It was nice to have a visitor from Brecon at the service on Sunday evening, and the fellowship was encouraged by what she had to say about the fellowship's family feel.

The worship time was all taken from two pages of the song book and included a short reading about the glory of the Lord filling the temple during worship.

Mick Quirk mentioned a survey that showed how the majority of people interviewed were unfamiliar with two of Jesus' best known parables. It is important to start where people are when telling them the Good News.

The pastor, Rev. Peter Richmond, then followed the Apostle Paul's travels to Corinth, a centre of trade and the home of the temple of Aphrodite, with its 1,000 temple prostitutes. In Athens he had challenged the intellectuals; at Corinth he faced pleasure seekers, racial discord, family feuds and all the meaninglessness associated with Paganism.

Paul made friends with Jewish tent makers like himself, and although he met opposition in the synagogue, its leader was convinced and believed in Jesus. Paul moved to a house next door to the synagogue and things were going well, but he was afraid that trouble would stir up again. However, he was told in a vision that he would not come to harm, so he stayed for a year and a half.

The anticipated trouble did arrive, but its outcome was good. When all the Jews united against Paul's preaching and brought him before the proconsul, their case was dismissed without being heard. As a result, the new synagogue leader, Sosthenes, also converted to Christianity (see 1 Corinthians 1:1). In addition, this precedent declared the preaching of the Gospel legal throughout the Roman world.

For more information about Hesed, which meets every Sunday at 6 pm in the Avenue Centre, Tenby, visit http://www.hesed.co.uk">www.hesed.co.uk or telephone 01646 681805.