Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru : The Church in Wales To all the communities of Wales from the Bishops of the Church in Wales 16th November 2020

As the autumn evenings draw in, and Christians approach the season we call Advent, which is a time of preparation for Christmas, the theme of light and darkness begins to feel very relevant.  The dark evenings can seem cold and forbidding, while even the light seems to become more silvery and pale.  At times like this, the verse in the Bible which speaks to us as bishops, as it probably does to all Christians, is:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”

(The Gospel according to John, Chapter 1 verse 5)

Christians believe that God’s light (the light of truth, the light of justice, the light of love) shines in the world and, no matter how dark things become, whether because of COVID or other troubles and difficulties, yet there is always hope in God’s goodness and love.  For us, that light shines most fully in Jesus, whom we believe is God at work, entering the world to share our pain and to bring healing.

This faith will not be shared by everyone in Wales, and we write this, not in a spirit of arrogance, but in a spirit of humility, because we would like to invite you, if you feel able, to join us in praying for God’s healing and blessing on our nation this Advent.  We six Anglican bishops will be saying the prayer below every evening at 6.00pm from the end of November until Christmas, and we would be pleased if you felt able to join with us.  If you are of a different faith or tradition, you will want to adapt these words to your own belief.  We acknowledge this by bracketing the words we will use as Christians, but you may choose to pray in different ways or words.  If you a humanist or agnostic, we respect your convictions, and recognise that this prayer will not be for you.  Nevertheless, we are sure that the healing, the strength, the compassion and the courage for which we will be praying are important to all people, whether of faith or not. Whatever our beliefs, we can all wish good cheer and well-being to everyone in Wales in this season.

Our prayer is this:

Heavenly Father, in the midst of a troubled world, you are light and life.

Send us your healing for those who are ill,

your strength for those who are suffering,

your compassion for those who grieve, and

your courage for those who work for the healing and service of others.

Bless our nation of Wales with the life-giving spirit of your love,

and grant us your mercy,

[revealed in the person of Christ your Son].  Amen.

 

John DE Davies, the Archbishop of Wales

Andrew John, the Bishop of Bangor

Gregory K Cameron, the Bishop of St Asaph

Joanna Penberthy, the Bishop of St Davids

June Osborne, the Bishop of Llandaff, and

Cherry Vann, the Bishop of Monmouth.

Virtual Evening Prayer

While normal church services are suspended, Denbigh Mission Area’s Travelling Evensong has become Virtual Evening Prayer: that is to say, there is a said service, hosted by John Harris, on Zoom every Friday at 5:00pm. It lasts about half an hour. Service leaders and readers change week by week.

Here is the Zoom link, which you will need to copy and paste into your browser: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9175346976?pwd=bHZVTWFRVTlVMHZqcTBvSXBBdWh1QT09

The link will be active about fifteen minutes before the service is due to start.

If you’re already familiar with Skype, Zoom will pose no problems. No software installation should be required; you need only to use the link above to join the service. Order of service and the Psalm for the Day will be shown on screen. If you do run into difficulties, please email me (kath-b@btconnect.com) after the service, and I will do my best to resolve them for you – a practice Zoom session, to explain how everything works, is perfectly possible.

All are welcome to join us – please forward this information to anybody else you think might like to do so.

from Val

Dear Friends

I hope you are well and have been able to enjoy the beautiful weather.  The lockdown has meant we have paused from the busyness of daily life and taken the time to notice in greater detail the beauty of the world around us, the birds, the trees and the flowers.  The blossoms are just beginning to fall but nature has put on her finest display. 

The horrors of the pandemic are evident in all we see and hear, but we hope and pray that we have passed the peak and our efforts to stay home and socially distance will bear fruit.

Many have been taking their daily exercise by walking the lanes around the village.  Whilst passing folks on the other side of the road, social distancing, it has been good to greet folks by giving a friendly wave.   There is no chance of a stranger coming alongside us in these lockdown days, but we have seen some folks that maybe we haven’t seen for a while and it has been a joy to do so.

The Gospel reading for Sunday focuses on the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus.  Following the events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday they are feeling disappointed and fearful and decide to set off for home.  Walking along the road they are joined by a stranger; they do not recognise that this is Jesus.  Even so they invite him to stay with them and it is in the breaking of the bread that their eyes are opened and they recognise Jesus.

Jesus still walks alongside us today; he has promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us.  May you find comfort in his presence and his peace.

With Every Blessing…Val

readings are available to download in the panel on the right.

from Val

Dear Friends

This week has once again brought more restrictions to help to combat the spread of Coronavirus.  Many of you will be aware that the Church is now CLOSED until further notice.  This is unprecedented in the history of the Church and not something we ever thought we would see, but we must do our best to keep ourselves and others safe.

The beautiful weather belies the seriousness of the situation, but natures springtime brings hope and promise.

On Sunday we enter Passiontide when we turn from the temptations of Jesus in the desert and turn to face the Cross and Christ's suffering.    We remain united in prayer and I attach Sunday's readings for your own quiet time.  Also a service of Compline, the final service of the day, which you may like to use in the evening.

Keep safe and well.

Every Blessing...Val

From Val

Sundays will feel strange without our usual service but the cycle of prayer continues through our own private prayers. You can download from the list of the right each Sunday’s readings and a Service of the Word you may like to use at home.  The Church remains open as a place of solace and prayer.  We may be prevented from meeting together but God hears our prayers and knows our hearts. 

The Hippopotamus Song

The Hippopotamus Song, as performed at the 2018 Christmas Party by John Harris, Adrian Evans and Roger Mullock, accompanied by Kath Mitchell-Dawson, and supported in the chorus by all present!

Organ Recital St Asaph Cathedral

Meririon Wynn Jones of Carmarthen will give the final recital in this year's series on the organ of St Asaph Cathedral on Wednesday September 6th at 7:30pm. Programme as follows:

• Toccata in A major Johann Kuhnau
  
• Partita on Penparc  Meirion Wynn Jones
• Meditation Meirion Wynn Jones
  
• Offertoire in F L.J.A. Lefébure-Wély
• Romance sans Paroles L.J.A. Lefébure-Wély
• Elevation in A minor L.J.A. Lefébure-Wély
• Offertoire in D minor L.J.A. Lefébure-Wély
  
• Benedictus, Op.59, No.9 Max Reger
• Toccata & Fugue in D minor, Op.129 Max Reger

Adnission £6.00 including programme and refreshments after the recital.