Monmouth Llythyr Newyddion Diocesan Esgobaeth Newsletter Mynwy Number/Rhif 203 Easter / Pasg 2013 The Leading Question? A report which will be shared with churches throughout Europe was launched in Monmouth on International Women’s Day, 8 March. One of the co-authors is a priest in Monmouth group of parishes, Revd Dr Ali Green. Ali is the Welsh delegate to the Ecumenical Forum of European Christian Women who sponsored the report. The Leading Question? is the conclusions of the Women in Leadership Consultation and reflects the experience of women with a diversity of leadership experience in churches and ecumenical structures as well as the secular workplace and politics. The seven recommendations of The Leading Question? suggest ways in which churches can become more aware of key concerns and issues identified and experienced by women, and so develop a deeper understanding of ways in which they can become truly gender-inclusive. The Leading Question? is available on www.inspiredservices.org.uk/downloads/TLQ.pdf The Diocese of Monmouth, The Church in Wales : Esgobaeth Mynwy, Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru St Christopher’s, Raising the Roof at St Mary’s, Bulwark, has a face‐lift Croesyceiliog Last year, St Christopher’s had a dramatic ‘face-lift’. New toilets have been fitted, one with easy access for wheelchairs and baby-changing facilities. Inside the church, a coffee bar has been built and an area designated for coffee tables and chairs. The whole interior has been painted, and a new heating system, lighting, spot-lighting and projector connection installed. A building to be proud of, and hopefully used for the community of Bulwark. At a time when all we read about is doom and gloom in the world, St Mary's church, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran, is on its way up with lots of positive things happening within the life of the church. The launch of the 'Raise the Roof Appeal' in February to help fund the cost of a new roof estimated to cost £50,000 was a resounding success, with a packed audience turning up to hear both the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir and special guest artist, Miss Laura Sidney. It is hoped that the new roof will incorporate a state-of-the-art solar panel energy management system to produce sufficient electricity for the church's future needs but also to export the surplus energy to the national grid so as to provide much needed funds for the church. In recent times, the interior of the church has undergone major refurbishment which included new facilities for the disabled, new high- tech, low energy, low maintenance LED lighting, and other essential maintenance work which included a new heating boiler. A member of St Christopher’s made Provisional plans are also in place to turn unconsecrated waste land at the a cross out of some of the wood rear of the church into a 'Community Allotment Project' which will be a from the old pews. On Easter form of outreach into the community providing those who are Sunday last year this was unemployed, on low income or of pension age with fresh fruit, vegetables, transformed into a colourful cross of flowers and herbs, at little or cost to them. We hope to get local schools flowers, when members of the involved in the project and the whole scheme will be managed and congregation brought cut flowers to supervised by the church members with the help and assistance of the place on the cross. After the Easter Wales Probation Trust. service, the flowers were taken off and made into posies to be given to Should anyone wish to sponsor a slate for our 'Raise the Roof appeal' or sick or housebound people whose make a donation, they can find out further details on names were given to us. www.stmaryscroesy.org.uk and click on the fund raising 'newsletter' link. We hope to do the same this year. Malcolm Paul Austin, People's Churchwarden Lorraine Sampson 2 Bishop Dominic writes.... Dear friends, It was wonderful to see so many people at the Bible Study evenings during Lent. I realise that studying the writings of St Paul is not always easy but he is regarded as the first Christian theologian who formulated some of the central teachings about the Christian faith relating to the person of Christ, salvation, grace and justification by faith. We considered kenosis, the self emptying of Christ of his divine nature. Did Jesus believe that the world was flat and that all the psalms were written by David which were the beliefs of that time? We also saw glimpses of Paul’s humanity and how he faced suffering and experienced personal hurt as well as experiencing joy and delight in being a Christian. Paul’s writings have had a profound influence on the Christian Church and we saw how letters written for congregations nearly two thousand years ago can also speak to us today, which is the reason we read them on most Sundays. I raised the question as to how we use the bible today given that Paul was writing from a particular cultural viewpoint and that we are viewing his writings from our own cultural setting. No understanding of scripture can be ‘culture free’ but we are required to decide what no longer applies today because culture has changed and what are divine insights that transcend every culture. We also need to ask how the Holy Spirit has led the Church into truth since the canon of the bible was decided. The bible appears to accept slavery but Christians now realise that it is wrong for one person to own another. Wives are no longer expected to be silent in church, and illness and storms are no longer attributed to demons. One of the tasks facing the new Archbishop of Canterbury and the new Pope will be how to hold together Christians from such widely different cultures and how to address issues to do with the place of women in the ministry and leadership of the Church, same-sex commitment, the care of the environment and justice in the economy. The Archbishop and the Pope will both be faced with the task of giving direction on these matters and to attempt to see the ‘big picture’ that the bible proclaims of a God who in Christ creates us and loves us and gave his life for us, and then with courage to proclaim that truth within the culturally created language in which truth must be expressed. We must pray for our new church leaders and for the tasks that they face. With my love and prayers, + Dominic You can read and listen to Bishop Dominic’s Lent talks on the diocesan website: www.monmouthdiocese.org.uk A visit from Bishop David of the Highveld Bishop David of our link diocese of the Highveld visited our diocese for a few days in February. He spent a day in and around Abergavenny, visiting Blaenavon Heritage School for the morning assembly and a tour of the school. After lunch, he toured St Mary’s church and the Drop-in Centre for teenagers, enjoyed tea in the Tithe Barn and a briefing on the Young Benedictines’ Project, finishing with Vespers in St Mary’s. Next day he was in the east of the Diocese where he celebrated the Eucharist at St Mary’s in Caldicot before joining in with the Community Lunch in the Church Hall. He went on to Archbishop Rowan William’s School in Portskewett and a guided tour of Caldicot Castle, before sharing tea at All Saint’s in Brynglas, Newport. In the evening, Bishop David addressed representatives from around the Diocese of Monmouth at a meeting with the Highveld Link Committee (seen above) in the Diocesan Office. We pray that his visit will serve to further strengthen the prayer link between the Dioceses of The Highveld and Monmouth. 3 Recent Confirmations St Cadoc’s, Trevethin St Paul’s, Newport Arms of the Bishoprics An invitation from our ordinands Supporting Rainbow of Hope St Michael’s Theological College presents An evening with Stuart Townend One of the oldest parishioners and one-time churchwarden at St Michael's, Performance, chat and worship Michaelstone-y-fedw, Mr Hugh Mortimer, collects cigarette cards, with a with the writer of ‘In Christ Alone’, strong leaning towards cards with an Anglican history. His collection of ‘The Power of the Cross’ and many cards was produced by W D & H O Wills of Will's more worship songs Whiffs fame, and one of his sets is of the Arms of Tuesday 16 April 7.30pm the Bishoprics. The cards are 105 years old and All Nations Centre, make a colourful picture, as the photograph Cardiff CF14 3NY shows. Tickets £10 £12 on the door from www.christiantickets.co.uk Hugh understands that Bangor is the oldest or email: [email protected] diocese in Britain, dating from 540 AD, and predating Canterbury by 81 years. St David's, St Asaph and Llandaff also predate Canterbury. Monmouth, and Swansea and Brecon, were not Bishoprics until the twenties. Mr Hugh Mortimer, with the Bishop of St David's, Rt Revd Wyn Hugh has many connections with St David's: Evans, taken at St David's Cathedral family links with the cathedral abound, and he himself was a chorister there for many years. Family members of long ago lie in its churchyard. During a conversation with the Dean of St David's, Hugh showed him some of his collection. The Dean was very interested, particularly with the Welsh ones. Later in the year, Hugh presented St David's with a complete set of these cards, framed for display in the Library.