Meet Dewi Ddyfrwr, David of Wales

Sunday, February 28, 2021:

WELCOME to ST JAMES'

ONLINE SUNDAY SCHOOL!

Here are the readings for this Sunday:

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/lectionary/lent-2b/

David of Wales, Jesus College Chapel, Oxford

Here's who we're wondering about:

David of Wales

Dewi Ddyfrwr (David the Water Drinker)

David is the patron saint of Wales, and he is particularly remembered on March 1, the anniversary of his death (in either 589 or 602AD). If you happen to be in Wales, or are of Welsh descent, the days around March 1 are especially happy times, celebrating David, his legacy, and all things Welsh!

Who was David? Legends abound, including one that suggests that he was King Arthur's nephew. Born in a storm, blesser of wells, staunch vegetarian who drank only water (thus, Dewi Ddyfrwr - David the Water Drinker) - Saint David preached from a hill that rose up under him when folks complained that they couldn't see him. (And a dove flew down and sat on his shoulder!)

Like the desert mothers and fathers (here's a refreshe r on them!), David lived the plainest life he could, so he could concentrate on loving and serving God. At the monastery that he founded (of many), he and the brothers sang, and otherwise lived in silence, eating simply, studying, gardening (using no animals in their gardens - they pulled the plows themselves), and keeping bees. (When those bees tried to accompany their favorite beekeeper brother, St Modomnoc, to Ireland, David blessed the bees and sent them on their way!) David would go down to the nearby beach and stand in the icy Irish sea, chanting the Psalms.

Before he died, David said:

'Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things in life (gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd) that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.'

They say that two pilgrimages to St Davids Cathedral = one pilgrimage to Rome; three visits = a pilgrimage to Jerusalem!

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! = Happy Saint David’s Day!

(dee-the goil Deh-wee ha-peece)

Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd = Do the little things in life.

(goo-new-ch e peth-aye beesth-ay-n meh-oun bwee-d)

Click here to take a virtual field trip to St Davids Cathedral in Wales.
St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, was born nearby. He had a vision about St David! Click here for a virtual mini-pilgrimage, "called across a threshold" - with St Davids Cathedral's Education Officer.
Click here to visit Britain's smallest city (1,600 people: ten times less than Amesbury!).
Learn more about the life of St David by clicking here. Watch this video, too.
Hear Psalms 102 and 103 chanted in Welsh, by Cantorion Enddwyn.

Here is a charming website from the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales, dedicated to "doing the little things" (on St David's Day & every day) to benefit wildlife: check it out!

Grow a bee and butterfly garden, make a birdfeeder and an insect hotel (!), and more.

David is said to have told troops to wear a leek on their hat, so other soldiers would know who they were. Daffodils have a similar Welsh name, and now they both are cheerful symbols of Wales.

All the daffodil crafts for little hands to create in honor of St David's Day: click here for inspiration & instructions. Also make easy leeks, proper hats, and the Welsh flag, too- click here!

Click here to discover yummy Welsh recipes, including cawl (stew), vegan Glamorgan sausages, crempogau (Shrove Tuesday pancakes - watch this video: awesome flipping action!), bara brith (fruit-filled cake), and - of course! - Welsh rarebit.

Learn a few Welsh food words!

The Second Sunday of Lent: purple days!

Click here for an earlier email about this season.

How is your Lenten journey going? What are the little things that you are doing, might do during this time?

Archbishop Desmond Tutu reminds us:

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."

Please let me know if I can be of service to you these days, or any time, in any way - big or little. Love - Linda