Annwyl Gyfeillion

It’s funny how sermons can often stick in your minds – and not always the best ones.  I recall a sermon from my student days, which, at the time, I felt was not worth the listening to, hungry as I was for Biblical teaching, although it has come back to me again and again over the years.  It was a Candlemas sermon, and focussed upon the candles. The preacher argued that they made the perfect analogy for Love: they both give light and warmth to the world, and when one candle is lit from another, the light is not halved but doubled. So it is that when Love is given away, he argued, our stocks are not depleted. Love is doubled, not only in the life of the giver but in the life of the recipient also.

In Christian thought, Love is not a matter of the emotions. In Biblical thinking, the heart is the seat of consciousness, of intellect, and of our moral compass. To love is a call to action, as we are conscious of the needs of the world and of our neighbour, and are tenderised by empathy with their need and yearning for healing, hope and being made whole.

As we turn from the Incarnation Cycle of the liturgical year (Advent to Candlemas), to the Redemption Cycle of the year (Lent to Pentecost), we would do well to remember the centrality of Love in our Christian faith. It chimes with our diocesan theme this year, Demonstrating Love, and we are called to open ourselves to the renewing power of God’s Love, revealed in Jesus and poured out in our lives through the Holy Spirit, to renew us and to change the lives of those with whom we interact.

It is an established custom now for me to invite every member of the Teulu Asaph to join me spiritually every day at 1800hr or thereabouts in saying a specially composed Lent Prayer. I hope that we can encourage all the Teulu Asaph and our congregations to share in this prayer, for prayer is the engine that God has given to us to drive the work of the Kingdom, and to move us to Love in all things.

In preparation for Ash Wednesday, 18 February, the Lent Prayer Card orders from the mission areas are now out for delivery with the kind assistance of the staff at the Diocesan Office who have been dropping these off to the respective mission areas in the course of their travels around the diocese. Please ensure their distribution and use in our churches.

Chrism Eucharist – Thursday 26 March, 1100hr

As you know already, the Chrism Eucharist in the Cathedral this year has been brought forward a week to the Thursday of Passion Week, March 26 and I look forward to welcoming all of you to the Cathedral at 1100hr to celebrate our common life with the Blessing of the Holy Oils and the renewal of our commitment to diaconal, priestly and episcopal service, as well as the re-commitment of all the baptised to mission. This common celebration is one of the chief points of diocesan life, so please make it a priority for your diaries despite the unavoidable late change in date.

All licensed and commissioned lay ministers and all members of our congregations are very welcome in addition to all clergy, serving and retired, to help to make the Chrism Eucharist a genuinely diocesan service. I like the invitation to be as wide as possible, and it would be good if shared ministry teams could include the wider circle of lay ministers and PTO clergy in their invitations, as well as congregations.

Lunch will follow as usual and will be served in the south transept. It will take the form of a hot main course followed by a dessert.

It would be helpful if clergy and lay people intending to be present register with their Mission Area Administrators. MAAs will be provided with a pro-forma to return to Esgobty no later than Thursday 12 March so that we have an accurate idea of numbers for catering, etc. There will be the usual meat and vegetarian options for the meal, and any other dietary requirements should be notified when registering.  Full details about robing and other arrangements will be available in the March Ad Clerum.

Hwyl a Helo

I was sorry to receive in January the resignation of Nick Bee from Caereinion Mission Area so soon after his licensing in December. We wish Nick well with his plans for the future.

Diary and Events                            

Please read the whole of the diary below carefully. The diary is updated every month to include all those fixed dates for events that clergy are required to attend as part of their professional commitment, together with those opportunities to build up our common life by supporting significant moments for our colleagues.

It is very important that each of you makes a note of these dates. Please ensure that the dates which are a professional requirement are in your diary, even where the exact format may be open to change. Where a clash with your own plans comes to your attention, please raise it with Esgobty at the earliest opportunity. I am still occasionally getting excuses late in the day from clergy who don’t seem to have planned ahead, or even to have read this monthly diary, and I am much more amenable when approached early to discuss any potential clashes.

February

15^th Febr             The Licensing of Gary Anderton as Pioneer Priest in Offa Mission Area, St Thomas’ Penycae, 1600hr.

18^th Febr             Ash Wednesday. We use the Lent Prayer for the first time.

Later in the year

25^th March          Mothers’ Union Festival Eucharist marking the 150^th anniversary of the founding of the MU, Cathedral, 1400hr.

26^th March          Chrism Eucharist, Cathedral, 1100hr (Further details above)

29^th March         The Licensing of Philip Chew as Priest-in-Charge in Estuary & Mountain MA, St Peter’s Holywell, 1530hr.

19^th April             The Licensing of Jules Harris as Priest in Charge in Aberconwy MA, St David’s Penrhyn Bay, 1530hr.

16^th May             LLM Day, Cathedral

27^th June             Ordination of Priests, 1000hr in the Cathedral

28^th June             Ordination of Deacons,1500hr in the Cathedral

8^th Octr                Diocesan Conference (online business meeting)

10^th Octr             Diocesan Conference, in person in the Cathedral

Notes and Queries

Archbishop of Wales’ Lent Book 2026

If you’re looking for a Lent book this year, To Hell’s Mouth and Back: Pilgrimage, Suffering, and Hope by our Provincial Director of Ministry Development, Trystan Owain Hughes, offers an inspiring and deeply human journey rooted in the Welsh landscape and the Anglican spiritual imagination. It weaves together two intertwined journeys: the first is a demanding 140‑mile walk along the rugged terrain of The Pilgrim’s Way, beginning in Basingwerk Abbey in this diocese and ending on Bardsey Island; the second Trystan’s long, unpredictable journey of recovering from a serious back injury. By holding these journeys side by side, the book invites us all to see our own lives as pilgrimages – often challenging and demanding yet filled with meaning and grace. The book, priced £9.99, is published in both English and Welsh, and offers questions for reflection at the end of each chapter and a concise study guide, all intended to deepen our engagement and help us travel meaningfully through Lent.

Ember Day leaflet

Please pray for those who continue their vocational training this year. Their names are listed in the Ember Day leaflet being sent to you as an attachment with this Ad Clerum. The Ember Days are 18^th, 20^th and 21^st February, but please add appropriate intercessions at your Sunday worship as well.  It would be good to remember all those in training by name in our prayers. Ember Leaflet: English | Welsh

The Order of St Asaph

It is now the time of year to invite the submission of applications for Order of St Asaph awards in 2026. The ceremony will take place during the Diocesan Patronal Eucharist for St Asaph at the Cathedral on Saturday 2 May. The Order of St. Asaph seeks to recognise and honour the outstanding contribution of lay persons at diocesan level, particularly at an appropriate point on the completion of service in a particular way or in a particular role which serves our diocesan life.

A nomination form should be returned completed with as much information as possible about a candidate’s contribution to the diocese.  All members of the Teulu Asaph, whether clerical or lay, are encouraged to make nominations, which can also be submitted through any diocesan council or committee.  Nominations forms for consideration by the OSA advisory committee should be submitted to Esgobty by Monday 16 March.

Understandably there are those who have offered sterling service to the Church within the local church or mission area context, who deserve recognition, but who do not qualify for a diocesan award. I continue to be happy to provide a suitable certificate for local presentation by a church or mission area. Please contact Michael at Esgobty in the first instance with appropriate details for me to consider.

I wish you every blessing on your observance of Lent. May the Prince of Life grant you a deepening of your faith, and a springtime for your soul and for your people.

In Christ,