Annwyl Gyfeillion

Throughout Christian history, Christians have lived in a milieu where they have been presented with a huge range of spiritual and devotional practices from different religious traditions. As ever, different Christians have taken different positions on this, from absolute repudiation to looking to see what can be adopted and adapted to glorify the work of God in Christ.

Some people argue that things like Christmas trees and even the date of Christmas have their origin in pagan practices, although the history is not as clear as some people present. Certainly, practices like the Jesus Prayer owe something to the encounter with Buddhist forms of prayer, but there is no doubt that they have been sanctified by their austere focus on Jesus and the core message of the Gospel.

As we approach the modern inter-faith, international world, I think we must do so with a readiness to find in other people’s devotional practices things that may help us draw deeper into our relationship with God. This is not to say that we simply take things on, lock, stock and barrel. Many things may be neutral in themselves, but we don’t necessarily wish to adopt the philosophies and interpretations that other religions would place on a particular practice. We must be discerning, and distance ourselves from anything which is incompatible with the revelation of God in Christ.

An example drawn to my attention recently is the growth of interest in singing bowls. Their harmonious sounds can create a sense of peace and inner calm, and people tend to find the sounds they make soothing and restful. Singing bowls originate in the Far East, and have been used in Buddhist worship for centuries. I believe that Christians can use them as musical instruments which do settle the soul into a state of receptivity to the Holy Spirit, but I would always want to see them used, either in a secular context away from faith, or, if in a Christian sacred context, within the practice and doctrine of the Christian faith. What we cannot do is simply take on board language about spiritual resonances and chakras which have little to do with a Christian understanding of psychosomatic unity.

We need to be especially sensitive when new practices are introduced into Christian Churches. Churches are places which are consecrated, set apart for the Kingdom of God, and while I do not believe that this excludes secular uses, such as harvest suppers or jumble sales, I do believe that it precludes the introduction of the paraphernalia of religious theories alien to Christian faith. Nor is it appropriate to use a building consecrated to Christian worship for the worship of other faiths, except under very strict and exceptional circumstances. Our motto should be: “Be generous in your approach, discerning in your assessment, and ask: is this faithful in bringing us to Christ?”

The Ordination, Saturday 28 June

I am sure that you will have the ordination in your diary on Saturday 28 June  at 10.00hr when we will gather to welcome one new priest and five deacons to the Teulu Asaph.  The ordination preacher and retreat leader this year is Canon Dr Jane Williams who, amongst many other roles, is McDonald Professor in Christian Theology at St Mellitus College, and we look forward to welcoming her to the diocese.

Please remember daily in your prayers those to be ordained:

To the Sacred Order of Deacons:

• David Dobbs to serve in the Estuary and Mountain Mission Area
• Jampa King to serve in the Dyffryn Clwyd Mission Area
• Sharon Morgan to serve in Hope Street
• Ian Williams to serve in the Estuary and Mountain Mission Area
• Glyn Wise to serve in the Aled Mission Area

To the Sacred Order of Priests:

• Pam Hallam to continue to serve in the Offa Mission Area

Support for our new brothers and sisters in Holy Orders is so very important.  I therefore ask all clergy and licensed lay ministers to make every effort to be present to share in the joy of welcoming our newly ordained deacons and priest.

As usual, car parking will be available at Ysgol Glan Clwyd on Upper Denbigh Road to supplement parking at the Cathedral’s car park off Upper Denbigh Road.  A limited amount of disabled parking places will be available near the cathedral on the north side, accessed off the High Street.  It is advisable to make a reservation request to the cathedral office: hello@stasaphcathedral.wales / 01745 582245.

Clergy are invited to robe in alb/surplice with white stole, and robed priests will be invited to extend their hands from their places during the laying on of hands for our new priest.   Readers may robe in full choir dress, and other Licensed Lay Ministers are invited to sit with them.  Robing, other than for the Bishop’s Party, will take place at St Asaph VP School, opposite the Cathedral on Upper Denbigh Road.  Please be robed by 9.45am ready for the procession to the cathedral.

Hwyl a Helo

It is a pleasure to announce that Simon Piercy will be transferring from non-stipendiary ministry and joining us as Vicar of Hope in the Rhos a Mynydd Mission Area in September. Simon has gained a good reputation amongst priests and people as a keen and encouraging pastor, and it is good to welcome him to this new role.

It is also good to welcome Gareth Erlandson, who will be taking over from Clive Myers as Mission Area Leader of Aled Mission Area in June. I am delighted to welcome Gareth to this new role, and also wish to record my thanks to Clive who has offered huge service to the diocese over many decades in different roles.

Jonathan Smith has indicated to me his wish to stand back from the role of Mission Area Leader in Wrexham. As we look to build a new clerical team in Wrexham during the course of this year, I am pleased to announce that Dylan Parry Jones has accepted my invitation to take up the role as interim Mission Area Leader for the next few months.

I am sad to announce the resignation of Daniel Stroud from his ministry in Mold Mission Area. Daniel has been with us for eight years almost to the day when he and his family joined us from the States. Daniel, like several others from our diocese recently, is responding to a call to enter army chaplaincy, but I’m glad to say that we won’t be losing Lara, who is remaining in her role as Anglican Chaplain to St Joseph’s School.

Diary and Events                                    

Please read this diary carefully. The diary below 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.

Please ensure that those 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 diary, and I am much more amenable when approached early to discuss any potential clashes.

Dates for June

 8 June               Pentecost Confirmation Service, Cathedral, at 1530hrs

19 June              Licensing of Jenny Clarke as Priest-in-Charge in Rhos a Mynydd MA, St Matthew’s, Buckley, 1900hr.

22 June              Licensing of Lorraine & Christopher Turner to ministry in the Cedewain Mission Area at St Michael’s, Kerry, at 1530hr.

25 June              Ember Day prayers

27 June             Ember Day prayers

28 June             Ordinations, Cathedral, 1000hr

Ember Day prayers

29 June             The Licensing of Darren Quinlan as Priest-in-Charge in Deeside Mission Area, St Mark’s Connah’s Quay, 1530hr

Dates later in 2025

 26 July              Diocesan Vocations Day, All Saints Southsea

15-18 Septr        Residential Clergy School, York

5 Oct                 Homelessness Sunday

16 Oct               Diocesan Conference (business), online

18 Oct               Diocesan Conference, Coleg Cambria, Wrexham

4 Decr               MAL Training Day (a change from the previously arranged date of 20^th November)

Notes and Queries

Ember Day leaflet

In addition to those being ordained later this month, please pray for those who are starting their vocational training this autumn. Their names are listed in the Ember Day leaflet here in Welsh and English. The Ember Days are Wednesday, 25, Friday 27, and Saturday 28 June, 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. Also, please note and advertise the Vocations Day taking place on Saturday, 26 July.

Important note for Mission Area Leaders

As noted above in the diary, please will Mission Area Leaders adjust their diaries now to accommodate the change in the date of MAL Training from 20 November to the new date of 4 December which has had to be made to accommodate the availability of the trainers. Further details of the venue etc. will follow in due course.

Please pray for me and the leadership of the diocese at an extremely busy time, when there are many pressures. We need wisdom, patience and resilience as we face challenges in both diocese and Province, but we also give thanks to God for the gift of his Grace, which is renewed daily.

In Christ,