.