Thoroughly Modern Marriage ROM March This Year, Married
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www.stdavidsdiocese.org.uk Gorffennaf / july 2010 Thoroughly Modern Marriage ROM March this year, married. Now that will be possible. in which you wish to get married if Fnew legislation means The Act has the effect of bring- • You were baptised or confirmed many more people will be able ing Marriage Law in the Church in in the parish the marriage is to be solemnised. Section 2(9) refers to the possi- Wales into line with the Church of • You or a parent have lived at As with all legislation, how- ble need for production of a legal to marry in the church of their England. This it does by setting out any time in the parish for not ever, there will arise issues of document known as a statutory choice. a range of “qualifying connections” less than six months interpretation. What, for example, declaration. Instead of having to meet with a parish in which the marriage • You or a parent habitually does “habitually attended public Only time will tell how the new archaic demands that one of the is to be solemnised (Section 2(3)). attended public worship in worship” mean? Is, for example, legislation will work in practice, parties lives in a geographical Someone with such a connection the parish for not less than six attending once or twice a month but this much is certain and that parish, the rules have been brought has the same right to be married in months enough, and who decides? Sections is that the law of Marriage in the up to date, and taken account of the parish church of that parish as • A parent or grandparent was 2(8) and (9) of the Act place a duty Church in Wales has been modern- what people really want. Many in the parish church of the place in married in the parish on the Minister to satisfy himself ised, enabling more couples to people want to marry in a church which he or she resides or which is Where any of these situations or herself that the person wishing be married in the church of their they once attended, or where they his or her usual place of worship. apply the individual will have the to have the marriage solemnised choice. were confirmed, or where their This means that you have a right to have Banns of Marriage has a qualifying connection. How Anthony Jenkins parents live or were themselves qualifying connection with a parish called in the parish church where can this be achieved in practice? Diocesan Registrar Codi arian yn sir Benfro Armed Forces Day Armed Forces Day is a ‘celebration of the contributions, both past and present, of ar gyfer Haiti those who have served in the British Armed Forces.’ Dros yr wythnosau dwethaf mae’r plant Ysgol Sant Oswallt, Jeffreyston, wedi trefnu amryw o weithgareddau ar gyfer apel daeargryn Haiti ac yn dilyn gwasanaeth Cymun Bendigaid cyflwynwyd siec o £280 i Father Paul a fydd yn trosglwyddo’r siec i Gymorth Cristnogol Armed Forces Day events continued across Wales a week after Cardiff hosted the UK celebrations Over past weeks pupils of St Oswald’s School, Jeffreyston,have on 26th June. The Aberystwyth branch of the Royal British Legion staged a series of events and, on organised various fund raising activities for the Haiti Earthquake Sunday 4th July, serving men and women, veterans, cadets, friends and supporters paraded from Appeal and following a Eucharist service a cheque for £280 was Aberystwyth Town Hall to Holy Trinity Church for a service, led by Revd Ian Girling. The music was presented to Fr Paul, who will pass it on to Christian Aid provided by Newtown Silver Band Visit the Church Tent at the Pembrokeshire show – 17th to 19th August Am ddim Free 2 Pobl Dewi, July 2010 Here I am send me/ Galwadcymru.org.uk Dyma fi anfon fi Vocationwales.org.uk A new website is being set up to offer encouragement to those interested in ordained ministry, Dennis Wight, Diocesan Director of Ministry, reflects on the and those who have not considered it previously Church’s new vocations strategy MIDST the turmoil of a busy tion that has led to a situation in priest to be their calling. Aday in the parish, it is easy to which fewer and fewer people are Such encouragement can come forget the underlying purpose of considering a call to priesthood from unexpected quarters. Will the work that has been done, and and in which some priests feel Hutton, for example, once wrote; even to lose any sense of identity demoralised and lost. Anglican priests are bulwarks . although we need priests to be There is a clear need for for a cluster of values – toler- competent in their work, priest- unashamed encouragement. That ance, mutual respect, kindness, hood is bound up more with the is precisely why a small group of altruism, redemption – wherever person you are than with the work us, in conjunction with the Chap- they go in the communities they you do. (The Observer, Sunday 6th lains of the soon-to-be University serve. I’ve never met one I did not July 2008.) of Trinity St David, are currently respect enormously. In some social God calls men and women to engaged in producing a website housing estates they are the only be priests in the Church and every- which intends to do just that. decent non-official figures people one should consider whether or not Do you have a story to tell encounter. this is the sort of person they are in which the Church’s ministry, The Church can be encountered called to be. Despite the inevitable expressed through an individual and vocation considered on the Web trials and tribulations the ordained priest, has made all the difference so we must have a presence there. ministry remains an exciting, at a crucial point in your life? If so The proposed website however can fulfilling, rewarding and meaning- then you already have an example only ever be an additional means ful way of life. This is not to say of why someone should consider of support. An encounter with the that Priesthood is superior to any whether or not they have a voca- Church should also be an encoun- other way of being a Christian but tion to be ordained. ter with the Incarnate, Crucified simply that, as an indispensible It’s our intention to collect a and Risen Christ through the part of the whole body of Christ, it number of such testimonies, in priesthood of all believers. That is is no less worthy of consideration video interviews, from people in something for which there can be than any of the other ways in which our parishes and in the public eye no substitute and is a calling that God calls us to be human beings. and to put them on the Web for the should engage us all. Perhaps, in part, it is this sort of mutual encouragement of us all but – Matthew Hill misunderstanding, confusion and particularly for those who would embarrassment over priestly voca- not otherwise consider life as a If you or anyone you know is help and insight into our gifts and Church in Wales. After this get in wondering if God is calling in aptitude and can challenge and touch with Dennis Wight about the this way, there are three things to encourage us to think more care- next step (denniswight@churchin- ‘HERE I AM SEND ME’ forms the time to be wobbly about the be done – and done soon: 1 Talk fully about all kinds of issues about wales.org.uk). part of Isaiah’s commission in his call of God. We are all called to with God about this – pray that how our faith and our lives mesh The next Vocations Day will prophecy (Is 6:8-9). In this passage be disciples; followers of our Lord God will speak to you in a way together. 3 Talk with representa- be in the cathedral on Saturday the Lord asks: “Who will go for Jesus Christ. that you can understand and make tives of your local church. Clergy 9th October. Anyone interested in us?” I wonder if occasionally you, The vocations strategy states space to listen to what God is tell- at your parish church or chap- attending or requiring further infor- like me, have answered in response that God is calling people to the ing you. 2 Talk with people who laincy should be able to help you mation should contact Dennis at to that: “Here I am send him or her, ordained ministry and asks the know you well: Friends and family to find out more about the realities the e-mail address shown above. anyone but me!” Well, this is not question: “Is God calling you?” with whom we are close can give and possibilities of ministry in the Lay Ministry Training Ordinands 2010 A successful day in Christian Listening encourages the Lay Development Group to plan more training days T DAVID’S Lay Development SGroup invited Acorn Christian Listeners to lead a training day in Christian Listening for people in lay ministries from across the diocese. Held in Llandeilo Church in March, over 30 people enjoyed a valuable day honing their skills as good listeners. New skills and tech- niques were shared to help people be better at listening to people and to God in their work within their parishes. Many thanks were given to the course leaders from Acorn for giving us such a good day. The Lay Development Group Michael Wheatley, Dafydd Jones, Harri Williams, John-Daniel also took the opportunity that Laurence, Gareth Reid and Marian Osbourne day to find out what other train- ing people working in licensed lay ministry roles would find help- Assistants will be offered further be confirmed and people contacted ful.