Annwyl Gyfeillion,

Advent this year is the longest that it can be, with Christmas being on a Sunday.  I notice a shift in culture.  Not only is Christmas being anticipated earlier and earlier in the year, but the themes of Advent have come a long way from the traditional ones.  I recently read a blog which confidently proclaimed that the four candles of Advent represent Hope, Faith, Joy and Peace.  The famous pink candle seems to be moving from Gaudete Sunday to the Fourth Sunday of Advent, “as the mood lightens towards Christmas”.  I find myself wondering whatever happened to the four themes of Advent I was schooled in – the Four Last Things, Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell.  I know that the mood of contemporary religious culture is towards the affirmative and positive loving purposes of God, but there is a small part of me that is beginning to query whether our faith is becoming too fluffy.

The thing about Christianity is that it squares up to the darkness.  It acknowledges the power of evil, and the brokenness that comes with sin.  God raises up a saviour to overturn the powerful and all injustice, and to overcome the powers of darkness.  This is surely a really powerful and positive message.

In a society where death is a topic to be avoided, Christians can speak of it without fear, because it has been conquered.  Judgement can be faced, not just because we have to be honest about our failures and the dangers of perpetrating injustice, acknowledged and unacknowledged, but more especially because in Jesus, God took the pain of judgement onto himself in the atonement.  The dangers of separation from God, which is what I understand by “Hell”, are a fundamental part of the biblical foundations of our faith, however challenging, but the Good News is that God saves us from the penalties of sin, and the free gift of eternal life is offered in Jesus.

I hope that we can proclaim a positive and inspirational message in Advent and Christmas, but one which is all the stronger because we do not shy away from the grit, the difficult topics, but in the confidence that the Incarnation changes everything.  God is with us, so, as Paul writes, who can be against us?

Confirmations 2023

I invite mission areas to start planning their confirmation requirements for next year, either individually or in partnership with neighbouring mission areas.  Those wishing to book a confirmation are encouraged to contact my office within the next couple of months to secure a date.  There will also be the opportunity to come to the Cathedral for Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday on May 28^th, as well as a Nicholastide confirmation on December 6th.  The Dean and I have decided not to offer a Confirmation on Easter Eve next year.  For some years, numbers have been declining, and trying to blend a Confirmation, with a congregation largely of people unfamiliar with Christian worship, with the beauty of a full-scale Vigil has been a losing battle.  If there is demand, then an Eastertide Confirmation can be planned, but early notice would be helpful.

Lent Prayer Cards

Orders are now invited from each mission area for the Lent 2023 Prayer Card. Michael at Esgobty looks forward to receiving one order per mission area no later than Monday, January 9th.

Hwyl a Helo

 I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Kevin Weston as the next Mission Area Leader of Mold after the retirement of Carole Poolman at the end of the month.

It is good to affirm the work of Alex Mayes in the vocational work of the diocese with her appointment as Diocesan Vocations Adviser with the particular responsibility of working with those enquiring about ordained and lay ministry and preparing them for the discernment panels. We thank Huw Butler for all his work as LLM Officer as he steps back to concentrate on his mission area leader role.  Chancellor Pam Powell will now be the primary contact for those in LLM ministry, supported by Will Marshall who remains as Officer for lay commissioned ministries.

I am sad to record the death of the Revd Peter Evans at the beginning of this month, and offer condolences on behalf of the diocese to his wife Jane and their family.  We also hold in our prayers Sue Storey on the death of her husband Malcolm who died on 18^th November, and Hermione Morris, whose father, Gerry Long, passed away last week.  May they rest in peace, and light eternal shine upon them.

Over recent months there have been a number of changes in staff working in the diocesan office. Pamela Vernon is the Diocesan Administration and HR Officer and also now supports the Director of Ministry with the administration of vocations and discernment.  Hannah Daniels is now the Diocesan Children and Youth Officer, and co-ordinates young people’s and chaplaincy work across the Diocese.

In the Education team, we are delighted to announce that Justine Baldwin will become the Diocesan Director of Education for north Wales from early 2023. Justine is known to many as the Headteacher as Welshpool Church in Wales School, and we welcome her to this new role.  In the meantime, Jennie Downes has been Acting Director of Education, alongside her Schools Officer (curriculum) work. Emily Clarke-Jones has joined the team as Schools Officer with responsibility for Admissions, Policy and Governance.

In the Property Team, Ryan Marsh is the new Diocesan Churches Inspector, succeeding Michael Plane who has move to be Assistant Head of Property Services for the Church in Wales. Ceri Jones has taken up the role of Churches Conservation and Development Officer, as Rachel Cutler has now moved to take up a full-time role as the Church in Wales’ Closed Churches Officer for north Wales.

Joshua Schoch has taken up the role of Administrative Assistant in the Diocesan Office. It is likely to be Joshua who answers your call or greets you at the door if you come for an in-person meeting.

You can find an up to date list of diocesan staff with contact details (email and phone numbers) on the website at https://dioceseofstasaph.org.uk/whos-who/

Diary and Events                                    

This diary below includes dates for events where all clergy are encouraged to attend, or required to attend as part of their professional commitment.  Please ensure that these dates are in your diary, even where the exact format may be open to change.

December

07 Decr                      Confirmation, Cathedral, 1900hrs

14,16 & 17 Decr       Advent Ember Days.  Please use the prayer leaflet in English and Welsh.

2023

 24 January                 Clergy Synod (please keep this whole day in your diary)

8  February                IME Book Day for all those licensed Clergy in the first three years of ministry.

3 & 4 March              Lent Ember Days

21-22 March             MAL residential (Please note this date is currently provisional)

24 June                       Ordination of Deacons, Cathedral, 1000hrs

28, 30 June & 1 July Petertide Ember Days

1 July                          Ordination of Priests, Cathedral, 1000hrs

15 July                        Licensing of Lay Ministers, Cathedral, 1000hrs

21 Septr                     Clergy Synod (please keep this whole day in your diary)

27 & 30 Septr            Ember Days

21 Novr                      MAL training day (Please note this date is currently provisional)

13, 15 & 16 Dec        Ember Days

Notes and Queries

My Church People

My Church People is the new database that holds your people information at area level and individual church level. The Church in Wales has created this database because of one of the recommendations resulting from the IICSA inquiry, the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse.  IICSA recommend that we keep robust records of all of our lay people and volunteers, ensuring everyone has their appropriate level of safeguarding training and if required, a DBS check.    This system will enable Mission Areas to ensure that anyone working or volunteering in our churches will be trained in Safeguarding at an appropriate level. It will also help to monitor DBS checks for those who need them in order to carry out their work or volunteering.  As part of the system, anyone needing a DBS check will be required to have an ID Verification to confirm their identity.  As a member of the clergy, you may be approached to carry out this verification.

The My Church People team from the Representative Body will be in touch soon, if they have not already done so, to introduce the new database and protocols for managing DBS checks and Safeguarding Training.  Please contact mychurchpeople@cinw.org.uk with any queries about access or the system, and Pam Vernon is also available at the Diocesan Office and will try and help with any issues. The guidance here will help you to lead you through the process.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023

The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023 which will be between 18-25 January is Be-Longing: Praying for Unity amidst Injustice and resources are now available and can be accessed here: https://ctbi.org.uk/resources-for-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2023/.

“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot encompass it.”  The prologue of the Gospel according to St John speaks so powerfully into this season and our context in the world today.  I hope that your preaching and your celebrations will be blessed by God, and upheld by the Holy Spirit, as you proclaim Jesus Alpha and Omega.  And may you have a really joyful celebration at Christmas, with family, friends, and all those you love.

Grace and Peace to you from the Lord Jesus Christ,