PD November 2008 MASTER2
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Tachwedd / March 2009 Christians on the Street by Dennis Wight HE 100th Street Pastors group and ambulance, and are trained to a Chairman Oliver Harries said: Tin the UK was launched high standard so that their be- “So far we have 24 people signed recently for Haverfordwest. Street haviour, and the help they offer, is up as volunteers, a prayer team, a Pastors is set up as a voluntary appropriate at all times. management committee and great Christian initiative aimed at giving The launch of the Haverford- support from Churches, local Police practical help and support to the west group on 31st January was and NHS alike. Training started in thousands of young people who are well attended, with guest speaker January and so far we have com- out ‘clubbing’ on a Friday or Satur- Adrian Prior Sankey from Taunton pleted modules that cover drugs and day night in towns and cities all over Street Pastors, and endorsements alcohol awareness, sociology and the UK. from Chief Inspector Mark Bleas- knowing our community, roles and Although all volunteers are dale, MP Stephen Crabb, Rev responsibilities, and we have lots Christians, recruited through local Louise Hearn and High Sheriff of more lined up, like mentoring, churches, the aim is not to preach Dyfed Claire Mansel Lewis. counselling, violence and aggres- or be openly evangelistic, but to be Local Church in Wales congre- sion handling, mental health, first a helpful and calming presence at a gations have given their support to aid, spreading the good news etc.” time when tempers are often fraught this new Venture in Mission through The newly commissioned Street and when many people are suffering prayerful support, volunteering and Pastors will be patrolling the streets from the effects of drink. The Street writing letters of support so that from 22nd March. Pastors work alongside local gov- funding can be received from For more information, visit ernment services such as the police agencies. www.streetpastors.co.uk Just what are Archdeacons for? T’S got to be more than gutters who each have set a high standard to Iand gaiters (I hope). That word live up to. ‘deacon’ in the name ought to give Then, the outstanding Christian a clue. A deacon is of course a heritage of this archdeaconry strikes servant. So an arch-deacon ought to me. Almost every period of be a kind of chief servant (if that’s Christian history has seen the area not a contradiction in terms). The play a vital role, from St David and archdeacons serve the Bishop, the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi, to the extending his ministry and being, in Cistercian monks of Strata Florida, the old phrase, ‘the eyes of the and on to the visionary foundation Bishop’. They have duties relating of Bishop Burgess’ college at to church buildings and property. Lampeter. It has witnessed some But archdeacons should surely striking examples of ministry. To What God has done in Cardi- of the great missionary Hudson also serve the church in their take just a few examples: gan, God can do here again. That’s Taylor: “God’s work, done in archdeaconry. Especially by being Daniel Rowland at Llangeitho in the thing I hope we can keep in mind God’s way, will never lack God’s of service to the clergy in the the 18th century, the Tractarians of above and beyond the problems we supplies.” parishes where the actual work of returning to Cardigan archdeaconry, Llangorwen in the nineteenth, and face of finance, buildings, numbers In these coming years, if we ministry goes on. where Fen and I spent four happy in the twentieth the remarkable and the rest. Are our resources apply ourselves to God’s work, and And what are my hopes and years while we were in Aberystwyth. ministry of my former Rector and meagre and stretched? They cer- determine to do it in God’s way, what is my vision for this ministry? I am aware, too, that I am following predecessor as Archdeacon, Bertie tainly appear to be. But I often find we’ll see whether Hudson Taylor First of all it is a privilege to be some remarkably gifted predecessors Lewis. myself coming back to some words was right! Chapter & Verse Contributions to Pobl Dewi We welcome articles of interest from readers and, in particular, we On 8th March Bishop Wyn would like to encourage submission of articles in Welsh. and Canon Librarian Patrick Tessa Briggs [email protected] Thomas welcomed the Arch- bishop of Canterbury and is the lead editor of the next issue and will be pleased to hear from Brother David Hodges OCSO anyone who would like to submit an article. from Caldey, who were reading The other regional editor can be contacted as follows: some of their poetry in aid of Revd Nicholas Cale [email protected], the Cathedral Library Fund. or articles can be posted to: The Archbishop was also the Pobl Dewi, The Diocesan Office, Abergwili, Carmarthen, SA31 2JG, guest speaker at choral even- marked for the attention of ‘The Editor’. song Menter Esgobaeth Tyddewi . An initiative of the Diocese of St Davids Am ddim Free 2 Pobl Dewi, March 2009 Recession and food prices New Dean Chosen by Eileen Davies, Rural life Advisor HE announcement in February OOD price inflation in the UK closer integrated relationships be- Tthat the Revd Canon Jonathan Fis predicted to fall below zero tween farm businesses and their food Lean had been appointed the Dean per cent by the end of the 2009, chain customers. The advantage to of St Davids brought much delight according to new retail forecasts. food businesses looking to secure the across the diocese and within the What does this mean for food raw materials they require will also Cathedral. producers and consumers in the help farming businesses regain the Canon Lean was appointed Diocese of St David’s? market share lost to food imports Canon Residentiary of St Davids There are two underlying facts. over the last decade through greater Cathedral in 2000 and, in 2001, Team First, prices will still be vulnerable import substitution. The clear Vicar of the newly created Rectorial to supply disruptions or demand message is that we need to source Benefice of Dewisland, with respon- surges. Second, the value of agricul- our food locally, as the cost of locally sibility for St Davids parish. Most tural commodities will plateau at a produced food is truly good value for recently he has been Acting Dean level higher than historic averages. money. during the brief interregnum. The downward pressure on food “Diwedd y gan yw’r geiniog”, He is a native of Pembrokeshire, prices and upward pressure on raw medd yr hen dywediad, ac ystyried having grown up in Fishguard and agricultural commodity prices could cyflwr ariannol presennol ein gwlad, Goodwick and his preparation for result in a vicious cost/price squeeze mae hynny’n gywirach nag erioed o’r ministry at Lampeter and then at for food chain businesses. There is a blaen. Felly, sicrhewch farchnad deg Mirfield prepared him well for the need for more effective collaboration i’n cynhyrchwyr drwy fynnu gwerth challenges of parochial ministry. He between food companies and their am eich arian, a hynny drwy brynu has spent the whole of his ministry raw material suppliers, building cynnyrch lleol bob tro. within the Archdeaconry of St Davids, having served in Tenby, Llanrhian & Llanhywel and then St Martin’s Haverfordwest before ‘God loves a cheerful giver’ taking up his appointment at the Cathedral. (2 Cor 9:7) Canon Lean’s firm partnership Stuart Bell explains how a fund-raising scheme for Nepal and friendship with the former Dean exceeded expectations enabled the liturgical and musical life of the Cathedral to be developed E had asked the congregation evangelist or two. In November Canon Jonathan Lean (left) with Canon Geoffrey Gwyther who enormously. The introduction of in St Michael’s Aberystwyth 2008 we travelled to Butwal for the made the announcement of the appointment of the new Dean in W numerous new services such as the for £11,000 to help pay for the dedication of two brand new church the Cathedral Candlemass Vespers and Procession building of two churches; one in buildings. Dr Jonathan Cox, an has focused the Cathedral on its role Butwal, Nepal, and the other some engineer who had been working in as the worshipping heart of the shire Blind Society and now serves work by focusing on worship and 25km to the west. The land had Butwal, and his wife, Dr Heather diocese. Canon Lean also sings in the as its Vice-President. encouraging people to visit and already been bought, but it would Cox, a medical doctor, were with us Cathedral Choir, the Cathedral Of his appointment as Dean, he worship at the shrine. I am also have taken decades for the local to share in this exciting moment. Singers and the Festival Chorus and said ‘I am deeply honoured to have looking forward to the completion of people to fund the building. On a previous visit we had been has been Chairman of the now highly been chosen by Bishop Wyn, and see the Cloisters Project.’ So, on Harvest Sunday 2007, shown the rice fields where the successful St Davids Cathedral the role as a challenging and exciting Canon Jonathan Lean is to be instead of using a collection plate we churches would one day stand. Now Festival for over 20 years, presiding one. I consider myself very fortunate Installed and Collated as Dean and passed a separate large cardboard we were standing in the new build- over numerous artistic directors and to have been involved in the life of Inducted as the Rector of the Rec- box along each row and then took ings on those fields.