Pobl Dewi December 2013.Indd
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www.stdavidsdiocese.org.uk www.facebook.com/pobl.dewi http://twitter.com/PoblDewi Rhagfyr/December 2013 HOPE IS GROWING – AND THE SOIL IS GOOD There was evidence of green shoots within our churches at the diocesan ‘Growing Hope’ event on 9th November, reports Jenny Kimber HEY say that the sun shines on the righteous. If that’s Ttrue, then Growing Hope was bound to succeed. And so it did. Over 200 people, a sell- out, converged on the university campus in Carmarthen to be greeted by clearing skies and a day of enlightenment. As they arrived they spoke of their hopes for the day. “Insight- ful, exciting exploration that won’t be too dull . To know where the spirit is leading me . I feel I’m being led to do something and this might help me . Hoping to learn something to get more people back into the church . Peace, stillness and future . Some enlightenment – because I’m confused.” As the opening worship urged us to ‘Come and praise our maker’, in church attendance for the last things out of habit, do them for a the scene was set. three years. And it’s the smaller reason. Attitude is important. The keynote speaker was Arch- churches that are growing and the 2. Be prayerful – only God can Readers’ Licensing: deacon Bob Jackson. His research larger ones which have shrunk – no makes churches grow so we need among our churches has yielded excuses now for tiny rural congre- to ask him. 19th October at the cathedral some surprising conclusions. For gations! He gave us 3 tips: example, there’s been no reduction 1. Be Intentional – don’t just do continued on page 18 Messy Church members at Merthyr, Carmarthen, have been helping their local food bank. Mia and Mali Bevans, with Sapphire and Primrose Lewis-McNally handed in gifts of non-perishable produce collected at Harvest Thanksgiving to Carmarthen Food Bank Manager, Share Bower. The children and young people learned that one in five people in the UK live below the poverty line. The food bank provides nutritionally-balanced, emergency food for three days to local people in crisis. Newly-licensed Readers, left to right: Wyn Maskell, Janet Rees, For more on Becoming a Susan Lilleyman, Caroline Jones. Far right: Janet Ingram Generous People who was transferred from England. Back Row: Gaynor Ford, see pages 4 & 5 Warden of Readers; Bishop Wyn; Archdeacon Dennis Wight FOCUS ON WW1 – Pages 10, 11, 12 Am ddim Free 2 Pobl Dewi, December 2013 from around the world organised a conference in Jerusalem in 2008 to make a positive commitment to biblically-based Anglican Chris- tianity (Global Anglican Future Conference, or GAFCON). It formulated a statement of doctrine and vision (the Jerusalem State- ment) and set up a Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans. Venerable Dr Will Strange, comes home from Nairobi Five years on a second with much to think about GAFCON conference took place in Nairobi, from October 21st-26th. N 2003 the American Episco- these events caused the Primates This time some 1300 Anglicans, Ipalian Church (TEC) elected as of the Anglican Communion to say including over 300 bishops and bishop in New Hampshire a man that they had ‘torn the fabric’ of archbishops attended. Thanks to who had left his wife and children the worldwide Anglican Commun- the generous assistance of the in order to form a sexual partner- ion. However, these words were Evangelical Fellowship in the ship with a man. In the same year not followed by any significant Church in Wales, I was able to be the diocese of New Westminster action, and TEC and the Canadian among them at the first-rate confer- (Canada) authorised same-sex Church remained in good standing. ence facility in the precincts of All blessings. The shockwaves from As a result, orthodox Christians Saints’ Cathedral. We met brothers and sisters facing huge pressure from mili- tant Islam. We met others who face pressure from fellow Anglicans. communiqué and a statement, can life has shifted – to Africa in Some from the USA and Canada, drawn up through a remarkable particular. have reluctantly had to leave process of consultation among the If there is one thing I’d like to the ‘official’ Anglican provinces whole body of delegates. Both are have brought back with me it was (TEC and the Anglican Church of available on the GAFCON website. the worship group ‘Divine Voices’. Canada), have faced a barrage of Some critics of GAFCON have Their joy and energy in praise and law suits, and have been person- characterised it as an American- worship was something I have not ally sued as a result. Some PCC financed ploy to enlist the African experienced before. Clergy as well members have been unable to get churches in Western culture wars. as laity on the stage led us in song a credit card or a mortgage because All I can say is that Nairobi did – in English, Swahili, Yoruba and TEC has been suing them. Bishop not feel like that. The finances Luganda – and in dance, too. Infec- Jack Iker, the Anglo-Catholic were provided by the delegates, tious, inspiring and uplifting, the Bishop of Fort Worth, showed me of whom the greater part were worship in the conference centre his bishop’s ring and wryly told me African. GAFCON’s leadership and in the cathedral crystallised for how TEC had sued him for posses- is largely non-Western. This new me all that GAFCON was about. sion of that! voice for Anglicanism expresses The conference produced a the reality that the centre of Angli- nine pilgrims (five from Swan- programme, holding our clos- sea and Brecon and four from St ing service in the college rather From Wakefield to Brecon Davids), a wonderful, spirit-filled than in Talgarth Church. We were weekend of tears, laughter, study joined by many friends and fellow and worship enveloped us all. Cursillistas who shared our joy as via St Davids Because of the threatened hurri- the new Cursillistas received their cane we trimmed our last day’s crosses. God is good – all the time! It has been a very busy few months for St Davids Cursillo, writes Judy Webb N September, four of us repre- dreadful!) Outside we met two Isented St Davids at the National holidaying Cursillistas from Perth, Ultreya in Wakefield Cathedral. Australia, who joined us with great More than 300 Cursillistas from joy on all sides. Bishop Wyn met us across Britain gathered for a joyous at the door and, led by our banner, celebration of our faith. The banner we all processed through the cathe- parade, accompanied by a brass dral to the Lady Chapel singing to band around the shopping precinct the accompaniment of a banjo – at the centre of which is the cathe- much to the delight and amazement dral, attracted a lot of interest. of the cathedral visitors. Wakefield is blessed with The Bishop celebrated Eucha- Cursillistas within the cathedral – rist, during which he commissioned the Dean, a Canon, and a Verger Hazel Burn as our Lay Director for – so our welcome was warm and the next three years, and preached wonderful. It was extra special on Cursillo and our place in the life as our dear friend Hugh Burgess, of the Church. Afterwards we all Spiritual Director of St Asaph enjoyed tea and cake (a special cake Diocese, was introduced as new from Santiago de Compostela – the National Spiritual Director, replac- pilgrimage on which the Cursillo ing Bishop Idris. Next year’s movement was originally based). ‘National’ is in Canterbury Cathe- Friends and visitors came from far dral – even further to travel but and wide to support Hazel; our new some of us are already planning to friends from Australia were still attend. with us, and e-mail addresses were On 19th October we held our exchanged. AGM in Curtis House, St Davids. Our three-day weekend was After lunch we walked down to held at the end of October in Coleg the cathedral in brilliant sunshine Trefeca, near Brecon. With a team (the morning weather had been of 12 St Davids Cursillistas and Pobl Dewi, December 2013 3 Appointments Planning, building, CONFERENCE FACTFILE furnishing Nominations: Notes from this year’s diocesan conference All vacancies have been suspended to OR the third year running, the Several common concerns make way for the Foverwhelming focus of the emerged. Not least among them creation of new Ministry 2013 conference was on the Strat- was a perceived lack of spiritual- Areas egy for Growth – the document ity underpinning the project; too Exploring Faith: that, once fi nalised, will defi ne much quantity, not enough quality. Eleven OLMs are what the diocese looks like by the God, it was widely felt, was rather currently in training for time we celebrate our centenary in under-represented. Another thing 2020. that delegates believed needed ordination In his presidential address more prominence was training – Over 100 people now (delivered this year as part of the good, practically-based training on the course Revd Canon Stuart Bell Revd Mair Owen opening Eucharist), Bishop Wyn – to ensure the right people had the (Permission to Offi ciate) to Churches & Pastoral: to serve as Assistant Curate compared it to planning, build- right skills in the right job. serve as Acting Area Dean, Ven Dennis Wight has in Carmarthen St Peter, ing and furnishing a house: “By Because, as Bishop Wyn said: Deanery of Llanbadarn Fawr, 26 September 2013 wisdom a house is built and by “The house we are building is not replaced Ven Keith 16 September 2013 understanding it is established; by any old house: it is the kingdom of Smalldon as chairman knowledge the rooms are fi lled .