Ad Clerum - Rhagfyr 1af 2020 1st December

O Dywyllwch i Oleuni / From Darkness to Light

Annwyl Gyfeillion,

I hope that you have all realized by now that the Church in Wales has commended as a Province the theme From Darkness to Light as an Advent witness to the Christian hope in the midst of the gloom that the end of an extraordinary year brings.  I hope as well that you are joining me and the other bishops in saying the prayer above as close to 6.00pm every evening as we can manage.

I’ve commented recently that I detect a certain grumpiness among folk.  Is it the ennui of extended lockdown, or the ebbing of the evening light that feeds such a moodiness?  For us as disciples of Jesus Christ, and as Christian leaders, we need to come into the presence of the Light of the World and renew our calm.  “Come unto me, all you who labour and are heavy laden” says the Lord, “and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11.28) and perhaps too often we don’t give ourselves a break, we don’t take rest, and we don’t seek out Our Lord when we do rest.  Yet “they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40.31)

We need to remember that prayer is not so much lining God up to grant our requests, but lining ourselves up with God’s grace so that it might percolate through our lives.  I wonder as well whether Shared Ministry Teams in the Mission Areas pray together.  The Bishop’s Staff team have recently taken up the discipline of praying a short liturgy together by Zoom on Monday mornings.  Prayer can mould us on more than the individual level.  That, I think, is the value of praying the same prayer at the same time, even if we are not together.

Advent & Christmas

The Diocese of Bangor has produced an Advent study course and offers it more widely for use in the Province.  Co-authored by Bishop Andy, it’s title is ‘Changing Landscapes’ which tries to connect faith with some pressing issues like climate change and living with injustice and power difference.  The course has been created principally for online use but can also be downloaded as a pdf.  It can be accessed here.

Please don’t forget to consider making use of the Christmas greetings card in your communities as part of your outreach in the build up to Christmas.  It can be printed out and reproduced on two sides of a sheet of A4.  When folded, it will have a greeting on the cover, a message from me inside and space on the back for you to overprint or add your own details or invitations.  It is an editable PDF, which means you should be able to type in a box on that section, with your own material.  When folded out again, there will be a feature on the inside/back of the sheet which offers little suggestions at how to celebrate Christmas in lockdown by participating in twelve activities for the Twelve days of Christmas.  It is produced in both English and Welsh, and can be accessed here.

Responses to the Coronavirus Pandemic 2020

As a diocesan family we continue to be tremendously proud of all of the family who have risen to the challenge of coronavirus pandemic and played a vital role in sustaining the life of our communities and churches.  Throughout the diocese there have been many examples of selfless dedication, compassionate care and creative practical action.

A certificate to acknowledge contributions from across the diocese which merit our particular gratitude and appreciation is still available from Esgobty upon nomination by the Mission Area Leader.

Consent for broadcasting services online via Zoom, Facebook, Youtube or Vimeo or other online platform

Now that some churches are open again, some are conducting services with congregations, which are then being live streamed or recorded for later. In such a situation it is vital that safeguarding issues are considered.   On arrival, members of the congregation should be informed that the service is being shown (either live or later) on social media and given the opportunity not to be visible on camera.  Parental consent will be required for all children and young people at the service if they are shown on camera. The following guidelines are in place:

• Church in Wales Policy – This has advice on recording children and young people.  Section 9 of the safeguarding policy as well as associated consent form (form 4) is specific to images and filming of children and contains consent from parents and from children (if age appropriate):  https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/safeguarding/
• Diocesan Guidance – there is Diocesan Guidance on our website.  This includes Children and Youth Work Guidelines, Worship Guidelines and online guidelines.  https://dioceseofstasaph.org.uk/coronavirus/resources-for-young-people/guidance-for-working-with-children-and-young-people/
• Provincial Zoom Guidelines – there is also this on the CinW Website too.  It does not have loads about Safeguarding Children its more about general practice.  https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/clergy-and-members/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance/zoom-safe-use-guide/

Please consider whether it is appropriate or necessary and ensure proper consent is in place for the live streaming or recording of your congregation (especially any children and young people) for social media.

The Order of St Asaph

It is now time to submit nominations for the Order of St Asaph in 2020/2021 as we seek 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.  Admission to the order is marked by the presentation of appropriate insignia, and those admitted to the order are listed on the diocesan website.

Nominations are now invited and these will need to be received at Esgobty by the end of February using the form, detailing 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.

Clearly it would be premature to confirm arrangements for a service to confer the Order.  The intended time is early May as we mark our patron, St. Asaph, however we will have to wait until nearer the time to decide what is possible.

Understandably there are those who have offered sterling service to the church within a church / mission area context.  Whilst the Order of St Asaph is intended to recognize diocesan service, I am happy to be approached about someone’s outstanding contribution to local church life and issue a certificate that can be used for a local presentation by the particular church/mission area.  Please contact Michael at Esgobty in the first instance with appropriate details for me to consider.

Hwyl a Helo

One of the most dedicated servants of the diocese has indicated his intention to retire at the beginning of the New Year, Martin Snellgrove has served the diocese faithfully since moving to St Asaph in 1992.  We wish him and Pam a very contented but lively retirement.  Martin will be succeeded as Mission Area Leader of Valle Crucis by John Gambles, who has been very active as a lay leader in the diocese for some years.

I would also like to congratulate Huw Butler and his family on the arrival of a granddaughter, Darcy.

Diary

This diary gives dates for events in which all priests are encouraged to attend, or required to attend as part of their professional commitment.  Since they include notice of dates for 2021, please ensure that they are in your diary.  Please note in particular that the residential Clergy School in September 2021 will be a professional requirement for all stipendiary clergy, and that may require additional planning by clergy with families in order to be present.  Any potential clashes should be flagged up with the Esgobty team as soon as possible.

In particular, please note the information given about the CLERGY SYNODS in January.  Given that we hope to be together physically and in plenary for the Clergy School in the autumn, and following the positive response to the Zoom archdeaconry synods last month, we have decided to run January’s Clergy Synods in the same way.  Please ensure that these dates are entered in your diary now where applicable.

Dates for 2021

27 January                 St Asaph Clergy Synod (afternoon via Zoom)

28 January                Wrexham Clergy Synod (morning via Zoom)

Montgomery Clergy Synod (afternoon via Zoom)

1 April                        Chrism Eucharist & Renewal of Vows (Cathedral)*

3 April                        Easter Vigil and Confirmation (Cathedral)*

23 May                       Pentecost Confirmation (Cathedral)

26 June                       Petertide Priestly Ordinations (Cathedral)

3 July                          Petertide Diaconal Ordinations (Cathedral)

20-23 September     Clergy Residential School at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire.

• October Diocesan Conference (venue to be decided)

*These key services are still not likely to happen following our regular pattern in 2021.  This year, I provided online services from Esgobty, but I do hope that we will manage something live-streamed from the Cathedral.  For the Chrism Eucharist especially, therefore, I should be grateful if all clergy and licensed ministers would enter the service in their diaries to be present online if no other way as a corporate commitment as we, God willing, begin to come out from lockdown.

Notes and Queries

Centre for Applied Theology  Conference

From the 4^th to the 5^th of December, the new Centre for Applied Theology will be hosting an online conference entitled, ‘The Once and Future Parish: the role of the parish in Christian ministry, yesterday, today, and tomorrow’. It is ecumenical in scope, including speakers from the Anglican, RC, and Orthodox traditions, and seeks to explore means of ministry that might be most effective in the contemporary world, in a non-polemical, generous, yet theologically-rigorous setting.

Featuring Tom O’Loughlin, Jane Williams, Alison Milbank, and Andreas Andreopoulos, it also boasts a complement of additional speakers who will be lending their voices to the discussion as we seek to question the assumptions on which modern ministry can often be based.  More information on the conference can be found here: https://www.appliedtheology.org.uk/parish-conference/

Ember Days

The next cycle of Ember Days begins on December 9^th.  Please pray for vocations to ministry and for those in training in the diocese.  I attach the Embertide leaflet for your use, and please ensure that all your congregations are aware of this important season and subject for prayer.

Faith Engagement Review

On the 10th October 2019 the government announced that Colin Bloom had been appointed as the Faith Engagement Adviser at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)…’

(See: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/independent-faith-engagement-review-call-for-evidence/independent-faith-engagement-review-call-for-evidence)

The Independent Faith Engagement Review is calling for evidence to determine, ‘Are faith groups, places of worship and people of faith a force for good in society?..etc’  to which some secular groups are active in coordinating a negative response to the review.  We are all therefore strongly encouraged to complete the online form in response to the call for evidence using the following link, in spite of the fact that this is an English initiative:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=EGg0v32c3kOociSi7zmVqLAvxFsmpeJAuen06HIiI0VUNk0zOUg1TUdBSzk0NE8wWlVWTEZEMUZCUS4u

Please also make sure  your congregations are given these details and encouraged to make a response.

Funeral Liturgy

A reminder that new Funeral Resources were approved by Governing Body last  year to form part of the Book of Common Prayer for use in the Church in Wales.  Funeral Services 2020 is now available online https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/publications/liturgy/Funeral_Services_2020/ and for purchase in hardback at

https://www.ylolfa.com/products/9781784619589/gwasanaethau-angladd-funeral-services. These forms of service now act as our authorized form of funeral liturgy in Wales.  As well as providing the core rites, Funeral Services 2020  many other useful resources.

Lent Prayer Card 2021

Preparations are in hand to make the Diocesan Lent Prayer Card available to you early in the new year as usual.  The prayer this year has been composed by Archdeacon John and focuses on the theme of ‘Fortitude’.  Please would mission area leaders / administrators confirm the number of prayer cards they would like with Michael at Esgobty before December 18^th.

 National Churches Trust

The National Churches Trust is the leading charity working to protect churches throughout the UK providing grants for the repair maintenance and modernisation of church buildings. The Trust has recently launched its ground-breaking report The House of Good that illustrates the important role churches play in our society in addition to their spiritual and heritage value.  The report hopefully will provide inspiration in our own efforts to serve the communities in which our churches are placed.

May the God and Father of Light grant you joy and peace in believing, and may Jesus the Light of the World guide into that fullness of Light and Life imparted through the ministry of the Holy Spirit,

In Christ,