Meithrin Gobaith Growing Hope www.stdavids.churchinwales.org.uk www.facebook.com/pobl.dewi http://twitter.com/PoblDewi December / Rhagfyr 2018 You only have to ask Pat Rogers encourages those struggling to make ends meet to get in touch E know the familiar line and cannot feed themselves balanced, non-perishable, tinned account of the angelic and their families. 1 in 5 of the UK and dried food with the addition Wvisitation to the shep- population lives below the poverty of long-life milk and fruit juices herds outside Bethlehem over line (statistics provided by Trus- for the size of each family. Each 2,000 years ago: ‘Do not be afraid. sell Trust). Financial crisis is not of the Pembrokeshire Foodbank I bring you good news that will a one-size-fi ts-all scenario, people Centres also operates a Foodshare cause great joy for all the people.’ fall into debt for many reasons and system: fresh produce, which is (Luke 2:10) there comes a point when there is just out of date, is donated by large For the many volunteers in no food and, without a local food supermarkets, local mini markets, Pembrokeshire Foodbank, in this bank, very little hope of getting food producers and wholesalers. season, we would wish for an any. Often the volunteers will make angelic visitation to those families Pembrokeshire Foodbank, like wholesome, tasty soups out of the who are struggling, to say please the majority of food banks, operates fresh vegetables that have been don’t be afraid, come and fi nd good on a voucher system; there are many donated and this can be eaten on news at the nearest food bank to agencies who can give emergency the day or frozen along with bread you. vouchers to those in need and with to support those families, at a later As an organisation, we are whom they are in touch. This voucher date, who have been courageous good news for those who struggle needs to be taken to the nearest enough or desperate enough to fi nancially and who, despite their food bank centre and exchanged for admit their need. best eff orts, fall below the poverty at least three days of nutritionally Pembrokeshire Foodbank volun- teers are aware that families seek support when there is a fi ve-week month, as the monthly income tends to be manageable only over four weeks. In the current fi nancial climate, with the roll- out of Universal Credit, food banks around the province and further afi eld have been reporting an increase in demand. More individuals and families are unable to manage the change to a single monthly payment when they have been managing with smaller, more Letterston team frequent payments. These may well have been families that have There are a number of ways of not previously needed food bank supporting the most vulnerable in support. our communities. We would like It is often the perception that to hear from any church or organi- poverty is more of an issue in urban sation who would like to hold our areas, as it is perhaps easier to vouchers to give to those in need. recognise than the hidden poverty When giving to any Pembroke- that occurs in rural areas. Places shire Foodbank, one seasonal, that have infrequent and expensive festive idea is to ask families to public transport can leave families create a reverse Advent Calendar, WW1 unable to make contact easily with each day choosing a treat to put support networks. For example, a into a box which can then be given The Diocese car needing an MOT when money to your local food bank. is very tight can spiral a family into If you have a regular box for Remembers debt crisis and in need of food bank donations in church, please contact support, as will the breakdown of pages 13-14 any electrical appliance. continued on page 11 https://pembrokeshire.foodbank.org.uk/ FOCUS ON GETTING INVOLVED – Pages 10 & 11 Am ddim Free 2 Pobl Dewi, December 2018 Appointments Revd Dr Marc Rowlands appointed Priest in Charge in the Benefi ce of Lampeter w Maestir & Silian & Betws Revd Vivian Sayer Revd Dr Caroline Jones Revd William Lambert Revd Heidi-Maria de Gruchy Bledrws & Llangybi, to become Stipendiary Priest appointed Curate with appointed Priest in Charge of appointed Associate Priest of 27 November 2018 in Charge of Llansadwrn and responsibility for Garnant and St Ishmaels’s w Llansaint & St Ishmaels’s w Llansaint & Llanwrda and Manordeilo and Cwmgors, 25 October 2018 Ferryside, 22 October 2018 Ferryside, 22 October 2018 Llanfair, 30 January 2019 MAECymru: Being Church inspired by the past in a changing culture Mones Farah, Archdeacon for Evangelism and New Christian MAECymru Merched a’r Eglwys – Ministry and Equality in the Communities, looks forward to the challenges of his new post Church in Wales welcomed over 30 leading women in public life, education, church organisations and charities working for equality O, what does an Archdea- and diversity in West Wales to a networking lunch in celebration S con for Evangelism and New of the achievements of the suff ragettes 100 years ago Christian Communities do? At the heart of this question is HE lunch was hosted by the lard, Archdeacon of Bangor and the understanding that the Church Bishop of St Davids at Llys MAECymru Chair, also welcomed T needs to re-emerge in every gener- Esgob, Abergwili, on Saturday guests and said, “in this suff ragette ation and culture. This is nothing 27th October. In her welcome, centenary year, MAECymru draws Revd Sulin Milne new and has been happening Bishop Joanna spoke of the value inspiration from their fi ght for to become LMA Vicar in throughout the ages and history of working together for common equality, and from women in Wales the United Benefi ce/LMA/ of the church. The re-emergence aims inspired by the achievements who have since continued to strive Deanery of Bro Lliedi, becomes critical when there is a of women in the past and in cele- for equality in their own fi elds. We 11 December 2018 huge cultural shift and many of bration of the work currently being celebrate the progress that has been us believe that we are now at the done to embed equality in all areas made, and want to encourage one heart of a cultural shift. That is of life. another for all that has still to be why it is essential for us to think Vicky Thomas spoke about done. Our membership and confer- about doing Church and being Plant Dewi’s project working with ences are open to all. Please join us Church in a diff erent way right women and families to tell the – there is strength in numbers, and now. To be blunt, these new ways issues that that the world is facing suff ragettes’ story in poetry and stay in touch through our website are needed for the survival of the today. This is the new archdeaconry craft being undertaken with the www.maecymru.org.uk and with Church and for passing the faith that the Bishop has set up; it func- support of a Wales Government local members to share experiences and its full expression on to the tions outside the box, looking for grant. and support.” next generation. fresh and creative ways to engage The Venerable Mary Stal- The new post of Archdeacon with society and the world at large, for Evangelism and New Chris- engaging with cutting-edge princi- tian Communities has been set up ples and patterns of being, with the to facilitate and bring into being sole purpose of winning new disci- these new ways. It is based on ples for Christ. the thinking that if we just carry This new archdeaconry is to on with what we are doing, as we go outside the present parameters have throughout the age of Chris- and boundaries of today’s Church, Revd Alexandra Grace tendom, it is going to lead us to a seeking to win unchurched people appointed Priest in Charge of point where the Church and Chris- to Christ, to be a sent Church to Pembroke Dock, tianity head towards being relics those who consider themselves to 22 November 2018 of a bygone age. Relegated to the be outsiders, yet, as we all know, past, irrelevant, small and of no deeply, fully and wholeheartedly consequence. loved by God. But let us imagine together a Some have called it Fresh FINAL Church that is relevant to a young Expression Church, others have generation, a Church that engages called it New Church, but to be COPY DATE with their culture, a Church which honest with you it is simply a for the March makes Jesus relevant and real to contemporary Church engag- them, a Church which gives fresh ing with and winning the present edition of and new answers to the perplexing Church for Christ. Pobl Dewi Watch Mones’ presentation to Diocesan Conference: 6 February https://stdavids.churchinwales.org.uk/2018-diocesan-conference/ Pobl Dewi, December 2018 3 “No, but some of them are also Share Wars parishes without vicars and they In a diocese far, far away . are contributing.” And so it went on but eventually O, Archdeacon Richard”, work so that another vicar can be he said, “You’ve got a choice. You “S members of the Church appointed. But it’s not about paying can either contribute your ministry Council said, “why should we pay for what we get. It is about working share and act as if you’re part of our ministry share when we don’t together and sharing resources.” the diocese, or keep your money in have a vicar?” “But what would happen if we the bank and act as if you’re not.” “Because it’s not to pay your didn’t pay?” After further argument and a vicar.